Governor of small population tackles large problems

HERAT, Afghanistan (Feb. 1, 2011) –Ghowr is a relatively small province in Western Afghanistan and home to roughly 2 to 2.5 percent of Afghanistan’s population.

Though the population of Ghowr is small, their new governor is tackling major issues in the region.

Dr. Abdullah Hawaid took control of Ghowr nearly two months ago, and through innovative governing tactics, he has roughly 500 possible insurgents ready to enter the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Program, according to statements made at a Jan. 31 meeting at the Lithuanian Provincial Reconstruction Team in Chagcharan District.

“I must stress that we are not certain that all 500 are insurgents, since many have been identified as a result of tribal conflicts,” said Lithuanian Col. Remigijus Baltrėnas, PRT commander. “The governor reached many insurgent leaders and in the near future, they will come forward, lay down their arms, and enter the reintegration process.”

Since Hawaid entered office in Ghowr, attacks against coalition and Afghan National Security Forces have decreased drastically.

Baltrėnas showed Italian Army Brig. Gen. Marcello Bellacicco, Regional Command-West commander and generals representing each ANSF branch statistics that from August through December 2010, eight suicide-born improvised explosive device, IEDs and rocket propelled grenade attacks were launched against the PRT and ANSF.

“The situation of late is much calmer and I [believe] this corresponds with the arrival of the new governor,” said Baltrėnas, who lauded Hawaid’s grassroots tactic of creating direct dialogue with insurgent commanders.

There are roughly 10 insurgent groups operating in Ghowr, said Hawaid, citing that Ghowr is a bridge between Helmand Province and the north.

“Insurgents and drug traffickers traveling between the north and Helmand are our biggest problem,” said Hawaid. “We need to put our main emphasis on closing down insurgent routes through Ghowr, particularly in the Pasabad District.”

Hawaid categorized insurgents into two groups: one that has ties to al-Qaeda and other terror networks, and the other that are opportunists, whose loyalty is to money and whom support the Taliban.

The first group needs to lay down arms immediately, that’s objective number one, said Hawaid, who received his Ph.D in International Financial System Management from Durham University in the United Kingdom.

Hawaid had a complex plan for group two.

“I want to disarm the second group with regards to machine guns and heavy weapons, but make them register small arms and allow them to keep those to protect their villages and families,” said Hawaid. “Every year they will have to purchase a license to keep their firearms.”

Once security expands and they begin to feel safe, Hawaid said they’ll likely decide it isn’t worth it to continue paying for a license and also lay down their arms. At that point, Hawaid’s administration would shift their focus to reconstruction and development.

Ghowr’s National Dictorate of Security chief, Brig. Gen. Mirzashaw Baynahm, said because of Hawaid’s tactics, ties to the central government in Kabul and his high-level of education, the situation is improving rapidly across Ghowr.

“The enemy is scared and on the run,” said Baynahm. “I’m very optimistic that the insurgents who have not joined the reintegration process will soon, or operations will be conducted and they’ll be eliminated.”