Operation Maiwand update

Now nearly a month old, Operation Maiwand in Ghazni province (map) continues to serve as an example of how Afghanistan might find its way out of the troubles of its recent past and towards a country fully capable of governing and policing itself. From NATO ISAF:

The first major operation planned and led by Afghan National Security Forces has resulted in 86 villages being secured in Ghazni province and 1800 people receiving medical care.

"ISAF has acted in a supporting role for Op Maiwand," said Lt. Col. Maria Carl, ISAF spokesperson. "This exemplifies that the ANSF are well on the road toward greater capacity and self-sufficiency."

Operation Maiwand was planned, coordinated, and initiated by ANSF forces, she said.

Military planners are saying that Operation Maiwand is a model for future operations throughout the country where the ANSF will eventually take the lead on all military operations.

The object was to remove the shadow of the former Taliban government and to secure the Andar district of Ghazni. About 600 ANSF forces from the 203rd Combined Task Force, supported by ISAF's Task Force Fury conducted operations during which residents were treated in temporary medical facilities.

Medical team members also trained 12 doctors, on pharmacist, two dentists, two medics and two veterinarians in skills what will benefit the local people and livestock. The goal of Operation Maiwand and other such operations to create conditions so that when ISAF forces leave the area, security will be handled by the local district people with only minimal outside support, officials said.

This speaks to what Afghans can do for themselves when they have the security to do so. (Not coincidentally, this is the goal behind the surge in Iraq.)

Afghan leaders from Ghazni province met here June 23 for a press conference to discuss how the government of Afghanistan can improve basic services and security for nearby villagers, building on the successes of Operation Maiwand.
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“You have seen what the government and its security forces wish to bring the people of Afghanistan, and you have seen what the Taliban have brought,” [General] Khaliq said. “Our forces will stand by you and assist you as together we defend the soil of Afghanistan and Islam.”
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Prior to the beginning of Operation Maiwand there were no ANA soldiers within Andar.

Operation Maiwand marks a move forward towards integrated government at all levels. During this operation, all levels of government from the national level to the lowest level at the district centers are working together to provide humanitarian aid and security to the people. They work with the people and ISAF forces in determining future projects and infrastructure development within region.

Over the course of this operation, the Taliban have continued to show the emptiness of what they have to offer to the Ghazni province, and are alienating the population, just as Al Qaeda is alienating Sunnis in Iraq. An IED wounded two ANA soldiers on June 22, and a landmine killed a NATO soldier. Earlier, militants attacked a police officer's house in southern Ghazni Province and killed five members of his family. A commander involved with an earlier abduction of some engineers was apprehended. A senior commander was also killed around the same time. On June 10 rockets were fired at President Karzai when he was in the province.

The province still has a ways to go, but today the Pentagon made available a briefing from Brig. Gen. Joseph Votel, Deputy Commanding General for Operations, Combined Task Force-82. Gen. Votel spoke from Bagram Airfield.

You can find video of the briefing at today's Dawn Patrol from Mudville Gazette, or you can read the transcript here. Gen. Votel said (emphasis mine):

Our operations since the spring have had a significant effect on the Taliban insurgency here. We continue to be focused on neutralizing insurgents and creating a security environment that will allow development and extension of the legitimate government of Afghanistan. We have successfully killed or captured dozens of Taliban commanders and subcommanders, leaving their elements without experienced leadership or direction. We have moved into provincial districts that were previously controlled by the Taliban, reestablished control, and enabled legitimate Afghan government officials to come in and do their jobs. We are building roads, schools and district centers.
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Key in all of these activities is building a robust and capable Afghan national security architecture that truly allows the Afghans to fully assume the lead. The best recent example of this is Operation Maiwand, an Afghan 203rd Corps-led operation in the Ghazni province that commenced on the 1st of June. Here Afghan forces are taking the lead in clearing areas of insurgent presence, working with district and provincial leadership, and providing the foundation for sustained security. Many of you had the opportunity to speak with Major General Khaliq, the Afghan corps commander, last week during the press conference, and so you know that he is and remains in overall command of this operation.

The security that the Afghan national security forces and ISAF forces bring to eastern Afghanistan is allowing us to continue infrastructure development. Over the last two months we've provided seed corn to farmers and commenced building an agricultural research station to improve the ability of Afghan farmers to produce food products. We've repaired four schools and built 10 other ones. We completed eight other educational projects, ranging from self-help workshops to school and equipment -- to school equipment and supplies, in an effort to help improve the future of Afghan children.

We're not only improving the future of Afghanistan; we're helping the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan provide for their basic needs right now. As we speak, we're building four micro-hydroelectric power plants, two of which are on schedule for completion in the next month, that will bring power into villages that have never had it before.

We've also worked seven irrigation projects, increasing the vital water supply in Afghanistan, with retention dam repairs, windmills and wells. All of these projects were coordinated with local government officials. They represent the priorities of the people as established in the Afghan National Development Plan, a plan that starts at the lowest level and is coordinated and developed at all stages of Afghan government up to the national level.

And yet, Democrats still talk about withdrawing from Afghanistan, giving our enemies hope that they just need to hang on a little longer and outlast us.

Let's end on a up note. Here's the 6/26 edition of Freedom Watch Afghanistan. It talks about Operation Maiwand. You'll see some still photos among the footage.

Previous posts

* Operation Maiwand continues (6/24)