KANDAHAR, Afghanistan- Afghan officials inaugurated a new facility Jan. 13 in Baba Saheb, near Kandahar. Kandahar province's deputy governor Dr. Humyuan attended the event with Arghandab district leader Hajji Abdul Jabar and Col. Baluch, commander of 3rd Kandak, 1st Brigade, 205th Corps of the Afghan national army. Representatives of the district shura, Afghan national police and coalition forces also attended the opening.
"The people of Arghandab have a very good building, but now you must have unity," said Abdul Latif, one of the official speakers at the event.
The old Arghandab center district building was refurbished during the past month, and coalition troops staying in the building have been moved out to a neighboring building to allow the people of the district to approach the local government in a more comfortable and businesslike atmosphere.
The Operational Coordination Center —District will serve as a hub for communication between Afghan National Security Forces, U.S. forces, Canadian forces and civilian agencies working to help develop the local economy.
The opening represents the first time in Arghandab when the Afghan government, Afghan National Security Forces, coalition forces and civilian aid agencies have all been working together in the same compound, coordinating their efforts in the same room. Afghan and coalition leaders hope that bringing everyone together will simplify communication and improve cooperation between allies and agencies for the benefit of the local people.
"If you work together to help the local people you will have positive results," Humyuan said. "We must look to the poor people and take care of them."
Gains in security during the past six months and reinforcements of Afghan and coalition troops have allowed the local government to start implementing aid projects. So far, aid projects have employed about 2,000 people in the valley, and the district government hopes to employ another 6,000 by June, a U.S.A.I.D. spokesperson said.
Recent operations by ANSF and coalition forces have found numerous improvised explosive devices and distributed emergency aid to the people of the district, while tips from locals have led to the discovery of even more IEDs intended for Afghan and foreign troops.
At a recent security shura with Afghan government, coalition and ANSF representitives, Lt. Col. Frank Jenio, commander of 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division told Jabar about a large IED found by his Paratroopers following a tip from the locals.
"We would never have found it without their help," Jenio said. "I think the people are becoming more confident in us and more confident in ANSF to come forward and tell us about IEDs."
District shura leader Malim Mohammed Hosayn expressed his thoughts during the OCCD opening on how the participation of the people will play an integral role in facilitating security and development in the district.
"The people need to be more accountable. This is ours and we need to make the difference here," Hosayn said.
| Date Taken: | 01.16.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 01.16.2010 07:59 |
| Story ID: | 43961 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR, AF |
| Web Views: | 424 |
| Downloads: | 421 |
This work, New Center promises to enhance cooperation between Afghans, coalition, by SGT Stephen Decatur, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT