Today’s Bloggers’ Roundtable was with Army Col. Thomas McGrath, commander of the Afghanistan Regional Security Integration Command-South. Our questions focused on the jailbreak in Kandahar on June 16 and the situation in the Arghandab district following that incident.

No NATO personnel were on site in Kandahar at the time of the jailbreak. Col. McGrath reports a truck bomb exploded at the main entrance, and a number of Taliban then attacked with RPG’s and small arms. The prison is not like those in the West, more of a compound and less of a fortress.

McGrath cannot state the number of attackers but suggests that it would not be impossible for it to have involved less than 50. He reports that the situation inside the prison has not yet been clarified and that it is possible that doors were unlocked prior to the attack.

The prison did not keep very good records on its inmates. Col. McGrath estimates that about 900 prisoners may have escaped, nearly all on foot. Of that number, perhaps 2-300 were Taliban.

The Afghan government responded quickly and an Afghan Army commando unit was in Kandahar within hours. Within the next three days, thousands of Afghan troops would be moved to the region.

Media reports at the time indicated that the Taliban had moved into the Arghandab district in force, occupying 18 villages, setting mines and blowing up bridges. Those reports were untrue.

A Canadian Army unit is stationed in the Arghandab region and the Taliban did not and do not have freedom of movement in the district. By June 18, two days after the breakout, Afghan Army and National Police units had moved into Arghandab itself and had pushed out into the district. In heavy fighting, 80 Taliban were killed and 25 captured. Ground troops were supported, for the first time, by Afghan helicopters.

In related fighting south of Kandahar, an additional 25 Taliban were killed.

Col. McGrath characterized the Afghan response as “decisive” and “overwhelming”. He stated that the national government and the security forces could not have conducted this operation last year, perhaps not even 6-7 months ago.

It has been a difficult week for ISAF forces in this region. 12 soldiers and Marines have been killed in the last nine days. McGrath reports that these losses are mourned by their comrades but that morale is high.

McGrath is very pleased with the current state of the Afghan security forces. There remain logistical challenges. His embeds, mentors, are only at 50% strength so he could do more if he had more personnel.

Here are two NATO releases about the so-called takeover of a district in Afghanistan by the Taliban.

Commander gave an appreciation of the operations in Arghandab district and the life in Kandahar City

The Afghan-government-led operation to reinforce security in Kandahar City and Arghandab district continues to be successful. Over the past few days, Afghan National Security Forces have increased their presence in the region in order to calm the fears of the local population and protect against potential attacks from our adversaries.

Kandahar City continues to enjoy relative calm. Today (June 18) I spoke with Elissa Golberg, the Representative of Canada in Kandahar, who spent a good deal of time in the Provincial Capital. She indicated that life is slowly returning to normal in the city. Some stores were open and more citizens were out on the streets than have been in recent days. Afghan forces will continue to maintain a strong presence in the city, which we believe will further bolster the confidence of the local population. The Afghan National Police were also able to find and dismantle several more IEDs in the city today, indicating that their operating procedures are working and that civilians are continuing to inform them of insurgent activities.

Over the past few days Afghan and ISAF troops have been working to further define Taliban locations in Arghandab district. We know insurgents are in the area, but they do not have the numbers or the foothold that they previously claimed. Our assessment is that moderate numbers of insurgents have simply taken refuge in the lush surroundings of the district, and are stirring up fears among the local population.

Today, we commenced action against the insurgents in Arghandab. Afghan National Army troops, reinforced by ISAF, including Canadian soldiers, crossed the Arghandab river this morning and began the removal of the Taliban from the region. Our joint forces were met with moderate resistance, which we expected and unfortunately resulted in several ANSF casualties. I am pleased to report that we have secured objectives on the west bank of the Arghandab river, and have demonstrated that the coalition has freedom of movement when and where desired.

We continue to conduct operations in various locations around Kandahar Province as we regain the initiative from the insurgents. The Afghan Government and Afghan National Security forces, supported by ISAF, have devised a comprehensive plan to deal with recent threats to security. Our partners continue to develop their levels of capability and we are proud to be fighting alongside them in order to assure the future security of the Afghan people.

