KABUL – Head of security and defense commission of Meshrano Jirga inAfghanistan, Hashim Alokozay, said the retirement-age draft law is one ofthe reasons behind an increase in casualties among security force membersin the fight against insurgents.
“This draft law is not in favor of Afghanistan. It will push theexperienced officers to stay at home.
In fact, this is Americans’ law as they want to remove theformer mujahedeen commanders and those who have links with formerparties such as Khalq and Parcham from the Afghan National Arm’sstructure,” said Alokozay.
Based on the draft law, colonels will retire at age of 54, major generalsat age of 58, lieutenant generals at age of 60 and generals will retire atage of 62.
Alokozay said they have increased the retirement ages by two years at thesenate and that these changes will be approved by a joint committeefrom the parliament and the senate.
Meanwhile, military analysts said the draft law is not in favor ofsecurity agencies.
“The main pillar of the security forces are those people who according tothis draft law are about to retire. If these people are removed from thesecurity departments, it will be difficult for the national army to provethemselves easily,” military affairs analyst Jawed Kohistani said.
Interior ministry however said the implementation of the newretirement-age draft law will bring reforms in the security forces lines.
Deputy spokesman of the ministry Nusrat Rahimi said young officers andgenerals will have an opportunity to join Afghan National Security andDefense Forces (ANDSF) once the draft law is approved.
“We welcome this draft law. In fact, it is a step towards implementingreforms in security agencies and it will provide the opportunity for youngpeople to serve in the lines of security force members in the country,”Rahimi said.
The remarks come at a time that casualties of security force members thiswinter in the fight against militants is higher than previous years.