According to General Abdurraziq, the Chief of the Afghan National Police (ANP) in Kandahar, in the past year the number of female police officer recruits has more than doubled, defying attempts by the Taliban to intimidate females from joining the Afghan security forces.
Many have bemoaned the lack of influence of women on security issues in Afghanistan, with a recent International Crisis Group (ICG) report calling on the government to increase the presence of females in the Taliban reconciliation process and the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) adding to those calls for change.
One might assume the targeted assassinations of female police officers, like the two that occurred in Helmand province in August and September, would dissuade women from volunteering themselves for service. But that has been far from the case in Kandahar, which remains one of the most restive provinces in the country, yet has seen a marked rise in female police recruits.
Kandahar Police Chief Abdurraziq reports that the number of female recruits in the province rose from 30 to 80 in the past year.
"Women's contribution to security operations is significant and effective," he said. "The recruitment of women to the National Police ranks in Kandahar has doubled this year, and we are trying to recruit more."
Still grappling with the legacy of the Taliban regime, which kept Afghan women out of the public sphere and relegated to their homes, Afghanistan has seen slow but steady progress in the employment and empowerment of women in the areas of governance and commercial economy. Although much of that growth could be attributed to more progressive policies and the influence of the international community, the role of Afghan women's determination to get involved cannot be denied.
"I am a woman, and I will serve my country and people in the ranks of the national police until my last breath," said a policewoman in Kandahar.
"There are major challenges facing us in Kandahar province, but we are committed to serve the cause of the national police," another recent female recruit added.
Chief Abdurraziq said there are eight policewomen that have been trained and are currently on active duty in the province. He said these women were not intimidated by the slaying of two female ANP officers in August and September and will continue to serve.