Indian Role in Afghanistan

[Tronic]

Let us not get emotional about it, USA has got a name for adversary's soldiers: Bad Guys. And yes I have no problem with their soldiers dieing in Afghanistan, more can die and I won't blink, they made their choices and they are paying for it.

And those adversaries, the 'bad guys', are the same for India and the US. The US if fighting the fight, and the enemies, which India never could.

Neither do have I any problem with their money being spent in the battle-torn nation. India must use every opportunity for her advantage, even if it comes at USA's expense.

India has more than a billion dollars invested in Afghanistan. Once the US goes, good luck guarding that investment!

amitkriit's language may be a bit harsh. But there should be no hesitation in using US to further our aims. In fact, US will use India to needle up china and for a much pettier aim - of selling it's arms to us.

Does India not require the US, and its allies, to needle China?

Whom to buy arms from is India's sole choice. It has got the entire world market to turn to, and it will go to the one which suite's its needs the best.

Both these points are those of mutual benefit. You cannot get something without giving something in return. No free lunch! As they say.

At least our aim is more fundamental - survival. Of course, Indian tradition is the greatest respect for soldiers, even enemy ones, as was seen in Kargil.

Than 'amitkriit' is a very bad reflection of that tradition.

India's tactics in Af-Pak is 3 fold :
1. Create schism between US-Pak
2. Create schism between Pak-Pushtoons
3. Create schism between Iran-Pak

Pak can foil only one of tactic 1. or 2. since they are mutually irreconcilable. India needs to make sure that any events that show that schism are magnified and appear to be ill-intent of Pak army towards one or the other party (US or Pushtoons).

Once the Pakistanis understand, that Afghanistan does not equal Pashtuns alone, the first step to peace would be achieved.

Meanwhile, our goal is to deny Pakistan the use of Afghan territory as its militant laboratory. Those 'schisms' exist due to Pakistan's insistence in using Afghanistan for its own purposes. There is nothing there for India to 'create'; India needs to align itself with Afghanistan's neighbours to integrate Afghanistan with the rest of the region, not just Pakistan.

To this affect, the Indian sponsored Afghan-Iran Chabahar port, is a good example. Anything which gives the other neighbours of Afghanistan a bigger footprint in the country is a positive for India.

There are some risk factors with the tactic. US may chicken out and find some way of satisfying it's pride as well as not defeating AQ/Taliban. Suppose US gets fed up of the war and wants to offer a Pushtoonistan to Pak-army which means ethnic division of Af into north and south. The south being added to NWFP (Khyber-Pakhtoonkhwa) province of Pak. And in return Taliban gives up it's support for AQ permanently and declares US a "Friend of Islam".

That kind of chicken-out will have the worse repercussions for India. Pak will get it's back free and turn all it's attention to creating trouble for India by directing the jihadist fury of masses of motivated former taleban at J&K.

I see faint signs of the chicken-out from US political leadership but the US army is strongly opposed to it. And I think India should do it's best to shore up any falling spirits there - it's in our own interest.

But I fully support that stationing India troops in Afghanistan is not the right tactic. Our full energies are needed in defence of motherland. But that does not preclude us training and aiding ANA.

It is not just an India specific problem. You continue to ignore that there are other players in the region which will also have a say. Iran, CARs, and Russia.

 

[kch]

Meanwhile, our goal is to deny Pakistan the use of Afghan territory as its militant laboratory. Those 'schisms' exist due to Pakistan's insistence in using Afghanistan for its own purposes. There is nothing there for India to 'create'; India needs to align itself with Afghanistan's neighbours to integrate Afghanistan with the rest of the region, not just Pakistan.

Tronic, I completely agree with you on the goal. But I don't think the schism exists to an extent
that India wants. eg. 1. US-Pak - Ideally India wants the schisms to magnify so much that US
desists from giving any military aid (recent resumption of F-16 and AMRAAMs).

2. Pak-Pushtoons: Some pushtoon outfits have been infuriated enough by the betrayal by Pak army
to start targeting them. But not to the extent we want. Pak has been successful in raising anti-TTP
militias.

3. Pak-Iran: We haven't been able to exploit/magnify Iran's insecurity from wahabi encirclement -
Saudi on west and Pak-taliban on east. I think Iran's fear of Jundullah in sistan-baluchistan means
that it is colluding with Pak-army to suppress Baluchi rebels in Iran as well as Pak.

