“Our people can see our success and judge it themselves,” touts Afghan National Army Special Operations Command Spokesman

WARDAK PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

05.06.2018

Story by Bob Ditchey 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

May 06, 2018 - Radio Bayan FM 88.5 FM in Kabul, Afghanistan
(Translated from Dari)

Radio Bayan: Since 21 March, how many operations have the Special Forces conducted?

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: Since 21 March we conducted 1278 operations. Aside from combat, these operations have included relief operations, search operations, patrols, supporting other ANSDF, IED discoveries and supplying ANSDF. But, most important are our combat operations and we had good achievements in our combat operations.

Radio Bayan: What is the difference between your operations that you conducted this year, compared to the previous years?

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: First of all, we have very good coordination during our operations with other ANSDF forces. This year two mobile strike forces units joined the Special Forces corps. The equipment of these forces will help the mobilization of the Special Forces. We are happy that these two units joined Special Forces.

Radio Bayan: In general, how is the morale of enemy, after the repeated defeats that they suffered?

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: Inshallah, the ANSDF is able to neutralize all the strategic plans of the enemy and will not allow them to implement their plans. We are completely prepared to defeat the enemy and their new announced operation. We already neutralized their plans, we killed their key commanders, we destroyed their weapons reserves, we destroyed their bases, destroyed their IEDs and narcotics factories. We are well-prepared and didn’t allow them to implement their plans.

Radio Bayan: Could you please provide us information about your recent operations in Badakhshan Province?

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: Yes, the district of Badakhshan Province which was in high-threat level for short time collapsed. But soon the Special Forces, along with local security forces conducted a rapid operation and recaptured the district. The district is now active and life returned to normal in the district. Due to the bad condition of the road to the district center, the enemy captured the district center for short time and also the weather condition was not permissive. This is why we couldn’t reach the district center for a while. By improvement in the weather condition, the Special Forces reached the district center and they cleared the district center.

Radio Bayan: How do Special Forces operations lead the security forces to success?

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: All the people know that the Special Forces operations have been successful and effective. For instance, in Badakhshan province our Forces conducted operations and recaptured the district center. Our people can see our success and judge it themselves.

Radio Bayan: Is there any difference between the operations of Special Forces and other security forces?

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: Yeah, there are. As the name of Special Force indicates, we conduct special operations. We target key commanders of the enemy, their key groups, bases of the enemies, their narcotics and IEDs factories, and in general we target key elements of the enemy. We just conduct special operations.

Radio Bayan: It’s said that the enemy is very afraid of the Special Forces, what is the reason behind this?

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: It has many reasons, first it is because our soldiers have a strong faith in god, and second, it is because they have good training, they have very modern equipment. Also the leadership of the ANA supervises the Special Forces very well. This is why their operations are effective and wherever they do operations the enemy flees that area.

Radio Bayan: Sometimes we receive calls from ANSDF soldiers and they complain about lack of equipment, what is your opinion about this?

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: Special Forces don’t lack equipment. As I said previously, we have the most modern equipment and we get all our needs on time. We don’t have any problem in this regard.

Radio Bayan: How important and effective is the support of people from ANSDF?

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: The support of people will raise the morale of our soldiers. When our soldiers see that people support them and value their efforts, their morale will rise.

Radio Bayan: Please tell us about the process for recruiting of youth in the Afghan National Army?

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: There are some processes for recruiting youth, those who want to work with Afghan Commando Forces first should pass the military training period in a Military Training Center and then they can get the training to be able to work with Afghan Commando Forces. Those who worked with Afghan Security Forces and have the certificate, they can work with Afghan Commando Forces.

Radio Bayan: How much have the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces developed professionally, in equipment section and capacity section?

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: We started from zero, today we have educated Security Forces and Air Forces with modern equipment and they are able to fight against the enemy and we have lots of achievements like doing operations, suppressing enemies, destroying terrorist sanctuaries and preventing the enemies’ plans.

Radio Bayan: Are the Afghan Security Forces, ready to provide security for the upcoming election process?

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: We are ready to provide security in election process. There is good cooperation between Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army and Afghan Security Forces. It is the people’s rights to vote for their favorite candidate in the Election Day to make the future of our country.

Radio Bayan: Please tell us about the training and educational period of Afghan Commando and Special Forces?

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: There is professional education and hard training for Afghan Commandos and Special Forces. The Commando and Special Forces get training to be ready to do hard work and operations.

Callers:

Caller, from Herat Province
Why, when ground forces conduct operations, don’t air forces support them? The air forces conduct operations very late. And second question is, why don’t the Special Forces respond to the Pakistani forces artillery attacks on our land?

Caller, from Zabul Province
What are your achievements? Could you please speak about your important achievements? Did you kill Daesh, or Pakistanis?

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: We conducted operations in Dandi Pathan district with the support of locals. In Badakhshan, Helmand, Nangarhar province we have achievements. We always announced our achievements through media. We captured 86 small weapons, 45 heavy arms; 1865 kg of explosive materials were seized and we discovered many IEDs.

Caller, from Farah Province
Why do our security forces suffer lots of casualties despite their professionalism? As you know, opposition groups announced their operation, Al Khandaq operation, what are your plans to neutralize their operations and efforts?

Caller, from Kabul:
It is for Afghan National Defense and Security Forces to prevent the suicide attacks in our country to decrease killing of innocents in Afghanistan.

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: Afghan Security Forces were made just 15-16 years ago. Afghan Security Forces provide security for all people in all provinces of Afghanistan, shows that Afghan Security Forces know their responsibilities. The Afghan National Army, Security Forces and Police Forces do a lot of operations against the enemy. The enemy want to create an insecure situation in our country, but Afghan National Forces are fighting against them and they are able to prevent the enemy’s activities.

Caller, from Paktika:
The Afghan National Army should be equipped with modern weapons to be able to fight against the enemy and do the operations against them.

Lt. Col. Qayoom Nooristani: There is cooperation between the foreign troops and Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. The Balloons with security cameras are very useful to provide security and to control the situation. Afghan Commando Forces are Special Forces and they do the special operations, most of the special operations are at night.

• Date Taken: 05.06.2018
• Date Posted: 05.15.2018 11:15
• Story ID: 276652
• Location: WARDAK PROVINCE, AF