ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
2010-12-D-145
For Immediate Release
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KABUL, Afghanistan (Dec. 13, 2010) — Subgovernors from many of Nangarhar’s 22 districts and officials from the Jalalabad municipality met with Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team senior staff on Forward Operating Base Finley-Shields to discuss cooperation and transparency, Dec. 11.

 “We’re here to work; we’re committed to work,” said Jalalabad Deputy Mayor Engineer Hakim. “Because if the Afghans do not build Afghanistan, nobody else will do it.”

 The Nangarhar officials present vowed continued cooperation with the reconstruction team and International Security Assistance Forces, noting the extremely close bond that already existed between them.

 “We’re friends, and we need to be able to talk upfront,” said Shinwar Subgovernor Haji Zalmay. “We know transparency, and we hope that we hear the same thing from you. If you think we have a problem, we are ready for any sort of accountability.”

 Officials at the meeting thanked the team for their work in the area.

 “The Jalalabad municipality thanks the [reconstruction team] for all the projects they have done,” Hakim said. “For example, the 26 roads you paved for us would have cost 10 years of income for the municipality.”

 Officials did express some dissatisfaction with ISAF’s actions in the recent past. Many asserted that coalition forces had operated in their districts without informing them.

 “If we do not have sovereignty ourselves, then we’re not going to be able to do anything,” Zalmay said. “If we’re not in the lead, and if we do not have an effective role, then how are we going to convince the people we have a democratic government in Afghanistan?”

 The reconstruction team members at the meeting recognized these concerns and assured the Afghans that ISAF wants to serve in a supportive role to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

 “The [reconstruction team is] here to help the government of Afghanistan; we’re not here to take over,” said Andrew Haviland, Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team senior civilian.

 “When your grandchildren and your grandchildren’s grandchildren go to school, they will not read about my name or Andrew’s, they will read about your names,” added U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Anderson, Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team commander from Dallas. “You are the leaders of Afghanistan.”