Khalid Payenda, Afghanistan’s ex-finance minister, said the Afghan army was actually just 1/6th of what it appeared to be on paper (and in the minds of Pentagon officials) and that thousands of “ghost soldiers” were invented with officers pocketing their salaries:
Afghan army was just 1/6 of what it appeared to be on paper, as officers pocketed pay of soldiers who didn't exist. https://t.co/1IgK649dtO
— Stewart Bell (@StewGlobal) November 10, 2021
You know, it would have been nice of Payenda TOLD EVERYONE THIS BEFORE THE TALIBAN TOOK OVER:
“Mr Payenda, who resigned and left #Afghanistan as the Islamist group advanced, said records showing that security forces greatly outnumbered the #Taliban were incorrect.” 1/2 https://t.co/GelH59PECR
— Dr. Jonathan Schroden (@JJSchroden) November 10, 2021
His claim needs to be investigated:
The former minister said the numbers may have been inflated by more than six times, and included "desertions [and] martyrs who were never accounted for because some of the commanders would keep their bank cards" and withdraw their salaries, he alleged. https://t.co/1QZSkft2cW
— Saul of United (@Viatcheslavsos3) November 10, 2021
And, no, nobody should be surprised by it:
Anyone surprised at this?
BBC: “Afghan ex-finance minister says corrupt officials invented ‘ghost soldiers’ and took payments from the Taliban. Most of 300,000 troops and police on the books didn't exist. Phantom personnel added to lists so generals could pocket the wages.”
— John Fund (@johnfund) November 10, 2021
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