Ambassador Eikenberry Visits Panjshir Province
Ambassador Eikenberry spent June 11 in Panjshir Province meeting with provincial officials, visiting development sites and Masood’s tomb, and expressing his condolences on the death of three American PRT officers and one Afghan PRT employee who were killed in a roadside IED attack.
The Ambassador was joined on the trip by the Afghan National Army’s Chief of Staff, Bismullah Khan, and the Director of the Independent Directorate for Local Governance, Jailani Popal.
After meeting and talking with the PRT members about their loss, the group visited a newly built health clinic that is using solar power to run its lights, so the local population can come to the clinic even after dark.
Next door to the clinic is a new school with classes for both girls and boys. While Ambassador Eikenberry met with administration, teachers and students in the boys’ section, Mrs. Eikenberry visited with some of the girls and their teachers – reminding them that education will be the biggest factor in how their lives progress.
As she gave out pens to all the students, she noted that the pen is mightier than the sword.
The group also visited the first wind farm in Afghanistan, which provides enough energy to power the administrative buildings in the provincial capital.
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