Pentagon Welcomes Restored Afghan Control
Washington - The Obama administration welcomed the transfer of authority in the central Helmand province town of Marjah to the Afghan government as well as the return of Afghans to their homes, increased freedom of movement, and the reopening of bazaars.
The administration says the transfer is symbolic of Operation Moshtarak's transition from a military effort to clear central Helmand of Taliban insurgents into one of maintaining Afghan control in the area. Defense Department press secretary Geoff Morrell said February 25 that "it looks as though much of Marjah is now under Afghan and coalition control," adding that residents "have been very welcoming of us."
The transfer "is symbolic of where we are in this operation," he said. "We are transitioning from the clearing phase into the holding phase."
Morrell said that with five shuras, or traditional council meetings, between Afghan and coalition forces and the residents taking place on February 24, "there were more shuras taking place in Marjah than there were troops in contact," with "fewer than a handful" of coalition troops engaging with insurgent forces.
"That's the kind of progress that we've been looking for and that we are heartened to see," he said.
Morrell said many civilians are returning to their homes and there are signs that normal daily life is returning.
"The number of internally displaced people who are signing up for assistance from the government is diminishing each day as more and more people return to their homes," he said. "Bazaars are open again, and they are full, I'm told, of goods, which speaks of the fact that there is clearly a freedom of movement that allows commerce to re-emerge."
State Department Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs P.J. Crowley said February 25 that U.S. civilian experts are also on the ground in Marjah, with more expected. The goal of the civilian teams will be to demonstrate "clear benefits" to the Afghan people following the removal of Taliban control.
The teams are working on "early economic, agricultural, rule of law projects that can help turn perceptions more favorably toward the Afghan government," Crowley said, and "more are coming in every day."
However, Crowley said, "no one is declaring victory." He noted the Taliban's capability of adapting to changing circumstances.
Morrell said coalition troops from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) are still taking casualties, with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) placed by insurgents constituting their biggest threat.
The Pentagon spokesman praised the performance of the Afghan security forces. "These guys are every bit in the midst of this operation. They match us one for one on the ground. And they are in the fight," he said.
He said the higher rate of ISAF casualties is caused by their responsibility to clear roads, which puts them into close contact with IEDs. Also, to the Taliban, "we are clearly a more prized target than an Afghan security force member would be," he said.
Morrell said he hopes the increased Pakistani pressure on Afghan Taliban officials inside Pakistan, combined with the Afghan and coalition operation inside Afghanistan, will undermine the Taliban's confidence and capability, and will encourage fighters to "lay down their weapons, respect the democratically elected governments in both countries and want to reintegrate into society."
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