So the schisms exist but not to the extent we'd like them to be.

I never denied that solving Afghanistan problem needs Iran, Russia's buyin. But my thought is not
focussed on solving Afghanistan problem as much as it is focused on achieving Indian strategic
aims in Afghanistan. In other words, it's just a co-incidence that solution of Afghanistan problem
fits well into our strategic aims. By no means do I advocate any Indian action that hinders solution
of the Afghanistan problem.

You bring a good point about need to integrate Afghanistan with rest of the region. The chief reason
why it hasn't been integrated is Pak has in the past been able to co-opt the dominant ethnic group
pashtoons into their aims. I believe we can't reverse Pak's designs by giving support to the opposite
ethnic groups alone. We must find a way to wrest away Pashtoons from their blood-sucking grip.

Betrayal by Pak army gave us a golden chance. I'm sure all know the importance that loyalty and
friendship plays into Pashtoon code of conduct. I think India needs more to magnify that sense
of betrayal - which we haven't done yet.

I think Pak army is extremely wary of that occurring, that's why their incessant wrangling about
India consulates in Afghanistan.

About the Chabahar port, it was a well intended move but 9/11 and Global war on Terror somewhat
disrupted our plans. We know that a non-pragmatic regime in Iran won't co-operate much with US. Of
course, a democratic change in Iran can turn the whole situation to our advantage again.

 

[amitkriit]

Read the history, Taliban and Mujaheddin are the creation of USA-Pakistan axis, they have been paying for it now. I don't care about US's defense forces they can die in bunches of hundreds and thousands as long as it has no negative effect over India. In fact I want to see USA struggling in the region, I want to see them barely winning the war against their own creations. USA did not care about Humanity and morality when they killed hundreds and thousands of civilians in the name of "Liberation" and "Fight against terror".

USA is not an ally of India at least in South Asian region. Only reason they entered into Afghanistan is because from here they could keep their right eye over China and the left eye over Iran, but their plan was super-flop. If USA manages to overwhelm Taliban, it's policymakers will try to negotiate a favorable deal with the fanatics, and then after the exit, Taliban will be operated with remote control.

According to me USA is cleaning it's own mess in Afghanistan. Mujaheddin created by them had been fighting our troops in Kashmir, killing our people. But then foreign policies and strategic goals are not made on the basis of emotions, If USA's presence in Afghanistan is good for us, then we must cooperate, but we must not get involved militarily. We must be there to strengthen the anti-Taliban forces and to create a long-lasting divide between people of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

 

[Tronic]

Tronic, I completely agree with you on the goal. But I don't think the schism exists to an extent
that India wants. eg. 1. US-Pak - Ideally India wants the schisms to magnify so much that US
desists from giving any military aid (recent resumption of F-16 and AMRAAMs).

2. Pak-Pushtoons: Some pushtoon outfits have been infuriated enough by the betrayal by Pak army
to start targeting them. But not to the extent we want. Pak has been successful in raising anti-TTP
militias.

3. Pak-Iran: We haven't been able to exploit/magnify Iran's insecurity from wahabi encirclement -
Saudi on west and Pak-taliban on east. I think Iran's fear of Jundullah in sistan-baluchistan means
that it is colluding with Pak-army to suppress Baluchi rebels in Iran as well as Pak.

So the schisms exist but not to the extent we'd like them to be.

We have a major problem in regards to Pakistani terror networks directed at India, and that is the main issue which is to be tackled. We have moved beyond the Cold War era effectively ending Pakistan's reliance on the US for the protection of its conventional forces against India. Today the nuclear angle is at play. These 'schisms' do very little to solve India's problems against Pakistani origin terror networks. That aside, neither me, nor you, know the actual 'game plan', if you may, of the Indian agencies to tackle this issue of Pakistani terror and deny Pakistan the use of Afghan land as a proxy against India. So we don't know, what is actually going on.

Ofcourse, it is a totally different thing to state, this is what you would like the Indian governmental agencies to engage in.

