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Play, download and edit the free video ATC Video with subtitles 17 08 2020.

Welcome to Afghan Technical Consultants (ATC):
The Word’s Leader in Successful UN-Funded Humanitarian Mine Action
Mine clearance in Afghanistan is the first establishment founded which also earned reputation as a Humanitarian entity worldwide.

In 1989, after the withdrawal of the Red Army from Afghanistan, thanks to the initiatives of the United Nations who immediately called upon the world community to help rebuild Afghanistan.

At that time, the world announced its aid to rebuild Afghanistan; however, when realized the fact that the country had been mushroomed with millions of mines and therefore, it was rarely possible to initiate rebuilding the country before mines had been totally removed.

In those days, military experts from seven countries present in Pakistan came up with the idea and who suggested that volunteers from Afghan refugee camps be trained in demining operations over 15 days. The basic purpose of the experts was that since Afghans had fought jihad (Holy War); therefore, they also need to remove the mines of their homeland.

Although, the number of volunteers initially had reached 3000, not a single of them volunteered to clear the mines for nothing.

It wasn’t until a delegate from the United Nations approached and sought my views on how to make the program a success; and to fathom out the reason as to why they were making very little headway.

Therefore, as per the request put forward to me by the United Nations, I started the program in 1989, and it became the first ever humanitarian undertaking in the world.

At that time, of course, the problem of mine incidents in Afghanistan was enormous. Daily mine incidents throughout the country rose by 20 to 25 incidents. And in some locations, for example in Paktika province, a car was hit by an anti-vehicle mine, as a result of which around 50 passengers were killed or wounded; therefore, there were huge problems due to the presence of mines.

To initiate with, we appointed a number of already trained deminers from those 3,000 trained Afghans and then started practical demining in Afghanistan and the World.

Indeed, it was enormously difficult undertaking because few from those 3000 were interest in doing this dangerous job. We would spend a lot of time encouraging them to come forward and work with us but many of them registered today but did not show up the next day.

Nevertheless, Praise be to Allah (SWT), as I remained determined I was able to lay the foundation stone of mine clearance appropriately. Today, as we can see, by the grace of Allah, the Almighty, ATC now ranks among the most successful programs in the world.

When we first started demining operations, all the agricultural lands and others including pastoral farms were full of landmines. Praise be to Allah, the Almighty; many agricultural lands have been cleared and being by our local communities. There were times when vegetables such as onions and eggplant were being imported to Afghanistan from abroad. Thankfully, now different kinds of vegetables, by contrast, are being exported to regional and beyond regional countries for sale due to the growing level of self-sufficiency.

Not only in agricultural lands, pastoral farms, or other places, the Russians had planted mines in any nook and cranny of their bases where they would feel the threat from the enemy may be present.

When it becomes safer in the areas after war between adversaries ends, our demining teams are then deployed there when the need for doing so arises.

Mines are planted mostly underground which may kill or main one person, and which are planted in fewer places by the warring sides; whereas unexploded projectiles could remain overland which, if exploded, may kill or injure many, and which are fired in greater numbers by the opposing factions.

Our policy, therefore, is that if a mine is located, none should touch it. It must be immediately destroyed in situ using the designated exploding techniques for this purpose.

Two reasons behind our success in the field of demining have led to our success: Firstly, the cooperation of our people; secondly, the cooperation and assistance provided by the International Community.

Our program has maintained its neutrality over the past 31 years. The United Nations, therefore, has cooperated with us over those years. It is, indeed, their cooperation that has enabled us to clear huge areas from the threats of mines/ERW.

We fully appreciate all the nations who have assisted us either through the United Nations or directly.

It is noteworthy to state that we laud the initiatives shown by the United Nations in organizing the first-ever demining program in Afghanistan. We also appreciate the support, encouragement, and cooperation we have been provided with by the United Nations. Indeed, it was the provision of UN cooperation and assistance that pave the way towards a successful mine clearance program in Afghanistan.

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