Be sure to read the second part of this story, from Reuters.

Afghan-international security forces conducted clearing operations Nov. 1 through 6 in the Chahar Dara district of the northern region of Kunduz province, killing more than 130 insurgents including eight Taliban commanders.

More than 750 Afghan and International forces took part in the operation to stop insurgent activity and weapons trafficking in the Chahar Dara district. The team also disrupted the insurgent shadow governor in Kunduz province.

The Afghan-International force provided humanitarian supplies to the affected villages after the operation. Six trucks delivered warm clothing and food, including staple items such as cooking oil, rice and beans. For photos showing Afghan soldiers handing supplies to local villages, go here.

Gov. Mohammad Omar of Kunduz province praised the accuracy of ISAF airstrikes against the insurgents and the caution used to employ them in areas void of civilian population or infrastructure.

“It is the largest operation I’ve ever seen in Kunduz,” the governor said. “You’ve got the Taliban running all over the place. Overall, I think this operation is wonderful.”

The military elements will continue to meet with village elders and ensure the area remains secure following the conclusion of the combat operations.

“People of Kunduz are very appreciative that international forces and Afghan National Security Forces are working together to better Afghanistan,” Governor Omar said. “Taliban in the area are on the run, and we have shown them that they cannot control the area.”

No ANSF or ISAF personnel were killed, and no civilians were injured during this operation.

ISAF

Kunduz province is mainly patrolled by the NATO force’s German contingent, which has failed to prevent Taliban fighters from taking control of many rural villages in recent months.

Its Char Dara district was the site of the deadliest incident involving German troops since World War Two. In early September, a German officer ordered a U.S. air strike that the Afghan government says killed 30 civilians as well as 69 fighters.

Germany acknowledged this week for the first time that civilians were killed in that strike and not all procedures were followed correctly, but says an air strike was nonetheless needed to prevent a suicide attack by fighters in stolen fuel trucks.

Reuters

More than 25 ISAF and Afghan National Security Force personnel were killed or wounded during a joint operation that involved multiple engagements over several hours yesterday in Western Afghanistan. ISAF and Afghan forces were conducting search operations for two missing U.S. Army soldiers. The soldiers went missing on Nov. 4 while attempting to recover airdropped supplies from a river in western Afghanistan.

In the course of search operations, the joint force was engaged by enemy forces. Reports indicate five ISAF service members from the United States were wounded in action. Reports also indicate four Afghan soldiers and three Afghan police were killed in action. Additionally, 15 Afghan soldiers and two Afghan police officers were reported wounded.

One Afghan civilian working with the Afghan National Army was killed and another was wounded.

“We are saddened by the loss of life and injuries sustained during this very important mission,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Jane Campbell, IJC spokesperson.

ISAF and Afghan authorities are currently investigating whether some of the casualties were caused by ISAF close air support. The operation is ongoing, and additional information will be provided when appropriate.

ISAF

Today’s Bloggers’ Roundtable was with Col. John Agoglia, Director Counterinsurgency Training Center. A large number of bloggers participated and a number of issues were discussed.

Col. Agoglia corrected the media perception that Afghanistan had never had a functioning central government. The events of thirty years. 1970-2001, gutted the traditional governing methods of the nation. The government had functions down to the district level. The governance at the village and clan / tribal level would deal with the district when local resources did not suffice.

The Soviet invasion and then the extended civil war and Taliban rule broke those connections. Current COIN doctrine is to rebuild these connections and rebuild the confidence of the people in the government. Anti-corruption efforts are key.

Agoglia was one of the planners of the original invasion in 2001. He described the original U.S. position as one where we would chase al Qaeda and the Taliban and NATO / ISAF would enable the new Afghan government. A gap developed between the government and the people, resulting in the last three years of Taliban growth. The United States has now directed efforts to governance operations and change is coming, slowly. The media seem to want immediate results and that is just not the way change will happen.

Currently, the Col.’s group trains incoming NATO and U.S. troops, and a few Afghans. The direction is to enable the troop on the ground that they have to take responsibility for rebuilding the relationship between the Afghan people and the government. COIN is not an event but a mindset.

There has been a mindset change over the last year. Resources have been made available and a common strategy developed. The challenge is working through a tribal society to enable the resources and personnel to be available in synch with the local leadership, the government and the military on the ground.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) soldiers have launched an assault one of the last Taliban strongholds in one of the largest air operations in modern times.

Twelve Chinook helicopters, supported by 13 other aircraft including Apache and Black Hawk helicopter gunships, a Spectre gunship, Harrier jets and unmanned drones, dropped more than 350 troops from The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, into Babaji, north of Lashkar Gah, just before midnight on 19 June.

