Afghan vice president meets with provincial reconstruction team

  • Published
  • By U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Jason Smith
  • Provincial Reconstruction Team Panjshir Public Affairs
PANJSHIR PROVINCE, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  Afghanistan's first vice president hosted the leaders of Provincial Reconstruction Team Panjshir and provincial government officials at his house for a meeting and lunch May 20 here.

James DeHart, the U.S. Department of State and PRT Panjshir director, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Curtis Velasquez, the PRT Panjshir commander, Keramuddin Keram, the Panjshir governor, Abdul Rahman Kabiri, the Panjshir deputy governor and Mohammad Solem, the Panjshir National Directorate of Security chief, were among the guests at First Vice President Mohammad Qasim Fahim's Khenj District home in the Panjshir Province of Afghanistan.

Mr. Fahim opened the meeting by welcoming his guests and telling the PRT members that their work doesn't go unnoticed by anyone in the province or central government.

"We appreciate what you're doing in Panjshir," Mr. Fahim said. "Everyone knows about the projects you are doing. The provincial and central government is working for the future and will be cooperating with you."

Colonel Velasquez discussed some of the PRT's projects, including a main road running through the province, a civic clean-up program and reforestation efforts.

Mr. Fahim then discussed his goal of building a relationship between Panjshir and the central government.

"The people here have fought and suffered a lot," Mr. Fahim said. "Now I want my people to enter into an economic situation. My duty, my responsibility, is to help educate people and have services for them to take war from their minds. The war is finished, and we need to have international goals. Afghanistan is one nation, and Panjshir needs to be part of it."

Mr. DeHart told the group it was important for the PRT to be partners with the provincial and central government. He said the relationship between the PRT and Panjshiris was deeper than just projects.

"(Mr.) Massoud had an important vision for what the whole country could look like," he said. "Even though the PRT does important work, the foundation of our relationship is not projects, but rather a shared vision for a prosperous Afghanistan."

Following the meeting, the group was treated to a traditional Afghan lunch and tour of Fahim's home and garden.