US pays Afghan warriors $384 a month By Rory McCarthy in Zurmad Afghan soldiers involved in the campaign against Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan are being trained and paid $US200 ($384) a month by American troops, it has emerged. One senior Afghan commander said at least 2000 al-Qaeda fighters, including Arabs, Chechens and Pakistanis, were holed up with Taliban soldiers in an underground base at Shahi-Khot, near here. Planning for the attack began at least a month ago when 600 local Afghan men, many of them unemployed, were recruited into a new military force and trained by US troops. Each recruit is being paid in cash by the American soldiers. In addition, every man was given a $US50 gift for the Muslim festival of Eid last month. Khail Mohammad, 22, said he joined the force a month ago, attracted by the money and the promise of proper military training. He was immediately given American-made clothes and boots and a Kalashnikov rifle. "We are given $US200 a month. They didn't give the money to our commanders but straight to us," said Mr Mohammad. The average monthly wage in Afghanistan is closer to $US40. For three weeks Mr Mohammad and other recruits were given basic military training, which included guard duty, how to surround an enemy and elementary first aid. They then received four days of intensive weapons training. Each man was offered lessons in one weapon: Kalashnikov assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades or machine guns. Following the weapons training they began a four-day exercise to prepare for the attack on Shahi-Khot. On the fifth day, Saturday, the attack began. Afghan soldiers just back from the battlefield said the al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters who shot down the US helicopters fear nothing and will defend their positions to the last man. "They didn't tell us about their courage or manner. But what we saw from fighting them, they fear nothing, not aircraft or bombs. Though we have these things, they do not fear them," said Khial Mahmad. Mr Mahmad said his fighters ran into withering fire. "Sometimes when we confront our enemies, we either advance or retrace our steps. We have been forced back. They control the top of the mountains, which is why we need the American helicopters and bombers," he said. "We were informed that aircraft had softened up the area, reducing the risk, and we were supposed to just search and explore. But when we got there, our enemies were very much alive, with guns in their hands." Afghan Commander Sultan Mahmad said helicopters were ideal for attacking the rebels because they could manoeuvre and target the tiny cave entrances. Much of the area around Zurmad is still regarded as sympathetic to the Taliban. A Canadian journalist was badly hurt on Monday when she was travelling with two other journalists and an Afghan driver. A man in a car approaching from the opposite direction fired a gun or threw a grenade at their vehicle. "She was seriously injured but her vital signs are normal," said Shah Atef, an emergency room nurse at Gardez hospital.http://smh.com.au/news/0203/06/world/world2.html
