While NATO spokesman Mark Laity said Afghan and Canadian troops only had a "a few minor contacts" with Taliban fighters during the battle, the Afghan Defence Ministry indicated the fighting was much heavier, claiming that 20 Taliban fighters were killed in the Arghandab village of Tabin, and 16 were killed in the nearby village of Khohak.
Hunter said Canadians are playing a secondary role in the battle, acting as mentors to soldiers in the Afghan National Army, which is in a building process. Two Afghan battalions participated in the Arghandab attack, but one of them was forced to retreat after coming under heavy fire.
"This whole process is about teaching the Afghans how to set up an army. About half the Afghans turned and fled, so there's clearly some work to be done," Hunter said. "It wasn't a complete success today, but I suspect they'll be back at it again. It was quite an operation by the Afghans and supported by the Canadians."
Categories : 
2:44 AM
Moderate Islamist here
0 comments:
Post a Comment