Citizens may return to Arghandab

The citizens of Arghandab district who recently left under the pressure of the insurgents may return to their homes, according to the ISAF spokesperson.

There is no crisis,” said Brigadier General Carlos Branco. “Both Afghan and ISAF forces have cleared the Arghandab district and have created a safe and stable environment in the region.”

ISAF officials estimate that about 700 Arghandab families fled the district toward Kandahar city to stay with family and friends. When Afghan and ISAF units moved into the area, they encountered only minor incidents with insurgents and never met or spotted the large numbers of insurgents as claimed.

Shortly after the first 24 hours of Operation Doar Bukhou (Turn Around), the Afghan and ISAF commanders declared the entire district safe and secure.

During the operation, Afghan National Police also found and dismantled several IEDs around Kandahar city.

The Afghan National Police’s “operating procedures are working, and civilians are continuing to inform them of insurgent activities,” Branco said. “It is clear that Kandahar city continues to enjoy relative calm and remains firmly under the control of the Afghan government and its people.”

The general added that Afghan National Security Forces, supported by ISAF, continue to increase security in and around Kandahar city and the Arghandab district.

Joint Combined Operation patrols western side of Arghandab River – NATO

KABUL, Afghanistan – As of 6:00 this morning [June 18 2008], a joint combined force from the Afghan National Army and ISAF started patrolling the western side of the Arghandab River searching for small groups of insurgents.
This clearing operation is a response to a direct Taliban threat to the people of Arghandab district, where insurgents have forced hundreds of innocent Afghans to flee their homes. The joint combined forces been going on without major incidents so far. The operation is expected to be completed within the next three days.

Extreme care has been taken to avoid civilian casualties in this densely populated area, because the insurgents have a history of misusing innocent civilians for their own protection. ISAF values the life of every single person. The Coalition’s approach to operations reflects this fundamental difference with the Taleban extremists.

Last night in Kandahar City, Afghan National Security Forces and ISAF commanders reported that life was quiet and business was continuing as usual. It is clear that the city remains firmly under the control of the Afghan government despite rumours that the Taliban might attack.

The number of insurgents reported in Arghandab District in recent days has proven to be greatly exaggerated. ISAF would like to thank the local population for their cooperation in providing information about insurgent activity in the city and encourages them to continue to work with us.

All ANSF and ISAF operations in southern Afghanistan continue and this new operation is progressing as planned for the overall wellbeing of the Afghan population.

ISAF bolster ANSF in Kandahar City – NATO

KABUL, Afghanistan – To further support the resident Afghan National Security Forces in Kandahar City – consisting of the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police and Afghan National Border Police, ISAF forces in the area redeployed yesterday [June 17 2008] to bolster the already present security stance.

“Together, ANSF combined with ISAF continue to increase security in and around Kandahar City. Together we continue to track down escaped prisoners from Sarpoza prison and are capable of dealing with threats posed by these escapees and insurgents”, says Major General Marc Lessard, Regional Command South Commander. “ISAF is committed to assisting ANSF in maintaining a safe and secure environment and will take the necessary actions to achieve our mandate for the overall wellbeing of Afghan population,” furthered Major General Lessard.

ISAF support to ANSF in and around Kandahar City since the Sarpoza prison break will continue with joint patrols, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets and checkpoints.

“Today ISAF soldiers along with the ANSF conducted a show of force in Kandahar City and Arghandab District,” said Colonel Jamie Cade, Deputy Commander of Task Force Kandahar. “There were no obvious signs of insurgent activity and it is clear that Kandahar City remains firmly under the control of the Afghan government and its people.”

Previous increases of insurgent activity have failed to dislodge ANSF and ISAF forces from Southern Afghanistan. Insurgents disregard human lives by terrorising innocent people through public acts of violence.

The ISAF deployment is in response to the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan request to support resident ANSF within Kandahar City.