KABUL (SW): The NATO-led Resolute Support Program on Saturday praised the resolve and abilities of the Afghan forces demonstrated at the ongoing offensives in the eastern Afghanistan.
Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Buchanan, Resolute Support’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations said in a message today that the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police forces have again demonstrated their ability to work together as a national security force this time during combat operations in eastern Afghanistan.
Together, the ANA and ANP, along with other forces to include the Afghan National Civil Order Police, Afghan Uniformed Police, Afghan Local Police and air support from the Afghan Air Force, conducted a clearing operation designed to disrupt networks of Taliban and other enemies of Afghanistan in Khogyani, Sherzad and Hisarak districts.
The operation, termed “Iron Triangle,” demonstrated the capability of the Afghan forces when conducting offensive cross-pillar operations, to find and clear areas known to be occupied by Taliban forces. “This is probably the best we’ve seen this level of cooperation of any operation to date this year”, he added.
Afghan Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Interior leadership planned and executed the operation together, with the coalition in the back seat acting in a train, advise and assist role.
“The advisors play a critical role in the success in this operation , but it’s not to make things happen, what we want to do is ask leading questions, help the Afghans think about the best way to synchronize their efforts to achieve the best possible effect,” said Buchanan.
In addition to the large number of IEDs cleared throughout the operation, other successes included the reconstruction of damaged roads, as well as the successful use of artillery. Overall, more than 50 kilometers of road and towns were cleared of insurgent activity from Khogyani to Sherzad into Hisarak.
The communiqué said clearing of this area will not only provide security for the local population in the districts, but also additional security for the capital city of Kabul. With the recent up-tick of attacks in the city, this operation plays a major strategic role in securing the city and preventing high-profile attacks. While the majority of the focus was in eastern Nangarhar, ANDSF did not ignore the emergence of Daesh and Taliban clashes in the west.
“There’s been a lot of Taliban on Daesh fighting particularly in Nangarhar, and that played a role in Operation Iron Triangle,” said Buchanan. “The security forces could not ignore that fighting for fear of leaving the backdoor open while they focused in the west.”
Near the close of the operation, Gen. M. Ayoub Salangi, the Deputy Minister for Security for the Ministry of Interior, and Lt. Gen. Qadim Shah, the Chief of General Staff for the ANA, travelled with Resolute Support’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Buchanan, as well as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Maj. Gen. Mark Quantock, to the different corps participating in the operation.
NATO said that at each location both Salangi and Qadim Shah praised the efforts of their troops and acknowledged the sacrifices of those lost or wounded in battle. Salangi, when speaking with the leadership and elders at the 111th Division, commended the men for their dedication, stating “your beards have turned gray serving your country.”
Qadim Shah noted their key to success was coordination, command and control and rapid response, but also encouraged them to continue their operations, and ensure a security perimeter would be established around the districts. Both leaders made it clear that while the initial goal is security for the area, the overall goal is to establish good governance for the people.
The ANA Chief of General Staff also directed each unit to develop an accurate after action report, capturing their successes, but more importantly, to look at where there were gaps, and how they can improve in future operations.
ENDS
