Afghan police, reconstruction team promote Guardians of Peace

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

12.30.2010

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan – The Afghan National Police from the Nurgaram District, Nuristan province and the Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team combined efforts to promote the Guardians of Peace program Dec. 27 in Lowkar village.

Guardians of Peace, part of the Department of Defense’s Rewards Program, is relatively new in the western part of Nuristan province. The program rewards Afghan citizens who provide useful and actionable intelligence to Afghan and coalition forces.

Citizens are given a telephone number to a tip line they can call to speak with someone in their local language. The information is given to the Afghan National Army through the provincial operational coordination center. The Afghan Army or police, sometimes with the help of coalition forces, then works to verify the information.

“Here is a number you can call if you see something that looks suspicious,” Afghan National Police 1st Lt. Wali Muhammad, police officer from Nurgaram District, told residents of Lowkar. “Please call us and let us know.”

Tips are varied, but often involve the location of enemy weapons caches and insurgent troop strengths.

“This is a good opportunity for the local people to work with their own police forces so that they can secure the area,” said U.S. Navy Lt. j.g. Daniel Rhame, operations officer for the Nuristan reconstruction team. “That lets the PRT continue to conduct operations.”

Residents were told they could remain anonymous and rewards, depending on the type of intelligence received, could be substantial.

“You have to call us, or they will continue to shoot at us,” said Muhammad.

One tip alerted coalition forces to the site of an improvised explosive device which was located and rendered harmless.

• Date Taken: 12.30.2010
• Date Posted: 12.30.2010 05:31
• Story ID: 62773
• Location: KABUL, AF