Successful partnership seen between Afghan Police, U.S. Special Forces

ARGHANDAB, Afghanistan - "We are going to stay here and fight with our ANCOP comrades," said a U.S. Special Forces team leader, yelling across a compound during a lull in a firefight with insurgents.

Those words came during a routine visit to a 3rd Battalion, 3rd Afghan National Civil Order Police Brigade checkpoint in the Arghandab River Valley. A visit that had the ANCOP under fire.

Incidents like this aren't an everyday occurrence, but they have become expected in the life of policemen from 3rd Bn. and the USSF team with whom they are partnered.

The 20-man USSF team works hand-in-hand with the nearly 200-man 3rd Bn.; training, working, and fighting alongside them on a daily basis.

It's a partnership that is showing success.

"Before we were working with the Special Forces team, the villagers [in the area around the checkpoint] didn't trust the United States," said Sgt. Amomuddin, a 3rd Bn. policeman. "But we explained to them that the Special Forces are our friends, and we are working with them to help for the security of Afghanistan. The villagers work with both of us now, and they help us find [improvised explosive devices]."

He told this to USSF personnel Aug. 29 when they stopped in at the ANCOP checkpoint to talk to the policeman about issues they may be having -- issues as simple as a broken mounting bracket for one of the checkpoint's weapons.

"Don't worry, we'll get this fixed for you," a USSF weapons sergeant said, addressing Ammuddin holding up a broken weapons mount.

Amomuddin thanked him before showing the team something of which he seemed quite excited.

He pulled out a digital camera and began showing photos of a large weapons cache the ANCOP found while out on patrol. He went on to explain that they had captured several insurgents during a recent firefight.

The team leader commended Amomuddin and his commander on the great work they were doing.

Afterwards, policeman Sgt. Zaimul Abadin spoke up and talked about his dream as a young boy of serving his country.

"There was a lot of fighting when I was growing up, so for that reason I wanted to join the service - to help stop the fighting," he said.

He has been a policeman for one year and when asked what the locals thought of the ANCOP, he said it was all about respect.

"If we don't respect the locals, they won't respect us," Abadin said. "So we treat them respect, and now security is a lot better around here."

The USSF team leader echoed his sentiments.

"Population engagements with the locals show that the area is more secure with the ANCOP around," he said.

And the villagers seem to be on board with what the ANCOP and USSF team are trying to do in the area: bring security back to the local populace.

This was evident on a joint patrol Aug. 28 through a village in the district.

The USSF team and their ANCOP partners spoke with elders in a village bazaar about security in the area.

The elders said the Taliban intimidate them and their families with threats of violence if they cooperate with Coalition forces. Despite that fact, the elders chose to offer what help they could in ridding the Taliban from the area. They showed the team where the malik (mayor) lived so he and the team leader could discuss the way ahead for the village. Although the Malik wasn't home, the partnered team took time to talk to the children of the village.

"We are here to help get rid of the Taliban, and one day soon Afghans will be completely in the lead for security here," the team leader said, addressing a group of around 20 children. "What do you think of that'" he asked.

Head nods and several 'thumbs up' was the reply from the children.

And as security is improving in the Arghandab, engagements like these are becoming more the norm as opposed to the occasional firefight. That is due in part to the continued success of the ANCOP, according to the policeman who had the dream to serve his country.

"We will not stop in our goal to bring peace here," Abadin said. "We are the future of security in Afghanistan."