Afghan, NATO troops close to capturing Taliban town
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
KABUL, Dec 11 (Reuters): Afghan and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) were close to fully capturing the Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala Tuesday, but there was still a threat from isolated insurgent fighters and bomb attacks, a British army spokesman said.
Afghan troops moved in towards the centre of Musa Qala Monday and conflicting claims emerged on whether the town had been captured. British troops closest to the fighting insisted the operation to seize the Taliban stronghold in the heart of the world's main opium producing belt was not yet complete.
The only sizeable town held by the Taliban, Musa Qala in the north of Helmand province, is symbolic for both sides in the conflict and its capture would be a major military boost for the Afghan government and its Western backers.
"It's not going to be long," said the British army's spokesman in Helmand, Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Eaton.
Asked about reports that Taliban fighters had fled the town, he said: "There are conflicting reports ... I wouldn't be at all surprised if they have slipped away during the night, but it's highly likely there will be small isolated groups of fighters and there is a substantial bomb threat."
Thousands of Afghan, British and US troops surrounded Musa Qala in an operation that began Friday. Hundreds of Taliban had pledged to defend the town, but faced air strikes, artillery and steady assault from the Afghan and foreign forces.
Two British soldiers have been killed in the fighting and hundreds of civilians have fled the area. It is ISAF's policy not to release Taliban casualty figures.
Afghan troops moved in towards the centre of Musa Qala Monday and conflicting claims emerged on whether the town had been captured. British troops closest to the fighting insisted the operation to seize the Taliban stronghold in the heart of the world's main opium producing belt was not yet complete.
The only sizeable town held by the Taliban, Musa Qala in the north of Helmand province, is symbolic for both sides in the conflict and its capture would be a major military boost for the Afghan government and its Western backers.
"It's not going to be long," said the British army's spokesman in Helmand, Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Eaton.
Asked about reports that Taliban fighters had fled the town, he said: "There are conflicting reports ... I wouldn't be at all surprised if they have slipped away during the night, but it's highly likely there will be small isolated groups of fighters and there is a substantial bomb threat."
Thousands of Afghan, British and US troops surrounded Musa Qala in an operation that began Friday. Hundreds of Taliban had pledged to defend the town, but faced air strikes, artillery and steady assault from the Afghan and foreign forces.
Two British soldiers have been killed in the fighting and hundreds of civilians have fled the area. It is ISAF's policy not to release Taliban casualty figures.