I never denied that solving Afghanistan problem needs Iran, Russia's buyin. But my thought is not
focussed on solving Afghanistan problem as much as it is focused on achieving Indian strategic
aims in Afghanistan. In other words, it's just a co-incidence that solution of Afghanistan problem
fits well into our strategic aims. By no means do I advocate any Indian action that hinders solution
of the Afghanistan problem.

Indian strategic aim is to deny the use of Afghan territory against India.

It also further doubles as a route for Indian goods into CARs, transiting through Iran.

There is enough enmity in the region against Pakistan if all it wants to do is have access to the CAR markets and resources bypassing the Pakistan route. Instead of focusing on 'schisms', enough already exist for India to bank on, it needs to focus on building up a greater goodwill in the region than its rival. In this aspect, India already has a head start, as Pakistan seems to be inefficient in diplomacy sans the guns.

You bring a good point about need to integrate Afghanistan with rest of the region. The chief reason
why it hasn't been integrated is Pak has in the past been able to co-opt the dominant ethnic group
pashtoons into their aims. I believe we can't reverse Pak's designs by giving support to the opposite
ethnic groups alone. We must find a way to wrest away Pashtoons from their blood-sucking grip.

Only thing Pakistan has been able to co-opt is the Taliban. All Taliban may be Pashtuns, but all Pashtuns are not Taliban. The Afghan National government is filled with Pashtuns in prominent positions, including the President of the country, Hamid Karzai.

About the Chabahar port, it was a well intended move but 9/11 and Global war on Terror somewhat
disrupted our plans. We know that a non-pragmatic regime in Iran won't co-operate much with US. Of
course, a democratic change in Iran can turn the whole situation to our advantage again.

No. Chabahar port was actually conceived after 9/11 and the project has only grown over time.

 

[Tronic]

Read the history, Taliban and Mujaheddin are the creation of USA-Pakistan axis, they have been paying for it now. I don't care about US's defense forces they can die in bunches of hundreds and thousands as long as it has no negative effect over India. In fact I want to see USA struggling in the region, I want to see them barely winning the war against their own creations. USA did not care about Humanity and morality when they killed hundreds and thousands of civilians in the name of "Liberation" and "Fight against terror".

USA is not an ally of India at least in South Asian region. Only reason they entered into Afghanistan is because from here they could keep their right eye over China and the left eye over Iran, but their plan was super-flop. If USA manages to overwhelm Taliban, it's policymakers will try to negotiate a favorable deal with the fanatics, and then after the exit, Taliban will be operated with remote control.

According to me USA is cleaning it's own mess in Afghanistan. Mujaheddin created by them had been fighting our troops in Kashmir, killing our people. But then foreign policies and strategic goals are not made on the basis of emotions, If USA's presence in Afghanistan is good for us, then we must cooperate, but we must not get involved militarily. We must be there to strengthen the anti-Taliban forces and to create a long-lasting divide between people of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

You have got some history distorted, aswell as a huge chip on your shoulder.

Taliban is as much a US creation as the Northern Alliance.

 

[AOE]

Yes that is a fairly distorted view of history, I'd say it's very black and white.

When it comes to terrorist or mujahideen groups; Al Qaeda was an organization set up purely by religious extremists, and the Pakistani ISI. Groups like the Taliban received some support by western countries, but mostly during the Soviet Unions invasion of Afghanistan from roughly 1979-1988. That situation comes down to who you think was the lesser of the two evils, and given the fact that you had to make a decision at the time to support a side without any kind of hindsight, and that the Soviet Union had brought into existence some of the worst regimes in human history as well as actively preached the destruction of all democratic and capitalist countries; just about anything seemed like a reasonable alternative to a sociallist government in Kabul. The biggest mistake of that war was once the socialist government in Afghanistan collapsed, there was a large power vacuum which allowed for the Taliban to seize power throughout most of the country. It's not an easy conflict for people to take staunch views on either way.

 

[SpArK]

Afghan Great Game: Huge stakes for Russia, India​

India and Russia, original backers of the Northern Alliance that ousted the Taliban regime in 2001, have a host of common interests in ensuring peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently concluded a two-day visit to Afghanistan. During this visit, he addressed the joint session of the Afghan Parliament and announced an additional assistance of $500 million to Afghanistan. India has already committed $1.5 billion to Afghanistan. The visit was very significant, especially as it came in the wake of the elimination of terror mastermind Osama bin Laden by US Special Forces and the planned withdrawal of Western troops from Afghanistan.

