Ben Farmer, The Telegraph
Fighting in Operation Moshtarak to clear hundreds of Taliban fighters from a stronghold in Afghanistan's Helmand province could last a month, the governor has warned.
Progress is being slowed by booby traps and homemade bombs sown in Nad-i-Ali and Marjah, which American marine commanders have called the largest minefield Nato has ever seen.
Allied commanders have said they will proceed cautiously to avoid killing thousands of civilians in the path of the biggest Nato-led offensive yet launched in the Afghan campaign.Villagers inside Marjah have also told The Sunday Telegraph they are being held as human shields by Taliban who refuse to let them leave.
A combined force of 15,000 British, American and Afghan troops began the long-awaited assault on the region in the early hours of Saturday.
An armada of helicopters ferried troops into the town of Marjah, while ground forces pushed to the outskirts and fought sporadic gun battles.
At the end of the operation's first day, Gulab Mangal, governor of Helmand, said it was "the most successful operation we have ever carried out", but warned it would be long.
"We are aiming to finish the military operation in a month," he said.
Abdul Raheem Wardak, defence minister added: "The area has been heavily mined, that's why we are moving so slowly."
Gen Sher Mohammad Zazai, commander of the Afghan 205 Corps, said 20 insurgents had been killed in the early hours of the operation.
Up to 1,000 fighters, including Arab fanatics, were estimated to be inside the central Helmand district in the days before the assault, but it was not known how many were left as the fighting began.
Many are expected to melt into the civilian population to either continue their fight using guerrilla tactics or simply evade the security cordon and flee to other towns or provinces.
Pahlawan, a 28-year-old wheat farmer from inside Marjah, said the militants had insisted villagers remain.
He said: "Taliban are preventing people from leaving because they can hide themselves behind people. The Taliban also know the foreigners will not attack or not drop bombs. They are also taking food from the people."
Governor Mangal said: "People were taken as hostages prior to our arrival. In the areas we now have under control, they are free to come and go."
Saturday morning's assault followed an intense information campaign by the coalition, which has emphasised the significance and scale of the operation in an attempt to demoralise waiting fighters.
The assault is the biggest test yet of Gen Stanley McChrystal's counter insurgency strategy and doctrine of "courageous restraint" aimed at reducing civilian deaths.
Governor Mangal said coalition forces had refrained from calling in air strikes and agreed following a meeting with 34 local elders that compounds and people would only be searched by Afghans.
He said: "Members of the council have agreed to search compounds for us."
Marjah has repeatedly been raided by British and US forces in the past, but soldiers have immediately withdrawn because of a lack of resources, leaving the townsfolk at the mercy of Taliban reprisal.
Governor Mangal said: "This operation is completely different to the previous operations in Helmand. This started with the support and consultation of the tribal leaders in clergy."
Sunday, February 14, 2010
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"Allied commanders have said they will proceed cautiously to avoid killing thousands of civilians"
ReplyDeleteNever mind the civillians look after the Troops.
"Up to 1,000 fighters, including Arab fanatics, were estimated to be inside the central Helmand district in the days before the assault, but it was not known how many were left as the fighting began."
So more potential for attacks in Sangin etc.
What is the point of allowing the Taliban to melt away to fight another day. They need to be shot on sight.
"Governor Mangal said coalition forces had refrained from calling in air strikes and agreed following a meeting with 34 local elders that compounds and people would only be searched by Afghans."
British troops must be able to call in air strikes whenever necessary. Our troops must be protected at all costs.
No one can really trust an Afghan to search another Afghan.
If we really will look after our troops, we can withdraw them from the country right now. No, we will win this war only by placing our trust in Afghans. They can search one another - why? Because the pashtuwali - their honor code - dictates them.
ReplyDeleteThe previous post is really written by author who doesn't know much about counterinsurgency.