GCPSU Commander: On Fighting Terrorism, Criminals, and Narcotics and Drug Traffickers

Photo By Bob Ditchey | Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel commander, General Command Police Special Unit (GCPSU) answered questions from the public regarding GCPSU operations during a live radio talk show, Kabul, Afghanistan, May 13, 2018. (NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan courtesy photo)  

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

05.13.2018

Story by Bob Ditchey 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

AFGHANISTAN
05 13 2018
TRANSCRIPT
NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan
May 13, 2018 - Radio Bayan FM 88.5 FM in Kabul, Afghanistan
(Translated from Dari)

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: Thank you for providing the opportunity to speak on your radio. Our special police units are busy in providing security for the election and for the people in 34 provinces. We have units in the provinces and also units that operate at the national level, such as the 222, 333 and 444 units.

The units are expanding according to the order of the president and the MOI four years plan. We plan three more units. They are under training, and about 25% of their training, equipping and recruitment is completed. The 555 unit for Herat province, 999 unit for Nangarhar province, and 888 unit for Balkh province are among these units.

Last year the special units, including national and provincial units, conducted about 2326 operations in all over Afghanistan. 2,010 operations were conducted by our national units and our provincial units conducted 769 operations all over the country, killing 1733 enemies of the country and wounding 1200 enemies. In addition, 546 different types of rifles were seized and 90 vehicles of the enemy were destroyed.

One of the tasks of special units is to provide security for Kabul City. The special unit has neutralized 11 suicide attacks in Kabul, Balkh, Paktya, and Paktika provinces. A total of 45 suicide attackers have been killed during these operations.

Our first priority is to provide security for Kabul province, and our second priority is to provide security for highways, our third priority is to provide security in Herat, Jalalabad, and Balkh Provinces. In addition, the special unit forces will react to all serious and important security threats in the country and they are able to conduct operations in any condition.

Radio Bayan: What are the main duties of GCPSU forces?

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: We have three main duties: fighting terrorism, fighting criminals, and fighting narcotics and drug traffickers. We respond in situations that other security forces are not able to handle.

Radio Bayan: What is the difference between operations that you conduct and the operations that other security forces conduct?

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: For the most part our focus is inside cites, the ANA special forces conduct operations in the out skirts of the cities. The special police forces address those security threats which are inside the cities. We mostly do the law enforcement jobs. We also fight the criminality and drug-trafficking.

Radio Bayan: You mean that your forces are completing the objects of other police forces?

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: Yes, we support other police forces in those situations which they are not able to handle it and after neutralizing the threat we pave the ground for their activities.
Radio Bayan: Can you tell me about the abilities of the GCPSU forces, how sell equipped are they?

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: Fortunately, the special police units receive very hard and good training. We have a training center in Kabul that provides 6-month basic training and there is a training center in Balkh province that provides more advanced and technical training. In addition, there is a Special Police Training Center in Logar province that provides special training. We have the best equipment, the same as NATO soldiers have.

Caller from Herat Province: There was a heavy fighting in Dai Chopan district few days ago and the chief of police who was fighting in that area said that they didn’t receive any back up. Why didn’t you provide them back up, and my another question is that the police special unit is not active so much, what is the reason?

Caller from Nangarhar Province: It is a shame for you that battalions has been slaughtered and the other thing that you said that you are fighting mafia, I want to ask that which mafia did you destroyed, come to Nangarhar and see how many armed people are here. You don’t have the courage to fight mafia; if you do it we will appreciate you.

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: Our listener from Herat asked about support in Dai Chopan. In Dai Chopan in the first hours of the fighting the Special Forces were sent to the area. Our forces were engaged until the end of the fighting.

Our other listener who called from Nangarhar, I can understand that sometimes criminals and mafia cause problems for our people and our people suffer from them, but it doesn’t mean that we are allied with mafia. We are fighting with mafia in our capacity and there are other security sections that also have responsibility. They should disarm those irresponsible armed people. Thanks from the both listener ideas.

