KUNDUZ PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Every day throughout the country, the Afghan Local Police volunteer to risk their lives to keep their villages safe from Taliban activities. In northern Afghanistan’s Kunduz province, the ALP recently demonstrated an increased ability to complement the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s strides toward national stability beyond checkpoints.
Afghan Local Police complement counterinsurgency efforts by supporting rural areas with limited Afghan National Security Forces presence, enabling conditions for improved security, governance, and development.
These village ‘Guardians’ undergo a training regimen that enables them to stand their ground effectively against the enemy and communicate the stability needs of the villages to the district leadership.
The Afghan Local Police of Chahar Darreh District attribute their desire to serve their villages to a sense of loyalty and the desire to see their country develop into a safe place for all Afghans.
“The Taliban do not want peace and happiness for this nation,” said Chahar Darreh, ALP Amirullah. “They want to destroy the harmony of this country and they encourage chaos among our people. In order to have a bright and prosperous Afghanistan, we must do everything possible and work together to accomplish this goal.”
The ALP are effective and contributed to the success of several large Commando, Afghan National Army Special Forces (ANASF), and National Directorate of Security clearing operations in Dasht-e Archi and Imam Sahbib Districts, by providing additional security and information to the military forces involved.
“The ALP know their environment very well and they are trusted by the people,” said Kunduz Provincial Spokesman Enaytullah Khaliq. “Before the implementation of the ALP program, the security situation was very poor in most of our districts and the Taliban was able to operate freely. Recently, the ALP have been successful in limiting and, in many cases, stopping the insurgents’ activities. They have even contributed to the successful arrest of insurgent leadership during military operations.”
As district security increases throughout the province, the ALP directly support increases in development.
ALP from several villages in Kunduz Province worked together to provide perimeter security for multiple medical seminars in Aliabad District. The women’s health and wellness seminar, made it possible for more than 80 women to learn about prenatal, self-care, nutrition, and midwifery techniques.
“Generally speaking, the ALP presence causes improved security, making development initiatives possible,” said Khaliq. “Improved security allows us to concentrate on issues of education, agriculture, business, and employment. “The ALP are successful because they are of the people. The people know and have confidence in them.”
The ALP in Kunduz Province assisted the ANASF with civil-military initiatives to help local villagers maintain the health of their livestock.
During a recent engagement, the ALP and ANASF treated more than 2,300 animals in Dasht-e Archi and Imam Sahib Districts. The joint forces administered vaccinations and anti-parasitic medication to village livestock that will increase the overall health and longevity of the animals.
“We have many great plans for our country,” said Amirullah from Kunduz Province. “We want to bring peace to this country. We want to work hard to defeat, capture, and arrest the enemy at any cost in order to keep the Taliban from performing inappropriate actions in our country.”
The ANASF worked extensively to increase security in Kunduz Province, using ALP-provided information, to carefully plan counterinsurgency operations. During recent operations, the ALP collaborated with the ANASF, providing security and acting as liaisons between the soldiers and the villagers. This coordination of effort strengthened the effectiveness of their operations and led to the detention of numerous Taliban leaders and insurgents.
An ANASF Team Leader, Wahid Rajab said before the existence of ALP, insurgents disturbed the districts by planting IEDs, attacking district centers, and attacking police headquarters. The upheaval prompted the Ministry of Interior to meet with villagers and request support and volunteers for the ALP program.
“Many of the volunteers were tired of the Taliban subjugation and injustice,” said Rajab. “The Taliban now have limited areas where they can feel safe to operate. It has become harder for them to recruit and threaten the safety of the villagers. I am proud to say that their training has allowed the ALP to work with us while protecting their families and complete improving the level of security in most areas.”
Afghan Local Police’s ability to provide security for the people enables growth of governance and development throughout Afghanistan. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan recently assumed full security responsibility, demonstrating that progress is real and tangible.
“Our leadership is very content with the success of the ALP program,” said Kunduz Provincial Chief of Police Spokesman Sarwar. “There are some districts that don’t have ALP and in those districts, the people and district leadership are requesting ALP support. The ALP have proven to be very important for the maintenance of security at the district and village levels.”
| Date Taken: |
08.06.2013 |
| Date Posted: |
08.07.2013 08:43 |
| Story ID: |
111486 |
| Location: |
KUNDUZ PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: |
317 |
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