Afghanistan — Kabul

The first historical account of an oasis around the Kabul River can be found in the 2000 BC ancient Indian hymn of Rigivida, in which the region was called Kabuha or Kabukha. The ancient city of Vigarute is also said to have been located on the current site of Kabul.

The city of Kabul originated 3500 years ago; Alexander the Great of Macedonian referred to the city in 328 BC and ancient Greek geographer and historian Starbone of the First Century BC called this city Ortaspana which means " Highland Region". Another ancient Greek geographer Beltemous in the Second Century BC referred to the city as Kaboura and he called its residents Bolitio. According to Gurgasht the city's inhabitants were the Kabolitoi. Some believe that the city has also been called Carura.

The fortress at Kabul is believed to have been constructed at the end of the third century. The village of Kabul is thought to have been established during the Koshan dynasty in the Second Century and was located in the Loghar Valley within the Chakari region.

During the Second and Fourth Centuries, Kabul relocated a number of times, moving to Shiwaki, Khord-Kabul, and the Takht-e Shah Khanborak valley. The last location of Kabul was the fortress of Bala-Hissar in the summit of Shirdarwaza and Assamahee mountains. Kabul was built northwest of the Bala-Hissar fortress and Kharabad on the left bank of the Kabul River. Kabul became more famous during the time of Arabic Califats (Khalifates) in 645-876 A.D.

At the end of the 16th Century, Kabul experienced a significant degree of expansion and development when during the dynasty of Babour Shah, a special initiative was made for the developement and beautification of all Afghan cities. Gradually, a number of gardens and parks were created throughout the city. By the end of Seventeenth Century Kabul was a large trade center and had a population of 10,000.

In 1773, Kabul became the capital of Afghanistan during the Durrani Dynasty. During the time of King Timor Shah the city’s experienced additional construction and an expansion in the city's size. A few large government buildings were constructed around the Bala-Hissar fortress. The construction of housing, mosques, public baths (Hamam), Caravan-Sarai , and new parks took place within the residential area of Gozar. Some new residential areas such as Divanbigi, Sardar Jankhan, Ali Rezakhan, Muradkhani, Ahanghari, Shamrezha, Khakrobah, Sarai Shahzadah Abass, and Khan Shikh Abdullah were developed within the city's urban boundary.

The new district of Shirpur (Shir Abad) was founded in 1863-1878. Usually the residential area of the city was divided into separate sections with public centers including a mosque, cafe, and small shops. By the second half of the Nineteenth Century large bazaars such as Shor Bazaar and Chindawol Bazaar were formed in Kabul. In 1878, the population of Kabul was approximately 70,000 people and the city 's area had increased to 180 hectares of land.

From 1878 to 1919, the country’s administrative center was relocated from the Bala-Hissar to the Northern part of the city. Later, the palace, the Gulistan Khana building, Bostan Sarai, a few government guest-houses, the Shahrarah Tower, Gunbad-e Kotawali, Polikhishti Mosque, Salamkhana Palace, Bagh-e Bala Palace, mausoleum Amir, Dar-ul Aman, Chihlsotun Palace and Kabul National Museum were built.

In 1916 the city’s population grew up to 65,000 people and its territory-400 hectare.

During the first years of Independence (1919), country's industry began to develop and construction of main roads which linked Kabul with other large cities and regions were initiated. The city's population increased to 90,000 people and its territory increased to 450 hectares by 1925.

During 1930-1940, construction of two- storied buildings were finished on both sides of the Kabul riverside. In 1940 the population of city grew to 120,000 and its territory expanded by 500 hectares.

Between 1940 and 1950, Kabul experienced a significant degree of new construction of both buildings and roads. During this period the Behzad Cinema was constructed as was Kabul University. The Shahrarah district was the site of a womens hospital with 12 beds. The reconstruction of Polikhishti Street started in 1948. In 1949 the reconstruction of the city’s main street, Jade Maiwand, was started and the old houses were demolished and the construction of new 3-4 storied buildings began. By the 1950s the Jade Maiwand district had already built 50 houses, a cinema-theater for 1200, restaurants, and a trade center.

