19 Afghan officers undergo training at OTA

“I was with the police before joining the Afghan National Army. We have come here so we will be able to fight terrorism, which is deeply rooted in my country,” she said.

The team is led by Lieutenant Monika Alamyar. In her five years of service in the Afghan National Army, Monika has trained more than 400 women officers.

These officers will be given physical, drill, weapon and computer training apart from leadership and human resources management. Indian Army officers Anuradha and Ritu Jaswal helped them with translation of English lessons into Afghan languages.

Only three officers are well-versed either in English or Hindi. “The primarychallenge for both the sides is communication,” said Colonel Ashish Mishra of the Education Corps of the Indian Army.

The second major hurdle faced by these officers is the city’s harsh weather. “The course was scheduled in December as the weather mellows down during this month. Still, the Afghan officers find it difficult to adapt,” said Major Ritu Jaswal.

Two of the trainees – Zuhra Nabizada (19) and Hassiana Najibi (20) – have completed their aircraft pilot course in the Air Force University in Kabul and opted for fighterpilots in the Afghan Air Force. For Hassiana, this is hersecond visit to the country. “During this trip, we visited numerous places to understand the cultural aspects. We liked Pani Puri. It is yummy.”

Colonel Ashish Mishra of the Education Corps of the Indian Army said, “In 2017, we trained 20 Afghan women officers for three weeks. We have drafted the modules based on their requirements. The Afghan army had picked best officers to undergo training here. They are inquisitive to learn everything that comes their way.”

Besides, women officers from various countries including Bhutan, Maldives, and Uganda are also being trained at the OTA. The one-month training will conclude on December 26.