Radio Sahar: Afghan-Iranian exhibition of products opens in Herat

Excerpt from report by Afghan female-orientated community Radio Sahar on 29 October

[Presenter] The second exhibition of Iranian products opened in Herat today. The five-day exhibition is being held conducted at the Mawlana-e Balkh Hall [near the Herat provincial government offices]. According to officials, approximately 100 Iranian and Afghan companies are taking part in this exhibition. My colleague Hamed Azad, who had a tour of the exhibition, is reporting on this:

[Correspondent] This is the second exhibition of Iranian industrial products in Herat Province over the past two years. During his inaugural speech on the first day of the exhibition, Herat Deputy Governor Mir Abdol Khaleq called on foreign companies to improve the quality of the products they export to Afghanistan. He voiced concern over the low quality of products imported to the country. At the same time, Gholam Qader Akbar, head of the Herat Chambers of Commerce, states the exhibition is providing a good opportunity for both the Iranian and Afghan companies to compete with each other in terms of quality. A number of individuals are concerned that displaying some of the Iranian products, which are identical to the ones produced by the Afghan companies, could have a negative impact on the production of Afghan companies. Mr Akbar says:

[Qader Akbar] We have the same products here, for instance drinking water and soft drinks. We have a high quality of drinking water and soft drinks approved by the Ministry of Health. As a result, the exhibition will be an opportunity in terms of a constructive competition [between the Iranian and Afghan companies] to improve their design, decoration and marketing. In this way, our factory owners and industrialists will be encouraged to produce high quality products and improve marketing.

[Correspondent] However, the investors think about the financial benefits of the exhibition. According to Esmatollah, the owner of a private company in Herat, most of the traders have difficulty in choosing and importing Iranian products, but the exhibition will be an opportunity for them to have further options.

[Esmatollah] They will be able to take a closer look at all the manufactures produced in Iran and they can examine them in terms of quality, quantity and price. This is itself a financial benefit and a good chance for the traders to have more options inside the country and get ride of confusion they have in choosing products in the Iranian markets.

[Correspondent] Anwar Shah Yusofi, an economist and head of the state-owned banks in western Afghanistan, believes that holding such exhibitions can be a good experience for the Afghan Chambers of Commerce as well as traders and investors. He states the exhibition is also of importance in terms of marketing.

[Passage omitted: official's remarks]

[Correspondent] Mr Akbar says they are holding an exhibition of the Afghan products in Mashhad, Iran, in the near future. Nevertheless, he did not add when the exhibition will be held. In addition, the Iranian companies were supposed to open a specific exhibition of their own products, but Mr Akbar says he had disagreed with the idea and asserted the Afghan companies should have a part in the exhibition.

The five-day exhibition includes 50 stalls of the Iranian companies and 50 from the Afghan companies.

[Description of Source: Herat Radio Sahar in Dari -- local independent radio station in Herat run mainly by women. IAP20071029950088 1230 GMT 29 Oct 07]

Herat Police Chief discusses security with Hasht-e Sobh newspaper

Afghan daily interviews western province police chief on security

Text of interview in Dari by Wahid Paiman with Herat police chief, “Reporters must not exaggerate in reporting”, published by Afghan independent secular daily newspaper Hasht-e Sobh on 27 October

Social disorder and instability in Herat have featured in the headlines of reports on crimes in the country over the past two months. the increase in crime has led to Interior Ministry authorities to embark on changes in the structure of Herat’s police in a bid to improve the situation and establish security in this province.

The replacement of the Herat police chief, head of crimes branch and some other top police officials are the measures taken by the Ministry of Internal Affairs to improve the security situation in Herat.

Lately, the Herat police has reported a drop in the level of crimes in the province. However, political rivalries and wrangling are the challenges still facing Herat. Some former mojahedin have left the city for an unknown place in protest to the local ruling bodies [government departments].

Hasht-e Sobh Daily has conducted an interview with Herat Police Chief Mohammad Joma Adil.

[Hasht-e Sobh] Why do cases of abduction sometimes increase and sometimes decrease in Herat?

[Adil] the police have changed their methods to deal with robbers and abductors. They are now afraid of getting arrested. We have arrested a group of abductors with the help of the National [Directorate of] Security. They had attacked the exchange market in Herat and killed one person. We will not allow robbers and abductors to disrupt the situation.

[Hasht-e Sobh] Why are some former mojahedin are unhappy with the local government departments?

[Adil] This issue concerns them. We have not yet contacted them. It has been just a month since I came here.

We will try to remove these differences through the leadership of Herat.

[Hasht-e Sobh] Who exactly have differences and why?

