.Allied forces ‘may abandon Helmand
LAHORE: A new strategy for Afghanistan that could lead to a British troop withdrawal from a former Taliban stronghold in northern Helmand province has sparked an immediate controversy.
Citing a senior NATO source, The Times reported that western military commanders in Afghanistan were considering a radical shift in policy that would see British and US forces conduct a tactical pullout from most of northern Helmand, including the town of Musa Qala. The source said the plan to withdraw from northern Helmand would be considered if proposed reinforcements, currently being examined by US President Barack Obama, were not approved. Gen Stanley McChrystal, the US commander in Kabul, has asked for 40,000 more troops, but Obama is yet to make a decision.
British military sources, however, said that a withdrawal from Musa Qala would be viewed as a defeat and could not be countenanced. They said it would also be a betrayal of the governor of the district, who risked his life to take a stand against the insurgents. Mullah Abdul Salaam – a former Taliban commander – switched sides to become district governor of Musa Qala only hours before British troops from 52 Brigade and Afghan soldiers retook the town from insurgent control in December 2007. British troops had withdrawn from Musa Qala in 2006 after a “deal” with the local tribal elders, but the Taliban seized control until the arrival of the 52 Brigade. The plans now being considered in Kabul would pull British and American troops out of the towns of Musa Qala and Nawzad to focus on stabilising the highly populated central areas of the province. The only remaining Western forces in the north of the province would be those defending the hydroelectric dam at Kajaki.
The plans are the most radical among options being considered by Gen McChrystal under a broader plan to shift forces towards the defence of more populous areas of the country, ceding outlying and remote areas. The new doctrine is focused on concentration of forces around population centres, main arteries and economic corridors with the ultimate aim of protecting the population and allowing intensive reconstruction. A senior NATO officer confirmed that proposals existed for a pullout from Nawzad and Musa Qala, but said, “No decision has been made.” The senior British military sources insisted that total withdrawal from Musa Qala was not an option, but acknowledged it was possible that the area in which troops currently operated in the district could be reduced to make available more resources for improving security in places such as Kandahar and Lashkar Gah.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the chief of the defence staff, also denied that Britain was planning to pull out of Musa Qala, but he confirmed show that NATO’S International Security Assistance Force would be focusing more on Afghanistan’s main population centres. daily times monitor.
Daily Times
Citing a senior NATO source, The Times reported that western military commanders in Afghanistan were considering a radical shift in policy that would see British and US forces conduct a tactical pullout from most of northern Helmand, including the town of Musa Qala. The source said the plan to withdraw from northern Helmand would be considered if proposed reinforcements, currently being examined by US President Barack Obama, were not approved. Gen Stanley McChrystal, the US commander in Kabul, has asked for 40,000 more troops, but Obama is yet to make a decision.
British military sources, however, said that a withdrawal from Musa Qala would be viewed as a defeat and could not be countenanced. They said it would also be a betrayal of the governor of the district, who risked his life to take a stand against the insurgents. Mullah Abdul Salaam – a former Taliban commander – switched sides to become district governor of Musa Qala only hours before British troops from 52 Brigade and Afghan soldiers retook the town from insurgent control in December 2007. British troops had withdrawn from Musa Qala in 2006 after a “deal” with the local tribal elders, but the Taliban seized control until the arrival of the 52 Brigade. The plans now being considered in Kabul would pull British and American troops out of the towns of Musa Qala and Nawzad to focus on stabilising the highly populated central areas of the province. The only remaining Western forces in the north of the province would be those defending the hydroelectric dam at Kajaki.
The plans are the most radical among options being considered by Gen McChrystal under a broader plan to shift forces towards the defence of more populous areas of the country, ceding outlying and remote areas. The new doctrine is focused on concentration of forces around population centres, main arteries and economic corridors with the ultimate aim of protecting the population and allowing intensive reconstruction. A senior NATO officer confirmed that proposals existed for a pullout from Nawzad and Musa Qala, but said, “No decision has been made.” The senior British military sources insisted that total withdrawal from Musa Qala was not an option, but acknowledged it was possible that the area in which troops currently operated in the district could be reduced to make available more resources for improving security in places such as Kandahar and Lashkar Gah.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, the chief of the defence staff, also denied that Britain was planning to pull out of Musa Qala, but he confirmed show that NATO’S International Security Assistance Force would be focusing more on Afghanistan’s main population centres. daily times monitor.
Daily Times
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