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Afghan Border Police, Villagers Secure Border
Defend America News ^ | Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan

Posted on 05/24/2006 5:19:37 PM PDT by SandRat

Photo, caption below.
An Afghan border patrol officer inspects cargo strapped to a donkey near the village of Ghani Kheyl, Afghanistan. There are numerous trails crossing the border into Pakistan where camels, horses and donkeys are used. Courtesy photo
Afghan Border Police, Villagers Secure Border
Because there are no major vehicle border crossings to secure in his area, the Afghan Border
Police battalion commander instead sends his men out to the trails carved through centuries of trade.
By Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan
TOWR KHAM FIRE BASE, Afghanistan, May 24, 2006 — Commander Naqeebullah of the Afghan Border Police’s 1st Brigade, 2nd Battalion, says his unit acts as a door to Afghanistan, responsible for keeping bad people and bad things out and catching bad people trying to leave the country.

"The people are very happy when we walk through the villages. And we are very happy to be serving our country."
Afghan Border Police 1st Sergeant Hijrat Ulla

Naqeebullah directs the efforts of more than 300 men responsible for 160 kilometers of the Afghan-Pakistan border ranging from Tora Bora to Shirzad. He commands from a rocky outcrop overlooking the village of Ghani Kheyl in the Shinwar District of eastern Afghanistan.

“I feel more like a soldier than commander,” said the native of Sarshai village who escaped to Pakistan and fought against the Taliban regime from the Panjshir Mountains. “I don’t do this for the money – I’m already a wealthy man – I do this for my country.”

Several of Naqeebullah’s men are among the more than 62,000 national police, highway police and border police officers who have completed basic training programs at facilities throughout Afghanistan.

Because there are no major vehicle border crossings in his area, the commander sends his men out along paths carved through centuries of trade – most are little more than donkey or caravan trails.

Members of the Afghan Border Police’s 1st Brigade, 1st Battalion near the town of Reneh have even received help from local villagers in stopping insurgents and smugglers, according to Afghan Border Police 1st Lt. Naqib Ullah, commander of the battalion’s Kamah Dakan Compound.

“The people of Reneh are soldiers and they have formed a militia to help us patrol and protect the border,” he said.

Afghan Border Police Capt. Khan Mohammad, another commander within the 1st Battalion in Jangora, said his men routinely check items for illegal drugs or weapons as well as car parts and motor oil carried through the mountains by donkeys, horses and camels.

“I’m very proud to be a part of the rebuilding effort of my country,” said Mohammad. “My men are very brave and honorable.”

Naqeebullah’s men also conduct “presence patrols” in local villages to increase the populace’s familiarity with border patrol forces.

An Afghan border police officer prepares his weapon while securing the perimeter around the village of Reneh, Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border. Courtesy photo

“The people are very happy when we walk through the villages,” said Afghan Border Police 1st Sergeant Hijrat Ulla. “And we are very happy to be serving our country.”

Naqeebullah said it’s not hard to motivate his men.

“I tell them they are the sons of Afghanistan and they have to work to make their country a better place,” he said. “Then they can look toward the future. We have 60 to 70 percent peace in Afghanistan now, and if we try we can have 100 percent peace.”

The commander believes education is a key to rebuilding his country. “If you are uneducated, you can’t solve problems on your own,” he said.

But while many of his policemen have little to no formal education, what they lack in schooling, they make up for in desire, Naqeebullah said.

Afghan Border Police Pvt. Alladad is a perfect example of the policeman who learns quickly.

“I’m not educated but I want to serve my country,” Alladad said of why he chose to serve in the Afghan Border Police. “I like the training very much and I want to learn more – I have a desire to learn.”

Naqeebullah said he thinks it will take several years to completely rebuild the country and he disagrees with anyone who says the process is too slow or too difficult.

“Just look at where Afghanistan was five years ago and where we have come so far,” he said. “It will take time and it will take the efforts of all our friends.”



TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: afghan; oef; police; secure; villagers
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To: Darksheare

Yeah, the reptoid one was what prompted me to ah... notify some higher power.


21 posted on 05/25/2006 8:00:01 PM PDT by dynachrome ("Where am I? Where am I going? Why am I in a handbasket?")
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To: SandRat

"and catching bad people trying to leave the country."

Looks like we've been doing this bass-ackwards.


22 posted on 05/25/2006 8:00:44 PM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: Darksheare

Let's keep him for a pet.


23 posted on 05/25/2006 8:02:50 PM PDT by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
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To: alexs

24 posted on 05/25/2006 8:04:14 PM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: dynachrome

LOL!
I already fed their paranoia by telling them that I am a reptoid.
Been waiting for them to say something about that.
I liked their line about the mothership, that has got to be a classic in some way.


25 posted on 05/25/2006 8:04:26 PM PDT by Darksheare ("Oh No! Zombies!" Actually, they aren't. They just haven't had their coffee yet.)
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To: MEG33

Excellent idea!


26 posted on 05/25/2006 8:06:51 PM PDT by Darksheare ("Oh No! Zombies!" Actually, they aren't. They just haven't had their coffee yet.)
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To: alexs
Welcome to FreeRepublic!


27 posted on 05/25/2006 8:12:12 PM PDT by airborne (Satan's greatest trick was convincing people he doesn't exist.)
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To: alexs

You wouldn't happen to be Mr. Riley Martin, would you?
Or read his book?


28 posted on 05/25/2006 8:48:32 PM PDT by Darksheare ("Oh No! Zombies!" Actually, they aren't. They just haven't had their coffee yet.)
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Comment #29 Removed by Moderator

To: MEG33
LOL!

"I want an alexs, Daddy"

Doing my best Veruca Salt impersonation.
30 posted on 05/26/2006 1:33:26 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (The pacifists always lose, because the anti-pacifists kill them.)
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To: Jet Jaguar; Darksheare

LOL!


31 posted on 05/26/2006 1:38:24 PM PDT by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
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To: MEG33; Jet Jaguar

"Own your very own reptoid baby today!"


32 posted on 05/26/2006 1:41:55 PM PDT by Darksheare ("Oh No! Zombies!" Actually, they aren't. They just haven't had their coffee yet.)
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To: Jet Jaguar; Darksheare

There's all that "upkeep" though~


33 posted on 05/26/2006 1:44:07 PM PDT by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
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To: MEG33; Jet Jaguar
Well, yes.
But the shed skins make for excellent decorations and I hear they keep door to door proselytizers away.
34 posted on 05/26/2006 1:45:26 PM PDT by Darksheare ("Oh No! Zombies!" Actually, they aren't. They just haven't had their coffee yet.)
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To: Darksheare

;)


35 posted on 05/26/2006 1:46:15 PM PDT by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
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To: Darksheare; MEG33

:0)


36 posted on 05/26/2006 1:51:06 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (The pacifists always lose, because the anti-pacifists kill them.)
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To: MEG33; Darksheare

Whoops, I think you dropped her.


Oops.


37 posted on 05/26/2006 1:53:39 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (The pacifists always lose, because the anti-pacifists kill them.)
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To: Jet Jaguar; MEG33

"The Fountain of Bad Ideas, always there, always bad."


38 posted on 05/26/2006 1:54:10 PM PDT by Darksheare ("Oh No! Zombies!" Actually, they aren't. They just haven't had their coffee yet.)
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To: Jet Jaguar; Darksheare

39 posted on 05/26/2006 1:57:24 PM PDT by MEG33 (GOD BLESS OUR ARMED FORCES)
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To: alexs

As the Lizard King, it pains me to bid you farewell yet again.


40 posted on 05/26/2006 1:58:37 PM PDT by Admin Moderator
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