REPORTERS TOLD AFGHAN FORCES DOING WELL AGAINST TALIBAN

FROM:  DEFENSE DEPARTMENT 
Afghan Forces Winning Tough Fight Against Taliban
By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2014 – Afghan National Security Forces are prevailing in their battles against the Taliban and other fighters, a senior U.S. commander told reporters from Afghanistan today.

And, Afghan forces are doing well with minimal assistance from the International Security Assistance Force as the end of the U.S.-led NATO mission in Afghanistan nears, Army Lt. Gen. Mark A. Milley, the commander of ISAF’s Joint Command said as he addressed the Pentagon press corps via satellite.

“Throughout the summer, it was a tough fight and the Afghans stood up … and fought well across the board throughout the provinces and the districts,” Milley said. “The Afghan security forces were tactically overmatching anything that the Taliban … or anybody else could throw at them.”

But Milley acknowledged Afghan casualties have increased 50-70 percent during some 3,000-4,000 firefights in recent years.

The U.S. and its NATO allies, Milley said, have shifted gears in Afghanistan since the invasion following the 9/11 attacks. At that time, he said, there were no Afghan police, and only remnants of the Northern Alliance patched together in small units.
“We came into this country … to prevent [it] from ever again being a platform to carry terrorism to the shores of the United States or any other vital national interest,” Milley said.

Antiterrorism efforts in Afghanistan, Milley explained, were intended to stabilize the country and establish a capable Afghan security force.

In the ensuing years, Afghan forces’ leadership, skills and cohesion have continued to improve, Milley said.

“The Afghans stepped up to the fight,” the general said. “Was it perfect? No. Was it pretty? No. But war is not a pretty thing.”

U.S. COMMANDER OF JOINT CHIEFS MEETS WITH GERMAN COMMANDERS

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 
Dempsey Praises Afghan Campaign Plan, Meets German Commanders
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, July 21, 2013 - The clarity of the International Security Assistance Force campaign in Afghanistan is impressive, the top U.S. military leader said here today, and that is a tribute to leaders at all levels.

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with U.S. and allied personnel at the German-led headquarters of Regional Command-North here today.

German army Maj. Gen. Jorg Vollmer escorted Dempsey and U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Mark Milley, commander of ISAF Joint Command, as they visited the base.

Following a lunch meeting with German and American troops, the chairman told them they are united in a common purpose and are on track to accomplish the mission. There are 2,000 U.S. troops and 8,000 service members from 17 NATO and partner nations in Regional Command-North.

Vollmer briefed Dempsey on the situation throughout the northern Afghan provinces of Badakhshan, Baghlan, Balkh, Faryab, Jowzjan, Kunduz, Samangan, Sar-e Pul and Takhar. "It's a chance for me to learn what's going well and what's not," the chairman said during his lunch with the troops. It was Dempsey's first visit to the regional command since 2007, he said.

NATO and partner nations are heavily involved with training and advising Afghan National Army forces, Afghan uniformed police and Afghan local police. Dempsey, Milley and Vollmer discussed operations through the end of 2014, which is when the NATO mission in Afghanistan expires, and the retrograde movement out of the country.

Officials speaking on background said one theme of the meeting involved the Afghan elections and the retrograde movement of NATO and allied personnel and equipment from the country.

The U.S. will maintain more than 60,000 troops in Afghanistan through this year's fighting season. That number will drop to 34,000 by February 2014, and will remain there through Afghanistan's national elections, scheduled for April 5.

U.S. forces will make up a bit more than half of the NATO and partner forces in Afghanistan for the election. And NATO has agreed to keep the number of troops in Afghanistan at 60,000 for 90 days after the election.

If Afghan officials move the elections to later in the year, it would become difficult for the U.S., NATO and partner nations to meet the retrograde timeline, the official said. "There is physics involved with this," the official added.

All NATO and partner nations are anticipating the U.S.-Afghanistan Bilateral Security Agreement, officials said. The agreement will provide the basis for the follow-on mission, which NATO has named Resolute Support. Once the United States and Afghan leaders ink a pact, which will include legal protections for American service members, NATO will follow suit.

This will mean the number of NATO personnel training and advising Afghan forces will be known and make the retrograde movement somewhat easier, officials said.

Following his meetings, Dempsey moved to gatherings with American, German and Swedish soldiers and airmen.

Mazar-i-Sharif now hosts U.S. Air Force personnel involved with flying and maintaining KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft. They are part of a group based at the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan.

"Since I've become chairman I've learned so much about what things make our military the most agile military in the world," Dempsey told the airmen.

"Among those is our ability to establish air bridges for that global reach that literally no one else has." The chairman thanked the airmen for their service, commitment and sacrifices, and asked that they pass his thanks on to their families as well.

Dempsey also met with American and Swedish medevac crews and toured a German HH-90 medevac helicopter. A planned aerial tour to other bases around the area had to be scrubbed because of dust and high winds.

Dempsey will continue his meetings in country tomorrow.

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR OCTOBER 30, 2012

Afghanistan Patrol  Credit:  U.S. Army

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE,

Combined Force Arrests Taliban Leader

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release
KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 30, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Afghanistan's Helmand province today, military officials reported.

The arrested insurgent leader is believed to be involved in providing tactical guidance to Taliban senior leaders while facilitating the movement of improvised explosive device components to other insurgents.

The security force also detained a number of suspected insurgents as a result of the operation.

In other operations today:

-- A combined force arrested a Taliban weapons and IED facilitator in Kandahar province. The arrested facilitator is suspected of smuggling weapons throughout Kandahar province and acquiring homemade explosives and other IED-making materials for use in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force detained a number of insurgents during a search for a Haqqani leader in Logar province. The sought-after Haqqani leader is believed responsible for coordinating and executing IED and small-arms fire attacks targeting Afghan and coalition forces throughout northern Logar province.

