Afghan National Army soldiers distribute mosque refurbishment kit in Dasht Village

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

09.22.2011

Courtesy Story

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – As a result of a key leader engagement with Afghan Army Lt. Col. Hassani and two elders in the Dasht Village, soldiers in 4th Kandak of the 3rd Brigade, 205th Afghan National Army Corps, distributed a mosque refurbishment kit to the people of Dasht Village Sept. 22.

The elders had come to meet with Lt. Col. Hassani about receiving some assistance for their new mosque. With the fighting persisting for over 10 years, many of the area’s landowners and farmers were displaced from their homes around Azim Jan Kariz in central Zharay district. During the engagement, Lt. Col. Hassani committed to help find ways to assist the villagers.

Previously, the landowners and farmers in the Dasht Village had little interaction with their Afghan security forces, especially those from the 4th Kandak. When soldiers from the kandak arrived with the kit, the landowners were very surprised and pleased to see that their soldiers wanted to help them, according to coalition forces’ leaders also in the area.

A village mosque is an integral part of Afghan life, and having the tools needed to improve the local mosque greatly impacts the people in the area, and proves that Afghan National Security Forces care about the people, and will not only provide security and policing, but help improve life for the people.

The commander of coalition forces in the area, Lt. Col. Chris Taylor, who commands soldiers with Combined Task Force Spartan’s 4th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, said the growing interaction between the Afghan security forces and the people living in rural areas is a positive aspect, and helps to strengthen the ties between the two groups.

“This positive interaction between 4th Kandak and this nearby community, will not only strengthen ties locally, but it will have effects in Azim Jan Kariz, as some of those villagers still commute to the area daily,” said Lt. Col. Taylor.

Afghan soldiers have been making significant progress in building trust and close working relationships with villagers, and will continue to do so, which will ultimately lead to the success of Afghanistan.

• Date Taken: 09.22.2011
• Date Posted: 10.05.2011 00:41
• Story ID: 78012
• Location: KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AF