By Abdul Haleem
KABUL, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- From his bed in the National Police Hospital in Kabul, Ahjazul Haq, 25, proclaimed that "insurgents and terrorists are the enemies of the world."
Having lost his foot after a mine exploded a month ago in the eastern Ghazni province, the wounded Haq explained that an explosive device planted by "Taliban rebels" on a road on the outskirts of the provincial capital of Ghazni city, was detonated and seriously injured him.
"I was on a routine patrol with colleagues from my unit when I heard a huge blast. The next thing I remember was waking up in hospital," Haq told Xinhua recently.
He went on to explain that he had experienced a number of "nightmares" while carrying out his duties as a police officer. He said that the Taliban insurgents used to attack security checkpoints and the police were forced to return fire to force them to retreat.
"In one of the clashes with Taliban fighters our team killed four armed militants and captured two others alive," Haq recalled.
The relatively volatile Ghazni province has been the scene of increasing Taliban-led insurgency over the past several years that have claimed countless lives including civilians, security personnel and militants.
While the Taliban's roadside bombing had deprived Haq of his foot, it would not deprive him of his spirit, Haq said resolutely, adding that although he hated war, he would be back fighting the insurgents as soon as he was fit.
"Yes, I undeniably hate this war, but the Taliban roadside bombing has strengthened my resolve to fight insurgent groups and as soon as I am discharged from hospital I will continue to do so until the country gets rid of these terrorist menaces."
"It's difficult to see the war in Afghanistan coming to an end in the near future, but I live in hope that one day I'll be a witness to the end of this war and see the return of lasting armistice to my country," the injured policeman said optimistically.
The National Police Hospital where Ahjazul Haq and his injured colleagues have been hospitalized is the only government-run health clinic that provides medical facilities to critically injured police personnel who have sustained serious injuries in the war against armed insurgents in the country.
In militancy-hit Afghanistan, police mostly bear the brunt of the war as the Taliban and associated armed groups usually attack "soft targets" including police checkpoints to gain media attention in their propaganda war.
Presently, around 150 police personnel from across the conflict-ridden country, according to Mohammad Fawad, an official at the hospital, have been admitted to the facility and are receiving medical treatment.
Mohammad Yusuf, echoing the sentiments of Haq, said he is also against war in his homeland, but told Xinhua recently that being injured as a result of insurgency had doubled his determination to fight tooth and nail against militants across the country.
Yusuf, 55, whose leg was broken in a fight against the Taliban in the northern Badakhshan province in early September declared that, "Using force is the only way to curb militancy and subversive activities in Afghanistan."
