An Afghan-led mission disrupts insurgent safe havens

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

05.14.2012

Story by Sgt. Jenie Fisher  

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition special operations forces conducted clearing operations throughout the horn of Panjwai May 14.

The Afghan National Army commandos of the 3rd Kandak, advised by coalition special operations forces, conducted operations in the village of Gerandai, in order to disrupt insurgent mobility and Taliban strongholds.

“The intent of the mission was to make it hard for the Taliban to operate to the point where they would want to leave the area,” said a U.S. Army master sergeant assigned to Special Operations Task Force-South. “We hope once the Taliban influence is suppressed, it will enable village stability operations [VSO], thus creating a positive environment to begin an Afghan Local Police program.”

In southern Kandahar province, Afghan Local Police continue to encounter improvised explosive devices on roads, in fields and along footpaths. By eliminating these threats, smaller communities will continue to conduct development projects and VSO expansion in the vital area of Panjwai.

Coalition forces, working closely with the district governor and district chief of police, combined efforts to effectively reestablish security in the historically insurgent controlled area.

By striking these IED networks and caches of explosives, smaller communities in the area can live their day-to-day lives, providing for their families without fear of becoming victims of the insurgency.

The operation uncovered an IED factory storing pressure plates, homemade explosives and 50 meters of command wire. The operation also yielded a significant weapons cache that included 16 additional pressure plates, nine pressure plate IEDs and 200 lbs of homemade explosives, which were promptly removed from the battlefield.

“Afghan commandos demonstrated their capability to provide security and reduce insurgent intimidation efforts allowing locals of Gerandai village to be able to work with the district governor without fear of reprisal from the Taliban,” said a coalition representative working closely on the operation.

• Date Taken: 05.14.2012
• Date Posted: 05.28.2012 00:42
• Story ID: 89066
• Location: KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AF