Soviet cemetery and the Afghan army
LJ user Ilya Varlamov writes: Most recently, on June 23, US President Barack Obama announced the beginning of the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. It was his campaign promise, and Obama consistently fulfills it. 5000 soldiers will go home in July and 5000 by the end of the year. At the same time, few people believe that Afghanistan will be able to solve its problems and become a peaceful country after the withdrawal of American troops.
The general opinion of the Afghans is that the national army is not strong enough to control the situation. The army leadership is corrupt, there are a lot of drug addicts and Taliban supporters among the soldiers. So, if the Americans withdraw their troops, it won't be a month before the Taliban come to power (however, many do not give the Karzai government a few hours). I was able to visit one of the Afghan military bases, as well as see a large dump of old Soviet technology.
Afghans, of course, know better, but it seemed to me that it was the Afghan army (ANA) and the police (ANP) who controlled the situation in the country. Those units that I was able to see, look quite combat-ready and well-supplied financially. The Afghan army is formed on a contract basis. In order to join the army, it is enough just to be a healthy man 18-35 for years. Soldiers get 150-200 dollars per month, which is very small even by Afghan standards. Despite the low salary, there is no shortage of people willing to serve in the army. Unemployment exceeds 30 percent, and for many army service is the only way to earn a living and support a family.
Officers salary is certainly higher. In general, the situation is quite good with the officer corps. They are trained by American instructors, and the majority of senior officers went through a good school during the struggle with the Shuravi and the civil war. And there are cases when officers who once fought on different sides of the barricades serve in one unit.
I had a chance to get to the ANA military base, where the colonel treated me with tea and sweets for a good hour and told with pride how in his youth he was a mojahed and bravely fought “shuravi” under the command of Ahmad Shah Massoud. At the same time, his deputy, a major, served in the government army in 1980.
The camera, telephone, and even a bottle of water were taken away at the entrance to the carefully guarded territory of the base. This is a real fortress with tall walls, machine-gun towers, barbed wire around the perimeter and a clever entry system that pushes one who is foolish enough to try to break through to the base, into a cunning trap, sweep from all sides. Even a well-armed detachment has no chance of getting out of it.
Inside the base reigns perfect order. Everything is reasonably planned. Soldiers' barracks "stand in orderly rows. Although, frankly, the language does not turn to be called "barracks" neat houses with air conditioning. Administrative and outbuildings are also maintained in perfect condition. Soldiers and officers wear well-fitted American-style uniforms, and generally look like brave warriors. And in case of operational departure is ready column of armored "Hummers".
In that hour, while the colonel gave me tea, I managed to make sure that everything was in order with discipline too. Yes, maybe I managed to get into some elite part, but what I saw was seriously shaken by the prevailing stereotype about the Afghan army as a completely incompetent rabble, which has no clue about discipline and does not recognize army orders.
The police, at first glance, is also fairly well provided. Maybe they scatter when meeting with the Taliban, I can not confirm or deny this, but the police look quite impressive, sitting in the body of the Ford Ranger pickups. Police service is paid at about the same level as in the army - 150-200 dollars for privates and about 300-500 dollars for officers. However, in the police, the possibilities for "additional earnings" are definitely higher. On the question of the scale of police corruption, many simply laughed, for them it goes without saying that the police take bribes, they say, all the same people, but they cannot live on 200 dollars a month. Policemen are trained mainly by European and Canadian experts.
Since they were not allowed to shoot at the base itself, I had to be content with a dump of old Soviet equipment located right outside the gate.
There’s nothing to tell about the technique, so just look at the photos.
Surprisingly, over the years of inactivity, the equipment was not stolen.
As one of the soldiers said, after minor repairs she can go into battle.
The general opinion of the Afghans is that the national army is not strong enough to control the situation. The army leadership is corrupt, there are a lot of drug addicts and Taliban supporters among the soldiers. So, if the Americans withdraw their troops, it won't be a month before the Taliban come to power (however, many do not give the Karzai government a few hours). I was able to visit one of the Afghan military bases, as well as see a large dump of old Soviet technology.
Afghans, of course, know better, but it seemed to me that it was the Afghan army (ANA) and the police (ANP) who controlled the situation in the country. Those units that I was able to see, look quite combat-ready and well-supplied financially. The Afghan army is formed on a contract basis. In order to join the army, it is enough just to be a healthy man 18-35 for years. Soldiers get 150-200 dollars per month, which is very small even by Afghan standards. Despite the low salary, there is no shortage of people willing to serve in the army. Unemployment exceeds 30 percent, and for many army service is the only way to earn a living and support a family.
Officers salary is certainly higher. In general, the situation is quite good with the officer corps. They are trained by American instructors, and the majority of senior officers went through a good school during the struggle with the Shuravi and the civil war. And there are cases when officers who once fought on different sides of the barricades serve in one unit.
I had a chance to get to the ANA military base, where the colonel treated me with tea and sweets for a good hour and told with pride how in his youth he was a mojahed and bravely fought “shuravi” under the command of Ahmad Shah Massoud. At the same time, his deputy, a major, served in the government army in 1980.
The camera, telephone, and even a bottle of water were taken away at the entrance to the carefully guarded territory of the base. This is a real fortress with tall walls, machine-gun towers, barbed wire around the perimeter and a clever entry system that pushes one who is foolish enough to try to break through to the base, into a cunning trap, sweep from all sides. Even a well-armed detachment has no chance of getting out of it.
Inside the base reigns perfect order. Everything is reasonably planned. Soldiers' barracks "stand in orderly rows. Although, frankly, the language does not turn to be called "barracks" neat houses with air conditioning. Administrative and outbuildings are also maintained in perfect condition. Soldiers and officers wear well-fitted American-style uniforms, and generally look like brave warriors. And in case of operational departure is ready column of armored "Hummers".
In that hour, while the colonel gave me tea, I managed to make sure that everything was in order with discipline too. Yes, maybe I managed to get into some elite part, but what I saw was seriously shaken by the prevailing stereotype about the Afghan army as a completely incompetent rabble, which has no clue about discipline and does not recognize army orders.
The police, at first glance, is also fairly well provided. Maybe they scatter when meeting with the Taliban, I can not confirm or deny this, but the police look quite impressive, sitting in the body of the Ford Ranger pickups. Police service is paid at about the same level as in the army - 150-200 dollars for privates and about 300-500 dollars for officers. However, in the police, the possibilities for "additional earnings" are definitely higher. On the question of the scale of police corruption, many simply laughed, for them it goes without saying that the police take bribes, they say, all the same people, but they cannot live on 200 dollars a month. Policemen are trained mainly by European and Canadian experts.
Since they were not allowed to shoot at the base itself, I had to be content with a dump of old Soviet equipment located right outside the gate.
There’s nothing to tell about the technique, so just look at the photos.
Surprisingly, over the years of inactivity, the equipment was not stolen.
As one of the soldiers said, after minor repairs she can go into battle.
Information