CO 2 PARA, Lt Col Andrew Harrison, at the shura in Tor Ghai, Afghanistan, 2010

As soon as the village was secured, the soldiers engaged in a shura (traditional Afghan meeting) with the influential elders of the village. During this time, the local nationals were handed Afghanistan flags by the Afghan National Army and the following message was broadcast by loudspeaker: “The Afghan National Army and ISAF are here to stay, so we can provide security for the development that is coming to your village. You can come out now. This is a new time in your lives, please stay and support your village elders who are working to bring you the many benefits of governance.”