BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (Sept. 11, 2008) — Soldiers from the Gardez Provincial Reconstruction Team and 1st Sqaudron, 61st Cavalry Regiment worked with the local government of Paktya province to plan and assist Gov. Alhaj Juma Khan Hamdard, host a regional Shura and ground-breaking ceremony for the Gardez-to-Khowst road project at Forward Operating Base Gardez, Aug. 28.

More than 800 Afghans citizens attended the Shura, which was held to show the local Afghan leadership the visible progress of the project.

“The meeting [emphasized] the importance of securing the project as well as the employment opportunities the road brings,” said Army Maj. Michael Hahn, PRT Gardez operations officer and Shura logistics coordinator. “The purpose of the Shura is to show [the tribal leaders, district governors and sub-governors from the three provinces affected by the road project (Paktya, Khowst and Paktika)] how this road ties into their economic development and progress and how it strengthens the lines of operations of governance, development, and security.”

A meeting of this size required detailed planning such as coordination, synchronization and integration between Afghan National Security Forces, Task Force Panther, the Afghan ministerial government, local government, local leadership, media, non-governmental organizations, and the Louis Berger Group (road contractors).

“Security is an issue when allowing this many extra people on the FOB but it went off without any problems,” said Army Maj. Christopher Wooten, PRT Gardez executive officer and Shura logistics co-coordinator. 

“The security was provided almost entirely by Afghan forces,” said Maj. Jason Musteen, 1st Sqaudron, 61st Cavalry Regiment executive officer and Shura security coordinator. “In the days leading up to the event, we worked with the Afghan National Army, the Afghan National Police, the National Directorate of Security, and local government leaders on a security plan.”

One Shura attendee commented that this Shura was the largest he had seen.  Many members mentioned they recognized the importance of this road to the welfare and commerce of the entire region.

After three hours of speeches and discussion on securing the road and its benefits, lead members of the Shura moved to the site of the road project for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the beginning of construction. Shura members were able to see progress and the quality of the construction on a portion of the road that had already been widened and paved.

Helping the Afghans take the lead in events such as this is part of the PRT mission. “It is extremely important to teach, coach and mentor the Afghans in this process,” said Hahn. “They may not do [things] exactly the way that we would have done it, but there are many different ways to accomplish the same end state and to ensure the Government Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is seen by the citizens as legitimate.”