Can the Ring of Steel Protect Kabul?

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

06.06.2010

Story by Staff Sgt. Sarah Loicano 

NATO Training Mission Afghanistan

KABUL - A series of 25 Afghan National Police checkpoints, known as the Ring of Steel, create a new layer of perimeter security around central Kabul.

Designed to cover Kabul's points of entry, by both foot and vehicle traffic, the Ring of Steel is considered to be a low-cost, high-payoff project for the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, which helped fund and equip the checkpoints. Although leaders say the security plan for Kabul is still relatively immature, vast improvements have been made in recent months.

"Security is better than it was even two months ago," said U.S. Army Maj. James Cheney, ANP support operations officer. "In January they only had about 35 guys running the Ring of Steel, and with no money and no training it was an ad hoc effort."

With CSTC-A's help, the ANP work to make each checkpoint a visible and legitimate area. Blue signs indicate each checkpoint as an official ANP security stop and traffic measures direct drivers to follow the flow of traffic. These measures help prevent accidents and help decrease traffic congestion. Cheney said with the addition of the six-ton booths that will be added, the checkpoints will difficult to replicate.

Since January, the number of checkpoints, once scattered randomly, were consolidated to key points of entry into the city. These, including checkpoint four, which sees the most traffic and checkpoint two, which is on a main highway leading to the Kabul International Airport. The Ring of Steel Kandak (battalion) works for Kabul City Police Command. A force of 800 police officers mans checkpoints, working in six-hour shifts, 24-hours daily. The police rotate checkpoints, which helps minimize complacency and risk. The rotations give them shared duty among more dangerous areas.

Tasked to search suspicious vehicles, verify identity documentation, look for unauthorized weapons, tinted windows and explosives, Maj. Ahmad Farid Hotal, Ring of Steel Kandak operations officer, said the police who work the checkpoints do so in service of their people.

"The policeman stands in hot summer weather for six hours, so the people of the city can feel secure inside the Ring of Steel," said the eight-year ANP veteran. "The people are glad, because, since the Ring of Steel was created, they are feeling more secure. The people used to be kidnapped and there used to be a lot of terrorist attacks but the Ring of Steel is covering the city and we've had good results."

Future plans to protect the city include a series of city gates outside the Ring of Steel perimeter. Then further outside a set of five Afghan National Army forward operating bases will provide an outer cordon.

Despite that, Cheney said Kabul needs another layer of security between the city gates and Ring of Steel, especially until the police complete checkpoint training to run the stops effectively.

"After their six-or eight-week basic training course, they go to their unit, but there's nothing in the course about manning a checkpoint," Cheney said. "There's a huge amount of training that goes on after the fact, but with very little partnering, they don't know how to use the checkpoints to pull cars aside without disrupting the flow of traffic or limit the number of cars piling up for inspection."

Each checkpoint is equipped with a minimum of five police officers and a portable explosives detection system. Those areas with heavier traffic flow have a military working dog for easier searches. Giving the ANP a highly-visible, legitimate checkpoint area has resonated with the Kabul residents.

Mohammad Maroof, a taxi driver who has been a Kabul resident for 40 years, lives near Ring of Steel checkpoint 17. He said his fellow Kabul residents feel more comfortable there.

"We all sleep comfortable at night, even when our doors are open because the ANP is here and security is pretty good," said Maroof. "We feel more secure here and the shop keepers are open late at night. Our children are safe."

• Date Taken: 06.06.2010
• Date Posted: 06.06.2010 16:29
• Story ID: 50962
• Location: KABUL, AF