BALA MURGHAB, Afghanistan - Nearly two dozen elders met with Afghan civil and military leaders in Chaghcharan, Ghor province, Afghanistan, Jan. 4 to discuss fostering increased peace and security in the region through reintegration.
Dr. Aqahi Abdullah Heiwad, Ghor's governor, met with 24 elders and top leadership from the National Security Dictorate.
"Our main task here is to invite more people to join the [Afghan Peace and Reintegration Process]," said Heiwad, recognizing that the effort is ongoing and needs to continue.
Heiwad stressed councils need to focus especially on the Pasaband, Shahrak, Do Leyneh and Chaghar Sadeh districts.
"We need to talk with people supporting the Taliban and insurgents," said Heiwad. "If we need to deal with these people in our province, and have a secure and favourable environment for development programs, then [our] councils must [tackle] this task."
The NDS is tracking several insurgents, but before taking action to deal with them, they "want to give them a chance to join the APRP," said Abdul Smad Yaftali, NDS chief.
Budgets continue to be a constraint for the province and NDS actions, said Yaftali. They remain focused on their objectives despite these shortfalls.
The shura proved to represent all factions of local interests void provincial reconstruction team involvement, as the local PRT was not informed.
Female initiatives related to APRP were represented by Masuma Anwari, Department of Women Affairs chief, and Heiwad pledged to invite the Ghor PRT to the next shura.