MOQUR, Afghanistan (May 8) – District elders held a Grand Jirga May 6 in Moqur, one of the districts most affected by the insurgency in Badghis province. A Grand Jirga is an ancestral convention between Afghan rulers and the population. This Jirga has not been held for 30 years in Moqur.
In the past, each region in Afghanistan used to hold a festival for residents. The festival coincided with the arrival of spring. Elders would outline their political programs for the year and participants would enjoy food, dancing and singing. In some regions, sporting events were also held during the celebration.
This year, for the first time in 30 years, the province governors appointed by the Afghan Government participated in these celebrations. Locals said they believe the return of the Grand Jirga is a sign of a return to normality in the governance of the province, and in particular in the District of Moqur. 
With the presence of ISAF troops in their two advanced bases, one in the capital district, where mostly U.S. troops are housed, and another one in Sang-Atesh, where mostly Spanish troops are housed, the security situation has improved. Moqur is a border District between Pasthun and Tajik tribal areas. Its population at first, concerned for the insecurity of the area, is now showing signs of the normality and willingness of reconstruction.
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