BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan National Security Forces, assisted by Coalition forces, made a visit to the remote villages of Sultak, Hasan Kheyl, and Pesho Gar in the Dan Wa Patan District of Paktia province, Afghanistan, Feb. 7.
 The tiny agrarian villages are in a remote section of the province, isolated in a valley of the Tekray Sar Ghar Mountains near the Pakistan border.  Visitors from outside the area rarely make the arduous trip to the villages.  However, ANSF soldiers, Afghan Border Police, and Coalition forces wanted to show the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan cares for its citizens, even in the most remote sections of the country.
  The mountainous area, which is home to the Moqbil Tribe, is also a known center of insurgent activity. 
The team was greeted by village elders, who discussed security conditions in the area and how the residents are coping with the winter weather. Village elders also discussed current needs of the residents.  The harsh Afghan winter has made conditions extremely difficult for residents in the eastern province. Many of the villages in the area are also hosting refugees who have moved to the area to escape violence in Pakistan.
In each village, the combined force distributed beans, rice, flour and cooking oil to needy residents.  Villagers also received blankets, jackets and shoes to help keep them warm during the cold winter temperatures.  Some villagers also received battery-free AM-FM-Shortwave radios to help keep them informed of government activities and initiatives. Recent winter storms have deposited more than a foot of snow in the area, further isolating residents. 
“During the winter months, many villages can become isolated by heavy snowfall. When ANSF deliver food and warm clothes to these remote areas, it show’s the government’s commitment to provide for the needs of all Afghan citizens,” said Capt. Vanessa R. Bowman, a coalition spokesperson.