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By U.S. Army Maj. Chevelle Thomas
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — Members of the Afghan government, security leadership and International Security Assistance Forces from Nangarhar, Nuristan, Konar and Laghman met at the Nangarhar governor's compound Feb. 2, to conduct the N2KL Joint Security Conference.
The purpose was to create a forum where leaders across all four provinces could gather monthly to share information and ideas from all the Afghan national security forces and government representatives on how to improve security in N2KL.
"It is my goal to use this session to kick start and help work on the government's priorities and develop better cooperation as we build and empower the regions new Operational Coordination Center-Regional," said U.S. Army Col John Spiszer, Task Force Duke, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division commander.
The OCC-R is standing up in Jalalabad and will be commanded by Afghan National Army Maj. Gen. Abdul Zia.
While talking about security in N2KL, the Konar governor stressed the importance of bringing additional troops into the area to protect the more than 250 miles of border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The TF Duke commander also spoke about the increase of more than 700 U.S. Soldiers to partner with Afghan security forces, mostly in the Konar border areas. "We listened to Governor Wahidi's concerns and recommendations, and the new forces will focus on interdiction of the border," said Spiszer.
In addition to the increase of ISAF troops, the local ANSF is also growing in number. There are currently ongoing plans to increase troop strength across the Afghan national army, Afghan border police and the Afghan uniform police. All four provincial governors and security leadership emphasized this need.
"Shortage of personnel will create some delays in reacting to specific missions or threats. Very soon we will have the ANA Corps in the eastern region and we will have one brigade for each provinces," said Col Mohammed Avzal, ANA Brigade commander.
The governors also spoke in reference to the people allowing enemy activity among them.
"We need to create an environment where the people do not let the insurgency use their [homes and villages] to attack the coalition forces. In order to support government projects, we need to ask the people where their priorities are," said Jumaluddin Badr, Nuristan Provincial governor. "We must not undermine the power of the people and the Afghan government. If we fulfill our promise then security will come," he added.
Much of the leadership seems to echo the theme that where development comes security is improved dramatically.
"I am requesting all of the respective governors help us with roads, clinics and schools for things along the border. I think that if the people have access to those services, it will decrease security concerns down to 50 percent," said Brig. Gen. Mohammad Zaman Mamuzai, Afghan Border Police commander.
ISAF utilizes the Commander's Emergency Response Program to assist the people with economic development as a part of its overall counterinsurgency plan to transform the environment.
"With the government's help we were able to spend $161 million last year," said Spiszer. "Over the last four months we have committed to projects totaling $50 million. We fully understand the importance of development and creating jobs here."
Many considered the conference to be a great success and a testament to the positive relationship between Afghan and ISAF leadership.
"The government and the coalition should have very close relationships that provide jobs, support education, pay special attention to intelligence, rule of law, and increases in ABP and ANA soldiers," Gul Agha Sherzai, Nangarhar province said.
| Date Taken: | 02.06.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 02.06.2009 04:23 |
| Story ID: | 29709 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 416 |
| Downloads: | 322 |
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