And during an Oct. 29 operation, a combined force arrested a Taliban leader in Kandahar province. The arrested insurgent leader is believed to have assisted in inspecting and relocating IEDs within western Kandahar province.

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR OCTOBER 19, 2012

Topography Map Of Afghanistan

From:  CIA World Factbook.

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Combined Force Arrests Taliban LeaderFrom an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 19, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Kunduz province today, military officials reported.

The arrested Taliban leader is suspected of being involved in planning and executing improvised explosive device attacks as well as weapons and explosives facilitation, officials said.

In Oct. 16 operations:

-- A combined force killed a number of insurgents during a firefight in Wardak province. One combined force member was wounded.

-- Taliban leader Belal Khan was killed during an operation in Nangarhar province. Belal Khan, also known as Auzibullah, commanded dozens of Taliban fighters and was responsible for directing attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

And, a Taliban leader was arrested during an Oct. 14 security operation in Helmand province. The arrested Taliban leader commanded IED cells throughout central Helmand province. The security force also detained a number of suspected insurgents and seized some illegal narcotics as a result of the operation.

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR OCTOBER 18, 2012

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
  U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Benjamin Cool (left) ties a detonation cord as Lance Cpl. Josh Czerepka places several blocks of explosives into an insurgent firing position at a location in Afghanistan on March 5, 2012. Cool and Czerepka are combat engineers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. DoD photo by Sgt. James Mercure, U.S. Marine Corps. (Released)


Afghan, Coalition Force Arrests Taliban Leader
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 18, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader today in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, military officials reported.

The arrested insurgent leader facilitated the use of homemade explosives and bomb-making materials across Afghan borders into Helmand province.

The security force also detained two suspected insurgents and found explosive residue.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

Afghan and coalition forces today confirmed the death of Taliban leader Faizani during a security operation in Helmand province, Sept. 28. Faizani, also known as Kirahmat or Abdul Wasay, coordinated the movement of Taliban fighters and weapons within northern Helmand province.

Also today, an Afghan and coalition force in Logar province detained several insurgents during a search for an improvised explosive device expert.

In other news from Afghanistan, more than 20 residents of a village in Kandahar province's Maruf district volunteered Oct. 16 to become members of the Afghan Local Police. The Mirokheyl village elders, the Maruf chief of police and the district governor vetted the candidates to help in mitigating insider threats and Taliban infiltration, officials said.

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR OCTOBER 11, 2012

Photo:  Harrier Jet In Afghanistan.  Credit:  U.S. DOD. 

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Combined Force Arrests Insurgent Leader
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Oct. 11, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan financial facilitator yesterday in Afghanistan's Kunduz province, military officials reported.

The arrested insurgent leader is suspected of being heavily involved in purchasing and trafficking weapons for use in attacks on Afghan and coalition forces, officials said.

The security force also detained several other suspected insurgents.

In other operations yesterday:

-- Afghan police and coalition forces seized and destroyed weapons believed to be linked to a Taliban leader in Baglan province. The Afghan-led force recovered rockets, an anti-tank mine, more than 40 mortar rounds and two hand grenades.

-- A combined force killed Haqqani network insurgent leader Nasrullah with a precision airstrike in Paktia province after positively identifying him engaging in insurgent activity in an isolated area away from civilians.

ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN AUGUST 23, 2012

Photo Credit:  U.S. Navy

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Combined Forces Arrest Taliban Weapons Supplier
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 23, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban weapons supplier today in the Chaparhar district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, military officials reported.

The weapons supplier acquired and distributed mortars and other weapons to Taliban fighters in the district, officials said. In the weeks prior to his arrest, he delivered multiple weapons to Taliban fighters in the area.

During the operation, an armed insurgent threatened the security force. The security force engaged and killed him.

The security force also detained another suspected insurgent.

In operations yesterday:

-- A combined force detained several suspected insurgents yesterday in Balkh province's Chimtal district during an operation to arrest a senior Taliban leader who is responsible for indirect fire and improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force in Kandahar province's Panjwai district found and destroyed 1,201 pounds of marijuana and detained a suspected insurgent.

ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN AUGUST 22, 2012

Photo:  General Dempsey On Board Aircraft In Afghanistan.  Credit:  DOD.
FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE



From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

　

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 22, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader today in the Panjwai district of Afghanistan's Kandahar province, military officials reported.

　

The Taliban leader conducted attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and moved weapons and explosives to other Taliban fighters in the area. Prior to his arrest, officials said, the Taliban leader carried out an improvised explosive device attack against Afghan forces.

　

The security force also detained several suspected insurgents during the operation.

　

In other operations today:
-- In Kunduz province's Imam Sahib district, a combined force detained several suspected insurgents and seized weapons during a search for an Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader who finances and directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

　

-- A combined force detained several suspected insurgents in Helmand province's Now Zad district during a search for a Taliban leader who is in charge of acquiring weapons for Taliban fighters in the province's Marjah and Washir districts.

　

-- In the Pul-e Alam district of Logar province, a combined security force detained several suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Haqqani network leader who facilitates construction of improvised explosive devices and oversees IED attacks.

　

In other news, Afghan and coalition officials announced today that the insurgent leader Mullah Dost Mohammad was one of several insurgents arrested Aug. 20 during an operation in the Tarin Kot district of Uruzgan province. Mohammad is a key member of an IED supply and facilitation network in the Deh Rafshan area of Tarin Kot, officials said. He also is responsible for IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.