'No complacency' from coalition forces in Operation Moshtarak
MoD insists 'no complacency' among coalition commanders despite early success of Operation Moshtarak in Afghanistan
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Monday, 15, Feb 2010 04:45
By Matthew Champion.
There is no danger of commanders of the largest coalition offensive in Afghanistan since the war began of becoming complacent despite "very little Taliban interference" being seen so far, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.
More than 15,000 soldiers, including American, British and Afghan troops, are consolidating early gains on day three of Operation Moshtarak, which translates as 'together' in Dari.
The offensive is the largest since 2001 and the first since US president Barack Obama's 30,000-strong troops surge. Operation Moshtarak is aimed at clearing away Taliban influence from the region surrounding the town of Marjah, and winning the hearts and minds of the local population by installing an Afghan army and police presence in the aftermath.
Click here to see a graphic of the objectives of Operation Moshtarak (MoD)
Three coalition soldiers, one American, one Afghan and Lance Sergeant David Greenhalgh of First Battalion Grenadiers Guards have died in the offensive so far, against more than 20 militants and 12 civilians killed in a wayward rocket attack.
Full story: British soldier killed in fire-fight in southern Afghanistan
General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), apologised after a rocket targeting a militant safe house veered 300m off course, while president Hamid Karzai has called for an official investigation.
"The current operation in central Helmand is aimed at restoring security and stability to this vital area of Afghanistan," Gen McChrystal said.
"It's regrettable that in the course of our joint efforts, innocent lives were lost. We extend our heartfelt sympathies and will ensure we do all we can to avoid future incidents."
MoD spokesman Major General Gordon Messenger said that UK forces, 1,200 of which are currently engaged in Operation Moshtarak, were helping to secure canal crossings and chokepoints, building bridges and protecting Shuras - meetings of elders - taking place around Marjah.
"There have been no bombs dropped in the UK area of operations, there has been no artillery fired in the UK area of operations, there have been no reports of civilian casualties in the UK area of operations," Maj Gen Messenger said.
The details and aims of Operation Moshtarak were publicised widely before it was launched in the early hours of Saturday morning, and the vast majority of Taliban insurgents have melted away as a result.
Maj Gen Messenger insisted there was no complacency on the coalition's part, and that the real battle would be maintaining control of the region in the days, weeks and months to come.
"Everyone understands that what has happened over the last 24-48 hours is the easy bit," he continued.
"The hard bit, the challenge, is the enduring effort, is delivering the security which allows the Afghans to start providing for their people.
"I fully accept that the success of this operation will be judged on that, not on the last 48 hours."
Operation Moshtarak is Nato's first military move since a major conference on Afghanistan's future was held in London at the end of last month.
At the talks it was agreed that Afghanistan would be responsible for its own security in five years and will begin assuming control in 2010.
A $140 million fund has been pledged towards President Karzai's reconciliation strategy targeting non-ideological Taliban members.
UK foreign secretary David Miliband said the choice facing members of the Taliban insurgency were reintegration into Afghan society and complete acceptance of the country's constitution or "unremitting military force".