GHAZNI PROVINCE, Afghanistan – District leaders promised to improve security to 25 village elders Dec. 11 during a shura in Ab Band District, Ghazni province.
“My top priorities are to increase security in Ab Bad District,” said district Gov. Allah Dad Alimi. “[I want to] be able to provide education to everyone and to get the people to cooperate with and trust the Afghan government.”
Many of the elders in attendance voiced concerns about security in their villages. Some were even hesitant to accept full support from Afghan National Security Forces due to recent threats from the Taliban.
“The Taliban have told me that if they find out I support the Afghan Local Police in my village they will kill me,” said one of the elders.
Even with similar threats, some elders stated that ALP has improved security in their village.
“Since we established an ALP checkpoint in my village, security has greatly increased,” said an elder. “If we can spread checkpoints throughout the other villages [in Ab Band District] I know security will improve in those villages as it has in mine.”
That’s why Capt. Fazil Omar, district police chief, said he plans to construct more ALP checkpoints throughout Ab Band in the future, but it will take time to completely secure every single village.
“When the Taliban come to your village it’s your responsibility to report it to the nearest Afghan Local Police,” said Omar asking village leaders to do everything in their power to assist Afghan National Security Forces. “We have the forces required to defeat them. We just need you to let us know who and where they are.”
This was the first shura held in months. During the shura, the elders also discussed plans and concerns about education and healthcare in the district.
“We held the shura as an opportunity to build relationships with the elders and hear their problems and proposed solutions,” said the governor.
Alimi has been working to resolve many issues since he was elected district governor, still he promised to continue to make progress in Ab Band District by working with ANSF and district leadership.