Corruption threatens battlefield gains: Gen. Nicholson

HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): A United Nations anti-corruption symposium in this capital city of western Herat province was told the prosecutor’s office has ‘registered 70 cases of corruption and placed more than 130 offenders in jail.’

The symposium held at Camp Arena in on Feb. 28 (Wednesday) featured discussions from key Afghan government officials and military leaders from Resolute Support, including a legal prosecution team from Italy.

Abdul Haq Ahmadi, director of the prosecutor's office in Herat city, said that his office has ‘registered 70 cases of corruption and placed more than 130 offenders in jail.

“This symposium was very helpful for the Herat prosecutor's office, and we were able to exchange ideas and experiences to fight corruption," Ahmadi added.

“We will find a way, with help from the Italian prosecutors, to remove corruption from Herat’s government departments.”

Gen. John Nicholson, Resolute Support commander, in a speech read at the symposium said. “The success obtained on the battlefield is threatened by corruption. It is truly the enemy within."

“Corruption drains resources and undermines combat effectiveness. It erodes not only the military pressure that we are creating against the enemy, but it also erodes the diplomatic and social pressures as well."

This symposium was the second event organized by Italian forces in Herat. Italian Gen. B. Gianluca Carai, commander, TAAC-W, initiated the symposiums as "a way of exchanging ideas and experiences across borders."

pr/ma