Herat villagers eager for continued Afghan special operations presence

HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

12.25.2013

Story by Staff Sgt. Richard Lower 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

HELMAND PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan special forces soldiers and commandos of the 9th Special Operations Kandak conducted patrols to disrupt insurgent activity Dec. 19 in Herat province’s Pashtun Zaghun district.

The 9th SOK special operations troops carried out the mission to stop insurgents from using the Khosrow Jan, Chat and Deh Kushk villages as bases for extending their reach across the province.

“The Taliban move weapons, drugs, and explosives through the village and keep all the benefits of [the government] away from the village,” said a Deh Kushk villager.

The commandos searched the villages for weapons caches and gathered information that would help them in their continued fight against insurgents.

“I am happy that the Afghan special forces came to the village to show that they care about our safety and security,” said another villager. “The special forces presence will keep the enemies away from the village and we would like more patrols in our village. We are a peaceful village and do not want to be ruled by [the] Taliban.”

Afghan special forces and commandos held meetings with local leaders from each of the villages during the operations. The kandak’s ability to reach out to and support the local citizens was the main topic of conversation between the village and military leaders.

• Date Taken: 12.25.2013
• Date Posted: 12.25.2013 05:12
• Story ID: 118628
• Location: HELMAND PROVINCE, AF