KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - Toting obsolete equipment and an arsenal dating back to the Soviet era, the Afghan National Army says it's waiting for modern weapons promised by Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor.
The Afghan army, which Canada is counting on to take over fighting against the Taliban in coming months, still has yet to receive C-7 assault rifles and ammunition the Canadian government pledged to deliver, said Lt.-Col. Sherinshaw Khobandi.
In Ottawa, a Defence Ministry spokesman confirmed that supplies for the Afghan National Army are planned, but declined to specify a date when they will be delivered.
Khobandi said O'Connor should have replenished the arsenal, at least in part, during his last visit. O'Connor's last public trip to Afghanistan was in March.
"We had a good talk with him," he said through an interpreter during a visit to the Kandahar multinational base on Saturday.
"I suggested that he could help us with some weapons and some ammunition. His recommendation was that within the next few months, he'll supply us with brand new equipment from(the) Canadian Forces."
The C-7 delivery delay has slowed the preparation of Afghan recruits and stalled their takeover of combat operations against the Taliban.
For now, Afghan soldiers must rely on Soviet-era weapons, such as the Kalashnikov AK-47.
At best, the AK-47s are not as precise and have a shorter range than the C-7, which is the Canadian version of the American M-16.
Khobandi is waiting for the weapons with impatience.
"I'm hoping and waiting for that day (to) come," he said.
"So that we can work together with the Canadian Forces, with their new equipment and then we'll be trained with the new Canadian equipment for future operations."
In the meantime, the Afghan military has a lot of work to do before it can match the firepower and challenge insurgents in place of Canadian troops.
In Kandahar province, less than 500 men are sufficiently trained and ready for combat.
Canada's new tactical group commander in the Kandahar province, Lt.-Col. Alain Gauthier, remains optimistic.
Gauthier said Afghan soldiers will have sufficient numbers and will be adequately trained to secure districts around Kandahar City.
"This will permit us (the Canadian military) to enlarge our field of action farther into the province," said Gauthier, who replaced Lt.-Col. Rob Walker.
