Spotlight on Economy, Politics, and Culture in Herat
Ambassador Karl Eikenberry spent June 17 in Herat province, along with his guests Governor Nuristani, Minister of Interior Atmar, Minister of Finance Zakhilwal, Deputy Minister for Culture Afshar and German diplomats. His first stop was just one mile from the Iranian border, in the town of Islam Qala (IQ), To get there, he flew in an Afghan National Army(ANA) helicopter crewed by ANA soldiers. He was happy to have the opportunity to thank these talented Afghan soldiers, and the Americans who trained them.
Once at IQ the Ambassador and his guests cut the ribbon on a new, $20 million border customs facility. The facility sits on 800 acres of land and has over 85,000 square feet of building space, including a building designed for electronic rapid-scan x-raying of trucks and trailers. The new facility, which is designed to increase capacity and efficiency for enhanced trade and transit, improve security, and expand interdiction of narcotics and other contraband, is expected to increase customs revenue by a large degree.
Partners in this effort included U.S.CENTCOM Counter Narcotics, U.S. Embassy Kabul’s Border Management Task Force, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Embassy of Germany, the Afghan Customs Department, Afghan Border Police and Afghan Customs Police. In his speech at the opening ceremony, Ambassador Eikenberry noted that Herat is moving closer to resuming its historical position as the crossroads of commerce and civilizations, and this position is made stronger through partnerships among friends.
He reiterated this sentiment later in the day when he met the members of Herat’s Provincial Council (PC), all of whom are gearing up for the election on August 20. Discussion focused on upcoming elections, the U.S.’s new strategy in Afghanistan, and development priorities in the province. The meeting took place in the Lincoln Center, our American library/cultural center that provides free English language and computer skills classes. At the same time Mrs. Eikenberry met with women leaders to discuss the development of women’s rights and livelihoods in the province.
The couple also visited a small art gallery opened by the Italian Provincial Reconstruction Team near the Lincoln Center, where 30+ local orphanage children showed off artwork.
Toward the end of the day, after meeting with a few shopkeepers in the bazaar, the Ambassador took the opportunity to visit Qala Ikhtyaruddin (the Citadel), which is in the middle of $750,000 restoration through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation. After receiving a tour and explanation of the restoration work from the Director of the Aga Khan Foundation for Cultural Preservation, Amb. Eikenberry and his guests held a press conference inside the Citadel.