Friday, February 26, 2010

The Taliban are getting increasingly desperate in their attacks on coalition forces

Con Coughlin, The Telegraph


I have just returned from Afghanistan (a more detailed dispatch will shortly appear in the Telegraph) where I found the mood among British troops to be remarkably upbeat. Following the success of Operation Mostarak, the military campaign to drive Taliban insurgents from the strategically important Helmand town of Nad-e Ali, there is a clear sense among British and other Nato commanders that an important corner has been turned in the relentless campaign against the Taliban, and that the insurgents are on the run.

This would explain the increasingly desperate tactics the Taliban are employing, such as today’s car bomb attacks in Kabul, to try to impress their supporters that they remain a force to be reckoned with.

But terror tactics alone are never going to determine the outcome of a conflict. If the Taliban want to prevail, they have to hold on to territory that they can use as a bargaining chip in any future negotiations on the future of the country.

But the fact that Nato forces – which have been immeasurably strengthened by the arrival of extra U.S. troops in support of Washington’s military surge strategy – means the Taliban are gradually being forced to concede ground – in some cases even laying down their weapons. This means the only tactic open to them is to resort to car bomb attacks on heavily-populated civilian areas, which is an illustration of the Taliban’s weakness, not its strength.

2 comments:

  1. Try telling that to Martin Kinggett parents and friends.

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  2. I will be interested in reading your full report..however, at this moment in time, you talk about the Taliban receeding - and resorting to car bombings..but that is the whole problem, they are moving from one territory to another...so many people have written on various blogs about 'air strikes'/going astray...but this is what is needed...we need to get in..do the job..so our troops can get out...the army has so many restrictions on what the troops can/can't do...but I find it very hard to understand how we can help people when some don't want to be helped...so many Afghans...not all are insurgents...not all are Taliban...so why arent the rest of the Afghans with us (Nato/ISAF)and provide intelligence to get this job done quicker...yes, maybe they are scared...BUT..if they believe we are there to help..they need to also start helping themselves by helping us...you won't know the answers...just ranting off....

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