LASHKARGAH (SW): Thousands of youngsters in southern Helmand province have pledged to join the ranks of Afghan National Police (ANP) to protect their country.
Abdul Wadood Popalzai, Wolesi Jirga member from Helmand has said that some five thousands youngsters from Helmand’s Nad-e-Ali are willing to join the ANP. According to the Ministry of Interior, a delegation that was sent to Helmand for the recruitment drive, a number of these men have already been recruited into forces. This comes at a time when a number of districts in Helmand are witnessing surge in militancy allowing the Taliban to overrun swaths of lands.
“These five thousands youngsters from Nad-e-Ali have voluntarily vowed to join the ANP to defend Helmand against the militants”, Popalzai said. He added that so far some 4000 men have joined the police force. Wakil Ahmad, head of the MoI delegation that visited Helmand, has confirmed it.
Abdullah Jan and Haji Sardar are among the lot of these youngsters who have joined the police force. They told Salam Watandar that growing insecurity have compelled them to join the forces in a bid to counter the insurgency. “This is our own choice, we do not want to do abroad but defend our own soil”, Abdullah Jan said.
It is vital to note that fighting in Helmand has claimed the lives of some 1600 policemen in Helmand in the past six months.
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