UAE troops spare no effort to bring peace to Afghanistan

Abu Dhabi:  The UAE Armed Forces stationed in Afghanistan are doing everything possible — from the dangerous tasks of clearing landmines to humanitarian work of providing aid and medical services — to help the war-torn country regain peace and stability.

The UAE contingent are the only troops from the Arab region undertaking full-scale operations in Afghanistan, according to Brigadier Obaid Al Shamsi, Head of Presidential Guards.

He was talking at the launch of a documentary entitled: Mission: Winds of Goodness on how the UAE officers delivered humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, maintained security and supported social and economic development in the war-torn country.

The documentary was screened at the majlis of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, in Al Bateen Palace on Monday evening.

The UAE armed forces, part of coalition forces in Afghanistan, are exerting all efforts to bring peace to the war-shattered country and to help out its people lead a peaceful life, said Brigadier Al Shamsi.

Mine clearing

"Emirati troops, who operate in Helmand province, help Afghanis lead a better life despite the dangers the soldiers are exposed to such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs) while extending assistance. The troops have been stationed there since 2003."

The UAE has about 250 soldiers in Afghanistan. Helmand, a Taliban stronghold, is one of the most dangerous parts of the country.

"One of the successes they've had is with detecting IEDs which may have otherwise killed coalition forces and Afghanis, said Brigadier Al Shamsi.

"Our troops are contributing hugely and are having tangible success by detecting IED, then alerting citizens, our soldiers and other armed forces and working on defusing them," he said.

"We are in the most risky place in the world and we try our best to regain peace to the war-torn country which has been suffering due to insurgents in Afghanistan," Brig. Al Shamsi said.

Credit: Footage courtesy of uaeafghanistan.ae

He said the UAE armed forces cooperate with the local people in Helmand and in other places to secure the region from infiltrators, drug traffickers and dealers, and from Taliban insurgents who try to plant landmines to harm our soldiers and affect our existence in that country.

Brigadier Al Shamsi said the UAE soldiers are taking part in dangerous missions alongside US troops in Afghanistan.

"We have been delivering humanitarian aid to the Afghan people, fighting our way out of Taliban ambushes. The UAE's troops are the only Arab soldiers undertaking full-scale operations in the country," he added.

Support for women

Major Aisha Al Daheri, a member of the UAE Armed forces troops stationed in Afghanistan, said: "There is an increasing need to support the health care issues of women and children in Afghanistan,"

She said Afghanistan's history is marked by civil war, violence and instability, all of which have derailed the economic growth of the country and hindered the establishment of strong health care services.

"We provide Afghanis with regular shipments of medicines and medical supplies to Afghanistan support primary health care, trauma care, and maternal and child health services throughout the country," said Major Aisha.

She said: "As Emirati armed forces, we try to meet fellow Muslims' religious needs first by constructing mosques, building schools and clinics."

"We noticed that Afghans seem to respond well to our troops' efforts' to help them and we first started building the field clinic to treat the people who are living in poverty," said Major Aisha.

She added that the UAE doctors help civilians and soldiers.

"We try hard to save people's lives in spite of the lack of some advanced technological devices which should be used to diagnose some diseases."