Press Conference Opening remarks

by BRIGADIER GENERAL Carlos Branco

A Salaam Alaykum and good morning.

Before I take your general questions, I’d first like to provide you with an update on ISAF operations.   In Regional Command-East, ISAF forces are supporting our partners from the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police in the conduct of Operation Istiqlal Pamir, in Paktya Province.  This operation is a follow-on to Op Khyber. As Khyber and most other ISAF operations, it is designed to increase security and to lay the foundation for building centres of commerce.

In Regional Command – West, Operation Paayan Intazar is keeping Taliban insurgents at bay following the temporary claims of controlling several district centres in Farah Province and elsewhere earlier this month. In all cases they fled or were expelled when ANSF or international forces arrived.

As I have stated on previous occasions, the Taliban have not been having any real successes.  Their were seeking cheap gains on the propaganda front. They went to remote districts with few – if any – ANSF presence, occupied some houses and claimed control of the whole area.

The fact that the fighting season this year is longer is not a sign of the military strength of the insurgents. It is due to the unseasonably warm weather, and to the pro-active stance of ANSF and international forces. There weakness was more than clearly demonstrated a few days ago in Uruzgan Province when the Taliban extremist suffered exceptionally heavy losses to ANA and international forces.  

Some Taliban commanders have also declared that they are spreading the insurgency to the centre and north of Afghanistan.  Currently there is no evidence to confirm that the Taliban extremists will have any tactical success in the north as clearly they have been seriously outmatched in the south.

My civilian colleague Nicholas Lunt will now make his opening statement and then we’ll take your questions.