India and Afghanistan have centuries-old historical ties. It was only during the period of Taliban rule in Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001 that India did not have any diplomatic ties with Kabul. This was also when an Indian airliner was hijacked to Kandahar in Afghanistan in December 1999 which ended when the Indian government released three dreaded terrorists in return for the hostages.

Russia and India have many common interests in Afghanistan. Together with Iran, they propped up the Northern Alliance, which comprised soldiers from mainly non-Pashtun ethnic groups like Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks, Turkmen and others. It was the Northern Alliance which played a leading role in the ouster of the Taliban in the wake of Operation Enduring Freedom.

One cannot discount Russia's crucial role in Afghanistan. In November 2010, Russia and NATO completed negotiations on an agreement which would allow NATO to transport supplies meant for Afghanistan across Russian territory. This meant that NATO could now transport critical military hardware to Afghanistan via Central Asia and Russia, thus reducing its dependence on Pakistan. Earlier, arrangements allowed only non-lethal NATO supplies such as food and fuel to be transported via Central Asia and Russia.

Russia also faces the danger of Islamic extremism emanating from Afghanistan which has already had a disastrous impact on the Russian provinces of Dagestan, Ingushetia and Chechnya. Many of these extremists were trained in Afghanistan during the heydays of the Taliban. Moscow has been targeted many times in the past. Earlier in January this year, a bomb attack at Moscow's Domodedovo airport killed at least 35 people. India fears a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan as it would seriously impact the prospects of peace in its border province of Jammu and Kashmir, where militancy is on the decline.

Besides terrorism, narcotics' trafficking from Afghanistan is a threat to both India and Russia. India is also getting close to the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan because these countries are rich in oil and natural gas and have resources like uranium, which a booming Indian economy desperately needs. In fact, a deal for a pipeline from Turkmenistan to India, the TAPI (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India pipeline) was inked in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat in December last year. The TAPI pipeline will bring gas from Turkmenistan's Yoloten-Osman gas field through Afghanistan and Pakistan before terminating at Fazilka in India's province of Punjab. Another point to note is that these five Central Asian countries are former Soviet Republics and still have strong ties with Russia.

Iran is also another common area of interest for both India and Russia. Indian goods to Afghanistan and Central Asia have to go through Iran, because Pakistan does not allow the transit of Indian goods. Iran would be loath to see the resurgence of the Taliban since it is highly detrimental to Iranian interests. Iran has not able to forget the massacre of 10 Iranian diplomats in the border city of Mazar-e-Sharif in 1998 when Taliban soldiers took over the city.

US President Barack Obama has already announced that he will begin pulling out the US troops from Afghanistan by July 2011 while the NATO at its Lisbon summit in November 2010 had announced that it would hand over the security of Afghanistan to Afghan security forces by 2014-end. However, like India, Russia has also expressed its concern with the proposed Western plan to differentiate between the "good" Taliban and the "bad" Taliban. Russia has stated that the Taliban must give up violence, accept the Afghan Constitution and break all ties with the Al-Qaeda, a stand which has found resonance with the Indian position which is on similar lines.

Russia and India also have an interest in a stable and peaceful Pakistan since the country has emerged as a fountainhead of terrorism worldwide and both Russia and India would like to see that Pakistan does not give sanctuary to the Taliban. Russia is using its influence to see that Pakistan joins the rest of the world in the fight against terrorism. At the August 2010 Quadripartite Summit in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan agreed to step up the fight against terrorism and narcotics.

India and Russia can also cooperate in reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan. India has built the 218-km Zaranj-Delaram highway in Afghanistan which will eventually link up with the port of Chabahar in Iran, which has been developed with Indian assistance. Incidentally Chabahar is a mere 72 kms west of the Pakistani port of Gwadar, which has been built with Chinese assistance. Russian companies are in the fray to refurbish many Soviet-era installations in Afghanistan, which include reconstructing hydroelectric plants and building wells in the Afghan hinterland. India has begun construction of the Salma Dam Power Project on river Hari Rud in Afghanistan's Herat province.

Russia and India have a tremendous stake in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and, therefore, should expand their strategic cooperation to ensure a positive outcome in the violence-torn country.