The aim of the operation, called Operation Panchai Palang, which means Panther’s Claw, was to secure a number of canal and river crossings in order to establish a permanent ISAF presence in the area, which has previously been a Taliban stronghold.

The troops were quickly followed by another company of soldiers from The Black Watch arriving by Viking armoured vehicle plus Royal Engineers and counter-Improvised Explosive Device (IED) teams who have spent the last two days building a number of check points on the main routes in and out of the area to stifle any movement by insurgents. In total more than 500 troops took part.

Over the last two days insurgents have launched a number of attacks against The Black Watch but each one has been repelled allowing the Troops to secure three main crossing points: the Lui Mandey Wadi crossing, the Nahr-e-Burgha canal and the Shamalan canal.

In addition, on 22 June, they also found 1.3 tonnes of poppy seed and a number of IED and anti-personnel mines before they could be laid.

Once completed, the check points will be manned initially by The Black Watch but within a few weeks they will be permanently be occupied by the Afghan National Police (ANP).

Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Cartwright, Commanding Officer of The Black Watch, said: “This has been a major air assault operation with a large number of helicopters by the both UK and US. The Black Watch met some resistance but we were able to establish a firm foothold in the area.”

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Richardson, spokesman for Task Force (TF) Helmand, said: “Operation Panchai Palang is a mission to clear and hold one of the few remaining Taleban strongholds. The end result will provide lasting security for the local population free from intimidation and violence by the insurgents.”

“By doing so, we show the commitment of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA), supported by ISAF, to bring governance to local people, and give them the freedom and capacity to vote in the forthcoming presidential elections in August. Their lives will be measurably improved.”

“While securing the area the troops have come across 1.3 tonnes of poppy seed and many components of IEDs demonstrating the nexus between the insurgency and opium production which brings so much misery to the streets of the UK. They have also killed a number of insurgents who have attacked ISAF and ANSF troops.”

“This operation has been achieved in many ways due to the arrival of extra US troops into the south of Helmand. The increase has provided ISAF with a massive boost in capability which we believe will significantly change the balance in the province.”

“The UK has routinely operated with the US in Helmand since spring 2007 when the Special Purpose Marine Air to Ground Task Force – Afghanistan (SPMAGTF-A) first arrived. The arrival of Marine Expeditionary Brigade – Afghanistan into southern and western Helmand is a continuation of that relationship.”

This is the latest of a number of operations in the last few months where UK and ISAF forces have taken and held ground in Helmand.

Operation Zafar, a week-long operation which began on 27 April, saw more than 200 Afghan Army and Police, supported by UK troops from 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters) and 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, push the Taliban out of several villages around Basharan, near to the provincial capital of Helmand, Lashkar Gah. The Afghan Army cleared the enemy held areas and policemen secured the villages and reassured the local population.

By the end of the week, groups of UK stabilisation teams were conducting meetings with the local elders who have been under the shadow of the Taliban for some time, offering a range of ways to help the villagers, from refurbishing schools to improving healthcare provision.

Then in a four day operation starting on 19 May, Operation Zafar 2, Troops from The Black Watch secured an area, allowing time for a police check point to be built and manned for use by the Afghan Police on a main route into Lashkar Gah. By the end of the third day, the ANP had taken up position in the checkpoint.

Then, starting in the early hours of 29 May, troops from 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, pushed the Taliban out of an enemy stronghold 6km to the south of Musa Qal’eh, around the village of Yatimchay. The local population has been allowed to return to their homes and re-establish farming in the area.

The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), took over as the Regional Battle Group (South) on April 10. 3 SCOTS took over from 42 Commando Royal Marines as the battalion responsible for supporting a variety of operations across the whole of southern Afghanistan, not just those of the main UK Task Force in Helmand province.

The battalion will be based within Camp Roberts at Kandahar Airfield and will work directly to the Dutch-led divisional headquarters known as Regional Command (South), part of the NATO International Security Assistance Force.

Kandahar is home to the forces of seven nationalities within the ISAF coalition and contains a huge array of supporting equipment.

ISAF

International Security Assistance Forces destroyed two tons of pure heroin yesterday – May 24 2009, during operations in eastern Afghanistan.

Security forces discovered the heroin, with a local value of approximately $3,000,000 US, after searching a suspicious vehicle. The narcotics were confiscated during ongoing operations, and were subsequently destroyed by ISAF.

This incident once again demonstrates the resolve of Afghan security forces, ISAF, and coalition forces to target the illegal narcotics industry that finances the insurgency.

Funds gathered from the narcotics trade encourage corruption, and pay for the weapons and explosives that insurgents use to kill innocent civilians, ANSF, ISAF and coalition forces.

This latest success in the fight against the illegal narcotics industry, follows coalition forces recent seizing of significant quantities of drugs following operations in the Marjah area of Helmand province.

DVIDS