Zharay District officials, Afghan security forces celebrate National Day at Pasab Bazaar

ZHARAY DISTRICT, AFGHANISTAN

08.18.2011

Story by Capt. Kevin Sandell 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

ZHARAY DISTRICT, Afghanistan – The Zharay district governor and the commander of 3rd Brigade, 205th Afghan Army Corps, celebrated the country’s independence during a ceremony held at the Pasab Bazaar in central Zharay district.

Governor Niaz Sarhadi and Col. Murtazza, commander of the 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps, both attended the ceremony and made remarks about Afghanistan’s long and rich history, and the opportunity to look forward to the future. Also during the ceremony, a giant 14 feet by 28 feet Afghan flag was raised at the entrance to the Pasab Bazaar. A small detachment of nine Afghan soldiers provided the backdrop to the early-morning ceremony.

A crowd of Afghan shopkeepers gathered and truck drivers on Highway 1 stopped their vehicles to also observe the ceremony. While the exact Independence Day is Aug. 19, officials decided to host the ceremony a day early because of Friday being a Muslim holy day.

This year is the 92nd anniversary of the 1919 signing of the Treaty of Rawalpindi, which was an armistice between the British empire and Afghanistan ending the Third Anglo-Afghan War. In this agreement, the British government recognized Afghanistan’s independence and agreed that the British Indian Empire would never extend past the Khyber Pass, and also stopped British subsidies to Afghanistan.

Maj. Gen. James Terry, commander of the International Security Assistance Force’s Regional Command South, issued a statement commending the Afghan people for their strength, tenacity and will throughout the past nine decades.

“We see the resilience Afghans have shown and the challenges they face on a daily basis,” Terry said. “However, we also see the progress they have made and we’re proud to be working side-by-side with them.”

Afghan officials also plan to raise five additional flags in the future at high-visibility locations along Highway 1 including: Hutal, Ghundy Ghar, Howz-E-Madad Bazaar, Senjaray and the Bagh-e-Pul Bridge.

• Date Taken: 08.18.2011
• Date Posted: 08.23.2011 10:38
• Story ID: 75778
• Location: ZHARAY DISTRICT, AF