Local Bobbies and a case of the fowl ending.

One of our recent excursions was to visit a newly established Afghan National Police (ANP) Patrol base.  The ANP are part of the relatively newly formed Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and are really another armed facet designed to assist in the regional control for the elected national government.  In reality they are nothing like the Bobby on our streets back home, but then this country is culturally and historically much different to our own.

A patrol base is exactly as it sounds, a compound that the ANP will base themselves from as they patrol the local area and attempt to provide comfort and security to the locals and assist in the forcing out of the remaining Taliban and criminal elements who manipulate the lawlessness to their advantage.  It is a slow progress that will take time but it is slowly working.

Any force that speaks the local language and understands the cultural sensitivities will inevitably be more successful than any force that requires translators.

These members of the Police have closer links to the Army than our own police and are armed ready to protect themselves when necessary.  Lets not beat around the bush, these are battle hardened men, who are under no illusions as to the day to day threats they face.  They live rough (by our standards), and carry little kit and equipment beyond the essentials.

These guys are committed to the task and have a camaraderie evident in abundance.  They have seen and endured things that perhaps no-one their age should really have had to experience.  They don’t see that I suspect, life out here is tough and you just have to get on with it.

They fend for themselves by killing and cooking their dinner which tonight means that the bird gets it.

They are a presence for the government, and a presentation that the people are not being forgotten.  They are an authority which will have greater credibility than any insurgent or criminal organisation, certainly in time.

They are a part of the future of Afghanistan, although the chicken’s hours are numbered.

The Green zone in Helmand is a stunning region, that is unique within Afganistan.  Called the ‘bread basket’ of the country because of its fertile soils and density of farming lands, it is an amazing place to visit and walk through, although the potential risk of doing so should not be played down.  Many of the locals appear friendly and smiles are plenty but as you patrol you are acutely aware of the threat as you scan the surroundings.