Afghanistan’s Top Commando: “We are capable and ready; we want peace in Afghanistan”

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

07.16.2018

Story by Bob Ditchey 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

Lt. Gen. Bismillah Waziri, Commander of the Afghan National Army Special Operations Corps answered questions about ANASOC readiness and training during a live talk show with Radio Bayan, Jul. 16, 2018.

Radio Bayan: Could you please talk about the main responsibilities and duties of Afghan National Army Special Operations Corps?

Lt. Gen. Waziri: Our mission is to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country according to the constitution of Afghanistan. We are ready to conduct operations in all parts of the country. One of our responsibilities is to recruit youths and train them.

Radio Bayan: What are the conditions for being recruited for the Afghan National Army Special Operations Corps?

Lt. Gen. Waziri: Soldiers who served in the ANA and have certificate of service completion may volunteer for Special Operations training. We also recruit students from military academy who are interested in serving in Special Operations. Recruits must complete a physical fitness test. Each week we give exam to those volunteers who want to join Special Forces. We select the best candidates.

Radio Bayan: Do you have a training camp for them to train them after their success in the exam?

Lt. Gen. Waziri: Yes, we have a school of excellence that has three sections. In one section we train Special Forces, in other section we train Commando Forces, and in third section, we train our armored equipped forces, which we call our Mobile Strike Force (MSF).

Radio Bayan: What role do Special Forces play in the current situation?

Lt. Gen. Waziri: There are three different formations in our corps. One of them is our Special Forces. They conduct special operation on special targets. They have significant achievements in this area. Our other forces are commando forces. They support the ANA clearing operations. We use them to break through strong front lines of the enemy. They also take part in searching and clearing the area. Our third types of forces is our MSF. They newly joined the Special Forces. They have armored vehicles and they have special abilities of fire and mobility. According to our four years plan, until now we trained two battalions of MSF.

Radio Bayan: Do commando forces conduct operations across the entire country of Afghanistan?

Lt. Gen. Waziri: Our Special Forces are capable and ready to conduct operations in all parts of the country. There is no area within our country that we cannot operate.

Radio Bayan: After Special Forces regiment upgraded to corps, what new facilities did they receive?

Lt. Gen. Waziri: ANASOC grew from a battalion to a regiment, and then regiment to the Corps. The transformation to a corps was based on needs and effectiveness of our forces. Our growth is based on our four years plan and we are on track with our growth plan. We don’t have any problem and international community is supporting and equipping us. Afghan youth are very interested in joining our forces and so our recruiting is on track with the growth plan.

Radio Bayan: What physical condition should a youth have to be recruited in Special Forces?

Lt. Gen. Waziri: The training to become an Afghan commando is not common or easy. They should be able to conduct difficult operations and tasks. They should have physical and mental strength. They should be patriot and loyal to our country.

Caller from Zabul Province: “Which youths they prefer for Special Forces and what are their future plans?

Radio Bayan: As you said that you have a four-year plan. According to this plan the numbers of the Special Forces should be increased, to which level you accomplished this goal?

Lt. Gen. Waziri: We are on track having accomplished about 80% of this goal. The remaining 20% will be completed by 2020. I am thankful to the International Community and Minister of Defense for supporting Special Forces.

Radio Bayan: Is there a timeline that you follow in recruiting new soldiers?

Lt. Gen. Waziri: We are moving forward according to our plan and we should complete our plan objectives until 2020.

Radio Bayan: What are the developments in Air forces?

Lt. Gen. Waziri: Air forces are also progressing and developing according to the plan. Good progress has been made in air forces too. New aircraft have been received by our air force and Special Mission Wing.

Caller from Kabul Province: What is the salary of Special Forces? Most of our youths are jobless and they seek a job, if it is higher than ANA and they hear it, so, it can encourage them to join the Special Forces.

Lt. Gen. Waziri: Aside from other advantages and basic salary, we pay 5,000 AF bonus salaries to Commandos and 9,000 to Special Forces. We also provide better foods and equipment. Our soldiers are patriots and they care about our country.

Caller from Kunduz Province: What the Special Forces have done in tackling powerbrokers and illegal armed groups?

Radio Bayan: Could you speak about the recent achievements of Special Forces?

Lt. Gen. Waziri: In the recent one year, we mostly engaged ISIS-K in Nangarhar Province and cleared districts from their presence. We also prevented the collapse of Farah City. We conducted successful operations in Kunduz, Helmand, Faryab and Uruzgan provinces too.

Caller from Khost Province: Could you provide information about the night raids? And also, how satisfy you are with your equipment?

Lt. Gen. Waziri: We do conduct night raids and during our operation we are very careful about civilian casualties. Also, we are satisfied with our equipment.

Radio Bayan: What is your suggestion to the people that what should they do during the operations?

Lt. Gen. Waziri: I want the people to know that insurgents use civilians as human shields and not to let insurgents in their homes. I am thankful to the people they always supported us and cooperated with us.

Q13: As you know that the enemies aren’t able to fight against Afghan Commando Forces. What are the characteristics of the Afghan commando forces?

Lt. Gen. Waziri: Afghan Commandos are committed and loyal. This is very important in military forces. Commando Forces should be educated and experienced; they should get trainings and should be equipped with modern weapons. Planning is the best way for success. The Military Forces should be honest and brave.

Caller from Nangarhar: Are there civilian casualties during your operations? I request the Afghan Security Forces to be in the way between Kabul and Nangarhar and make the security there because the enemies are trying to make the situation more insecure.

Lt. Gen. Waziri: The Afghan Commando Forces are careful to avoid civilian casualties during operations. We are defending our country. The persons who are graduated from 12th class, they can join Afghan National Army. Afghan Soldiers have annual leave and they can go to their homes and visit their families.

Callers from Farah: Afghan Commando Forces could make the security in Farah province. Their nightly operations are very important to destroy the terroristic shelters. Afghan Commando Forces are brave and the enemies can’t fight against them.

Caller from Nangarhar: We don’t want the war in Afghanistan. Both sides of the war are Afghans, but Afghan National Defense and Security Forces are fighting to defend Afghanistan and people of Afghanistan.

Lt. Gen. Waziri: We have plans to do nightly operations in Farah provinces to destroy terrorist shelters. Afghan National Defense and Security Forces are sons of this country and we want the people of Afghanistan to cooperate with us. We are trying to solve the problems that people of Afghanistan are facing. We want peace in our country. We are ready to defend our country and our people. We should all work for the development of Afghanistan.

• Date Taken: 07.16.2018
• Date Posted: 07.31.2018 04:17
• Story ID: 286419
• Location: KABUL, AF