During the period of 1950-1960, there was additional construction of the city’s main street, residential areas and administrative buildings. By 1962, the Kabul city became one of the largest cities in the country with 380,000 people and 6840 hectare of land.

The first Master Plan of Kabul city was designed by Afghan and Soviet experts in 1962-1964; it was calculated for 800,000 residents, the central part of the city would include 500 hectares of land. The Soviet plan also included the building of additional residences and of other public buildings. In 1978 the plan was revised and expanded, allowing the city to house an estimated 2 million residents.

The Taliban army's Central Army Corps was headquartered in Kabul. The Harakat-ul-Mujahideen, was reportedly also headquartered in Kabul in the Shahr-e-Nao [Shahr-e Now] quarter of the city [this location is obscure].

A Loya Jirga or grand council meeting was held for a period of two weeks, starting on June 10, 2002, at Kabul University to choose Afghanistan's next government. A huge tent, some 70 metres by 40 metres, was flown in for the occasion from Germany and erected at Kabul University. RAF experts gave fire safety advice for the complex of tents and buildings that hosted the event, which was expected to have up to 2,000 people attending. At the conclusion of the Loya Jirga, interim leader Hamid Karzai, was elected to run the nation for an additional two more years until internationally-supervised elections could be held.

Afghan Military Academy

Starting May 1, 2002, the new Afghanistan National Army’s first regular army battalion underwent 10 weeks of basic infantry and combat skills training at the Afghan Military Academy in Kabul. Training for the new recruits in the Afghan National Army (ANA) was being initially provided by U.S. Army Special Forces members. Many buildings of the Afghan Military Academy had, over the years, either been destroyed or fallen into disrepair. To accomodate for the influx of recruits for the ANA, parts of the Academy were being refurbished by the U.S. for use as a military academy once again.

Kabul Military Training Center

The KMTC is a compound located about eight miles east of downtown Kabul.

The training cycles at Kabul Military Training Compound (KMTC) consists of U.S. Army conducted basic training for the ANA in ten-week cycles. Each cycle consists of training one battalion, which is referred to as a “kandak.” Every kandak contains three constituent training companies. During its initial week—zero week—at KMTC, each kandak undergoes basic in-processing, such as equipment and uniform issue. Over the following three weeks, every company rotates through various training regimens. One week is devoted entirely to classroom instruction.

Work conditions and quality of life improvements for U.S. troops assigned to Forward Operating Base 195 at the Kabul Military Training Center were made everyday, thanks, in part, to a five-member team of soldiers from the 769th Engineer Battalion, Louisiana National Guard, from Baton Rouge, La.

In December 2002 the team, consisting of a squad leader, Small Emplacement Excavator operator, a plumber, electrician and a well digger, was part of a number of large projects at KMTC, including water heater installation, upgrading electricity, placing mortar positions and well digging.

One of the main projects the engineers had was well digging. The compound's main water source was an off-site well located about five kilometers away from the center. Spc. Royal Freeman, also with the 769th, worked with a team of two local contractors to build a new well on the compound, which improved force protection measures, according to Master Sgt. Emanuel Valdez, NCOIC of the Field Engineer Team that oversaw the 769th, which also had a team working at the Palace in Kabul.

In early 2003 the 772nd MP Co. took on some of Operation Enduring Freedom's biggest security challenges. Known by the nickname "Outlaws," they were tasked with the responsibility of providing personnel and perimeter security at the Coalition Joint Civil-Military Task Force (CJCMOTF) compound, the Kabul Military Training Center (KMTC) and Bagram Air Base in the war-torn country of Afghanistan.

The Afghan National Army launched Afghanistan’s first military vaccine program 19 May 2005, providing vaccinations for 185 soldiers at the Kabul Military Training Center’s Troop Medical Clinic. The working group determined the best place to initiate the program was at KMTC where all new ANA recruits complete basic training.

Camp Phoenix

Camp Phoenix, on the outskirts of Kabul, is home of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, which trains the Afghan National Army. Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix is a collection of Army National Guard units that are training the new Afghan national army.

