BADAKHSHAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan- - Afghan National Army special forces and commandos finished a nine-day operation Sept. 14, clearing numerous Taliban strongholds in Badakhshan province’s Warduj valley.
The elite 5th Special Operations Kandak soldiers teamed up with fellow soldiers from the Afghan National Army’s 209th Corps. The combined Afghan force killed more than 50 enemy fighters, including Mullah Qasi, a Taliban sub-commander.
The joint force cleared several villages and uprooted insurgent safe havens throughout the valley. One such refuge allegedly belongs to Taliban shadow governor Qari Fasaihuddin.
Afghan Special Forces and commandos are highly-skilled and lethal soldiers. They are specially trained to answer their nation‘s call for a variety of missions, including rapid response to terrorism, counter-insurgency operations and internal defense missions.
Ridding insurgents from Warduj valley allows Afghan security forces the opportunity to establish checkpoints throughout the area, ultimately reconnecting the valley to Faizabad, the provincial capital.
No Afghan civilians were injured or killed during the operation.