Afghan Great Game: Huge stakes for Russia, India | Russia & India Report

 

[anoop_mig25]

hi what d u people think of recent visit of pm of pakistan to russia .is there some chances of realignment of considering that pakistan as a nation has far acess as well as hold on (most/)powerfull groups working today destabilize afganistation

 

[SpArK]

self delete.......................... wrong section

 

[youngindian]

Afghan defence minister to visit India from Wednesday

New Delhi, May 31 (IANS) Afghan Defence Minister General Abdul Rahim Wardak will be on a three-day visit to India from Wednesday to explore opportunities for expanding bilateral military ties, particularly capacity building of his nation's army.

Wardak, who will be accompanied by a high-level military delegation, will hold talks with Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony and other senior armed forces officers, including the three service chiefs, on issues of mutual interest and the security scenario in the South Asian region.

'Gen. Wardak will pay a three-day visit to India beginning tomorrow (Wednesday). He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation. He will hold talks with Antony and other senior officials of the defence ministry and the armed forces,' an official release said.

India is assisting the Afghan army in training its personnel.

'Bilateral cooperation issues, including capacity building of the Afghan security forces, are likely to be discussed,' the release said.

The armed forces of the two countries have had periodic interaction since Wardak last visited India in April 2008. Afghan Chief of General Staff Gen. Sher Mohammad Karimi visited India last October.

'The visit of the Afghan defence minister to India marks another step in the steady progress in bilateral relations, particularly as his visit comes soon after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Afghanistan earlier this month,' the release added.

India is expected to play an important role in the second international conferrence on Afghanistan that Germany will host in Bonn in December. India was not invited to the first conference held in Turkey in 2009.

Afghan defence minister to visit India from Wednesday News

 

[pmaitra]

You have got some history distorted, aswell as a huge chip on your shoulder.

Taliban is as much a US creation as the Northern Alliance.

While I agree with many of the things Amit said, I would not wish death to the US soldiers in Afghanistan (and no, for God sake, this does not mean that I wish death to civilians).

Said that, Northern Alliance is not a creation of the USA. Northern Alliance existed even before the WoT and were being helped by Russia after Yeltsin's exit even before US decided to intervene. US helped Northern Alliance, never created them.

 

[nitesh]

move in the right direction:

India willing to build Afghan defence capabilities : Indian Defence Minister - Frontier India - News, Analysis, Opinion

 

[Virendra]

move in the right direction:

India willing to build Afghan defence capabilities : Indian Defence Minister - Frontier India - News, Analysis, Opinion

Pakistan (and consequently US) are always irked at this idea. It can happen only when Afghans withstand the pressure and are firm on inviting such a venture.
Right now, its the Americans who call the shots but with them nearing an exit no one knows for sure who will have what kind of transactions with the Afghan government.
To whom so ever it may concern - "Its a hornet nest up for grabs, do it at your own risk"
Sounds like a curse - no one has ever milked any good ROI by landing into the naked rocks & mountains of Afghanistan.


Regards,
Virendra

 

[nitesh]

Virendra
Let pakistanis howl, who cares, till there master is with us

US hails India's offer to help Afghan forces - Hindustan Times


I think India will restrict it's role to training and supplying arms, nothing more

 

[Virendra]

Thats strange. Hardly a year back, they were a bit reserved towards this idea.


Regards,
Virendra

 

[sukhish]

this is what I was waiting for. India came slowly unlike pakistan which always make huge headline news. on surface US
may be willing to say what ever pakistan wants to hear, but internally they are dealing with terriost state and nothing more.
the level of trust they have with india is just not possible with pakistan in the next even 50 years. india will slowly and surly gain foothold in afghanistan. what you think obama telephone call to manmohan singh couple of days back was all about. manmohan wasted no time and went to afghanistan right away. thing have started alinginig in place for india in afghanistan.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

India, Afghanistan to step up defence ties - The Times of India

India, Afghanistan to step up defence ties

NEW DELHI: With Afghanistan slated to handle its own security by 2014, Kabul and New Delhi on Wednesday resolved to step up their bilateral defence cooperation.

"We will welcome any cooperation (from India) in the field of training and helping of Afghan national security forces so that they are able to secure and defend the country," said visiting Afghanistan defence minister General Abdul Rahim Wardak.

