Saturday, March 6, 2004

Afghan War: The spring offensive

Not for the first time, our mainstream media have been quite lazy about reporting on developments in Afghanistan, where the hunt for Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, the culprits behind the 9/11 attacks, goes on. This article has news of the current offensive in Waziristan province bordering on Afghanistan, where the Pakistani Army, with American and British troops participating, has intensified the hunt for al-Qaeda: New thrust in hunt for bin Laden Christian Science Monitor 04/04/04.

What is certain is that the springtime offensive, the much publicized joint operation of US and Pakistani forces, has begun in earnest. Pakistani military sources, along with local residents, say that Pakistan's military has moved in thousands of troops and hundreds of pieces of heavy equipment, including armored vehicles and helicopters. Pakistan's top officials deny that any US or foreign troops are involved in the operation, but military analysts say that any operation would probably have at least the tactical coordination of US special-operations forces, along with the British Special Air Services[SAS].

The Guardian is not so hesitant in describing US and British participation:

SAS detachments will join thousands of US troops - including a 'super-secret' special forces unit transferred from Iraq - and contingents of Afghan soldiers in a huge sweep of mountainous border areas where the terrorists are believed to be hiding.

The push will be the biggest such operation for 18 months. Attempts to find the fugitives last year were hindered by a lack of special forces soldiers - most of whom had been deployed in Iraq - and the failure of Pakistan to cut off escape routes by closing its border with Afghanistan. Harsh winter conditions in recent months have made movement in the high ground where bin Laden is thought to be hiding impossible.

Notice that forces are being transferred from Iraq, where the numbers of the occupation forces have been inadequate from the start, to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this entry. I've been wondering lately about the situation in Afghanistan. I knew there was a lot more going on but it seems that everyone has forgotten about the role we are still playing there to. :-) ---Robbie

Anonymous said...

Yeah, it's been too quiet. But not because US troops aren't involved. Even before this offense began, the US troop levels in Afghanistan were higher than at any time since the war there began. I think some people may be shocked to find out how little has been accomplished in Afghanistan. - Bruce