Afghan National Army soldiers and members of 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, met local Hazara citizens in Saidabad and delivered winter coats, wellington boots and hats to the children during a reassurance patrol earlier this week. Just four weeks ago, any patrol through Saidabad would have been an extremely dangerous task, with high threat of attack from the insurgents who controlled the area. (Courtesy photo)

ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
2010-12-D-112
For Immediate Release
Download PDF

 KABUL, Afghanistan (Dec. 10, 2010) – Afghan National Army soldiers and members of 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment met local Hazara citizens in Saidabad and delivered winter coats, wellington boots and hats to the children during a reassurance patrol earlier this week.

 Just four weeks ago, any patrol through Saidabad would have been an extremely dangerous task, with high threat of attack from the insurgents who controlled the area.

The patrol was led by Sgt. Paul Enstone, the local checkpoint commander for the past seven weeks. Since his arrival he has seen a total transformation in the area, achieved through intense work.

“The tour so far has been very hard and we have been fighting the Taliban on a daily basis,” Enstone said. “Now we have secured the village and this was a great example of how much we have achieved. The kids were all delighted to receive their winter coats. It’s amazing how such a small gesture can make such a big difference.”

Afghan Army soldiers were also delighted by the atmospherics of the day and the progress achieved.

“On our patrols through the Kalay village, we noticed that the children did not have many warm clothes and wanted to do something to help,” said Sgt. Adul Qadwir of the Afghan Army. “The fighting has been hard but days like this make it worthwhile. We couldn’t have given these gifts a month ago when the Taliban controlled this area. Now we are working hard to make sure they can’t come back.”

Lt. Col. Colin Weir, commanding officer, 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment was delighted with the way his men and their Afghan partners conducted themselves on this operation.

“The gifts we gave; books, pens, coats and wellington boots are not life changing by any means,” Weir said. “The life changing gifts are the schools and clinics that only come with time.”

“Winning comes in small steps and small victories,” Weir added. “Here at the tactical level, we have small victories every day. The best victories are probably not those against the Taliban; we know we are better fighters than them. We beat them every day. The sorts of victories we have just seen in Saidabad are much more meaningful. Victory is a pair of new yellow wellies on small dry feet.”