Defence minister A K Antony, in turn, assured Wardak that India was "committed" to building "the capabilities" of Afghan security forces. "As a long standing friend of the Afghan people", he said, India remains fully committed to supporting the war-ravaged country in its reconstruction and developmental efforts.

On whether the enhanced defence cooperation would lead to India supplying military equipment to Afghanistan, Wardak said, "We will be discussing it. There is a very genuine interest in strengthening our relations in all sectors including defence."

With India continuing with its policy to counter Pakistan's moves in the strategically-located Afghanistan, PM Manmohan Singh had visited Kabul last month to deepen the bilateral strategic partnership across the political, economic and security fronts.

India has been regularly training Afghan officers and other ranks at its military training institutions, ranging from the NDA and Indian Military Academy at Dehradun to the School of Artillery at Deolali, ever since the Karzai government came to office.

India has also posted some Army officers in the central Asian nation to teach basic military fieldcraft and English skills to the Afghan Army, apart from sending several military doctors to help at hospitals in Kandahar and elsewhere.

Afghanistan has, in fact, sought even more Indian help in "capacity-building" of its armed forces, which even includes training of its pilots and technicians in operating Russian-origin Mi-35 helicopter gunships, as well as sourcing supplies for its Soviet-era tanks and aircraft.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

[h=2]Operation Riverdance [/h]

An Afghanistan National Army Forces soldier sets up an igniter to breach a wall to fit their vehicles into the compound in Hyderbad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 11. The ANASF and United States Special Forces seized the compound as part of Operation Riverdance. The goal was to set up and establish a site to host Village Stability Operations. In hopes to help local Afghans in Hyderbad defend themselves against the Taliban.

An United States Special Forces soldier watches as a Mine Resistant Ambush Protective vehicle rolls into the compound in Hyderbad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 11. The Afghanistan National Army Forces and USSF took over the compound as part of Operation Riverdance. The goal was to set up and establish a site to host Village Stability Operations in hopes to help local Afghans in Hyderbad defend themselves against the Taliban.

Afghanistan National Army Special Forces soldier looks down his sights to fire his M-4 Carbine rifle accurately at his target at Forward Operating Base Price, Afghanistan, Oct. 7. Weapon training is one of the many training elements the ANASF uses to keep skills sharp. The ANASF practiced tactical movements and firing with accuracy during their weapons training.

Afghanistan National Army Special Forces and United States Special Forces checks out nearby clinic in Hyderbad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 13. The ANASF spoke to Afghan locals if they can assist with any medical needs and to reassure the local community the ANASF and USSF is there to help in security against the Taliban. The site is projected to hopefully run a successful Village Stability Operations program that one day local Afghans can defend themselves the Taliban.

Afghanistan National Army Special Operation Forces soldier looks down his sights to fire his M-4 Carbine rifle accurately at his target at Forward Operating Base Price, Afghanistan, Oct. 7. Weapon training is one of the many training elements the ANASF uses to keep skills sharp. The ANASF practiced tactical movements and firing with accuracy during their weapons training.

An Afghanistan National Army Forces and United States Special Forces soldiers performs security while other soldiers set up a defensive stand for the compound they took over in Hyderbad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 11. It was part of Operation Riverdance. The goal was to set up and establish a site to host Village Stability Operations. In hopes to help local Afghans in Hyderbad defend themselves against the Taliban.

An United States Special Forces soldier performs reconnaissance on a house that is close proximity to their compound in Hyderbad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 13. The Afghanistan National Army Special Forces and USSF spoke to Afghan locals if they can assist with any medical needs and to reassure the local community the ANASF and USSF is there to help in security against the Taliban. The site is projected to hopefully run a successful Village Stability Operations program that one day local Afghans can defend themselves the Taliban.

Afghanistan National Army Special Forces soldier waits for the commands to fire his weapon during their weapons training at Forward Operating Base Price, Afghanistan, Oct. 7. Weapon training is one of the many training elements the ANASF uses to keep skills sharp. The ANASF practiced tactical movements and firing with accuracy during their weapons training.

