Andar

The Hindu merchants live in the quarter known as Andar Shahr, the scene of destructive fires in 1898 and 1913.

The Panjab, North-West Frontier Province, and Kashmir James McCrone Douie 1894

Maria Abi-Habib/The Wall Street Journal Two Afghan boys on the first day of classes at a school in Andar.

School in Taliban Territory Shows Perils of U.S. Pullout Maria Abi-Habib 2011

Appointed in July, he only began regularly coming to Andar after U.S. forces deployed in February made it safe for him to do so.

School in Taliban Territory Shows Perils of U.S. Pullout Maria Abi-Habib 2011

Mr. Gul says that by coordinating with the insurgents he has been able to keep some of Andar's schools open—though the Taliban demanded a shutdown of all government schools in the district in 2007.

School in Taliban Territory Shows Perils of U.S. Pullout Maria Abi-Habib 2011

The few schools in Andar allowed by the Taliban to remain open only teach Islamic religion, district governor Mr. Khan says.

School in Taliban Territory Shows Perils of U.S. Pullout Maria Abi-Habib 2011

Mr. Gul, meanwhile, rides around Andar on a motorcycle and declines foreign protection.

School in Taliban Territory Shows Perils of U.S. Pullout Maria Abi-Habib 2011

The district governor prefers to reside in the relative security of Ghazni City, 15 miles away, and visits Andar when accompanied by a convoy of U.S. and Afghan armored vehicles.

School in Taliban Territory Shows Perils of U.S. Pullout Maria Abi-Habib 2011

In districts such as Andar with pervasive Taliban influence, local Afghan officials nurtured by the U.S.-led coalition would be unable to govern once the foreign soldiers protecting them leave, unless Afghan security forces gain the capacity to control a Taliban stronghold.

School in Taliban Territory Shows Perils of U.S. Pullout Maria Abi-Habib 2011

Mr. Gul says he has visited every Andar school to ensure that the government curriculum was taught.

School in Taliban Territory Shows Perils of U.S. Pullout Maria Abi-Habib 2011

The U.S. Army deployed a battalion to Andar, in southeastern Afghanistan, in February, seeking to arrest the momentum of the insurgency and provide enough security to allow the Afghan government to provide the kinds of services, such as education, that could win local favor.

School in Taliban Territory Shows Perils of U.S. Pullout Maria Abi-Habib 2011