Radio Sahar: Afghan officials prepare Herat city for ECO summit

Text of report by Afghan female-orientated community Radio Sahar on 3 October

[Presenter] A cultural affairs adviser and a member of the delegation making preparations for the forthcoming ECO [Economic Cooperation Organization] summit [to be held in Herat] has told Radio Sahar that the economy of Herat will improve after the ECO summit. He says that the ECO will establish its business representatives in the province following the summit. Hami Azad is reporting:

[Correspondent] Anwar Matin, the provincial adviser on cultural affairs and a member of the commission making preparations for the upcoming ECO summit says that, after the summit, ECO will open a bank, chambers of commerce and a park in the Herat Province. He states this will improve the economic situation in the province that will benefit the citizens. [Passage omitted: repeat]

[Correspondent] Herat provincial officials have been working hard recently to adorn the city for the forthcoming ECO summit to be held on 12 October [Afghan Foreign Ministry website says between 16 and 20 October]. The city has changed appearance in recent days and the provincial officials are involved in cleaning and reconstructing the city. Mr Matin also states that the roads and streets of the city are being cleaned, and the citizens are asked to cooperate in the process.

Anyway, this summit is expected to realize some of the people’s desires. Many observers believe that it will improve the economy of Herat which has seen decline recently.

[Description of Source: Herat Radio Sahar in Dari -- local independent radio station in Herat run mainly by women. OSC IAP20071003950072 1230 GMT 03 Oct 07]

Madrid EFE: Spanish soldiers to train Afghan troops

Excerpt from report by Spanish news agency Efe

Madrid, 3 October: The group of 52 Spanish soldiers which will train two units of the Afghan army will set off tomorrow from the air base of Torrejon (Madrid Province) in an Air Force plane, the Defence Ministry told Efe.

This contingent is mainly made up of personnel from the Mountain Hunters Brigade, a unit based in Jaca, Huesca and Pamplona which was in Afghanistan from March to June this year. [passage omitted]

They will be based at Camp Stone, 15 km from Herat, and they will stay there for a minimum of nine months. This is the estimated time that it will take to complete the training course.

[Description of Source: Madrid EFE in Spanish -- Spanish semi-official independent news agency. OSC EUP20071003950071 1558 GMT 03 Oct 07]

Cheragh: former governor influential in Herat reshuffles

Text of article in Dari entitled “Who governs Herat” by independent Afghan newspaper Cheragh on 1 October

Herat Province, as a key province in Afghanistan, has had direct affect on the northwestern region and indirect affect on the whole country. As the past skirmishes and fighting in Herat had affected the rest of the Afghanistan. When Herat fell to the Taleban [in 1995] the government in Kabul was disheartened. Herat’s role to is also vital and crucial. Because, the residents of Herat have witnessed good security and stability in this province. Because, the province is on of that the Taleban have only limited activities and the drug cultivation is also very low. Meanwhile the presence of two transit borders, Eslam Qala and Torghondi, adds to its importance and is the economic hub of Afghanistan.

All these have made the government to view the province differently. This special attention has caused high-ranking posts there to be a means for government deals. On the other hand, those who claim to deserve high posts in Herat strive very hard and play any games to reach the positions.

Killing, armed robberies, murders, kidnappings and series of insecurity made the provincial security commander leave his post. He left Herat with fewer achievements.

Meanwhile, another official was appointed chief of Herat intelligence department. There are rumours of other imminent reshuffles in the province. Whether or not these reshuffles will affect the security situation in Herat will be known in the coming days and weeks.

But, according to the writer, positive changes are likely. Because, most probably this time the reshuffles have been made in close cooperation with a man who claims to be Herat’s ideal father.

Although this man has been away from the recent reshuffles in Herat, his efficient affect on huge groups of people and parties that had huge authority and equipment during his reign have always been counted as a tool of pressure on the leaders and those living in the capital.

At a glance at the situation and the series of insecurity in Herat, the dissidents are seeking other targets than financial benefits.

Leading investors and owners of biggest production and trading firms were the targets of the kidnappers. Meanwhile, robbery in Herat’s money exchange market in broad day light in presence of security forces show the publicity priorities in the events.

Because, reaching the economic sources needs very easy targets. We should not forget that those involved in recent skirmishes and fighting misuse the nonchalance of the security officials and approach their targets. They also stir the insecurity up. Hence, personal disputes, assassination of civilians and robberies could have been done by these people.

Anyway, a man has taken the responsibility of ensuring security in the key province of Herat, who has been security commanders of Samangan and a security commander at Kabul Airport.

Meanwhile, the new security commander is a former jihadi commander and is a confidential figure. We can very easily understand that his appointment has been done under the agreement of the powerful man of Herat [Esmail Khan].

Finally, those living in the capital understood the fact that the satisfaction of the former governor of Herat can guarantee security and stability in Herat and in particular in the southwest region.

But, apart from officials’ discussions and talks, people think about return of security and hope that Herat return to its status as economic hub as the past years.

High-ranking officials in Kabul have also understood the fact that by giving privileges to their friends and close allies can have command on country’s affairs. Because, experience shows that since the government ignored privileges to the intellectuals who have had a stronghold in the region, it is ready now to even hold unconditional talks with the government opponents in those regions.

We are optimistic about the appointment of the new security commander and we really hope that the young general will bring peaceful days for the people of Herat.

[Description of Source: Kabul Cheragh (Light) in Dari -- Eight-page independent daily, publishes political, social and cultural articles; critical of the transitional government. OSC IAP20071003950103 0000 GMT 01 Oct 07]