AFGHANISTAN INDEPENCE DAY CELEBRATED WITH AFGHAN ARMY 205TH ‘HERO’ CORPS

KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN

08.19.2016

Story by Maj. Luke Talbot 

36th Infantry Division (TXARNG)

The people of Afghanistan celebrate their independence day on August 19 every year to commemorate the signing of the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919 which brought about the end of the Third Anglo-Afghan War and allowed Afghanistan independence as a nation to manage its own foreign affairs. Afghans on both sides of the current conflict remember themselves as the first nation in the region to win their independence from the global British Empire.
“On occasion and with empty hands, our fathers fought the Empires through history for our freedoms,” Maj. Gen. Dawood Shah Wafadar, commanding general of the 205th ‘Hero’ Corps Afghan National Army, speaking to the gathered crowd. “After three hard-fought wars we won our independence, and we will continue to fight for our independence.”
From 1919 until the present day, Afghanistan has seen kings and prime ministers, presidents and communist parties, Soviet invasion, and Taliban rule by sharia law; until recently with the establishment of the democratic Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Their culture has seen peaceful growth where woman attend universities without coverings, the development of poetry, classic art, painting, and monumental landmarks. They have seen those landmarks destroyed by war and the effect of over 30 years of conflict upon the infrastructure of their country.
As the fighting continues in the mountains and villages outside of the walls and guard towers of Camp Hero, home of the 205th Corps, a sergeant from the Afghan Commandos unit stands at the podium, clears his throat, and begins to recite a poem; inviting his enemy to come join the community once again.
“What are you doing in the mountains?” His voice rising as he calls to the foe, to the man who raises his weapon against him. “Come down to your family. Come down to your children. Come down to your orchards. Come down to your flowers.” He invites, asking his countrymen to join him in peace.
“We fight because we must, because there is an enemy who wants to hurt us. But we only want peace and to bring our country together”, Wafadar says as he explains the meaning of the poem being read.
The brass band leads the parade of Soldiers, police officers, firemen, construction workers, medics, and even the soccer team by the grandstand; all of them saluting their fellow soldiers as they pass by. The community has gathered together to demonstrate their solidarity as they remember their struggle for independence.
“It is a testament to the security the 205th Corps brings to the area that we can see celebrations like these moving through the street,” said Brig. Gen. Lee Henry, the commanding general for the Train Advise Assist Command-South (TAAC-S). “The music and the language is different, but the people and the atmosphere here is the same as if I were back in Texas.” Henry is the US Army leader of coalition troops based out of Kandahar Air Field (KAF) assigned to the NATO Resolute Support Mission.
As the last of the military units march past the grandstand, a cluster of young men in purple loose-fitting athletic wear come to the center of the parade field. The crowd draws close as these Soldiers of the 205th Corps martial arts team demonstrate their hand to hand combat skills. There are classic demonstrations of choreographed maneuvers, their team captain performs a feat of strength and will as he drives his bare hand through a stack of ten bricks, and other members of the team demonstrate their agility and speed as they perform leaping high kicks sending shards of clay pots flying when their feet strike.
The crowd gathers closer and closer with each next exhibition roaring with thunderous applause and exhortations to see their fighting men at their best. The demonstration draws to a close as the martial arts team cleans up their path until no evidence is left of their prowess. They softly move into the crowds who fold them into the group. The parade marches on.
“The story of the brave soldiers are written in gold and never fading,” Humayun Azizi, the governor of Kandahar Province, stated during his address. “Afghans respect and support the duty of these men and women in uniform.”
As the last of the vehicles on demonstration drives by, the crowd remains, no one wanting to be the first to leave the revelry. As the parade draws to a close and the day wears on, both soldiers and citizens drift into smaller pockets, sharing a cup of chai and breaking pieces of nan, traditional Afghan baked bread, and continue to celebrate together.

• Date Taken: 08.19.2016
• Date Posted: 08.26.2016 11:28
• Story ID: 208293
• Location: KANDAHAR, AF