Mujahedeen protect Provincial Reconstruction Team base

03.23.2010

Story by Staff Sgt. Donald Reeves 

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

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PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The fierceness of the fighters and the security of the valley have allowed Forward Operating Base Lion to be one of the few, if not only, bases in Afghanistan guarded solely by an Afghan security forces.

Panjshir province has been a center of resistance for Afghanistan. The people of Panjshir pushed back the Soviets in the 1980s and resisted Taliban rule in the 1990s.

FOB Lion draws its security force from a group of fighters known as the mujahedeen. The name comes from the Arabic word for "one who struggles," and is often used to refer to Islamic fighters from all different sects around the world.

In Panjshir the locals know the mujahedeen as the group that ousted the Russians and kept their province from falling to the Taliban according to several Panjshir interpreters.

FOB Lion houses the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team. This U.S. multi-service and civilian team works with the local government on strengthening Panjshir's security, governance, and reconstruction. Having a local guard allows them to move about the province freely and accomplish their work.

Jamie Bowman, a civilian member of the PRT, travels about the province in her job as a field development officer. Her team never goes far without an interpreter and a mujahedeen guard. She touted the professionalism of the security force.

"They are always alert," she said. "They are always attentive to what they have to do."

Bowman told a story about an incident when a misunderstanding had local civilians upset and blocking the road. Before she could figure out what was happening, the mujahedeen sprang into action.

"Our guard was out of the car so fast," Bowman said.

The mujahedeen, who was also a local resident, quickly took control of the situation and "made sure that we were able to deal with the people in a professional, non-confrontational way," said Bowman.

All of the mujahedeen guards are from the area. They are specially selected by the provincial governor and rely on a tight-knit community to keep the peace.

Ahmad Jan, one of two team leaders of the mujahedeen guard force said through an interpreter, "The provincial government all know us, and they picked us to be here. All of the guards that they have here are from different districts of this province, not from other provinces."

Being part of the community allows the guards to spot anything out of the ordinary.

"Most of the guards here know about 80 percent of the population," said Jan.

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Curtis Velasquez, PRT commander, says that this link to the population gives them advantages over Coalition guards.

"They can anticipate because they are indigenous to the area and are familiar with the atmospherics," said Velasquez. "They know the issues with the local population and villagers."

The strong sense of community is a large part of the stability in the valley. After decades of war, Jan said the people work together to keep the peace.

"We are tired of Taliban," said Jan. "Our people don't want them here. The locals, they know each other from this valley. If they see someone from another province looking suspicious they ask him what they are doing here. They will grab him and take him to the [Afghan national army] or [Afghan national police] and let them know that this guy is doing something suspicious."

U.S. Army National Guardsman Sgt. Tommy Olivio, from Crossville, Tenn., said the guards have a vested interest to protect the forces at the FOB.

"They don't want the Taliban here. This is one of the safest places in Afghanistan," said Olivio. "What would this place be like for them if they let something happen?"

The mujahedeen security force is made up of proven fighters with years of experience. Most of the mujahedeen who guard FOB Lion have fought against the Taliban. Many of the older guards resisted the Soviets.

Jan said, "I joined because I needed to be a person of good discipline. But during the Soviets the reason a person became a mujahedeen was because the [Soviets] attacked their provinces.

"The [Soviets] did very bad things," continued Jan. "Then everyone, if they had a weapon, became a mujahedeen and started fighting."

Before becoming one of the elite guards, Jan said that his troops went through extensive training.

"Before we came here, we already knew how to fight," said Jan. "The Americans taught us to search suspicious vehicles and people, and gate guarding procedures."

Afghan troops also went through background checks.

"The provincial government will only pick a person who has never had a criminal background. He needs to have a clear background and be well respected," said Jan.

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Lawrence McKnight, in charge of security at the FOB, has been won over completely. McKnight has worked closely with the mujahedeen on security issues concerning the base.

"These guys would get in front of a bullet for you," he said.

Jan said, "A person can only be a mujahedeen if he is a good guy, if he never bothers people. He needs to defend his own country, his own people."

And now, in addition to defending their own country, they are defending those trying to help them rebuild it.

Velasquez said the mujahedeen have accepted the PRT as their extended family and that he has full confidence in their capability to accomplish the mission.

According to the counterinsurgency guidance put out by U.S. Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander, International Security Assistance Force, in 2009, "We must get the people involved as active participants in the success of their communities... Live and train together, plan and operate together."

This is the model displayed in the relationship between the Panjshir PRT and its mujahedeen protectors

"It's the people in Panjshir that ultimately guarantee our security in this permissive environment and it is a privilege to be part of the community," said Velasquez.