Photo By Master Sgt. Brian Ferguson | A UH-60 Blackhawk lands at Forward Operating Base Mizan after a mobile diplomacy shura...... read more read more
QALAT, Afghanistan - The governor of Zabul province Ashraf Naseri declared the road from Mizan to Qalat open during mobile diplomacy shura, or meeting, with village elders in Mizan, Afghanistan, Jan. 4.
The governor traveled along the road to show the security gains along the route. Previous visits occurred only with coalition airlift support.
The opening of the road in western Zabul province creates a transportation link from the Mizan district to the provincial capital.
After initial comments from five local elders, Gov. Naseri spoke to approximately 100 villagers in attendance. He was adamant that the provincial government could only help if they first helped themselves.
“You ask me for schools and education, but who among you is willing to teach? You ask for better roads, but how can we build them if you let the insurgents place IEDs along them,” he said.
There was no response from the elders.
The governor went on to discuss the security gains in the province, the possibilities of commerce for the Mizan area and asked the elders to send their sons to join the Afghan National Security Forces.
Members of the provincial reconstruction team were also on hand at the shura.
“The trip by the governor was important to show the people of Mizan that they can start using the road to travel to the provincial capital and the bazaars in Qalat and Kandahar,” said Lt. Col. Andy Veres, PRT Zabul commander. “Construction and paving along the route is making great progress, and this will improve the farm-to-market road dramatically when complete.”
Mobile diplomacy missions are visits to outlying districts by provincial leadership to bring the central government closer to the villagers.
| Date Taken: | 01.04.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 01.06.2011 11:11 |
| Story ID: | 63114 |
| Location: | MIZAN DISTRICT, AF |
| Web Views: | 85 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Mobile diplomacy comes to Mizan, by Lt. Col. Brian Wagner, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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