Taliban Driven From Last Major City In Afghanistan
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Afghan and NATO forces fortified their positions in the southern town of Musa Qala Tuesday after driving out Taliban fighters based there for 10 months, but the rebels vowed to fight back.
The Afghan defence ministry said it knew of only four civilians killed in the operation that began with soldiers advancing on the town in the main opium-producing southern province of Helmand on Friday and entering Monday.
Two soldiers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and several Taliban — officials did not state numbers — have also been killed.
“Great caution was taken to avoid civilian casualties,” defence ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi told reporters in Kabul, saying that the four people killed had been used as “human shields” by Taliban fighters.
Azimi described the operation as a success. “Afghan army and NATO forces are busy fortifying their positions in Musa Qala at this stage and a search operation is ongoing,” he said.
But some rebel fighters remain in Musa Qala district, Azimi said. “That is why we say the next 48 hours are crucial,” he added.
A broader operation is under way in Helmand to retake the districts of Nawzad, Baghran and Washir which are still in Taliban hands, he said.
Some of the Musa Qala Taliban moved to Sangin district, where hundreds attacked the district centre but were pushed out. The defence ministry said earlier in the day that “dozens of enemy” were killed or wounded in two days of fighting there.
The police chief of Helmand, Mohammad Hussain Andiwal, said authorities were expected to raise the national flag in the town later Tuesday. He said the Taliban suffered “big casualties” but did not give a figure.
The Taliban stormed Musa Qala 10 months ago, breaking a controversial deal in which British forces pulled out on the request of elders who said they would handle security after months of intense fighting.
The town then became a base for the fighters, whose insurgency is at its bloodiest this year with around 6,000 people dead. The operation to take it back had been long awaited.
Helmand is Afghanistan’s main opium-growing area and a stronghold for the Taliban militia who were removed from government in 2001 for harbouring Al-Qaeda leaders after the September 11 attacks on the United States.
(AFP)
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Thats a badass picture!
And great news. Taliban driven from last major city in Afghanistan. hell yeah, we might end up with 2 major victories in one year
December 11th, 2007 at 10:25 amGreat news!! Glad to hear it.
Can someone please answer this question for me? I thought drugs were illegal under Islam and go against Islamic laws. By resorting to growing poppies for the main purpose of selling them to drug lords are the poppy farmers breaking Islam/Muslim rules? Can they and should they be held accountable for their actions along with the drug lords producing the drugs and why don’t Muslims stop this?
Keep in mind :
Afghanistan is already estimated by the United Nations to produce three-quarters of the world’s opium. The $2.3 billion trade is responsible for half of the poor nation’s gross national product.
December 11th, 2007 at 10:44 am