Photo By Maj. Nevin Blankenship | A view of what is believed to be some of the original structures of the caste. In the...... read more read more
ZABUL PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Soldiers from the 116th Infantry Brigade Team visited Alexander the Great’s castle in Qalat during a recent patrol.
Maj. Greg D. Hall and Maj. Robert L. Fitch on the 116th IBCT Afghan National Security Force development team led the tour of the castle with the Afghan National Army who currently occupies the castle.
Hall was stationed at the castle as an embedded training team leader with the ANA in 2004. He was the first U.S. commander to have responsibility for the castle. Hall had 12 soldiers assigned to him and had over 100 ANA that they trained. The castle at that time was a base for the ANA in Zabal province and part of Ghazni province. Hall with his soldiers built the first living quarters that are still there today.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here and I wanted to see how much has changed,” said Hall. “I remember when there was barely anything here.”
The fortress was built over 2,000 years ago by Alexander the Great when he was conducting military operations into India. The British, the Russians, the Taliban, Americans and the ANA have used the fortress as a base of operations. Now, just the ANA use the castle as a headquarters.
“It’s awesome to be able to see a part of history,” said Fitch. “I can see why armies through the ages have used this castle as a base.”
The castle sits on the high ground of the valley floor in Qalat. The castle is surrounded by vertical walls with steep ground all around the base of the structure. In the center of the castle grounds is a tea house that rises a few hundred feet above the rest of the structures. At one time, there used to be a gun turret located at the top of the structure instead of the tea house.
It is yet to be seen if this historic place can ever become a tourist site but the 116th IBCT is partnering with the ANSF to help make the area safer and more secure for the future possibility of visitors to the castle.
| Date Taken: | 11.18.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 11.18.2011 10:07 |
| Story ID: | 80216 |
| Location: | QALAT, AF |
| Web Views: | 342 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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