USAID/CBSG

Head of Religious Brotherhood Shura addressing the audience.

On February 13, the inauguration ceremony for the Baghlan Province Religious Leaders’ Peace Promotion Jirga took place in Tapa-e-Farhat Community Center, Pol-e-Khomri City, Baghlan Province.  The ceremony was attended by Abdul Hadi Rafyee, the deputy provincial governor, members of the Provincial Council, heads of different government line departments, Baghlan Religious Brotherhood Shura, tribal and religious leaders from Baghan-e-Jadid, Dehna-e-Ghori, Pol-e-Khomri, Tala wa Barfak, and Doshi districts.

In his address, the deputy provincial governor stressed the importance of the Religious Leaders’ Peace Promotion Jirga and called it a distinctive opportunity for religious leaders to get together and try to find appropriate solutions to the current problems facing Baghlan Province.  Members of the Provincial Council and several religious leaders spoke about the importance of the Jirga and called it an outstanding opportunity to strengthen stability in the Baghlan Province.  They promised that they will work effectively amongst themselves, with the local authorities and the community, to prevent the intrusion of insurgent groups into the province making further efforts toward strengthening stability.  Baghlan is one of the most insecure provinces in the country where anti- government elements are actively creating problems for national and international security forces.  Stabilization efforts are important in the province for ensuring security and preventing the spread of insurgency to other neighboring provinces.  This Jirga, funded by USAID’s Community Based Stabilization Grants project, will bring the government and the communities closer together and encourage religious leaders to take initiatives to improve the livelihood of their communities though stabilization initiatives.

USAID/Afghanistan Program Highlights: 2/1/2011-2/15/2011