Radio Bayan: Could you please provide us information about the main responsibilities of 777 Special Mission Wing?
Col. Mohammad Dawood Sakhi: “Greeting, this is the first time in the history of Afghan Air Forces that a Special Mission Wing has been established. It has trained elite personnel in all sections and they are equipped with MI-17v5 helicopters and PC-12 fixed-wing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft. They conduct immediate operations and operations against terrorists, and drug lords, they also conduct operations against enemy convoys in allover Afghanistan. In addition, we conduct rescue operation during natural disasters, we transport aids to suffered ones during natural disasters.”
Radio Bayan: Could you please provide us some examples of the recent rescue operations that you conducted during natural disasters?
Col. Mohammad Dawood Sakhi: “About two months ago a flood had occurred in north of the country. We transferred about 6,000 kg of foods, cloths and medicine to the victims of the floods. In addition, we rescued and relocated about 500 people from the flooded areas.”
Radio Bayan: What are your achievements regarding fighting narcotics and drug dealers?
Col. Mohammad Dawood Sakhi: “As I mentioned, we conduct operation against drug lords too. Among our Special Forces there are police Special Forces against drug lords. We conduct most of the operations against drug lords in close coordination with these forces. For instance, in the current year we conducted operations against drug factories in Nangarhar and we destroyed many of them.”
Radio Bayan: Do you have all necessary and modern equipment to conduct your operations?
Col. Mohammad Dawood Sakhi: “We are equipped with MI-17v5 helicopters and they are able to land and take off in different altitude. We use these helicopters to transport our forces. We also have PC-12 fixed wing aircraft. They monitor and detect the target location for our forces. The PC-12s help us in different arenas and it can prevent civilian casualties during the operations. Our forces are also equipped with night vision goggles.”
Radio Bayan: How many night raids did you conduct during the current year, and what were the achievements?
Col. Mohammad Dawood Sakhi: “Currently, I can’t say the exact numbers of night raids conducted. But we have conducted numerous night raids this year in close coordination with other security forces. Almost all of our operations had good achievements because during the night raids our targets are clearly and accurately identified.”
Radio Bayan: “Please tell us about activities of Afghan Air Forces and about sections which are related to 777 Special Mission Wing?”
Col. Mohammad Dawood Sakhi: “The 777 Special Mission Wing is a section of Afghan Air Forces, but their activities are different from Afghan Air Forces. The 777 Special Mission Wing do the special air operations like: operations against terrorism, operations against narcotics, and some emergency operations. The Afghan Air Forces have responsibility of supplying, transferring, carrying the injured soldiers and carrying the personnel. We are working together in emergency situations. It is responsibility of 777 Special Mission Wing to conduct night raids.”
Questions and Answers with Radio Bayan listeners
Caller from Kabul: “What should be done to solve the problems that the Afghan Air Forces are facing with? What should be done to help all the people who are facing with natural disasters?”
Caller from Badghis: “Is there coordination between Afghan Air Forces and American Forces during air operations?”
Caller from Nuristan: “I request 777 Special Mission Wing to conduct operations on terrorists’ hideouts all over Afghanistan.”
Col. Mohammad Dawood Sakhi: “As you know terrorists hide in locations where civilians are living. We will not conduct air operations when we see civilians in target areas; otherwise we conduct air operations on enemies. The 777 Special Mission Wing asks the people to support them. The new warplanes that we use are modern and useful for doing air operations. We do air operations independently. The Afghan Forces decide to do air operations. By receiving of reports about existence of enemies in any locations, the responsible sections order us to conduct air operations and we follow the order. The official wants us to conduct air operations just on enemies. We don’t want the civilians to be killed during air operations.”
Radio Bayan: “Please tell us about process of your trainings inside the country and in foreign countries. How are the results of the trainings?”
Col. Mohammad Dawood Sakhi: “The personnel in 777 Special Mission Wing are professional and intelligent, they should be healthy and should be educated and professional. Most of the personnel in 777 Special Mission Wing concluded their education in Afghanistan or in foreign countries. Most of the pilots studied in United Kingdom, United States and in United Arab Emirates. Besides doing air operations, the pilots get more professional trainings too.”
Caller from Helmand: “Is there opportunity to repair the warplanes inside Afghanistan? What is the reason for civilians’ casualties during airstrikes?”
Caller from Nangarhar: “Why the Afghan Air Forces can’t do air operations on time? How the people in provinces can join Afghan Air Forces?”
Caller from Farah: “I am thankful of Afghan Air Forces because they conduct operations on enemies especially in Farah province.”
Col. Mohammad Dawood Sakhi: “The technical teams in Afghan Air Forces are able to repair the warplanes. No civilian were killed during air operations which are done by Afghan Air Forces. It is our aim to conduct air operations on enemies and terrorists. We conduct air operations when the responsible sections order us. The youths who want to work in Afghan Air Forces, can come to Kabul and study in military universities. Afghan Air Forces are able to conduct night raids.
Radio Bayan: How effective the daytime operations are and how effective it is in raising the morale of ANSDF?
Col. Mohammad Dawood Sakhi: “Our operations are targeted operation. After we collect all information about a target we conduct operation. In each operation, we have achievements and these achievements raise the morale of ANSDF.”
Radio Bayan: Could you please speak about your personal experiences in air force that how you joined and improved?
Col. Mohammad Dawood Sakhi: “Thanks, it was an interesting question. I have been working for 26 years as helicopter pilot and I served in many airfields in the country. I have graduated from the air force academy in Kabul. I fly with different helicopters and have good and bad experiences during my duty. After Taliban regime collapsed and graduation from the academy, I went to UK and received training there and also in Ukraine.”
Caller from Paktika Province: “I hope that fighting end in our country. We are proud of our security forces; they all do a great job. Our air force doing a good job, they effectively destroy the enemy positions.”
Radio Bayan: How do you feel serving the country for many years and what are your aspirations for the country?
Col. Mohammad Dawood Sakhi: “As an Afghan I hope to have peace in our country and I thank our people for supporting us. I hope our people continue their support from ANSDF. I hope people and ANSDF have good relation.”
Radio Bayan: How satisfied you are from in air force?
Col. Mohammad Dawood Sakhi: “I love this profession and I am happy with this profession. I am proud for being an active pilot and serving for my country and people.”
| Date Taken: |
06.24.2018 |
| Date Posted: |
07.04.2018 05:53 |
| Story ID: |
282961 |
| Location: |
KABUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AF |
| Web Views: |
506 |
| Downloads: |
1 |
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