Asadabad

Asadabad is located in the northeastern province of Kunar. It is a mountainous region about five miles from the Pakistani border.

In mid-January 1979, a guerrilla force composed of Afghan refugees from Pakistan carried out a raid on a provincial capital-Asadabad-near the northeastern border of Afghanistan, and seized an army garrison there. The guerrillas were eventually driven out, but were able to hold the garrison briefly because the Afghan commander had already secretly defected to the insurrection. The commander of the Asadabad garrison would later become one of the leaders of the Afghan guerrilla units in the eastern provinces opposing the Soviet intervention forces.

During the years of conflict in Afghanistan before the Coalition arrived in 2001, many Afghans migrated to other countries to avoid war and bloodshed. A majority of the refugees moved just across the border into Pakistan.

Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Asadabad

PRTs are an initiative whose stated objectives include extending the influence of the Afghan government outside Kabul, encouraging international and non-governmental organizations to operate in rural areas outside of Kabul, and facilitating reconstruction. Primary functions are focused on the coordination of the reconstruction process, identification of reconstruction projects, conducting village assessments, and liaising with regional commanders. PRT interactions with local leaders/elders also establishes and maintains positive relations with the populations and enables a more stable and secure environment in the surrounding areas.

When the Asadabad Provincial Reconstruction Team engineers arrived in Afghanistan in 2004, they found builders using primitive techniques. Since then, the team worked side-by-side with contractors in eastern Afghanistan's Konar Province to not only develop the area, but also help the builders progress. When the soldiers arrived, the Afghans were building mud and plaster roofs. Now, they are building reinforced concrete roofs with steel rebar. The use of machines allows builders to complete projects more efficiently, something they have gradually passed on to the Afghans. Initially, they were mixing concrete on the ground. This isn't effective for load-bearing construction, so the contractors got machine mixers. This also cuts back on the time and personnel required to construct a building.

In January 2005 members of the Asadabad Provincial Reconstruction Team donated 50 goats to Chawkay Repatriated Afghan Camp in Kunar Province. The goats were presented to the camp residents for the camp's celebration of the Islamic religious holiday, Eid Al-Adha. Chawkay, located about 30 kilometers south of the Provincial Center of Asadabad in Kunar Province, is home to one of the camps. The population of the camp consists of 211 families, totaling more than 1,500 residents. The camp is managed by Mohammed Hanif who estimates the camp size will increase 10-15 families each month.

Armed with wrenches, screwdrivers and wire cutters, the maintenance support team attack disabled vehicles at Forward Operating Base Asadabad. Comprised of Soldiers and Marines, the team is responsible for maintaining all vehicles on the base in eastern Afghanistan's Konar Province. They support everyone on this post, making sure their trucks can stay on the road. The team works together to ensure the vehicles are repaired as quickly as possible, so operations aren't hindered by a broken vehicle.