KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- Germany has donated 10,000 Walther P-1 pistols to the Afghan security forces.
The weapons were handed over at a ceremony in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, the Office of Security Cooperation-Afghanistan announced. They were all 9mm German-made Walthers from the German Armed Forces.
"The contributions of these weapons will help the security forces of Afghanistan to be more prepared to perform their duties," Afghan Maj. Gen. Mohammad H. Basir, the Afghan Army's chief of logistics, said.
The weapons were divided evenly between the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police in a ceremony at the Afghan Security Forces Depot.
The donation is the result of a weapons request made by the U.S. Embassy in Berlin one year ago, according to Dr. Rainald Steck, German Ambassador to Afghanistan.
"This donation will enable (the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police) to contribute even more to Afghanistan's security and stability," Steck said. "A successful security sector reform cannot be achieved without enabling security forces to fulfill their mission, to establish security and stability -- by force, if needed."
"This is not the first contribution from Germany. They are helping us in many areas to bring stability in Afghanistan," Technology and Logistics Maj. Gen. Baz M. Jawhary said.
