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Afghans leading with American help is way forward, says colonel

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Jason Smith
  • Provincial Reconstruction Team Panjshir Public Affairs
PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan --  Afghan National Army Col. Rajab Khan, who fought the Russians, al-Qaida and the Taliban, says America's presence in Afghanistan is crucial to its future stability.

America made a mistake by leaving Afghanistan after the Soviet Army pulled out in 1989, said the mujahedeen officer now Afghan National Army colonel.

"Yes, of course Afghanistan would look different today," said Khan through an interpreter.
"After the fall of the Russians, the Americans just left. If (Americans) would have helped the mujahedeen then, the result would be different today."

The colonel's credentials to evaluate the needs of Afghanistan, and specifically his Province of Panjshir, include 30-plus years of military war experience. A majority of those years was spent working with Ahmad Shah Massoud, the "Lion of Panjshir," who was killed Sept. 9, 2001.

Khan said he and his fellow mujahedeen fighters had little help from outsiders fighting the Taliban until the events of Sept. 11, 2001 changed the course of the fight for America. The beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom once again teamed the mujahedeen and the Americans against a common enemy - the Taliban.

Khan has no difficulty pointing out two major differences between the American war fighters who arrived in his country and the Russian soldiers he spent so many years fighting. He said the Americans respect his religion, and they are here to help the people rather than control the country.

"The Russians had no religion and interfered with our religion," said Khan. "One time there was Khalifa who began to pray. The Russian officer laughed about it and said he could 'hear a donkey crying.' He could compare our prayer to a donkey crying. We had to
fight them.

"In Afghanistan, religion is the biggest issue," said Khan. "If a non-Muslim searches the home of a Muslim, then it's a problem. It's not a problem for one Muslim to search another Muslim. That's why I want ANA to do the searches and do the fighting. The Coalition should only help."

Since its creation in 2009, Khan has been working as the commander of the Panjshir Operations Coordination Center (Provincial), or OCCP. The OCCP coordinates the efforts of the ANA, Afghan National Police, National Directorate of Security, and International Security Assistance Force.

"I want 100 percent cooperation and confidence between the ANA, ANP, NDS and ISAF," said Khan. "But, all of the fighting should be done by the ANA, not ISAF or Americans. The ANA know the area and how to fight here."

In addition to doing the fighting, Khan says the ANA has a duty to protect ISAF from those who would want to do them harm. Khan talked about the first major incident the OCCP had to handle. It involved an improvised explosive device detonating near a vehicle operated by American members of Provincial Reconstruction Team Panjshir.

"It was a rare event for Panjshir to have something like this happen. It was shameful to all Panjshiris," said Khan. "I was actually at (Forward Operating Base) Lion when it happened. It brought shame to us because we're responsible to keep the PRT secure."

When asked if he is worried about Taliban or al-Qaida fighters trying to take revenge on him for working with Coalition Forces, Khan said he isn't at all afraid of them.
"I fought al-Qaida 10 years ago," said Khan smiling confidently. "Why should I care about
them now?"

The future of Afghanistan can only be positive if America stays involved, says Khan.

"My answer will not be liked," said Khan. "The future of Afghanistan depends on the cooperation between America and what the rest of the world is doing here. America and ISAF can bring a good government which will help the people."

And it's the government's responsibility to use money to help the people, said Khan. Once a good government is established, Khan says creating jobs will bring stability to the region.

"The people who are fighting now are jobless," said Khan. "A man who has a job to support his family is too busy to spend his time fighting. The enemy can't benefit from people having other ways to support their families."

Khan said he's not worried about making rank in his current position. He says his goal in life is, and has always been, to help his fellow Afghans have security, peace and a way to make a respectable living.