Afghanistan opens emergency hotline in Kabul

Courtesy Photo | Army Maj. Gen. Robert W. Cone, the commanding general for Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan, tours the new 1-1-9 emergency hotline center at the Afghanistan Ministry of Interior in Kabul, Afghanistan. The hotline is similar to the 9-1-1 emergency line used in the United States, but the 1-1-9 hotline service is operated out of Kabul for all of Afghanistan.  

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

01.28.2008

Courtesy Story

NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

by Marine Staff Sgt. Luis P. Valdespino Jr.
Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan Public Affairs

KABUL, Afghanistan – The Afghanistan Ministry of Interior opened an Afghanistan emergency response telephone hotline during a Jan. 24 ceremony in Kabul.

The MOI held a public ribbon-cutting event to mark the opening of the national response hotline center. The Afghan Minister of Interior, Abdul Zarar Moqbal, and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert W. Cone, commanding general of the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, were among the speakers at a press conference held to announce the 1-1-9 hotline center opening.

Similar to America's 9-1-1 emergency hotline number, Afghanistan's 1-1-9 hotline number will offer Afghans a telephone number to call to report emergencies. However, the 1-1-9 number is a national hotline for all of Afghanistan.

According to ANP 1st Lt. Mohmood Haroon, commander of the 1-1-9 call center, the hotline center has been in the making for about two months, and is expected to help add credibility to the MOI for the people of Afghanistan.

Haroon said he expects the hotline department will, "bring trust to the people," and that the ANP will be able to better provide police support for Afghans.

Cone echoed Haroon in explaining the significance of the 1-1-9 hotline call center.

"The Afghan national police are the face of the Afghan government, to the Afghan people," said Cone. "Providing a safe means of reporting crime and terrorism is important.

"The Afghan police are empowered with this line of protection," he added.

• Date Taken: 01.28.2008
• Date Posted: 01.28.2008 12:01
• Story ID: 15815
• Location: KABUL, AF