Civil servant uses radio to tackle the Taliban

A CIVIL servant from Plymouth is using the radio to take on the Taliban in southern Afghanistan.

Robert Collett, a former Plymouth College pupil, heads a five-person military and civilian team helping the Afghan Government win the battle for hearts and minds in Helmand.

The British-funded team helps international journalists visit the dangerous province, advises the Afghan Government on communications and runs projects to strengthen the Afghan media.

The Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team's largest project is helping Helmand radio stations expand their coverage to reach more people in the province, which is the size of Israel.

It is a difficult task in a mountainous region, where 55 degree temperatures put a strain on both people and equipment.

But Robert feels the work is vital to bringing security and stability to Afghanistan.

"Where communities have no access to the media, the Taliban fill the information gap with misinformation and messages intended to keep people subjugated through fear," the 28-year-old said.

"This advantage for the insurgents disappears when local and trusted radio arrives in their district."

Earlier this week Robert got the chance to tell the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, all about his work during a special visit to Helmand.

During his visit Mr Brown said that a "chain of terror runs from Afghanistan and Pakistan to the streets of Britain".

It is that chain that the UK is trying to break in Helmand.

"It's an honour to be working alongside such brave and professional troops and civil servants," Robert added.

"A lot of them have come from Plymouth, because 3 Commando Brigade were deployed here for the past six months.

"However I also work with people from as far apart as America, Denmark Estonia, Sweden and Australia.

"All of us are here because international terrorists used Afghanistan as a base from which to prepare attacks against our countries.

"We have a shared interest in making sure they can't return to do that again."

The Provincial Reconstruction Team has 119 staff in Helmand, more than 80 of them civilians.

They are working with the Afghan Government, as part of the UN-mandated NATO mission, to establish security and stability in the war-torn country.

During the past three years the Provincial Reconstruction Team has helped the Afghan Government in Helmand double the number of health clinics, open 47 schools, resurface 74km of highway and place governors into three new districts.

It is also supporting drives against the narcotics industry and corruption.