An United States Special Forces soldier give commands to element as USSF and Aghanistan National Army Special Forces soldiers patrol in Hyderbad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 13. The ANASF spoke to Afghan locals if they can assist with any medical needs and to reassure the local community the ANASF and USSF is there to help in security against the Taliban. The site is projected to hopefully run a successful Village Stability Operations program that one day local Afghans can defend themselves the Taliban.

Afghanistan National Army Special Forces and United States Special Forces speaks to local Afghan in Hyderbad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 13. The ANASF spoke to Afghan locals if they can assist with any medical needs and to reassure the local community the ANASF and USSF is there to help in security against the Taliban. The site is projected to hopefully run a successful Village Stability Operations program that one day local Afghans can defend themselves the Taliban.

An United States Special Forces soldier scans the area while patrolling in Hyderbad, Helmand province, Aghanistanace, Oct. 13. The ANASF spoke to Afghan locals if they can assist with any medical needs and to reassure the local community the ANASF and USSF is there to help in security against the Taliban. The site is projected to hopefully run a successful Village Stability Operations program that one day local Afghans can defend themselves the Taliban.

An United States Special Forces soldier watches as a wall is breached to fit their vehicles in a compound that was seized in Hyderbad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 11. It was part of Operation Riverdance. The goal was to set up and establish a site to host Village Stability Operations. In hopes to help local Afghans in Hyderbad defend themselves against the Taliban

An Afghanistan National Army Special Forces soldier patrols leads the patrol in Hyderbad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 13. The ANASF spoke to Afghan locals if they can assist with any medical needs and to reassure the local community the ANASF and USSF is there to help in security against the Taliban. The site is projected to hopefully run a successful Village Stability Operations program that one day local Afghans can defend themselves the Taliban.

An Afghanistan National Army Special Forces soldier performs security while other soldiers set up a defensive stand for the compound they took over in Hyderbad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 11. The ANASF and United States Special Forces took over the compound as part of Operation Riverdance. The goal was to set up and establish a site to host Village Stability Operations in hopes to help local Afghans in Hyderbad defend themselves against the Taliban.

Afghanistan National Army Special Forces and United States Special Forces soldiers scans the local desert for any persons of suspicion while conducting their Key Leader Engagement in Hyderbad, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Oct. 13. The ANASF spoke to Afghan locals if they can assist with any medical needs and to reassure the local community the ANASF and USSF is there to help in security against the Taliban. The site is projected to hopefully run a successful Village Stability Operations program that one day local Afghans can defend themselves the Taliban.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

[h=2]Commandos Demonstrate Success [/h]

Commandos from 3rd Company, 6th Kandak set out communication and other equipment for a modular demonstration Sept. 8 at the National Military Academy of Afghanistan, Kabul. The demonstration provided Commandos an opportunity to showcase their equipment and knowledge to various Afghan, U.S. and coalition personnel.

Commandos from 3rd Company, 6th Kandak set up a display table in preparation for a modular demonstration Sept. 8 at the National Military Academy of Afghanistan, Kabul. The demonstration provided Commandos an opportunity to showcase their equipment and knowledge to various Afghan, U.S. and coalition personnel.

A Commando from 3rd Company, 6th Kandak displays a coin he received from Adm. James G. Stavridis, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and commander, United States European Command at a modular demonstration Sept. 8 at the National Military Academy of Afghanistan, Kabul. Various dignitaries attended the event and praised the professionalism and capability of the Commandos.

A Commando from 3rd Company, 6th Kandak calibrates a M242 60mm mortar at a modular demonstration Sept. 8 at the National Military Academy of Afghanistan, Kabul. The M224 can be drop fired (conventional mode) or trigger fired (conventional or hand-held mode). A lightweight auxiliary baseplate is used when firing the mortar in the hand-held mode.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Following the arrival at a humanitarian mission sight, Afghan Commandos and U.S. Special Forces set up security near a high school where a free medical clinic will be conducted, April 14, 2010 in Logar province.

An Afghan Commando provides rooftop security during a Shura and medical clinic at a local high school in Mohammad-Agha district, Logar province April 14, 2010.

An Afghan Commando hurries an empty field where MI-17 helicopters will land to take them from the sight of a humanitarian mission. Afghan Commandos, assisted by U.S. Special Forces, provided medical care and medicine to civilians in the Mohammad-Agha district in Logar province on April 14, 2010.