Task Force Sabre facilitates USAID meeting with Afghan political leaders

PARWAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

12.28.2014

Courtesy Story

3d Cavalry Regiment Public Affairs Office

By US Army 1st Lt. Morgan P. Perry

PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Task Force Sabre partnered with U.S. Agency for International Development, US Department of State, Combined Joint Task Force – 3, and the Afghan National Army 1st Military Police Guard Command to conduct a shura with Parwan Governor, his name and members of the Parwan Provincial Council to discuss future coordination as well as the changing nature of international assistance in Parwan and Afghanistan, Dec. 27, 2014.

“This meeting was the first opportunity for the newly elected council members to meet with these organizations, “and it definitely set the foundation for future collaboration,” said Commander of TF Sabre, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mike James.

The shura was organized by the program director for USAID on Bagram Airfield and hosted at the Justice Center in Parwan by Maj. Gen. Faruq and Maj. Gen. Safiullah Safi of the Afghan National Army.

Technical officers from various areas of concentration of USAID and other organizations traveled from Kabul to hear the challenges and opportunities experienced by council members and provide information on current and upcoming programs taking place in Parwan and the surrounding area.

One of the USAID attendees remarked, “It was really exciting to spend time with such an enthusiastic provincial council – the entire team is committed to making life better and more secure for the citizens of Parwan, and to working closely with a broad range of partners to achieve this end. I look forward to a continued dialogue with the Parwan Council that advances our common aim to enhance Afghan leadership on development and security.“

Opening comments were given by Abdul Basir Salangi, the Parwan Provincial Governor, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Mike Murray, the Commanding General of CJTF-3, Lt. Col. James and the newly elected council president Gholam Bahir Aldeen Jailanee.

The attendees were invited to have lunch in the Afghan dining facility located in the 1st MPGC headquarters compound which provided additionally opportunities for USAID and Department of State representatives to engage with the council members on issues affecting governance, development, gender issues and education.

“The shura was definitely beneficial to building relationships between the provincial council, the provincial government, and implementing partners such as USAID,” said U.S. Army Capt. Mike Jones, a civil affairs officer assigned to TF Sabre of Alexander City, Alabama, “these are the relationships that will ensure long term success within GIRoA as combat operations come to an end."

“I appreciate the opportunity to meet with members of the international community” said Mohammad Shurish, a council member from Bagram district serving his first term after being elected to the council in October of this year.

After the shura, participants left with the hope that this would be the first of many similar meeting and the start of a beneficial relationship between development enabling organizations and the leadership of Parwan province.

TF Sabre is currently assigned as the Bagram Air Field ground defense area security element and provides command and control of a multinational force consisting of soldiers from the Czech Republic and the nation of Georgia in addition to U.S. soldiers, airmen, and Marines. The task force frequently provides critical connections between coalition entities and Afghan leaders from around the area to strengthen security-focused relationships.

• Date Taken: 12.28.2014
• Date Posted: 01.04.2015 03:44
• Story ID: 151331
• Location: PARWAN PROVINCE, AF
• Hometown: FORT CAVAZOS, TX, US
• Hometown: KILLEEN, TX, US