With less than seven days in Afghanistan, soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. were busy at work at the newly erected Camp Phoenix, putting up tents, pulling guard and preparing to begin their main mission – training the Afghan National Army. While the troops scurried about the camp performing daily operations, the Kellogg, Brown and Root contractors were busy making sure that the soldiers had the resources they need to relax at the end of the day.

In early 2003 Camp Phoenix was nothing but a huge junkyard full of scrap metal left from an abandoned tractor trailer park. The OMC [Office of Military Cooperation] needed a large enough area to house up to 800 soldiers and they decided this would be the perfect location, leasing it from an Afghan trucking company for one year.

As soon as the approval was given, the US Army began their work of turning the junkyard into a military training camp. The camp is made up of two force provider kits that come with everything needed to set up operations in a field environment. Normally it takes about three to four weeks to have the whole kit set up, but the engineers here set up both ki s in about two weeks which is record time. By 15 May 2003 there was a dining facility, medic tent, showers, latrines and living quarters enough to house over 500 soldiers.

The camp’s maximum capacity was quickly filled with more than 300 10th Mountain soldiers currently residing in the camp preparing to begin their mission. This camp was built to house the soldiers who will train the ANA. Once the training began, most soldiers remained here but some replaced Special Forces who were embedded with the Afghan trainees.

One advantage the 10th Mountain troops had was the presence of Brown and Root. The Brown and Root contractors were here on the ground setting up facilities for the soldiers from the moment 10th Mountain started to arrive. Thanks to Brown and Root, the troops had hot chow, hot showers and flush toilets from the first night they were here. There are certain camps that have been up for over a year that still don’t have some of these amenities. The troops here are lucky. According to Brown and Root, they were working as fast as they can to implement Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities for the soldiers. They set up the MWR tent and were in the process of setting up the gym. Having all of these resources after only being here a week is basically the lap of luxury in a field environment.

Members of Coalition Joint Task Force Phoenix began training and mentoring the Afghan National Army in June of 2003. This task force is comprised of National Guard, reserve and active duty soldiers from seven different countries. By February 2005, Task Force Phoenix had trained and deployed more than 17,000 ANA soldiers at five corps commands located in Kabul, Gardez, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif, which also have permanent garrisons.

As of February 2005 the ANA had over 5,000 soldiers in training. This training was conducted at many sites, including the Kabul Military Training Center, Command and General Staff College, National Military Academy of Afghanistan and the new National Training Center north of Kabul. The ANA themselves are training all the new recruits in the basic training of soldiers, noncommissioned officers and officers at KMTC. What's more, this month marks the first training cycle at CGSC taught by all Afghan instructors.

Coalition Joint Civil-Military Task Force (CJCMOTF)

The Coalition Joint Civil-Military Task Force (CJCMOTF) compound is centrally located on two city blocks in the heart of Afghanistan's capitol city of Kabul, in close proximity to most of the national government's ministry offices, foreign military compounds and non-governmental organization headquarters.

The CJCMOTF was initially given the primary mission of providing humanitarian assistance through coordination with more than 24 international and nongovernmental organizations and the Afghan government. The CJCMOTF identifies quick-fix humanitarian projects throughout the country that are not being accomplished by the greater humanitarian-assistance community. It then coordinates its efforts with Afghan agencies and international and nongovernmental organizations in the country.

Because the compound is located in such a highly populated and urban area, the MPs must maintain close control of personnel and equipment moving on and off the compound. Every time service members enter or leave the compound, they must request permission to leave in writing, report where they are going and the nature of their outing. It's their fellow MPs on duty who track their departure and arrival to ensure maximum accountability for the personnel on the compound. Additionally, anyone wishing to visit or come onto the compound is thoroughly screened and searched before they are allowed access.

The compound was established in February 2002 to support civil affairs missions directed by U.S. Central Command in an effort to help Afghanistan with rebuilding efforts. The compound's central location is key to its success because civil affairs soldiers can get to and from project sites with ease, local media can inquire about newsworthy events, and non-governmental and international organizations' representatives can make face-to-face contact with someone from CJCMOTF.

In addition to guarding the main checkpoint 24-hours a day, seven-days a week, the solders of 2nd Platoon man several observation points throughout the compound. The MPs also support many additional missions requiring them to leave the security of the compound and venture out into the uncertainty of the city - and beyond. They play an integral part in the CJCMOTF mission by providing convoy security, establishing en route checkpoints, escorting VIPs and fielding personal security detachments for general officers.

Second platoon implemented several improvements to guard the security of those living in the compound. For example, when they arrived, the main entry for personnel and vehicles was facing an open and busy thoroughfare street. They immediately shut down through traffic and established weaving roadblocks, called 'serpentines,' to limit access and slow down any vehicle traffic approaching the entrance to the compound.

Kabul Compound / Camp Eggers

Members of the press were invited to Kabul Compound on 20 March 2005, for a dedication ceremony. Kabul Compound was renamed “Camp Eggers” in memory of Capt. Daniel W. Eggers. Eggers was killed in Afghanistan on May 29, 2004, when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device near Kandahar. The ceremony concluded with the crowd observing a moment of silence for all those who have lost their lives in Afghanistan and the playing of the “Ballad of the Green Beret.”

Also killed with Eggers were Sgt. 1st Class Robert J. Mogensen, Spc. Joseph A. Jeffries and Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Brian J. Ouellette. The four men were fatally wounded while returning to their base as they tried to avoid another improvised explosive device in the road. Eggers, a Special Forces detachment commander, and Mogensen, 26, a Special Forces weapons sergeant, were both assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C. Jeffries, 21, was a psychological operations specialist assigned to the 320th Psychological Operations Company, an Army Reserve unit based in Portland, Ore. Ouellette, 37, was assigned to the Navy Special Warfare Group Two out of Little Creek, Va.

Capt. Eggers was killed leading his Special Forces A Team in Zabul Province…a truly joint team working hard to help secure a critical part of this country and provide support to the Afghan government in a highly contested area.

Even though service members at Camp Eggers, Afghanistan, are separated from their families by thousands of miles, they still can read to their kids. Thanks to the efforts of one noncommissioned officer assigned to the Office of Military Cooperation-Afghanistan, more than 200 parents deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom have done so over the past four months.

The “Read To Your Kids” program was established in late November by Army Reserve Master Sgt. D. Keith Johnson from the OMCA public affairs office as a way to bring deployed troops closer to their loved ones while they are away from home. On 18 March 2005, Johnson reached a new milestone as he completed his 200th taping.

Even though 15 openings are available on the schedule every Friday, the program, also open to the members of Combined Forces Command-Afghanistan at Camp Eggers, has become so popular that the slots are completely booked weeks in advance. It is so popular, in fact, that it expanded from Camp Eggers to Camp Phoenix, where Staff Sgt. Jerad Myers from the Task Force Phoenix public affairs office established a satellite program with Johnson’s assistance. Task Force Phoenix, a subordinate unit of OMCA, is responsible for training the Afghan National Army.

Camp Julien

NATO received command of Camp Julien on 29 November 2005. Located in the ruins of what was once an Afghan royal garden, Camp Julien was built by Canadian engineers in the spring of 2003. Among ISAF troops, Camp Julien is generally considered the most troop-friendly facility in Afghanistan. It is affectionately referred to as "Club Med." - Julien’s facilities included water and sewage treatment plants, a water bottling facility, a gymnasium, big-screen televisions, European-style cooking and a few hundred kilometers of underground piping and wiring. Julien serves about 4,000 soldiers from the UK, US, Canada, Mongolia, Belgium, and New Zealand. After the handover to NATO, permanent facilities were built including two-story barracks, an ammo dump, and shower and toilet facilities.

Camp Black Horse

Located just outside of Kabul, Camp Black Horse is home to Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix V. It is also the site of the Canadian Afghan National Training Centre Detachment. Both groups are providing training and mentorship to Afghan government and the Afghan National Army. The American contingent is approximate 2,000 national guardsmen and the Canadian mission is a small number of trainers. The ANA units under Camp Black Horse's supervision live in an adjacent camp.