11 Afghan Police Killed While Sleeping

Above: Afghan police, face serious danger

Taliban militants pulled off a sneak attack on Monday, killing 11 policemen sleeping on a mud floor in southern Afghanistan. They crept through groves of grape vines and pomegranate trees and struck at midnight. The small police outpost is found 15 miles north of Kandahar – a former Taliban stronghold.

The first casualty was an officer on the roof of the compound who was supposed to keep watch of the premises and the surrounding area. Afterwards, the Taliban easily gained access into the compound, walked straight inside, and peppered the officers sleeping on mattresses and blankets on the dirt floor.

There were a total of twelve officers in the outpost – only one survived with serious wounds.

Afghan border police commander Bismullah Khan said it appeared that the insurgents were disguised in police uniforms and there were indications that the attack on the walled compound was an inside job.

“Initial investigations indicate that one of the policemen had ties with the Taliban. The Taliban infiltrated the post and opened fire on the police - there was no exchange of fire.”

We think he’s just trying to powder up for the media. The Taliban could have easily butchered his forces, with or without disguise or inside help.

The Taliban also seized the police vehicles and weapons in the outpost.

The ambush leads to the most casualties in a string of recent attacks on Afghan police in the south. Eight policemen were killed Saturday: four were killed while on a mission destroying opium poppies in Kandahar and four more while manning a checkpoint in Helmand. Seven others were also killed from another anti-poppy mission last April 7, also in Kandahar.

Opium and all refined opiates such as morphine, thebaine, codeine, papaverine, and noscapine are extracted from these opium. The seeds are important food items, and contain healthy oils used in salads worldwide – but its main use in Kandahar is for drug production, which eventually funds Taliban militia.

The United States has already spent more than $4 billion to train and equip these Afghan police in the last three years – just last year, 76,000 Kalashnikov rifles, 56,000 pistols and 3,500 vehicles were provided for their perusal.

The U.S. military also began a low-level district training program this year – hoping to improve police capabilities in lower ranks. The United States and its allies are very much relying on improvements in the Afghan army and police; so they could all start withdrawing their international forces from the country.

That picture remains very obscure.

The Afghan police remain easy targets for the Taliban. Compared to the Afghan army or NATO soldiers, these officials have far less training and even less firepower against the Taliban.

Working in small teams also doesn’t help. Stationed in remote areas, they are easily overwhelmed by even the smallest of Taliban assault teams – although the assaulting party on this attack was said to be 50 by Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi.

Taliban militants often suffer devastating losses when they attack U.S. or NATO forces. According to reports, they have already given up on ambush attempts against the increasingly capable Afghan army.

“The Taliban are going to attack those who they deem most vulnerable,” said a U.S. official in charge of training. “They’re out there in the community, policing, protecting and serving, and unfortunately they are vulnerable.”

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