Governor Anwari visits Farsi District

(Transcript of report by provincial state-owned Afghan Herat TV on September 16, 2007.)

[Presenter] Herat Province Governor Sayed Hosayn Anwari led a delegation of officials, including zonal security commanders, officials from the national security department, the rural development department and the commander of Italian PRT [Provincial Reconstruction Team] to Farsi District of the province today.

[Correspondent] The Herat Province governor and the accompanying delegation evaluated security problems in Farsi District which has just seen heavy fighting.

During the visit, district residents pointed out their problems and asked officials in charge of the province to look for a solution to their problems. Mr Anwari promised to increase the number of police soldiers in the district to ensure better security. He also promised to include different villages of the district in the National Solidarity Programme. During his speech, the governor of Herat Province spoke about his determination to defeat the enemy. He asked the people to be strong so that they can have a stable and secure country.

[Governor in Dari] A number of people who, unaware of the reality, used to support them [anti-government elements] have now joined the government. They handed over their weapons and accepted the decision of people of Afghanistan. Keep in mind that the devil will be defeated and will always end up in failure. Your district is a small example proving what I said. You witnessed their failure and defeat but do not forget that there is a precondition for such victories. The precondition is to have strong determination. We have to be strong and we have to take consistent decisions. We have to realize that we are true and they are false.

[Correspondent] The Herat Province governor said the government belonged to people and praised the people for resisting the enemy.

[Governor in Dari] The government of Afghanistan is the legal government for the nation. More than 55 per cent of people of Afghanistan have voted for this government. We have religious duties and our scholars are aware of these duties. It is our duty to find out how to support the government; how to defend the government of President Hamed Karzai for whom you have voted. May God bless you for defending your district so well.

[Correspondent] The Herat Province governor also promised to praise the security commander and the head of Farsi District soon. He also paid a visit to the families of martyrs who were killed during the fighting and donated some cash.

The Herat Province governor and the accompanying delegation travelled to the district a week after the district was attacked by a large group of anti-government militants . The assault is known as one of the heaviest of its kind in the district to be defeated by the people and security forces. About 18 anti-government insurgents and six police forces were killed or injured in the attack.

[Description of Source: Herat Herat Television in Dari -- state-run television. OSC IAP20070917950010 Herat Herat Television in Dari 1630 GMT 16 Sep 07]

Radio Mashhad reports on Taliban attack in Farsi District

Taliban Attack Attempts To Capture Farsi District of Herat Province

(Transcript of report from September 13, 2007)

[Presenter] Approximately 24 Afghan police soldiers and Taliban militants were killed or injured after a group of Taliban insurgents attacked Farsi District of Afghanistan’s western Herat Province last night. Let’s hear a report by our colleague Mr Mohammadi.

[Reporter] Some 24 men were killed from both Afghan troops and Taliban militants during a clash in Farsi District of Herat Province yesterday evening. Gen Mohammad Shafiq Fazli, security commander of Herat Province confirming the news told Mashhad Radio that a group of anti-government militants attacked to take control of the district. Afghan police force resisted, and the clash stopped after supporting forces reached the area at midnight. Three police officers were killed and three more were injured during the clash.

[Security Commander of Herat speaking in Dari] Our supporting forces were sent to the area and the fight went on until 12 o’clock midnight. Taliban militants had to draw back and as a result three were killed and 15 were injured. Unfortunately I have to say that three of our officers were killed and three more injured during the clashes.

[Reporter] Calling media, Qari Yusof Ahmadi, who calls himself spokesperson of Taliban militants, said four police officers were killed during the clash and denies any harm to Taliban insurgents. He also claims that they have been able to capture the security check post of the district, but this claim is rejected by Police officials.

[Passage omitted for poor reception]

[Description of Source: Mashhad Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran External Service in Dari -- Iranian government-run radio; OSC IAP20070913950099 Mashhad Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran External Service in Dari 1330 GMT 13 Sep 07]

Local people defended district against Taleban – Afghan paper
IAP20070916950087 Herat Pagah in Dari 0001 GMT 15 Sep 07

Local people defended district against Taleban – Afghan paper

Text of report by Afghan Herat University newspaper Pagah on 15 September

A few nights ago, about 100 Taleban fighters attacked Farsi District, wanting to capture it. However, they encountered tough resistance from the security forces and the residents of this district and thus, accepted the defeat.

The attack came after the district residents had repeatedly warned government officials and had already informed the Herat Provincial Council that the situation was critical in their region. They had also told them that if government officials failed to take serious measures, the situation would worsen.

The Thursday night attack was a proof to their claim. However, in response to the officials’ silence, the residents of Farsi District undertook the responsibility on their own and defended their region. Of course, the security forces’ efforts are also appreciable. But the obvious point is that unless the people supported the security forces, the result of the incident would have been completely the opposite of what took place. The support of this district’s people for the security forces comes at a time when the government has failed to launch the necessary reconstruction projects and offer contributions to this district. Farsi District is one of the most deprived districts of the province.

The Taleban, who are provided with intelligence facilities by Pakistan, never launch an attack without sufficient information. They had certainly been informed that there are not sufficient security forces in this district. However, their only mistake which led to their defeat had been their assumption that the people would not support the security forces.

If the government does not take into consideration and appreciate this people’s support, it will certainly lose such acts of support in the future. In addition, the result of its operations would be but success.

[Description of Source: Herat Pagah in Dari --Sometimes critical of the government and foreign forces.]