PAKTIKA PROVINCE, Afghanistan — At Combat Outpost Curry in the isolated and remote district of Goamal, coalition leaders met to plan and discuss the roadmap for the future of regional security March 2.
Afghan Border Patrol Maj. Surdar Mohammad, commander, of the 6th Kandak, met with U.S. Army Lt. Col. Donnie Yates, a team chief for the Security Force Advisory Team, 172nd Infantry Brigade, Task Force Blackhawk.
Before the meeting started, Yates gave Mohammad school supplies for children in the district. They also reviewed previous operation maps and prepared for the upcoming ABP commander’s conference in Gardez.
Yates, a native of Kenly, N.C., said he’s grateful to work with Mohammad, a 31-year military veteran.
“He has done an outstanding job of meeting the mission requirements out here in the district,” Yates said. “He has worked very hard to overcome any challenges and has the largest Afghan National Security Force element in Goamal.”
Mohammad and his soldiers conduct three to four patrols independently and with other ANSF on a weekly basis without participation of coalition forces. He believes they are here to help improve security and help his compatriots stand on their own.
“Ten years ago before the arrival of the coalition forces to Afghanistan, we were going through dark times; it was a chaotic situation. There was fighting everywhere, there was lawlessness, chaos, Taliban and al-Qaida controlling most of the country,” Mohammad said. “With the arrival of the coalition forces a lot has changed. The Taliban controlled this area where we are now, which is not too far from the Pakistan border. Things have changed tremendously.”
Recently the ANSF planned and executed a convoy of 31 new vehicles to Combat Outpost Curry that Yates considers a particularly proud moment for them.
“They moved a combination of pickup trucks, humvees, a wrecker and an ambulance which was equipment that they didn’t have before,” stated Yates. “They did that in conjunction with the other ANSF, ANA, and the AUP. Not only did they do all the planning together, it was very well executed and synchronized. It was excellent evidence that they are moving towards independence.”
With assistance from coalition forces and international community members Mohammad feels his countrymen are beginning to defend their country effectively.
“We have tremendous appreciation for and do not take lightly the sacrifices that the international community, especially the United States, have made out here,” said Mohammad. “We are here to rebuild this country and it’s armed forces so that history doesn’t return to what we had 10 years ago.”
| Date Taken: | 03.05.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.05.2012 01:03 |
| Story ID: | 84722 |
| Location: | PAKTIKA PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 311 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, ABP commander works with coalition for independence, by SGT William Begley, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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