Afghanistan now has 35,000-strong army KABUL, January 24 (Online):The number of officers and soldiers of the newly established Afghanistan National Army (ANA) has reached 35,000, Defense Ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi disclosed Sunday. "Currently, the strength of ANA is around 35,000," Zahir Azimi told journalists at a news briefing here. Under the historic Bonn Agreement singed in late 2001 in Germany immediately after the fall of the Taliban regime, Afghanistan would have a 70,000-strong new brand army by 2006. Commenting on the failure of the government to achieve the goal on stipulated time, the spokesman added that the process depends on the contribution of donor nations. "Many Afghans are ready to register and join the ANA but donors have their own problems. We hope the donor nations will provide facilities and help us to build our national army and achieve the target as soon as possible," Azimi noted. However, he said that three battalions are under training while 4,000 more are waiting for their turn to get enrolled in the Kabul military training center. Instructors from the United States and allied countries have been providing training to the personnel of Afghanistan`s new and fledgling national army. End.