Afghanistan's Ministry of Defence said Sunday that the international forces do not have the right to demolish military bases in Afghanistan, a practice sometimes done as the foreign troops permanently leave the base.
"We will not permit anyone to demolish any of the bases on Afghan soil," said ministry spokesman Gen Zahir Azimi. "It is Afghanistan's responsibility to recognise which base should remain and which one not."
Azimi said that although the foreign forces are prepared to hand over their bases to the Afghan government across Afghanistan, there are reports that bases in more remote parts of the country might be demolished amid fears they will fall into the hands of insurgents.
"To date, 152 bases have been handed over to the government of Afghanistan, among which 113 bases were handed over to National Army forces and the rest to the police. There should be no doubt of the capability of Afghan forces for defending these bases," Azimi said.
Military expert Najibullah Noorestani questioned the logic of the international forces leaving areas that they think the Afghan army may not be able to defend a base.
"If Afghan forces do not have the capacity to defend these bases, then why would the international forces leave?" He said.
Figures from Ministry of Defence indicate that there are currently 814 military bases across Afghanistan - tactical, operational, and strategic - including the 152 already in the Afghan government's control.
The ministry has said that most of the tactical bases of international forces which are the forces' security posts will be demolished. However the operational and strategic bases will be used for military and civilian purposes.