FORWARD OPERATING BASE GHAZNI, Afghanistan (June 2, 2008) – Top Afghan government officials met with representatives from the Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army and Coalition forces, to discuss security issues, at Forward Operating Base Ghazni, Afghanistan, May 14.

 In addition to security, finances and development were also covered in the meeting.

ANA commanders and Gov. Sheer Khosti, of Ghazni province, proposed to build checkpoints along major highways in high-threat areas. The checkpoints would be occupied by the ANA, ANP and Coalition forces.

“The checkpoints would bring peace and stability to the area and allow us to concentrate on the road,” said Lt. Col. Mohammad Naser, an ANA commander.

However, there are still issues that must be dealt with, noted Lt. Col. Tony DeMartino, Task Force Currahee, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry regiment commander.

“Our biggest concern with these checkpoints is the speed in which we can get security for them,” explained DeMartino. Still, he decided Coalition forces could help build two of the checkpoints.
 
“Besides a few locations here and there, the ANA and ANP do not have the opportunity to work together,” said DeMartino. “This would give them that opportunity.”

With these checkpoints in place and manned by the Afghan forces, this would be a huge step in the process of getting all forces working together to impede the violence in the region.

“Without them (ANA and ANP) we are like a blind boxer,” DeMartino said.

 The meeting’s consensus was that security would lead the way to development; starting with the checkpoints and finishing with peace.