More US troops as military reaches Afghan deal

The surprise announcement of the deployment of 1,400 more Marine combat troops – possibly within the next fortnight – is thought to be an effort to consolidate security improvements in southern Afghanistan before the US begins its planned withdrawal in July, while getting ready to counter an expected spring offensive by Taliban fighters.

According to reports, American commanders could also send another couple of thousand troops to bolster their numbers, in a second temporary surge.

The Pentagon’s press secretary Geoff Morrell said “The rationale is to take advantage of the gains we have made over the last several months, and apply more pressure on the enemy at a time when he is already under the gun.”

“The rationale is to take advantage of the gains we have made over the last several months, and apply more pressure on the enemy at a time when he is already under the gun.” Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell

A year ago, when President Obama announced that 30,000 US troops would be deployed in the country, Defence Secretary Robert Gates was given the authority to raise troop numbers by another 3,000 – as a contingency. Many of these reserve forces have been used for training or development, rather than frontline roles.

Sangin ‘deal’

But there’s been some good news for those searching for tangible progress in the fight against the Taliban. US Marine commander Maj Gen Robert Mills said last week that the main tribe in part of Sangin district had reached a deal with the provincial government of Helmand, agreeing to lay down their arms. The verbal agreement only applies to around 30 villages, in an area which has seen intense fighting in recent months.

According to reports, the US-led ISAF force was also involved in the deal, which calls for locals to stop fighting NATO and coalition forces, and stop outside and foreign insurgents entering the area. In another significant move, local people will also be called on to help clear roadside bombs.

It’s hoped that if the Taliban can be contained in Sangin, that would mark a very positive step for the allies.

The first reaction to this "deal" which is not written down anywhere, has to be caution. Extreme caution. The kind of caution you try and exercise every time you step outside the base at Sangin and walk into the killing zone.

It just could be that the next time I am there it really will be different. I might feel different about walking out in Sangin bazaar. I might actually believe the endless British spin that "things are improving in the Sangin valley".

But nobody's taking chances.

Read Alex Thomson's World News blog on: A ceasefire 'deal' in Sangin that may cost even more lives

Colonel Richard Kemp, the former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, told Channel 4 News that he was “cautiously optimistic” about the deal. The Americans had been able to deliver such a deal where the British had not because of the extra resources – both military and financial – which they brought to the region and the damage they were inflicting on the Taliban, he said.

But he warned that the Taliban would seek to destroy the deal.

“It is certainly the case that it could break down at any moment – and the wider Taliban outside the Sangin area will be determined to destroy this deal and carry out further and further attacks to illustrate to the people that they should not have the confidence they appear to be illustrating in ISAF,” he added.

The United States and NATO also revealed that they’ll be spending $11.6 billion this year, shoring up Afghanistan’s security forces – the largest annual sum yet.

The head of NATO’s training mission, Lt Gen William Caldwell said the force had already bought vast amounts of equipment – inlcuding 108,000 9mm pistols, 24,000 Ford Rangers and 44 helicopters. Afghan troops have asked for heavier weapons, like tanks and fighter jets – but the US still considers those too expensive to hand out.

Repatriation

Here, the body of a bomb disposal expert killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan just after Christmas was flown home today.

Warrant Officer Class 2 Charlie Wood, from Middlesborough, had been clearing a route through the Helmand river valley when he was caught in a roadside bomb on 28 December. More than 100 men from 23 Pioneer Regiment joined Mr Wood’s family in lining the streets of Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire, as his cortege passed through the town this afternoon.

His widow Heather said he had a “heart of gold” and had made a positive impact on everyone he met – while his collegues described him as a “huge character” who’d volunteered to lead the search for IEDs in full knowledge of the risks that implied.

A total of 349 British service personnel have now died in Afghanistan since the conflict began in 2001.