U.S. Army Meet With Afghan Tribal Elders Over A Local Grievance In Wazakhwa

WAZAKHWA, AFGHANISTAN - SEPTEMBER 11: Local Afghan elders from the Suleiman Khel tribe gather in the village of Wazakhwa in south eastern Paktika Province, Afghanistan, September 11, 2004. Tribal elders along with the village mayor met with US Army soldiers to express their dissatisfaction with their disproportionate representation on a local shura (council of elders) from and including neighboring villages in southeastern Paktika Province. Wazakhwa is an ethnic Pashtun district and borders tribal areas of Waziristan, Pakistan's militant tribal territory from where many al Qaeda and Taliban forces are attacking US coalition forces and taking sanctuary. US forces have set up numerous bases along the southern and eastern border areas of Afghanistan and have recently beefed up security presence prior to the October 9, 2004 Afghan presidential elections. (Photo by Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)