[Adil] They have some complaints and differences which we are trying to address.

[Hasht-e Sobh] Passports were sold for high prices in Herat’s black market in the past. How much does a passport cost in black market now?

[Adil with a smile] Now we issue passports on demand. In the past, they were exchanged for money. But that situation has changed now. We have told all security and intelligence agencies to deal harshly with those who sell passports.

[Hasht-e Sobh] You mean no one deals in selling and buying passports in Herat now?

[Adil] We have issued instructions to intelligence agencies to deal seriously with dealers in passport. I ask people not to buy passports from black market. They should come to us, we will issue them passports.

[Hasht-e Sobh] There had been an attempt on your life recently. Who was behind the attack?

[Adil] Our patrol came under attack in Khabgah-e Dokhtaran [Girls Dormitory] area when we were on our way to the city. A gun battle ensued and the attackers fled.

[Hasht-e Sobh] It is said that you were not the prime target. Rather, it was the girls’ dormitory in the area which they wanted to attack?

[Adil] I reject this categorically. You should go and visit the area. The dormitory has not sustained any damage. There are no signs showing that the attack was aimed at the dormitory.

[Hasht-e Sobh] Still, it is a matter of concern that the girls’ dormitory is situated in a dangerous locality of Herat which has been the scene of explosions and incidents of instability. Are security officials concerned about this issue?

[Adil] We know that our enemies target such sensitive sites. We have taken measures for their safety and have deployed guards for their security.

[Hasht-e Sobh] Herat witnessed its most peaceful days during the ECO [Economic Cooperation Organization] conference, but only a day after the conference was concluded, there were incidents of instability, an example of it was the attack on yourself, why?

[Adil] They were not able to do anything because of tight security measures during the conference.

[Hasht-e Sobh] Can such measures continue to be enforced?

[Adil] We will continue our patrols.

[Hasht-e Sobh] Mr Adil, reporters complain that Herat police does not cooperate with them?

[Adil] I respect reporters. They should not be unhappy with me. Reporters do their job freely and take photos. But, I ask them to reflect the realities as they are. They should not overstate or understate them.

[Description of Source: Kabul Hasht-e-Sobh in Dari. SAP20071028950028 27 Oct 07]

Payam-e Mojahed: Concerns about whereabouts of Uzbek contractors in Herat

Text of report by Sayd Jawad Hojat, “Where did personnel of the foreign company go?!!”, published by independent Afghan newspaper Payam-e Mojahed on 25 October

The tomb of Amir Ali Sher Nawayee, located next to the beautiful tomb of Gowhar Shad Khatun in Herat Province, is one of the ancient sites in Herat Province. It has partly been damaged in the past years and required serious repair.

Amir Ali Sher Nawayee was a prudent minister of Sultan Hussain Bayeqra during the Timurid reign, and was a knowledgeable personality of this land.

A foreign company, reportedly from Uzbekistan, has contracted the repairing work of this ancient building, and is to start the repairing work after signing a contract with officials in charge.

The company has placed its working equipment, including heavy and light machinery in areas near the tomb, and has later started its preliminary work. The area has been in the hands of the company for a long time.

The interesting point is that all officials and personnel of the company have suddenly disappeared. No one knows where they are, but all their equipment and machinery still remain in the place they previously were.

Security officials of Herat Province also do not know anything about their whereabouts, and insurgent groups have also not said anything about this.

Locals and witnesses have different ideas. They suspect that during the excavation work around the tomb, personnel of the company might have found something much valuable than their equipment or the contract.

The tomb of Ali Sher Nawayee is located in the centre of Herat city, and the possibility of abduction or murder of the company workers by the Taleban is very far. The people therefore believe that lack of control over activities of foreign companies has once again led to a big mistake.

[Description of Source: Kabul Payam-e Mojahed (Mojahed Voice) in Dari -- Independent pro-mojahedin weekly and the official mouthpiece of Supervisory Council of the Jami'at-e Eslami Party of the late Ahmad Shah Mas'ud. Originally published in Parwan in the north during the Taliban regime, it is now published in Kabul. Often critical of government and supports veteran jihadi leaders like Herat governor Esmai'il Khan. Critical of Western influence and did not suport a role for the former king. OSC IAP20071028950090 25 Oct 07]

Hasht-e-Sobh: “Reflection of ECO meeting questionable – Herat officials”

Text of report entitled “Reflection of ECO meeting questionable – Herat officials” published by Afghan independent secular daily newspaper Hasht-e Sobh on 27 October

Official sources in Herat Province have criticized the media for not properly covering and reporting the ECO meeting.

