Kunar provincial governor, PRT visit Pech Valley

KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

01.18.2011

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force 101

KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Pech River Valley, long touted as one of the most deadly places on Earth, stretched out from the windows of the Manogai District Center — lush, green and peaceful.

Bordered by snow-capped peaks, the valley provided a picturesque backdrop for the Kunar provincial government visit to the Manogai District, Jan. 15.

Kunar Provincial Gov. Fazlullah Wahidi and a small entourage of key provincial government figures including: Gen. Khalillulah Ziayee, Afghan National Police chief; Aminudin Baidar, Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development director; Jamaluddin Hassani, Director of Education; and Haji Mia Hassan, Provincial Council director and native of Manogai.

The group travelled to Manogai to meet with district elders and government officials. It was their first meeting since more than 250 Manogai elders visited the governor’s compound in Asadabad, Dec. 9, to elect the 45 members of the officially sanctioned district shura, formally called the Manogai District Community Council.

The governor’s convoy was escorted without incident to the Manogai District Center by a joint patrol of ANP and coalition forces vehicles, comprised of a maneuver unit from Task Force Bulldog and a Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team element.

Before a crowd of more than 60 elders and shura members, Haji Sher Badir, Manogai District subgovernor, welcomed Wahidi and his staff and thanked them for making the trip from Asadabad.

“We are very thankful to the government for coming here today,” said Badir, who then gave the floor to his guests who shared a common theme in their addresses.

“We are making every effort to go to the outlying districts,” said Hassan, “and we are asking the people to inform us of their needs. The money is there, we just need to use the right processes.”

“It is the people who will decide when lasting security will come to the Pech,” Ziayee said. “The elders in this room have that power. The ANP are your sons, your brothers, support them. The Pech Valley is so beautiful, I want all people to be able to see it one day.”

“Before,” Wahidi said, “the people would come down to the governor’s compound with their problems, get the proper forms signed and receive the help they needed. Now you have an official shura, so use them. All the people should bring their problems to the government here and they will be taken care of,” he said. “However, if you need to, my office is always open to you.

“There is a very rich history in Manogai,” Wahidi continued, “one that figures prominently in the history of Afghanistan. I’ve been to Manogai before, but only by helicopter. The fact that I drove here today means things are changing.”

• Date Taken: 01.18.2011
• Date Posted: 01.18.2011 12:57
• Story ID: 63741
• Location: KUNAR PROVINCE, AF