Will Fly Missions Against Drug Trafficking, Terrorism

A group of Afghan soldiers recently wrapped up their pilot training in Texas, and will soon be flying helicopters in support of anti-drug efforts in their home country.

In a graduation ceremony held Friday at Fort Bliss, a spokesman for the Afghan embassy in Washington called the 16 soldiers -- who will soon be flying unarmed Russian-made Mi-17 helicopters (right) on a variety missions aimed at stemming their country's rampant opium trafficking operations -- "Afghanistan's heroes"

"Thirty years of war left the country in ruins and fueled the drug trade," said Ashraf Haidari. "Your graduation is a testament to the long-term commitment of the United States to Afghanistan."

Haidari added the soldiers will also help US-led coalition forces fight terrorist operations in Afghanistan.

The Associated Press reports the soldiers are the first of three classes of helicopter pilots and support personnel to be trained at Fort Bliss. Graduates of the program will work with the Afghan National Interdiction Unit and the US Drug Enforcement Administration.

Two Afghan Army Air Corps soldiers -- who asked to be identified by their first names only, for security reasons -- told the AP he was proud to take up the dangerous challenge of combating drug trafficking -- a major source of funding for terrorist cells.

"Because we went through a lot of hard times we want our children to grow up in a safe world," said Shirzia through an interpreter. "We want our kids to respect humanity."

"It's a responsibility of the people of any country," added another soldier, named Naseer.

In addition to the flight training they received, the sixteen men also learned how to operate advanced technology equipment such as night-vision systems.

FMI: Information On Afghanistan's Army