NATO, British ambassadors visit Nangarhar

Courtesy Photo | Ambassador Mark Sedwill, NATO senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, and Ambassador William Patey, British ambassador to Afghanistan, brief the local United Nations team in their Jalalabad compound Dec. 2. (Photo by: Lt. Casey Osborne)  

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

12.02.2010

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force 101

NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Ambassadors Mark Sedwill, NATO senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, and William Patey, British ambassador to Afghanistan, visited Nangarhar Dec. 2 to appraise various sites and discuss current issues with the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team and high-ranking officials in the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

“Nangarhar is one of the critical areas of the country, both for security and for prosperity,” Sedwill said.

Following a mission brief by PRT staff, the ambassadors toured an area of Jalalabad that sustained severe damage following floods this summer.

The heavy floods destroyed 18,000 homes in one of Jalalabad’s poorer neighborhoods, said Rodney Stubina, Nangarhar PRT field program officer from Gainesville, Fla.

Since then, 50 percent of the homes have been rebuilt by Cooperative Housing Foundation International, a United States Aid for International Development implementing partner. Many of the new homes are built using far superior materials than before to make them more resilient in case of future floods.

The team then proceeded to the Shishembagh Agricultural Research Station, a facility in Jalalabad designed to showcase innovative techniques intended to increase crop yield to the farmers in Nangarhar, said Robert Smith, Nangarhar PRT field program officer from Media, Pa.

The Shishembagh facility hosts between 70 and 100 farmers every week, said Siraj, Afghanistan Water, Agriculture and Technology Transfer project director. One of the tools Shishembagh has on display is an innovative concrete irrigation ditch which cost $200 for installation, an investment that will be easily recouped within a year of installing the system.

“Farmers are lining up for this technology,” Siraj said.

The ambassadors joined Nangarhar Governor Gul Agha Sherzai, Nangarhar Provincial Council Chairman Nasratullah Arsalie and leaders from many of Nangarhar’s 22 districts for a traditional Afghan lunch. The discussion focused on multiple issues across the province, most notably the process of reintegrating former insurgent fighters into Afghan society.

Arsalie was enthusiastic about moving forward with reintegration but expressed concern that fighters who lay down their arms may be arrested.

Sedwill explained reintegration is a crucial piece toward achieving a stable Afghanistan and individuals who choose to participate in the process will be treated justly. He stressed that major governance operations have to be led by GIRoA, not by coalition forces.

“What we want to see is Afghan programs, led by the Afghans, that we can provide money and expertise to,” Sedwill said. “That’s where our common interests lie.”

“You know better than us what will work,” Patey added.

The Afghan leaders also questioned the ambassadors about long-term plans for the country, particularly the anticipated troop reduction in 2014. Patey told all assembled that the international community would not simply leave Afghanistan without finishing its work.

“The one mistake we will not make is to leave Afghanistan and forget it,” Patey said.

After lunch, the group walked to a nearby United Nations compound where the ambassadors discussed the various concerns raised throughout the day.

Nahid Abuakar, United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan head in Jalalabad, discussed UN work with Sherzai on the reintegration program, echoing many of the concerns the Afghan leaders voiced earlier. Sedwill and Patey both repeated their assurances, greatly increasing everyone’s confidence in the logistics and underlying foundation of the plan.

Leadership from PRT Nangarhar hailed the day as an outstanding success, noting the ambassadors were openly supportive of PRT projects.

"We were very fortunate to host Ambassadors Sedwill and Patey this week,” said Andrew Haviland, Nangarhar PRT senior civilian representative from Oakton, Va. “They can help champion some of our issues with the government and international community in Kabul. That kind of support is critical if we are to successfully tackle issues like water management here in Nangarhar.”

• Date Taken: 12.02.2010
• Date Posted: 12.05.2010 04:19
• Story ID: 61394
• Location: NANGARHAR PROVINCE, AF