Dozens of Nawa citizens lined the district center’s main street in the rain to see President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai during his visit here Jan. 2.
Karzai was joined by Mohammed G. Mangal, Helmand provincial governor, and Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, commander of NATO International Security Assistance Force and US Forces Afghanistan, to meet with citizens, district government officials, Afghan security forces and US Marines.
After arriving by helicopter, Karzai reviewed a formation of newly-graduated police officers wearing their grey wool dress uniforms, and took time to shake each officer’s hand thanking them for their service to their country and people.
He then entered a mosque and spoke to about 100 citizens there about the successes earned throughout the Nawa district and the bright future for the area.
Karzai then took to the streets of the Nawa district center with his entourage to meet with people on the street, entering storefronts along the marketplace and talking to citizens as he went. He even took time to stop for tea with Mangal and McChrystal at one store and listened to comments and concerns from local elders.
After he finished his tea, Karzai presented small gifts in front of the surrounding crowd to the chief of police, district governor and Brig. Gen. Larry D. Nicholson, commanding general of Marine Expeditionary Brigade Afghanistan.
“It’s a great honor – it’s not often that the president of a country presents you anything,” said Nicholson, whose command includes 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, currently and serving in Nawa. “I’m very proud and honored, but I can only accept this on behalf of all of the Marines who have contributed to the success in Nawa.”
Once his tour of the market was finished, Karzai met privately with about 25 of Nawa’s community council leaders at the office of the district governor nearby to discuss their agenda.
“He told us he is very glad to be here,” said Haji Hayatullah, deputy of the Nawa district security subcommittee, of Karzai’s comments to the council. “The president said he was very happy with the Marines and how they’ve brought peace and security here.”
As Karzai spoke, McChrystal met with Marines of 1/3 and MEB-Afghanistan waiting outside of the office.
“For me, this visit is important because I get to see the Marines here and see the partnership between the Afghan security forces and coalition forces – in this case the Marines – who I’m very proud of,” said McChrystal. “It’s the synergy and partnership which matters here at the end of the day that to me defines success.
“It’s very important to the president to be able to come here and speak to his people, and to see the forces here in Nawa,” said McChrystal. “Not just the police and security forces, but the government forces as well. We’ve certainly seen a stunning change in the situation here in Nawa. Six months ago, you could not have done this here, but we can do it now. Six months from now, we will be able to do this in places we can’t do it today.”