A protest letter issued by the cultural and social consultancy of Herat governor, entitled “ECO, independent local media and questionable reflection” says: “The media in the ECO member countries have completely and comprehensively covered this regional meeting. For example, the ECO conference and the reports from the venue of the meeting were the lead news in some media outlets including the Jam-e Jam World Service of Iran. However, the issue that has surprised everybody was the weak reflection of the ECO conference by local media. The presence of five foreign ministers including their deputies from the 10 regional countries and the president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan at the meeting shows the paramount importance of the [ECO] conference. However, the reflection of this conference by the local private media was very weak. Tolo and Ariana TVs put the ECO reports second and third in their news bulletins. This issue gives rise to a lot of questions which we will let the opinion of Afghan society judge.”

Meanwhile, officials of the government-run local media in Herat say that they intended to cover the ECO meeting live but they were prevented by officials responsible for holding the meeting.

A number of analysts in Herat term the sketchy coverage of the ECO meeting by national and independent media as [a manifestation of] their hatred towards Herat.

They claim that because a meeting of this kind – with the participation of foreign ministers of regional countries – was not held in Afghanistan over the past 30 years, the process of the meeting should have been broadcast live by Afghanistan’s national television but this did not happen. They say that the government treated Herat in a too discriminatory way.

According to analysts, there is a question: Had the meeting of ECO foreign ministers been held in Kabul, would the private media and Afghanistan’s national television have shown such nonchalance?”

[Description of Source: Kabul Hasht-e-Sobh in Dari. OSC SAP20071028950019 Kabul Hasht-e-Sobh in Dari 0000 GMT 27 Oct 07]

Pagah: “Increasing smuggling in Herat”

Text of editorial entitled “Increasing smuggling in Herat” by Afghan Herat University newspaper Pagah on 27 October 2007

Recently, security organizations in Herat Province, particularly the border police, have done their best to seize large amounts of drugs in border regions.

In addition, since the recent replacement of the Herat security commander, security situation has been relatively under control and the police have started to treat people humanely. Of course all this should be appreciated. However, the very question as to whether all these efforts are sufficient and effective enough to help security stay as it is will be answered in the course of time. Let me start with this fact: As a strategic and border town in a country like Afghanistan, which is the largest producer and cultivator of drug in all over the world, Herat has undoubtedly attracted the local and international mafia. This is because Herat can play the role of the best and most proper harbour for drug smugglers to carry out their business. A proof for this fact is the prevailing market of opium, heroin and crystal trade in Herat. As heard repeatedly from high-ranking government officials, some accomplices of the drug mafia and smugglers are working in senior government posts and provincial security officials share the profits with groups of drug smugglers.

Yes, a number of drug smugglers, who have been involved in bloodsheds, are carrying out their business without any fear in Herat Province, too. Unfortunately, these individuals had managed to receive weapons and safety warranty from the police before Mr [Joma] Adel was appointed Herat’s security commander. The men are still continuing their inhumane business by using the facilities they possess. Although, as executive organizations, Herat security officials have untiringly been working to establish security in the province, they will achieve nothing unless they set up foundational, accurate strategies to fight drug smuggling – identifying and arresting important members of the drug mafia. We feel the lack of such measures in the fight against the drugs trade. This is at a time that the anti-narcotics department is operating as a foundation where policies are made. This department is making tough efforts while it does not have a correct understanding of the region and situation. Their efforts resemble the struggle of a gardener who tries to repair the branches of a tree, while its roots have a serious problem.

Furthermore, corruption in government departments and preference of nepotism over competence are the main factors which have provided the ground for the drugs mafia to carry on with their business.

We are proud that drug cultivation has dropped significantly in Herat Province, but we are unaware that supply and demand are closely linked with each other. This means that the presence of drug smugglers in Herat have caused demands to rise in the country. And this market is getting busier and busier every day, which leads to an increase in drug cultivation and production.

On the other hand, drug smugglers are negligent of the tragic side of their business. By preferring their own interests to that of the nation and satisfying their ego, they are leading thousands of young men to self-destruction and bringing sorrow to mothers. They are ignorant that by sending out their stuff to other countries, nations will start to hate Afghans.

We hope that the central government, particularly concerned officials in Herat Province, pay serious attention to this issue so that our national identity and pride will continue to remain the same and that Afghans will continue to have friendly relations with the rest of the world. This will also help prevent many young people inside the country from becoming addicted to this destructive stuff. We hope that we are moving towards a prestigious and renovated Afghanistan.

[Description of Source: Herat Pagah in Dari --Sometimes critical of the government and foreign forces. OSC IAP20071027950070 27 Oct 07]