Showing posts with label Kunar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kunar. Show all posts

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Afghan Security News


Foreign Troops Deploy to Kunar. Provincial security officials say that over 150 foreign troops have been deployed to the city of Assadabad in Kunar province in a bid to strengthen security in the province. If true this would be the first time that ISAF . .  oops . . . RS forces have been in the province for a long period of time in over two years. See "Over 100 Foreign Troops Deployed to Kunar"Tolo News, November 28, 2015.

Mass Defections in Nuristan Province. According to some news reports (and Taliban statements) hundreds of security personnel and government officials have defected to the Taliban over the past few weeks in Nuristan province. (The Long War Journal, Dec 1, 2015).

40% of Released Prisoners Resume Fight. The Afghan Chief of Army Staff says that 40% of the Afghan insurgents detained and subsequently released from prison are back on the battlefield. (Tolo News, Dec 2, 2015).

Another U.S. Embassy Warning. The U.S. State Department has issued an updated warning to its citizens about possible attacks in Kabul. (Gandhara Blog, Nov 30, 2015).

U.S. Reaffirms Support to Afghanistan. The U.S.-led NATO coalition and the United States has reaffirmed its commitment to Afghanistan's security forces and said it will not leave the Afghan forces alone on the battlefield. Hmmmm. (Tolo News, Nov 29, 2015).

Pakistan Shelling Afghanistan. The Afghan ambassador to the United Nations detailed the attacks that Pakistan has conducted with its heavy artillery shelling from across the border into Afghanistan. He also noted that external support to the Taliban and other terrorist groups was primarily motivated by regional rivalry. Read more in "Pakistan accused of violating Afghanistan's sovereignty"Pajhwok Afghan News, December 1, 2015.

What of the IMU? Keeping track of the various groups of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) can be difficult but several observers recently gathered to provide their thoughts. Read "The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan Comes Unraveled", Qishloq Ovozi Blog - Radio Free Europe, November 28, 2015.

Insecurity in Afghanistan and Militias. The Afghan National Defense Security Forces (ANDSF) have had a difficult fighting season in 2015. The Taliban inflicted many casualties and solidified their hold on several districts throughout the country. In addition, some Taliban groups have rebranded themselves as ISIS - especially in Nangarhar and Zabul provinces.The country has also seen an increase in private militias - some funded by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and others funded by local or regional strongmen (powerbrokers or warlords). Read more in "Afghanistan's precarious security has officials pointing fingers", by Ali M. Latifi and Mohammaed Aharun Arsalai, Los Angeles Times, November 30, 2015.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Fight in Dangam District Ongoing

The weeks long fight in Dangam district, Kunar province is continuing. Dangam district is a forested valley located adjacent to the Pakistan border; easily crossed by the Taliban. A few weeks back in December 2014 some of the local villages staged an uprising against the Taliban. There have been a number of local uprisings against the Taliban across the country; but not coordinated, not enough, and most are - in the long-term - unsuccessful due to lack of Coalition and Afghan government support. In Dangam district the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) jumped into the fray. The Taliban are not yielding territory just yet but are taking some hits. Coalition aircraft have assisted in limited airstrikes to support the 201st ANA Corps. Read more in "Afghan mountain hamlet a proving ground for the army", The Washington Times, December 31, 2014.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Operation Bulldog Bite Concludes in Eastern Pech River Valley of Kunar Province

KABUL, Afghanistan (Nov. 18) – Afghan National Security Forces and International Security Assistance Forces concluded clearing operations yesterday in the eastern Pech River Valley, Kunar province.  The combined security force moved into the Watapur Valley to search for militants and weapons caches Nov 14.

 Reports indicate more than 40 insurgents may have been killed during the security sweep of the area. As the combined Afghan and ISAF force conducted clearing operations, they discovered weapons caches containing several mortar systems with rounds; 15 recoilless rifle rounds; over a dozen rocket-propelled grenades; 20 anti-aircraft rounds; four fragmentary grenades; 400 rounds of AK-47 ammunition; 1,200 PKM (machine gun) rounds; and improvised explosive components. The combined force took deliberate steps to avoid injuring innocent civilians during the operation.

“Operation Bulldog Bite has degraded the insurgents’ ability to terrorize the people of the Pech Valley,” said U.S. Army Maj. Mary Constantino, Task Force Bastogne spokesperson. “The safety and security provided by the operations such as this provide the Afghan people of the region the opportunity to live in peace with their families.”
Source of article is the link below at ISAF:

http://www.isaf.nato.int/article/isaf-releases/afghan-coalition-forces-conclude-operations-in-eastern-pech-valley.html