America's North Shore Journal

An Afghan-international security force killed a group of enemy militants and detained two suspected militants today in eastern Paktika province while pursuing a Haqqani commander with ties to the local Haqqani leadership and who was responsible for several attacks in the area.

Afghan and International security forces killed and detained groups of suspected militants in four separate search operations conducted Oct. 6 and 7, in eastern and southern Afghanistan.

Every summer, the Kuchi tribe migrates through the Daymardad district of this central-Afghanistan province, allowing their animals to graze in the open pastures belonging to the Hazara tribe. This frequently has sparked violent territorial disputes.

The genesis of this event began months ago as the citizens of Jalrez readily volunteered for the government’s new security program, the Afghan public protection program, known as the Guardians. Led by the national government in Kabul, the program is designed to get local Afghans to take charge of securing their village against militants who use them as safe havens.

The first groups of more than 240 Afghans of the Afghan public protection force completed their training March 23 and are being employed in Jalrez District. Expansion of the APPF will be based on results of this pilot program, evaluated in conjunction with community leaders, Afghan national security forces and the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. The Guardians are trained by the Afghan national police and are accountable to the Ministry of Interior.

“This is Wardak province, and I’m responsible for security. … Tangi Valley is part of that, and if we need to go in there we can,” Gallahue said. “We’ll take the physical terrain from the enemy, … and we’ll take the people away, because the people are the prize in this fight.”

Finally, Haight said, he wants people here to be able to trust and understand the local and provincial government. He does not predict a “Jeffersonian democracy” any time soon, but if people come to believe in the government, they will have eliminated most of the insurgency.