KANDAHAR, Afghanistan -- Due to operational security concerns, some personnel interviewed for this story cannot be named.
Members of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and religious leaders gathered at the Khakrez District Center in Kandahar province March 24 to discuss issues facing the people they represent.
Yaqoob Akmad Zai, Afghanistan's Deputy Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs; Hek Mutallah, Kandahar Ulema Islamic Council Deputy; Yusuf Niazi, Minister of Hajj and Religious Affairs, and 90 village elders from Kandahar and Helmand provinces gathered to discuss positive and negative issues people of the area face.
Security for the event was coordinated for and provided by Afghan National Security Forces.
Those who attended the shura were able to effectively communicate with each other while praising and criticizing the government.
"We like being able to share information with each other; to discuss what we are facing security-wise," said a Khakrez-area farmer. "Any time we can get together to discuss and resolve issues peacefully is good."
During the shura, insurgent forces launched two rockets at the compound where the meeting was taking place; both rockets fell short of the compound.
Afghan National Security Forces spotted the insurgent who launched the rockets and pursued. With the aid of Coalition helicopters, the ANSF was able to track down and capture the insurgent.
Despite the disturbance, the shura continued. Afterwards, a few attendees ventured out for a short walk to the Shah Agha Shrine. The Shrine was the recent host to Noruz, the Persian New Year celebrations.
While the visit to the shrine was not planned, the ANSF was able to quickly plan, execute and dispatch a security detail with mobile security so shura attendees could visit the shrine.
A Special Forces company commander, who helped organize the shura, said the meeting was a success.
"The [Afghan National Security Forces] effectively provided security for all those who attended today's shura," said the commander. "Today is a great demonstration of all levels of the Government of Afghanistan working at different levels and the cowardly attempts by those who to undermine the legitimate government."
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