Caller from Nangarhar Province: Previously we had good security in Nangarhar province but these days the security is tense and we are facing lots of problem. During the night we can’t even carry our patients to hospitals. There are threats against our schools. I want the guest to pay attention to the security situation of our province.

Caller from Kandahar province: I thank the police special units for their efforts. I want them to be vigilant and defeat the enemy.

Radio Bayan: What is your advice to the people? What should they do when there is a suicide attack?

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: We are trying to prevent the civilian casualties because most of the suicide attacks are in residential areas. People should be away of the location that the explosion has occurred and allow us to secure the area and carry wounded ones to the hospital.

Radio Bayan: Please tell us about recruitment process of soldiers in Afghan Special Security Forces?

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: Any Afghan who is 18 years old can join. They shouldn’t be addicted, they shouldn’t have any criminal record and they shouldn’t have membership of any political activists. After passing a test, they will receive special training, after that they can work in Afghan Special Security Forces.

Caller from Kabul: As you know that the International Community helped Afghanistan. Why we are not able to prevent the terroristic attacks? What is the reason?

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: Most of the countries in the world helped Afghanistan and some efforts have been done in security section. There are lots of changes compared to the past.

Today we have Afghan National Army, National Police Forces and Afghan National Security Forces. Afghan children are going to school. Today we have achievements, for example today there is Afghan Air Forces and they do night raids. The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces will be self-sufficient in the future and will be able to provide security all over the country.

Radio Bayan: What is your advice to the media and reporters while they are covering a suicide attack incident?

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: At first I am thankful of media and reporters because they are working for the people and they tell the truth. There are some areas that are not safe and the reporters shouldn’t be there, but just after the Afghan Security Forces provide security, the reporters and media can get information about the events from Kabul Security Command.

Radio Bayan: According to 4 years plan of Afghanistan’ government for increasing the capacity of Afghan Special Security Forces. Hos the government paid attention on Afghan Special Forces to increase the capacity of them?

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: According to 4 years security plan, the Afghan Special Security Forces have prioirty. The Afghan Special Forces will do the first operation when they finish their studying. They will be equipped with modern weapons.

Caller from Kabul: We are thankful of Afghan National Police Forces, Afghan National Army and Afghan Special Security Forces because they are trying to provide security in our country. I request them to pay attention to the security situation of Kabul city because it is the capital of Afghanistan. The people of Kabul city want security.

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: Afghan Defense and Security Forces are trying to provide security all over the country especially in Kabul city. The Afghan Special Security Forces conduct operations in different provinces. The Afghan Special Forces are professional and have lots of achievements.

Caller from Nangarhar: Did the Afghan Special Forces get enough trainings? How the International Community support them?

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: There is the primary trainings for 6 months, then there is advanced training for 6 months, after that there is professional trainings in different sections for 3 months. The trainings take one and half year to be completed. The International Community helps us in equipment section.

Caller from Nangarhar: I request the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces to search the houses in every location because those who came from neighbor countries and want to do the suicide attack will get the explosive material in Afghanistan. Have you ever evaluated the fighting tactics that you use or the fighting tactics of the enemies?

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: It is a good opinion and we are trying to search the houses in suspicious locations. After military operation, we evaluate the fighting tactics of the enemies and how effective was our tactics, then we are trying to prevent the enemies tactics.

Radio Bayan: Is there any cooperation between Special Forces of Afghan National Army and other Afghan Security Forces during operations?

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: There is good cooperation between all Afghan National Defense and Security Forces and we are fighting against the enemies and defending from our country and our people.

Radio Bayan: What are your plans for providing security on highways?
Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: We will fight against the enemies who want to close the way to the people and we will open the way.

Radio Bayan: What is the role of Afghan Special Forces to make the security during the Election Day?

Maj. Gen. Sayed Mohammad Roshandel: Afghan Special Security Forces are trying to provide security in the country to allow the people of Afghanistan to go to registration centers and register them for the election.

• Date Taken: 05.13.2018
• Date Posted: 05.24.2018 05:43
• Story ID: 278229
• Location: KABUL, AF