A new battalion, composed of 615 soldiers, joined the Afghanistan National Army (ANA) in west of the country on Monday, senior military commander in the region Jalandar Shah Behnam said.

"The battalion formally commissioned in army today after being trained under U.S. and NATO instruction," Behnam told Xinhua.

Thirty four Humvees are among heavy and light weapons given to them carry on their routine activities, the official said.

"With joining this battalion, the capability of our troops in the west would further improve," Behnam added.

The weaponry of Afghan army is gradually replaced from Russian-style to weapons used by U.S. and NATO-member states.

ANA's present strength is over 86,000 while the Afghan government is trying to build a 134,000-strong army to meet the demand of self-defense by 2011.

Source:Xinhua