TARIN KOT, Afghanistan - A senior Australian adviser from Combined Team Uruzgan (CTU) has confirmed Afghan National Security Forces are ready for independence.
Lt. Col. Paul Duncan, Senior Adviser Operational Coordination Center Provincial - Uruzgan (OCC-P), said his team’s mission to empower, coach and advise the Afghan personnel within the unit had been very effective.
“The OCC-P is assessed as being independent in their capability to plan and monitor inter-agency operations across Uruzgan,” he said.
“They have been conducting deliberate independent operations, which are planned months in advance, to immediate operations providing security across the province, such as their reactions to short notice security threats.
“In recent months the ANSF’s focus was on the conduct of the successful security for voter registration and planning for the upcoming 2014 elections.”
Officers from the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and the National Directorate of Security synchronize inter-agency cooperation across Uruzgan from the OCC-P.
Australian advisers from CTU transitioned from the role of direct mentoring the ANSF to being on hand to provide advice and liaison before handing over to the United States Army Uruzgan Liaison Team on Nov. 29.
Lt-Col Duncan said immediate bonds were formed with the OCC-P when they arrived in Uruzgan as the Afghans had formed strong relationships with previous teams.
“Over time these bonds became friendships and while it’s hard to say goodbye, my team is also excited to be going home to their families,” he said.
Emphasis by the advisers within the OCC-P over the last months was on consolidating what was being done right to give the Afghans confidence of their success and set the conditions for the provincial leaders to maintain their high opinion of the agency.
Apart from Lt. Col. Duncan’s leadership responsibilities, the eight-man team advised the OCC-P in all functional areas of the ANSF including personnel and logistics, intelligence, operations, planning and coordination.
“In Australia there are not many situations where the Australian Defence Force, police and intelligence agencies work together so closely, so if you had to relate this to us, the OCC-P would be similar in our response to disaster relief or major domestic operations,” he said.
“Only in this case there is an active enemy.
“We are at the end of a long mentoring and advisory effort provided by the Dutch, United States, Slovakian and Australian personnel, so it would be arrogant of us to presume we have some great ideas that haven’t been already tried by other coalition forces.
“The Afghan security forces don’t plan operations in the same way a Western military force would, but it works for them, and most importantly it’s able to be sustained when we leave.”
Lt. Col. Duncan said ANSF operations in Uruzgan at the end of this fighting season have consolidated their successful actions in denying insurgents access to key areas of the province.
“While the ANSF at the OCC-P are expecting a drop in operational tempo over the winter months, they have no illusions they will be facing a staunch and motivated enemy again in next year’s fighting season if the Taliban attempt to disrupt the 2014 electoral process.
“The ANSF is very capable of independent operations, however it is important to note the legacy we leave in Uruzgan is that we have provided the Afghans with the ability to decide their own future.
“We can’t guarantee anything, but we have given them the skills, knowledge and procedures to be successful.”