Subscribe
By Sgt. Benjamin Shutt
Security Force Assistance Team 4, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
JELAWUR, Afghanistan - District Governor Hajji Shah Mohammad officially opened the Jelawur Civic Center amidst an audience of Afghan local leaders and coalition forces July 9.
The civic center was embraced by all who attended.
“This center will be a great help in the future,” said Brig. Gen. Ahmad Habibi, commander of 1st Brigade, 205th Afghan Army Corps. “It is a great security victory for all International Security Assistance Force, Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police. It will help to back-up security forces.”
The center will help the ANP communicate with the district governor.
“It will be very good for the people,” said Mohammed Isaac, ANP company commander of Ta’bine Bazaar checkpoint. “The maliks are able to go to the district center on the east side [of the Arghandab River], but most people [on the west side of the river] can’t. They don’t have transportation, and it is too far to walk. With this center, the people have a place to go in order to bring grievances, talk about security and see their government.”
The civic center is a demonstration of how much security has improved within the Arghandab River Valley.
“Nine months ago, this would not have been possible due to the Taliban’s grip in this valley,” said 2nd Lt. Jake Lowe, information operations officer for 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. “It’s very impressive to see how comfortably the Afghan locals move about now.”
The center is just one step in the right direction.
“The security has improved and everybody needs to work together to ensure that the security stays good,” Mohammad said. “The [coalition forces] got rid of the enemy. Now I am asking the people to help improve security. There are people who say that security is bad, but those are people that come here [from other places] to make it bad. I’m asking the people that live here to help make security good.”
Mohammad encourages all villages within the district to cooperate with the ANA, ANP and ISAF forces to ensure that Arghandab stability increases to facilitate economic growth and prosperity for all Afghans. Habibi left a strong message to the citizens and the enemy.
“The ANA is here for you, and I promise that if the enemy tries to come back, we won’t let them,” said Habibi. “We’re coming after you guys. We’re not going to let you back into the Arghandab. We will maintain security for our people.”
| Date Taken: | 07.09.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 07.15.2011 05:19 |
| Story ID: | 73770 |
| Location: | ARGHANDAB DISTRICT, AF |
| Web Views: | 104 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Arghandab District governor opens Jelawur Civic Center, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
LEAVE A COMMENT