Sometimes I find it difficult to believe that there was fierce fighting here in Uruzgan not so long ago. People who follow events in Uruzgan will remember the battle for Chora. Before the Dutch arrived here in 2006, Taliban fighters had almost completely destroyed the district headquarters.

In 2007, Dutch troops moved into the district headquarters which, because of the colour of the walls, was quickly dubbed the White Compound. For weeks, Dutch forces courageously defended the White Compound. On 18 June 2006, Sergeant-Major Jos Leunisson died here.
 

Wells
After the battle for Chora, the military contingent of the Task Force Uruzgan set about doing what they do best: calmly and frequently patrolling and giving local people a sense of security. At the same time, members of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) met with local people to discuss projects that would improve the living conditions in Chora. Wells were bored, irrigation channels were dug, schools and clinics were built and electricity was introduced. Everything was coordinated from within the White Compound, which served as a base for the Task Force.
 

Restoration job
From the very first day that Dutch forces moved into the White Compound, it was made clear to people in Chora that we only wanted to take up temporary residence in the building. At the end of 2008, a new military base - called Mirwais - was ready and we moved in. Shortly after that, Chora authorities requested that the Netherlands repair and restore the White Compound so it could serve as district headquarters once again. Nothing moves very fast in Afghanistan so it was several months before the money, a contractor and the rebuilding work was arranged.
 

The work was finally finished and today it fell to me to turn the White Compound over to its legitimate occupier - Chora's district leader, Mohammed Daoud.
 

Meet the people
It was a wonderful moment. A pale winter sun shone on the spacious inner courtyard where Chora's most important tribal leaders had gathered. I had sent a helicopter to Tarin Kowt to fetch the governor of Uruzgan, along with the directors of the education, irrigation and agriculture departments. I wanted them there not only to celebrate the event, but also to show support for the district leaders and bring the provincial government to the people.
 

The district president, the 26-year-old son of the late tribal leader Rozi Khan, who was killed 18 months ago, nervously gave the first address. He was obviously impressed by the number of important visitors. The governor, who recently returned from the capital Kabul with renewed enthusiasm for the job, spoke of an historic day and a victory over the dark forces of the Taliban. Before we ceremoniously cut the colourful ribbons across the gates, I congratulated the district authorities on their restored headquarters.
 

Shining example
On the helicopter ride back, flying over hills and valleys lightly dusted with snow, I mused on the White Compound. It started after a victory in battle. Classic military security operations then made it possible for the PRT and civilians from the foreign and development cooperation ministries to get to work. Today, we handed the district headquarters back to the Afghan government. Smiling, I thought to myself, this is a typical example of the Dutch approach to Uruzgan.