549 army officers graduate from Afghan national defense university

KABUL - A total of 549 army officers graduated from an Afghan national defense university and were commissioned to the country's national army on Monday.

"We witness another historic day, I congratulate your success and victory, and that all Afghans will be proud of you, they will be proud of your determination," Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani said at a graduation ceremony held here.

"You have the responsibility to serve your nation. You are from different ethnics, from different areas of Afghanistan, but you have a unified goal to defend the country and serve this nation," the Afghan president said.

Nearly 1,000 cadets have been receiving training at Marshal Fahim National Defense University. The latest graduates brought the number of professional officers to nearly 1,400, who have graduated from the country's top military university since 2012, according to military officials.

Acting Afghan Defense Minister Mohammad Massom Stanikzai, chief Army of Staff Qadam Shah Shahim and deputy to Chief Executive Hajji Mohammad Mohaqiq were among military and civilian officials attending the ceremony.

Since Jan 1 last year, Afghan security forces have assumed the full security charges from NATO and US forces after the foreign troops switched from combat to support role, which focuses on training, advising and assisting Afghan forces.

Nearly 13,000 foreign forces are now stationed in the country and being involved in the mission.