KABUL – Afghan security forces are already independently detecting and neutralising landmines planted by insurgents and those left over from the Soviet occupation, the Afghan Defence Ministry said.
Previously, locating and neutralising the mines were a difficult task for Afghan forces, as they lacked the skills and tools to do the job.
But with new training and equipment, Afghan security forces have developed the skill to independently neutralise the mines, Afghan officials say.
“The engineering department of the Afghan army is very active, and the military forces learn mine neutralisation techniques in this school,” said Gen. Zahir Azimi, a Defence Ministry spokesman.
The Afghan army also now possesses sophisticated tools and equipment, such as robots, which can be used to disarm mines, said Azimi.
According to the Mine Action Information Centre, Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, with an estimated 5m – 7m landmines. Afghan forces are to assume all security responsibilities in Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
![An Afghan de-miner searches for unexploded ordnance near Kandahar Air Field in April 2010. Afghans are already working independently to neutralise landmines, officials say. [REUTERS/Tim Wimborne]](http://www.centralasiaonline.com/shared/images/2012/05/17/afmines.jpg)
An Afghan de-miner searches for unexploded ordnance near Kandahar Air Field in April 2010. Afghans are already working independently to neutralise landmines, officials say. [REUTERS/Tim Wimborne]
But with new training and equipment, Afghan security forces have developed the skill to independently neutralise the mines, Afghan officials say.
“The engineering department of the Afghan army is very active, and the military forces learn mine neutralisation techniques in this school,” said Gen. Zahir Azimi, a Defence Ministry spokesman.
The Afghan army also now possesses sophisticated tools and equipment, such as robots, which can be used to disarm mines, said Azimi.
According to the Mine Action Information Centre, Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, with an estimated 5m – 7m landmines. Afghan forces are to assume all security responsibilities in Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
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