News Conference Opening Statement

Brigadier General Carlos Branco, ISAF spokesperson

Yesterday we witnessed another barbaric suicide attack at the Koghyani District Center in Nangarhar province, where again innocent civilians were murdered, victims of cowardly insurgents with a total lack of regard for human lives. Their goal was not to target ISAF troops operating in the area, but terrorize innocent Afghan citizens, who have become one of the major objectives of their strategy. Systematically targeting civilians and non military infrastructures clearly demonstrate an agenda limited to terrorist acts and without viable military solutions. The number of civilians killed by insurgents is 6 times as many this year as over the same period last year. The number of injured is over double.

The insurgents attempt to disguise their weaknesses by boasts and unsubstantiated propaganda.  They resort to attacks that will appeal to the media but have a limited military effect. In their attack on the Mujahadin parade on 27 April, for example, they tried to convey an image of strength and capability. However although apparently spectacular it would be totally wrong to conclude that the attack indicate an insurgence resurgence. No no-one would deny the propaganda effect but don’t confuse propaganda with substance. It involved a very small number of people.

The attack was swiftly neutralised by the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), who minimised loss of life, and protected the Afghan officials and foreign diplomats attending the event. The pre-planned and rapid response of ANSF also demonstrated they are more than capable to take responsibility for the security of Kabul as announced by President Kharzai at the Bucharest Summit.

The insurgents’ operational limitations and their containment are very well reflected by the statistics. Since the start of this year, only thirty six out of 398 districts have witnessed 84% of the total kinetic activity and only 32 districts have more than one event per month, which means that only 5% of the total Afghan population is at risk from insurgent violence. But even this figure is unacceptable and we continue operations to further reduce it.

Yesterday the US Marine forces from the 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit in conjunction with the British forces of Task Force Helmand began the conduct of its first operation in Garmsir disctrict in Helmand province. The Marines encountered light resistance and found in a building a weapons cache of rocket-propelled grenades and Improvised Explosive Device-making material. These forces will continue operations in South East Helmand for some time to come, and will root out insurgents operating in the Area.