Officials of Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Monday said that the opening of a engineering school will help Afghan National Police (ANP recruits learn more about mines and explosive materials, and methods for disabling them.
Roadside bomb explosions have been one of the most deadly war tactics over the past decade and the majority of the civilian and military casualties in Afghanistan have been caused by roadside bomb explosions.
"Our countrymen need peace, today, roadside mines and unexploded IEDs and explosives are the biggest threats to their security," commander of the police academy Syed Noorullah Zal said.
"One of the major challenges that has hampered the growth of our security forces is planted explosives," added Mohammad Anwar Paigham, the head of the MoI Engineering Department.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commander of NATO training mission in Afghanistan, Major General Milner, said that the capabilities of the Afghan National Police have increased dramatically from past years.
"I partner with general Selab and general Zal and his team, general Paigham, to assist with their improving their counter IED capabilities to fight the enemy," Gen. Milner said. "As I was saying during my speech two-three years ago, they didn't have those capabilities and I have seen these capabilities grow."
Up to 606 experts and engineers of the Ministry of Interior are said to be filling jobs in 32 provinces of the country to help local forces combat IED warfare. Another 45 police personnel are expected complete their training in the engineering school next week.