Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Governor, in Afghanistan, confident about U.S. mission, progress

Sandoval in Afghanistan

Department of Defense

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval meets with members of the U.S. military at Bagram Airfield in Kabul, Afghanistan. Sandoval is in Afghanistan this weekend on a Pentagon-sponsored trip.

CARSON CITY – Gov. Brian Sandoval says he’s confident Afghanistan can withstand any resurgence of the Taliban and adds tremendous progress has been made in that country in health, education and life expectancy.

The governor conducted a telephone conference call with reporters today from Bagram Airfield in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, telling of his experience in meeting with U.S. ambassador and military officials.

He did not meet with any officials of the Afghanistan government or visit any refugee camps. But he said he met with Nevada National Guardsmen and regular soldiers from Nevada.There are about 50-150 Nevada National Guardsmen and 20-30 regular soldiers from Nevada in that Afghanistan. Sandoval said he had lunch and dinner with some of them, and he praised their devotion.

The governor visited Afghanistan three years ago and said there had been tremendous progress in the number of children going to school, including girls, the health of residents and their longer life expectancy.

He said it was important that the United States maintain a presence in the country.

Sandoval traveled with three other governors from the National Governors Association in a surprise Pentagon-sponsored trip to Afghanistan, and he intends to return Monday to Nevada .

It’s important for the U.S. military to maintain a presence to prevent counterterrorism. And what has happened in Afghanistan gives the U.S. the experience to contain the Islamic State that could become a threat to the United States.

The governor left Nevada Friday, flew to Washington D.C, then to Germany and then to Afghanistan.

The governor noted the Afghanistan's president-elect, Ashraf Ghani, would be sworn into office on Monday.

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