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]