DAS Moon: Afghan Army is an Effective Force, U.S. Committed to Free, Fair Elections
DAS Moon: Afghan Army is an Effective Force, U.S. Committed to Free, Fair Elections Patrick Moon, Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, told a gathering of leading Afghan and international media that the Afghan Army is an “effective, professional fighting force,” and that the U.S. is committed to supporting free, fair and secure presidential elections in Afghanistan in 2009 in an Embassy Kabul media roundtable on October 23. Moon also pledged more U.S. support to local governance, and said that the U.S. grieves with the people of Afghanistan over inadvertent civilian casualties.
U.S. FORCES AFGHANISTAN
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 28, 2008
RELEASE # 024
Peace Jirga held to resolve security problems in Tagab
1Lt. Lory Stevens
Task Force Warrior Public Affairs Office
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (October 28, 2008) – Governor Khuweja Abubaker hosted a Peace Jirga for the people of Kapisa Province on Oct. 26 at the Tagab District Center.
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, provincial government officials, and elements of Task Force Warrior planned and organized the event to try to find a political solution to the security problems plaguing the area.
Last month a smaller shura, the Afghan word for an assembly of elders to meet regularly concerning issues in the area, addressed many of the same concerns. This Peace Jirga aimed to focus more on resolutions.
“We have diagnosed the problems many times, we now need to find the prescription and cure the disease,” said Haji Khoshal of southeastern Tagab as he addressed 250 elders from Kapisa province.
Beverli DeWalt, U.S. Department of State representative for the Kapisa and Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team, attended the Peace Jirga along with several other PRT members.
“The goals of the provincial council include unity, security, reconstruction, and eradicating rivalry and blood feuds,” DeWalt said.
Some elders at the Peace Jirga were critical of the parliament. Other elders focused on the personal responsibility of the people to come to a solution themselves, DeWalt said.
Khoshal used the analogy of building a house to delineate responsibilities between the government, international community, and the people of Tagab. People could not expect the government or international community to build each person a house; this is their own responsibility. Similarly, he said, finding a solution for peace in Tagab is the responsibility of the people of Tagab.
Some elders said that if the people found a solution for their problems, then the government and international community would support them.
Abubaker repeatedly expressed his expectation that the people would take the lead in finding solutions to their problems, and his commitment to helping the people of Tagab.
“We need one tribe, one shura, one district,” said an elder, summing up the spirit of the Peace Jirga.
The audience supported the idea to create another shura. The Afghan Social Outreach Program shura, due to be created in the near future, may fulfill this need.
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26OCT08 333 —
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Approximately 250 local elders attended the Peace Jirga held at the Tagab District Center Oct. 26. Members of the Kapisa and Parwan Provincial Reconstruction Team, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, and government officials organized the event to bring people of Afghanistan together to talk about problems and find solutions.
26OCT08 444 —
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – The governor of Kapisa hosted approximately 250 elders from Kapisa to discuss concerns and focus on conflict resolution during the Peace Jirga held at the Tagab District Center Oct. 26.
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