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Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia Philippines Thailand Vietnam Search Search: Stop fighting and prosper, Afghan soldiers tell countrymen AFP - Wednesday, November 12 UZBIN VALLEY, Afghanistan (AFP) - - In Afghanistan a shura, or gathering, is taking place surrounded by about 30 armoured vehicles, troops watching from surrounding hills, fighter jets, helicopters and reconnaissance drones. Nothing is left to chance in this southern part of Sarobi district, Uzbin, less than 60 kilometres (37 miles) from Kabul. "Look around you," an Afghan general tells a gathering of local leaders close to Kabul. "You do not have roads, your women do not have a hospital where they can have their babies. For 10 villages, you do not even have one school." "Stop the war and we will build schools, clinics, a dam," promises General Zemarai, who uses only one name. "But to make the roads, to dig the wells, it is necessary that you do not fire on us. If you shoot at us, we will fight and there will be none of the development projects that you need. "Talk to the insurgents, tell them to give up their weapons, that war brings nothing," he says passionately. Around him, the "white beards" -- elders and heads of the villages -- listen silently to the commander. This area is a challenge for the government. Not far from here 10 French soldiers were killed in a militant ambush on August 18. This gathering, or shura, could only go ahead with the security provided by 520 French soldiers and 190 Afghan troops assisted by dozens of US advisors. "We have to show that we are capable of standing ground against an adversary that is particularly determined, aggressive and competent," says a captain named Christophe. The French military does not allow media to use surnames of ordinary soldiers. Until the start of August, the only operations carried out in this valley, about 30 by 10 kilometres in area, involved distribution of aid and have done nothing to threaten insurgents massed here in large numbers. "There are about 250 insurgents in Uzbin Valley who could intervene," says Colonel Jean-Pierre Perrin, commander of the French battalion in Kabul. "In the first 10 kilometres, we could meet 25 insurgents who could observe us, or let us go, allowing others to come down (and join them)." This shura aims primarily to win the confidence of the people here but also to promote the registration of voters for presidential elections due in 2009 and to push to the fore, in a visible manner, the Afghan army. Children crowd around the French vehicles. Close to 150 people -- children, adults and elders, all male -- have arrived from 10 villages and gathered about 400 metres (yards) from the village of Wakha. The most important sit on a carpet, close to small fields of cotton grown in steps up the side of a mountain. An Afghan army officer with a thick beard starts the process by reciting verses from the Koran. In the absence of the maliks, the heads of the villages whose arrival has been delayed by security hitches, an elder speaks for the villagers. "We are poor, we have sick people, we need help from the government, do not forget us," says Matiullah. "We promise to be on your side, but stop the soldiers from shooting on our houses." Perrin responds: "We have left our countries, our families, we are taking risks for you, because when a friend is in need, his friends come to help. "You also, you have to take risks for your security. Alone we can do nothing but together we can do everything." Behind him Afghan soldiers prepare to distribute aid: parcels of clothing to be shared among the villagers in accordance with customary hierarchy. The event goes smoothly and the soldiers return to their base. All has gone well. Some worrying movements had been observed but insurgents did not intervene, sensing perhaps that they would have too much on their hands. Six people were arrested. Two who had undeclared weapons and were suspected of fighting on the side of the insurgents were handed over to the Afghan police. "In all insurgencies, the centre of gravity is the population. We want them to understand that we have the means to help them, while the insurgents bring them nothing," explains Perrin. "Without security, no development is possible. And security is also the responsibility of every villager. The people must choose their camp." Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article Average (0 votes) Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: Asia Pacific GLOBAL MARKETS-Asia stocks fall for 2nd day on dismal outlookReuters - 26 minutes ago NZ indigenous Maori Party set to support new govtAP - 38 minutes ago Gunmen kill US aid worker, driver in NW Pakistan: policeAFP - 50 minutes ago NKorea to halt border crossings with SKoreaAP - 53 minutes ago Aftershock hits ethnic Tibetan, Mongolian region in ChinaAFP - 57 minutes ago Enlarge Photo Stop fighting and prosper, Afghan soldiers tell countrymen Most Popular – Asia Pacific Viewed Britney Spears's son hospitalized: statement US expands record bailout of insurance giant AIG Obama, Bush discuss world of challenges Ancient 4,300-year-old pyramid discovered in Egypt Swiss fear more pressure on bank secrecy after Obama victory View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular

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