Four soldiers killed in Afghan offensive

19 Feb 2010, 8:16 am   -   Source: AAP

Four NATO soldiers were killed on Thursday during a major offensive against Taliban insurgents underway in southern Afghanistan, the ISAF said.

Four NATO soldiers were killed on Thursday during a major offensive against Taliban insurgents underway in southern Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

Three of the soldiers were killed by mines, huge numbers of which have been planted by the insurgents in Marjah, and one was killed by gunfire, said ISAF.

It did not identify the soldiers' nationalities, in line with NATO practice.

However, British defence officials said separately that two of the country's soldiers were killed on Thursday as part of the NATO assault against Taliban insurgents.

The US-led offensive has moved at a cautious pace as allied troops seek to spare civilian casualties and avoid the numerous roadside bombs planted by the Taliban.

"The squeeze is being put to the Taliban," said Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell in Washington on Thursday, adding the United States was "pleased with the rate of progress" despite the ever-present threat of mines.

The six-day old assault on the Taliban stronghold is being keenly watched as the first major test of US President Barack Obama's strategy to end eight years of war by driving out the hardline militia and reasserting government control.

A contingent of about 15,000 Afghan, US and NATO troops are conducting Operation Mushtarak (Together) against about 400 to 1000 Taliban fighters.

They will need about 25 to 30 days to secure the area, said British Major General Nick Carter, commander of the NATO-led force in southern Afghanistan.

General Mohaidin Ghori, the commander of about 4,400 Afghan troops taking part, said Marjah and the Nad Ali district were almost under control, but the militants had put "women and children on the roofs of homes and are firing from behind them".

In one case, rebels fired from the window of a house packed with non-combatants, with a crying child forced to stand in front of the compound, said an Afghan military report seen by AFP.

Taliban spokesmen have denied using human shields.

Also slowing progress are the hidden mines, or improvised explosive devices (IEDs), planted by retreating militants.

The area is home to about 80,000 people and although Amnesty International has said about 10,000 civilians have fled the rights group said thousands were trapped in the conflict zone.

Afghan troops on Wednesday raised their flag over a badly damaged market in Marjah, a symbolic move given the lack of full control in town.

Pakistan raised concerns that Afghan refugees and fighters could flee across the frontier, leading to an explosion of militant activity in the region.

The fighting comes as a number of senior Taliban fighters have been captured, underlining how Afghan Taliban leaders used Pakistan as a safe haven to direct operations in Afghanistan.

A US official in Washington told AFP two Afghani Taliban shadow governors had been arrested in Pakistan, a day after the Pakistani military confirmed the capture of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, second only to Mullah Mohammed Omar in the Afghan Taliban's leadership.

Baradar's capture in the Karachi signalled a dramatic change in direction for Islamabad, which has long resisted US pressure to act against Taliban leaders operating from its territory.

In Washington, the Pentagon said the offensive had seen "great early success".

Obama has ordered more than 50,000 extra troops to Afghanistan since taking office, while fresh pledges from NATO allies will raise to 150,000 the number of foreign troops by August.

Forty Taliban militants, five NATO soldiers and at least 12 civilians have been reported killed in the battle.

  • Follow us: 
  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Follow us on Youtube