Top US Marine Corps, Navy officials visit Helmand in South of Afghanistan

KABUL - 25 December 2017: Two senior officials from the US Navy and Marine Corps visited the restive southern Helmand province of Afghanistan to meet the local officials and review the situation of the key southern province, according to the local government officials.

The Helmand provincial government in a statement said the US Marines Corps Commandment General Robert Neller and the US Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer participated in a gathering with the provincial governor Hayatulah Hayat to have a general discussion regarding the security of Helmand, Afghan khaama Press reported on Sunday.

The statement further added that the gathering was organized in Shorab military base.

The Helmand governor Hatyatullah Hayat spoke regarding the dimensions and duration of the war as well as the available opportunities and challenges of the province.

He informed regarding the growing capabilities of the Afghan forces during the current year as compared to the previous and said the Afghan forces have managed to push back the enemies.

According to the Helmand provincial government, Hayat also had some recommendations for the improvement of the security of Helmand.

In the meantime, the commander of the US Marine Corps Gen. Neller thanked the Afghan national security and defense forces leadership and hailed the recent achievements in this province.

He said the deployment of the US Marine Corps forces in this province will be assessed based on the condition of the province and in consideration with the new US strategy for South Asia in a bid to help the Afghan security forces.

More steps are needed to be taken for the improvement of the security including the expansion of the security zones, increasing the capabilities of the Afghan forces, and steps to bolster the governance and reconstruction process in Helmand, Gen. Neller further added.