American servicemembers bridge gap between Afghan provinces, relationships

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Angelique N. Smythe
  • 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) --  Afghan nationals and coalition forces gathered at the Arghandab District Center prior to an opening ceremony of a symbolic bridge Dec. 26, in the Zabul province. 

Village elders from the surrounding area were dressed in their traditional garments and sat with their shoes lining the outer edge of the carpets as U.S. and Afghan National Army security forces secured the area on the ground and rooftops.

Afghan media personnel swarmed the area to record the event from their small, handheld point-and-shoot cameras. 

At the head table sat Mohammad Ashraf Naseri, Zabul's Provincial Governor, and Maj. Gen. Stephen P. Mueller, the U.S. Air Forces Central Air Component Coordination Element director, Army Brig. Gen. Frederick Hodges, director of operations for Regional Command - South, Brig. Gen. Guy Walsh, the commander of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing on Kandahar Airfield, and Lt. Col. Andy Veres, the commander of Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul.

With the exception of three American women the yard was filled with men who had key leadership positions within the government, village elders, soldiers and young boys.

The leaders spoke explaining the importance of this bridge and the symbolism of commitment that both their government and the NATO coalition has to them.

Governor Naseri thanked the distinguished delegation for attending the day's ceremony. He explained that the foundation for the last section of the bridge began six months ago and was finally completed on this day. 

This bridge will help in maintaining relationships between neighboring districts, Governor Naseri said. This bridge will benefit the Arghandab people by allowing them to take their food and produce to markets and bring their supplies from the Qalat bazaar to Arghandab. It will allow the Arghandab people to cross the river during the winter months when the river tends to flood.

The bridge is also important to security during these flood months when forces were previously limited to being supported b helicopter due to high water levels. It is 170 meters long and four meters wide.

The International Security Assistance Forces Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul, which funded the bridge through the commander's emergency response program, worked in partnership with local community leaders and members to complete this project.

The total cost was approximately $1 million, Governor Naseri said. 

"For me, it's an opportunity to see firsthand some of the progress that we're making in the Zabul Province," General Mueller said.

He explained how a bridge can provide a very important capability as well as serve as a very important symbol.

"First, and most importantly, to build a bridge you have to have a solid foundation," General Mueller said.

"Without a foundation of trust and without a foundation of teamwork, it's impossible to build that bridge. To build across a river also requires you to have the confidence and strength to reach across to the unknown. And that unknown means that you have to trust each other and trust that we're partners in the NATO coalition that's here, as well as within your local community."

The bridge is symbolic of the NATO coalition's commitment to support and improve the level of commerce and quality of life for all of Afghanistan, he said.

"The bridge is a commitment to show that we're giving and not taking," General Mueller said. "For NATO to help build this bridge, it shows that we want to leave the capability here for the province and not take it away. You only build a bridge if you have a commitment to a long term partnership. The bridge is important to show that it's a long term commitment of friendship to all of you."

When General Hodges stood to speak, he assured the people that their governor works very hard on their behalf and explained that they should be very confident that they have a strong security because of their Afghan generals' leadership.

"I am very proud that this bridge has finally been completed to help the people of Arghandab district," General Hodges said. "I hope that this bridge represents a commitment to Zabul Province that we will not leave Zabul province. We will not abandon any district."

General Hodges said he wanted the governor and generals to remain confident that the coalition would stay and continue to help the Afghan security forces and the Afghan people in the Zabul province.