Germany Donates 10,000 Pistols to Afghanistan
The donated weapons were divided evenly between the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police.
Officials from the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and German Armed Forces examine a donation of 9mm Walther P-1 pistols at the Afghan Security Forces Depot in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Office of Security Cooperation-Afghanistan photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mason T. Lowery)
By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mason T. Lowery - Office of Security Cooperation-Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan, Jan. 26, 2006 — The capabilities of the Afghan National Security Forces were enhanced Jan. 24 by a donation of 10,000 9mm German Walther P-1 pistols from the German Armed Forces.
The weapons were divided evenly between the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police in a ceremony at the Afghan Security Forces Depot.
The donation is the result of a weapons request made by the U.S. Embassy in Berlin one year ago, according to Dr. Rainald Steck, German Ambassador to Afghanistan.
“This donation will enable (the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police) to contribute even more to Afghanistan’s security and stability,” Steck said. “A successful security sector reform cannot be achieved without enabling security forces to fulfill their mission, to establish security and stability – by force, if needed.”
Accepting the donation for the Ministry of the Interior was Chief of Logistics Maj. Gen. Mohammad H. Basir; and for the Ministry of Defense was Assistant Minister for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Maj. Gen. Baz M. Jawhary.
Basir addressed the ceremony attendees and thanked Germany and the coalition for the help they have provided to Afghanistan. “The contributions of these weapons will help the security forces of Afghanistan to be more prepared to perform their duties,” he said.
“Thank you to all the mentors of the international community for advising us in different issues,” he said.
Jawhari added, “This is not the first contribution from Germany. They are helping us in many areas to bring stability in Afghanistan.”
At the end of the ceremony, transfer documents were signed by Basir, Jawhari and Steck to formalize the donation.
A 9mm Walther P-1 pistol, holster, cleaning kit and magazine on display, donated by the German Armed Forces. (Office of Security Cooperation-Afghanistan photo by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Mason T. Lowery)
The pistols were then examined by the ceremony attendees. “I am very happy about this weapon donation and thank Germany,” Basir said. “I hope these help secure Afghanistan.”
Since 2003, the international community has provided a steady stream of effort and resources toward the continued growth of Afghanistan’s security and stability. Equipping and manning the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police is crucial to establishing a secure Afghanistan, and many nations have presented large donations to help meet this goal.
New Hospital Symbolizes Afghan Progress in South
By Spc. Jon H. Arguello, USA - Special to American Forces Press Service
QALAT, Afghanistan, Jan. 26, 2006 – Few infrastructure projects inject the Afghan people with as much hope for a stable and healthy life for their families as a new hospital. Along with many of the new roads and bridges built during reconstruction, a new hospital will now bring that hope to the people of southern Afghanistan.
Army Maj. John Drobnica, the Qalat provincial reconstruction team's doctor, inspects one of the Zabul Regional Teaching Hospital's new incubators during a tour of the Afghan facilities Jan. 12. (U.S. Army photo)
The new Zabul Regional Teaching Hospital is located between Kabul and Kandahar and will provide the middle provinces of Afghanistan with a full-service hospital with state-of-the-art equipment, Qalat's provincial reconstruction team commander said during a tour of the hospital this week with local and international officials.
"But this hospital is more than a place for Afghans throughout Zabul province to seek health care," Army Lt. Col. Thomas Goodfellow, said. "It's a milestone symbolizing the strong foundation being built, on which a future prosperous, secure and healthy nation will grow."
The hospital was built with funds provided by the United Arab Emirates. Local contractors built the facility and installed the $4 million worth of equipment, which Qalat PRT soldiers and United Arab Emirates forces escorted from Kandahar Airfield.
"The complete project was a classic example of interagency cooperation," Goodfellow said. "The Qalat PRT, Afghan Ministry of Health, U.A.E embassy staff and U.A.E. forces, technicians from India, and Charlie Company medical staff from the 173rd Support Battalion on (Kandahar Air Field) played important roles in the successful project."
The new facility can hold up to 130 patients and includes a Level 1 trauma center, the highest possible classification of care. It also has major and minor surgery facilities and care perform pediatric and neo-natal care, and full-service dental care. The hospital is truly a sign of progress for the Afghan people, the colonel said.
"The people of Afghanistan will be forever grateful to all involved in building this hospital," Zabul's provincial governor, Arman, said. "The facility is very impressive, and it's beautiful to see where the country is going."
Goodfellow agreed with the governor's assessment. "The local populace sees the provincial government moving the region in a positive direction. That's invaluable here, whether it's with a hospital or bridge or school," he said.
"There's more to a hospital than health care," Goodfellow noted. "A hospital brings people hope, and hope can turn into vision. If we can get all Afghans to share a common vision, there's no end to what Afghanistan can do for itself."
Army Lt. Col. Thomas Goodfellow, commander of the Qalat provincial reconstruction team, and Gulab Shaw, chief of staff to the local provincial governor, inspect the new dental equipment at Zabul Regional Teaching Hospital during a tour of the facilities in Qalat, Afghanistan. (Photo by Spc. Jon H. Arguello, USA)
(Army Spc. Jon H. Arguello is assigned to Task Force Bayonet.)
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