KABUL (SW): Lieutenant Mursal Nighat, has been serving the Afghan National Army (ANA) for the past two years now as female instructor.
Mursal was born in Jabul Saraj district in Parwan. She lost her father to a suicide attack in 2009 who was also military officer. In exclusive conversation with Salam Watandar, she said that she grew enormous interest in joining the ANA from an early age.
Mursal stated that she finally joined the army some two years ago to take revenge of her father’s death from the ‘sworn enemies’ of the country.
Mursal has a bachelor degree in literature and currently serves as the commander of Malalai Training Battalion. She said that she vividly remembers the first day when she put on the ‘sacred uniform’ of the ANA. Since then, I am eager to work shoulder to shoulder to my male comrades. She expressed wish to go out on the streets on patrol.
She lamented that some women who serve the army are not fully supported by their families. Mursal noted that she is the only educated woman among her relatives who works outside the house.
She recounted how she coped with all the insult she received from her relatives for working outside the house but now her relatives hold great respects for her. She further said that insults and humiliation never disappointed her to give-up her pursuit for serving in the army.
The young soldier stated that she has never fought on the battlefields but emphasized that if asked, she would bravely step in to fight.
Her message to other women is to join the army and not to be scared. She stated that those women who want to join the army, they should apply for it and should not have fear.
It is worth mentioning that around only around 13 percent of the ANA comprises of women.
ENDS
