Paktika Province Rocked By “Operation Winter Stand”
Written by CJTF-82 Operations
Sunday, 27 January 2008
Afghan led Operation Winter Stand has been rocking Paktika province since early December. Not with fighter jets and explosions but with knowledge and leadership. The operation started with Naka District. A team comprised of the District Sub-Governor, Mohammed Aslam, Afghan National Army and Coalition Troops executed multiple patrols through the district taking the Sub-Governor to villages he had never previously visited. Mr. Aslam held shuras, or “consultations,” in each of the villages, strengthening his local government by discussing the things the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan can bring to the villagers. Security was ably demonstrated, there were no attacks in the district during the operation. Development was likewise demonstrated with two fresh water wells and solar street lights for 5 of the villages. Training in agricultural techniques and basic construction is also planned, at the elders’ request. The residents of Naka provided their own demonstrations of their commitment to their nation, agreeing to and beginning to use the District Center to mitigate disputes and govern their district. One of the village elders, with the complete support of his peers, told the Coalition Soldiers, “We agree to grant ‘Pashtunwali’ to your forces, you will not be attacked.”
The Provincial Chief of Police, Nadine Ahmanhel, led the next phase of the operation into Charboran District, 6 Mosques were refurbished, 4 villages provided with solar street lights and two more wells were begun as the Chief of Police visited 12 villages leading up to a final “mega” shura attended by over 200 people. The elders of the district chose a new Sub-Governor and told the Coalition Forces, “We extend ahmi shalah (neighbor status) to your forces.”
Many of these Afghans had very little contact with Coalition Forces prior to this operation. Many of their perceptions were altered upon seeing Coalition Soldiers working so closely with the ANA Soldiers and Afghan leaders. One villager told Coalition Forces “We were told (by the Taliban) that you were worse than the Russians!” Another villager noted, “I cannot believe you allow your interpreters to pray! We thought you would punish them severely if they were found studying Islam.”
Checks on the effectiveness of the operation were conducted using a random poll of citizens in the districts with promising results.
-93% say security has improved over the last 6 months.
-98% believe the Afghan National Army is trustworthy.
-100% of the Afghans polled say the new Charboran Sub-Governor is trustworthy.
-72% say they use the District Center as a means of solving disputes.
-72% receive most of the goods they require from the local bazaar.
-78% say the local roads are improving.
Across Afghanistan, perceptions are changing as Afghans begin to take charge of their own development and political processes; Coalition Forces are there to help but it is the Afghan people who are discovering their own strength and helping themselves.
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