Sherard Cowper-Coles

BY BLACKHAWK TO BAGRAM

Most of my trips outside Kabul are to Helmand, where much of the British military and civil effort is concentrated.  But it is important also to have an idea of what is happening in other parts of this vast country, and to see how other nations are tackling the problems of how best to support the Afghan authorities in meeting the huge security and development challenges they face.  Thus, a few weeks ago I was with the Swedish Provincial Reconstruction Team in Mazar-e-Sharif in the North, on the plains stretching down to the Oxus river and Central Asia.  And, on Sunday, I flew with my American friend and colleague, Ambassador Bill Wood, to see the American PRT in the Panshir Valley, and then on to the vast Bagram air base for a briefing on the work of Regional Command (East).  RC (E) is essentially the area of operations of the 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  Its area of responsibilities is the size of France, including getting on for 600 miles of border with Pakistan.  It commander, Major General Dave Rodriguez, is far from the popular caricature of a "kinetic" American general.  He and his men, spread across 12 PRTs, understand better than most that countering the insurgency is about building up governance and about development, at least as much as it is about security.

Earlier Bill and I had called on the Governor of Panshir, the former mujahideen commander, Bahlol Bahij, and heard of his concern that "safe and secure" provinces like his should be not be penalised for their success, with resources being channelled to more difficult areas.  Answering this, Bill made clear that our task was to help relieve and prevent suffering wherever it occurred across Afghanistan.  Another day, another slice of Afghan life.

Written Transcript

(Sherard) I am in the Panshir with my friend and colleague Bill Wood with the Governor of Panshir, a former Mujahid and I'm going to ask the Ambassador to say a few words.

(Bill Wood) I can only say that we are here in this beautiful valley with this extraordinary Governor who holds an extraordinary record as a war commander and as a civil administrator and it gives me hope and optimism for the whole country to be here.

(Governor of Panshir) He says I am very happy today that I have all my new friends up here in the valley even in the 8 years that we are celebrating and it's really a pleasure for me that  have met these guys.

Posted at 17:57 14 October 2007 by Sherard Cowper-Coles  |  Comments[3]