Afghan Border Police and Task Force Rough Rider complete Operation Mountain Delivery

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan –  “If you look there,” the Afghan Border Police officer pointed across the valley of the Safid Kho Mountain Ranges where a green flag was visible, “that is one of the Pakistan border positions.”

The image of the Pakistani flag’s crescent and star was not clear, but the ABP officers assigned to the 6th Kandak, who were responsible for this remote Nazyan district outpost, knew what it was. The close proximity to the border leaves the ABP officers at a higher risk for attack. 

The close proximity to the border also makes getting reinforcements to the area quickly very important. Getting reinforcements to the ABP is one of the missions of the Georgia Army National Guard.

The Georgia Army National Guardsmen of the 1st Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment listen to their Afghan partners talk of future strategy.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Flint Weathers, from Villa Rica, Ga., a mentor and partner for the 6th Kandak, knows that his unit need to provide hasty reinforcements. 

“We need to make sure we can get them the help they need using all our assets,” Weathers said.   

One way to accomplish this was through "Operation Mountain Delivery," a joint Afghan and coalition forces air assault and resupply mission designed to fill future quick reaction needs. 

“Our ability to conduct quick insertions and reinforcement for our Afghan partners in the fight will, ideally, eliminate loss of life,” U.S. Army Lt. Col. Randall V. Simmons, Jr., the Task Force Rough Rider commander said. 
 

The two outposts, Nakhtor Now and Shah Khot, are strategic points that provide watch over the Kyber Pass and Hindu Kush mountains. 

Neither site had been visited by Coalition forces in nearly five years. Simmons and his ABP partner, Col. Mohammed Niazy-D, the commander of the 6th Kandak, conducted detailed surveys of the outposts and discussed opportunities for improvement. 

“The most important thing we can do is be here with them,” Weathers said. “If we embed with them here and give them that added layer with aerial support there will never be a question that we are a ready, unified force” 

Additional supplies of water, food and barriers were also delivered during the visit. 

“It is a show of force,” Niazy agreed. “A message to our enemies and a reassurance to my men that their coalition partners will be here when they are needed.”