ISAF Officials Visit Bamyan New Zealand PRT

Photo By Spc. Charles Thompson | British army Lt. Gen. Sir Nick Parker, International Security Assistance Forces deputy commander (left), and Mr. Mark P. Sedwill, senior civilian representative for Afghanistan (right), finish up a tour of the Buddha's of Bamyan, Bamyan province, Afghanistan, Feb. 19. The Buddha's date back to the sixth century and were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. The ISAF officials visited the province to better understand the needs of the residents.  

BAMYAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

02.19.2010

Story by Spc. Charles Thompson 

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

BAMYAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Distinguished visitors from International Security Assistance Forces headquarters in Kabul visited the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team and the governor of Bamyan province, Afghanistan, to better understand the needs of the people, Feb. 19.

British army Lt. Gen. Sir Nick Parker, ISAF deputy commander, and Mr. Mark P. Sedwill, senior civilian representative for Afghanistan, arrived at Kiwi Base where they were briefed on the work done by the New Zealand PRT and their future plans.

Parker and Sedwill met with the governor of Bamyan province, Dr. Habiba Sarabi, in her office to discuss the needs of her people.

The Provincial Counsel and local Afghan media were present and were able to ask questions of the ISAF officials.

Bamyan is the most secure province in Afghanistan and we need to learn how you achieved this security and take that to other provinces, Parker said.

After a lunch Parker and Sedwill took a guided tour of the Bamyan Buddha's. The governor of Bamyan expressed that tourism is an area she hopes to focus on to develop her provinces economy.

The ISAF officials also toured the Bamyan City Hospital, a project of the New Zealand PRT.

This visit allowed the ISAF officials to see firsthand the state of the Bamyan province, leaving with better knowledge of what its people need.

• Date Taken: 02.19.2010
• Date Posted: 02.22.2010 04:11
• Story ID: 45665
• Location: BAMYAN PROVINCE, AF