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KANDAHARCITY :President Hamid Karzai, trumpeting the achievements of his government and increased United States support towards Afghanistan, on Saturday told tribal elders in volatile southern Kandahar province that there was a brighter future for the country.
Accompanied by a high level delegation, Karzai during his visit to Arghandab district addressed about 3000 tribal elders at the Baba Saheb shrine, an official said.
The top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus, US ambassador to Kabul, Karl Eikenberry, defense minister, Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak, deputy interior minister, Munir Mangal and other officials accompanied the president during his visit, the governor's spokesman, Zalmay Ayubi, told Pajhwok Afghan News.
Karzai told the gathering it was their responsibility to help protect their villages in the region, where international and Afghan troops are trying to rout insurgents.
Karzai visited Argahandab district to seek support of tribal elders for his government's effort to extend its influence.
The president asked the elders to align themselves with the government and the international community to tamp down violence in the area and rush in development aid.
He said those tribal elders who had migrated to other parts of the province for securirty reason should return to their homes and participate in rebuilding process.
He said their coming back homes was the only way to defend their areas.
He said people of the district knew better the situation and were able to stop outsiders from coming in.
The president said work to improve the supply of electricity to Kandahar city was underway.
Speaking on the occasion, provincial governor Turyalai Wessa said the first of two 10 megawatt power plants was scheduled to be running by December. He said the plant would provide power to about 15,000 additional homes.
Karzai also encouraged people to educate their children. He pledged to improve the salaries of teachers to coax them to work in villages outside major cities.
He promised to continue talking with Pakistan to help abolish militant sanctuaries across the border out of the reach of Afghan and NATO forces.
International troops are heavily focused on the dangerous south, but violence continues across the nation.
Karzai urged tribal elders to let their youths join civil order police to keep security for the region themselves.
He also spoke about the achievements of his administration during the last nine years, noting that there was a brighter future for the country.
Source.
Accompanied by a high level delegation, Karzai during his visit to Arghandab district addressed about 3000 tribal elders at the Baba Saheb shrine, an official said.
The top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus, US ambassador to Kabul, Karl Eikenberry, defense minister, Gen. Abdul Rahim Wardak, deputy interior minister, Munir Mangal and other officials accompanied the president during his visit, the governor's spokesman, Zalmay Ayubi, told Pajhwok Afghan News.
Karzai told the gathering it was their responsibility to help protect their villages in the region, where international and Afghan troops are trying to rout insurgents.
Karzai visited Argahandab district to seek support of tribal elders for his government's effort to extend its influence.
The president asked the elders to align themselves with the government and the international community to tamp down violence in the area and rush in development aid.
He said those tribal elders who had migrated to other parts of the province for securirty reason should return to their homes and participate in rebuilding process.
He said their coming back homes was the only way to defend their areas.
He said people of the district knew better the situation and were able to stop outsiders from coming in.
The president said work to improve the supply of electricity to Kandahar city was underway.
Speaking on the occasion, provincial governor Turyalai Wessa said the first of two 10 megawatt power plants was scheduled to be running by December. He said the plant would provide power to about 15,000 additional homes.
Karzai also encouraged people to educate their children. He pledged to improve the salaries of teachers to coax them to work in villages outside major cities.
He promised to continue talking with Pakistan to help abolish militant sanctuaries across the border out of the reach of Afghan and NATO forces.
International troops are heavily focused on the dangerous south, but violence continues across the nation.
Karzai urged tribal elders to let their youths join civil order police to keep security for the region themselves.
He also spoke about the achievements of his administration during the last nine years, noting that there was a brighter future for the country.
Source.