US ambassador visits Gardez, discusses education, development, security

PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan – U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry visited Gardez Nov. 29 to see the progress in areas such as public schooling, educational facilities and security conditions within Paktya Province.

“The United States’ job is to help the Afghans help themselves with solving issues in areas they need assistance with,” said Eikenberry.

A joint effort by Team Paktya, which included elements from Task Force Lethal, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, 615th Military Police Company, 2-45th Oklahoma Agribusiness Development Team and Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team ensured Eikenberry travelled safely to the various events throughout his visit in Paktya Province.
    
At his first stop in Gardez, Eikenberry spoke at a ceremony for the Peiran School. The construction and completion of this school was a project Paktya PRT recently helped facilitate.

Paktya PRT worked with the Hameed Kochai Construction Company, a firm composed of 80 percent Afghan employees, half of whom live within a short distance of the project.

Alongside Paktya Deputy Gov. Mangal, Eikenberry handed out school supplies to one male and one female student at the end of the ceremony.

Eikenberry then spent a working lunch discussing the current security status of Paktya with leaders from provincial security forces. The ambassador dedicated most of the meeting to learning what the Afghan National Security Forces and Paktya’s Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials need to better serve the province’s people.

A tour of Paktya University to exhibit projects Paktya’s Oklahoma ADT is developing was the last stop for the ambassador during his visit in Gardez.

“Future projects at the university include self-sustained generator power, Internet access throughout the buildings, incorporating female students, and a faculty exchange program with Oklahoma State University,” said U.S. Army Spc. Mandy Kennedy, from Ellsworth, Wis., education specialist for the Oklahoma ADT.

Eikenberry toured the university grounds, hearing from officials about current and future infrastructure projects including bringing reliable power and internet to the school.

Culminating his time at the university, Eikenberry conducted a shura with local elders about governance, development and security issues. Topics ranged from the construction of the road between Khost and Gardez, the necessity and effectiveness of night time raids by coalition forces and general security conditions in the province.

In a press conference held outside the university’s main building after the shura, Eikenberry highlighted the benefits of constructing the K-G Road.

“With that road comes better security,” Eikenberry said. “With that road comes better education and healthcare. With that road comes better economy and commerce. With that road comes hope for the future. That’s why the enemy doesn’t want that road, because they fear hope.”

Leaders from Team Paktya said the ambassador’s visit was a success.

“This mission is crucial to showing the good the U.S. has been able to accomplish over the past few years,” said U.S. Army Col. Robert Roshell, from Lawton, Okla., commander of the ADT.

“Ambassador Eikenberry’s visit brings an increased visibility to exactly what can be accomplished, and help in revitalizing the Afghan agriculture in the province,” Roshell said.