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| Updated: 19-Jun-2007 | Speaking Notes |
Press Conference 17 Jan 06
Good Morning, Operations have continued this week in accordance with the plans for Op OQAB phase 2. We have seen down in the Panjewayi area Taleban removed from the last areas where they have been hiding out – that operation is still going on and will continue to do so until the Governor of Kandahar province is satisfied that there is no longer a significant threat. The results of these efforts is that a number of displaced families are returning to their homes from the surrounding area, a plan that is owned, planned and managed by the government, with our and particularly offer aid agencies such as the UN assistance where necessary. Over $800,000 has been spent in the area on cash for work schemes. And we have continued to take the fight to the insurgent heartlands and sanctuary areas in the South, where they thought they were safe. There have been a number of significant actions in the Helmand area, where British troops are going to places they have not been to before, targeting the insurgent leadership and command centres and rooting out hard core Taleban and removing them. This week also saw the very successful 20th Plenary meeting of the Tripartite Commission between the militaries of Afghanistan, Pakistan and ISAF. A meeting that was full of good will from all sides, many decisions were made to co-ordinate closer the operations against insurgent bombers, and operations in the border regions. For example, just yesterday the Pakistani’s Military attacked five Al Qaida safe compounds in Zamzala, South Wazikistan, close to the border. And earlier, the Pakistanis shared intelligence that lead to the successful attack on Osmani. Both the Afghan Chief of the Army, Gen Bismullah Khan and the Vice Chief of the Pakistani Army, Gen Hyat spoke at length about the opportunities for closer ties between their respective armies, and in proof of their solidarity co-hosted a press conference for the first time, with Commander ISAF General Richards in Pakistan. The most important development in many respects is the future inauguration of the Joint Intelligence and Operations Centre here on this camp, with officers from Afghanistan, Pakistan and ISAF sitting together here in Kabul, able to talk on a minute-by-minute basis. The first officers are due to arrive here later this week. And in the coming weeks, there will be the first joint intelligence planning by all parties for future offensive ops. So, a successful week, with many different areas where ISAF are pushing ahead – from taking the fight into the insurgent sanctuaries, to developing closer links with the Pakistani military, to ensure they work towards security in Afghanistan, and providing the security for families to return to their homes. Contrast this with what the Taleban have done this week. Not only have they failed in all their objectives in 2006, but the start of 2007 shows them for what they really are. There have been a number of attacks in the Khowst area, which shows to what level they stoop. They laid 5 bombs in a village, designed to intimidate, but instead they managed to injure only two young children. They have resorted to scare tactics, assassinating a Colonel who was going about his daily business. And when they did try and mount an attack in the Bermel area of Paktika province, we stopped them before they could even start, through the use of both ground and air fire. They have started failing already, early in the year. So whilst we have helped the local communities across the country, the insurgents have intimidated, killed and failed to mount any serious attacks.
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