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Gen. David Petraeus, International Security Assistance Force commander, visited the Weesh border-crossing point along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, June 6, and noted the progress made by the combineed efforts of ISAF soldiers and Afghan Border Police.
Petraeus toured an Afghan Border Police station and a new biometrics facility where soldiers from Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 38th Cavalry Regiment, 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, have been working alongside the ABP to secure the local area and the vehicle customs yard since January.
“The progress has been very impressive,” said Petraeus. “What was a very largely disorganized, somewhat chaotic setup when I was here last October is now much more organized by the combined effort of Afghan and ISAF forces.”
The new biometric facility is one of the projects soldiers based out of Fort Bragg, N.C., have handed over full control to their Afghan partners. The facility will enhance and increase security measures and help track and stop the movement of illegal substances across the border and to interdict the insurgency.
“It’s another sign of the versatility of our forces,” said Petraeus. “[The 1/38th Cavalry Regiment] has played a huge role in all that has been accomplished here during the course of their time as the partner unit with the ABP.”
The general added although the soldiers’ mission at the border is not a standard mission of a cavalry squadron, they have rapidly developed the expertise needed to manage this significant border area.
“There is a steady substantial stream [of vehicles and people] back and forth,” said Petraeus. “It’s very important everyone works together to ensure customs procedures are observed and the revenues go to Kabul.”
He said the soldiers focus their efforts to interdict explosives, weapons, ammonium nitrate and contraband from funneling into Afghanistan.
Col. James Edwards, brigade commander, 525th BfSB, also emphasized the development and working relationship between the soldiers and the ABP.
“They have a great, strong partnership,” said Edwards. “They live together, eat together and observe each other’s holidays together. It’s a fantastic working relationship, and I couldn’t ask for better.”
The ABP and 525th BfSB have worked together for almost a year. Over that time, the security has improved, and the ABP are taking the lead over the majority of operations at the border crossing point.
“Relationships are what endure,” Edwards added. “The units rotate, and eventually, at some point ISAF will thin out and leave, and the Afghans will be in charge. It’s those relationships we have built and sustained, and ultimately the Afghans will be doing this without us.”
| Date Taken: | 06.06.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.10.2011 20:45 |
| Story ID: | 71921 |
| Location: | WEESH BORDER-CROSSING, AF |
| Web Views: | 162 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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