Afghanistan train dogs to detect landmines

Dawn.com Published November 20, 2012
Funded by international partners, the dog handlers and demining teams are all Afghans.
Funded by international partners, the dog handlers and demining teams are all Afghans.
Smoke rising after a controlled landmine explosion on the outskirts of Kabul. Since 1989, when the Soviets withdrew after a 10-year occupation, nearly 700,000 mines and more than 15 million explosive left-overs from decades of war have been destroyed, according to United Nations figures.
Smoke rising after a controlled landmine explosion on the outskirts of Kabul. Since 1989, when the Soviets withdrew after a 10-year occupation, nearly 700,000 mines and more than 15 million explosive left-overs from decades of war have been destroyed, according to United Nations figures.
“Using dogs in Afghanistan, which is one of the most heavily-mined countries in the world, is a very efficient way to detect mines,” MDC's training manager Abdul Jabar Baser told AFP.
“Using dogs in Afghanistan, which is one of the most heavily-mined countries in the world, is a very efficient way to detect mines,” MDC's training manager Abdul Jabar Baser told AFP.
Dogs can find mines faster than humans and can also find explosives around 13 centimeters deep in soil. They can also find plastic land mines that cannot be discovered by metal detectors.
Dogs can find mines faster than humans and can also find explosives around 13 centimeters deep in soil. They can also find plastic land mines that cannot be discovered by metal detectors.
The centre has around 200 dogs, some of them operational, some under training. Breeding also takes place at the centre. The dogs can learn anything taught to them.
The centre has around 200 dogs, some of them operational, some under training. Breeding also takes place at the centre. The dogs can learn anything taught to them.
It is not only old mines left after three decades of war that take a toll, roadside bombs used by the Taliban remain one the biggest killers in Afghanistan.
It is not only old mines left after three decades of war that take a toll, roadside bombs used by the Taliban remain one the biggest killers in Afghanistan.
The US-led NATO force has more than 100,000 troops in Afghanistan, but combat soldiers will withdraw by the end of 2014 and hand responsibility for security to Afghan forces.
The US-led NATO force has more than 100,000 troops in Afghanistan, but combat soldiers will withdraw by the end of 2014 and hand responsibility for security to Afghan forces.
According to a recent UN report, in the first six months of 2012, 1,145 Afghan civilians were killed and around 2,000 were wounded, mostly by roadside bombs.
According to a recent UN report, in the first six months of 2012, 1,145 Afghan civilians were killed and around 2,000 were wounded, mostly by roadside bombs.
Women and children accounted for about 30 percent of this year's casualties. NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) says around 1,800 Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks were executed between July and September alone.
Women and children accounted for about 30 percent of this year's casualties. NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) says around 1,800 Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks were executed between July and September alone.

The centre has around 200 dogs, some of them operational, some under training. Breeding also takes place at the centre. It is not only old mines left after three decades of war that take a toll, roadside bombs used by the Taliban remain one the biggest killers in Afghanistan. NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) says around 1,800 Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks were executed between July and September alone. Funded by international partners, the dog handlers and demining teams are all Afghans. – Photos and Text by AFP

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