Story by: Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan Public Affairs Office
ZABUL, Afghanistan – Members of the Afghan National Police, soldiers from the Afghan National Army’s 1st Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 205th Corps and U.S. Navy SEAL personnel discussed future development projects during a meeting Dec. 10 with elders from a village in the Nawbahar district, Zabul province.
During the meeting, 15 village elders, ANSF and SEAL personnel discussed plans for enhancements to the bazaar, district center and other village improvement projects. The new projects would be completed by Afghans from the local village, who in recent weeks had reconstructed a building in the village’s bazaar and built a drainage ditch through part of the village.
“The elders were pleased with the current projects and the potential for future development,” said a SEAL team member. “They were also appreciative of not having to travel to Pakistan to find work during the winter.”
Village elders would be able to provide workers for all of the projects discussed, but would need assistance with procuring supplies for the projects.
“We [SEAL's and ANSF] conveyed our willingness to assist with supplies whenever the elders wanted to begin the projects,” said a SEAL team member.
After the meeting, ANSF provided rice to the villagers in an effort to support their food supply for the winter months.