KABUL, April 27: Soviet-era tanks, freshly painted in US-style military colours, squeaked by, belching smoke. Thousands of goose-stepping Afghan soldiers in crisp new uniforms saluted in time. A force of female police made a historic debut.
A National Day parade in front of Kabul's yellow and white Eid Gah mosque on Tuesday marked a small but historic milestone in a year when President Hamid Karzai struggled to tame mounting unrest.
Inspecting thousands of soldiers under tight security, Mr Karzai and Defence Minister Mohammad Qasim Fahim stood in a convoy of new Russian-built vehicles, an ironic twist on a day Afghanistan celebrated the overthrow 12 years ago of the Soviet-installed Communist government. -Reuters
