UK troops under threat as Pakistan forces Taliban out
Christina Lamb and Tim Albone, Kabul
[URL="http://images.thetimes.co.uk/images/trans.gif"][/URL]PAKISTAN has forced hundreds of Taliban militants across the border with Afghanistan into Helmand province where they are preparing for attacks on British forces, the provincial governor said this weekend.
The governor, Engineer Mohammed Daoud, said the move was also intended to ensure that Pakistan could rebut mounting claims that its forces are providing the militants with training and shelter.
“We have intelligence reports that hundreds and hundreds of Taliban who have been in Pakistan for the last four years have now moved into the province and are gathering in the mountains,” said Daoud.
“The Pakistanis are forcing them to move inside Afghanistan to fool the British and the international community that the problem is here and not their side.”
His claims came as Helmand, where 2,000 British soldiers are already based, yesterday saw a further outbreak of violence at the end of a week of bloodshed that has left more than 200 people dead.
The heaviest fighting in Afghanistan since the Taliban fell more than four years ago has prompted fears of a turbulent summer ahead for the British troops. The full deployment of 3,300 will be in place by the end of next month.
In yesterday’s attack a 20-vehicle Afghan military convoy was ambushed in Sangeen by heavily armed Taliban, setting off a gun battle in which at least 15 Taliban and four soldiers were reported to have been killed.
It followed a Taliban attack on the town of Musa Qala earlier in the week in which 200 militants were said to have died along with 25 police and soldiers.
“We’re seeing a big upsurge in Taliban activity,” Daoud told The Sunday Times. “We know they have a major plan to re-establish the old mujaheddin bases in northern Helmand used during the Soviet occupation from which to launch attacks on the British.
“At night they are gathering all the local villagers and inciting them to participate in holy war against the infidels,” he added. “People are coming to me asking for security.”
There have been questions within Afghanistan about why the British forces did not go to the aid of Afghan police when they came under fire in Musa Qala. Both British camps in Helmand were less than 120 miles away.
The governor said he was furious at the lack of support from the coalition forces and revealed that he had pleaded for help but the British and Americans had refused to believe his reports. “We wanted air support because when the Taliban hear planes they run away but the British told me their aircraft were engaged elsewhere and according to their regulations can only come to support when their own men are on the ground.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2189888,00.html
Christina Lamb and Tim Albone, Kabul
[URL="http://images.thetimes.co.uk/images/trans.gif"][/URL]PAKISTAN has forced hundreds of Taliban militants across the border with Afghanistan into Helmand province where they are preparing for attacks on British forces, the provincial governor said this weekend.
The governor, Engineer Mohammed Daoud, said the move was also intended to ensure that Pakistan could rebut mounting claims that its forces are providing the militants with training and shelter.
“We have intelligence reports that hundreds and hundreds of Taliban who have been in Pakistan for the last four years have now moved into the province and are gathering in the mountains,” said Daoud.
“The Pakistanis are forcing them to move inside Afghanistan to fool the British and the international community that the problem is here and not their side.”
His claims came as Helmand, where 2,000 British soldiers are already based, yesterday saw a further outbreak of violence at the end of a week of bloodshed that has left more than 200 people dead.
The heaviest fighting in Afghanistan since the Taliban fell more than four years ago has prompted fears of a turbulent summer ahead for the British troops. The full deployment of 3,300 will be in place by the end of next month.
In yesterday’s attack a 20-vehicle Afghan military convoy was ambushed in Sangeen by heavily armed Taliban, setting off a gun battle in which at least 15 Taliban and four soldiers were reported to have been killed.
It followed a Taliban attack on the town of Musa Qala earlier in the week in which 200 militants were said to have died along with 25 police and soldiers.
“We’re seeing a big upsurge in Taliban activity,” Daoud told The Sunday Times. “We know they have a major plan to re-establish the old mujaheddin bases in northern Helmand used during the Soviet occupation from which to launch attacks on the British.
“At night they are gathering all the local villagers and inciting them to participate in holy war against the infidels,” he added. “People are coming to me asking for security.”
There have been questions within Afghanistan about why the British forces did not go to the aid of Afghan police when they came under fire in Musa Qala. Both British camps in Helmand were less than 120 miles away.
The governor said he was furious at the lack of support from the coalition forces and revealed that he had pleaded for help but the British and Americans had refused to believe his reports. “We wanted air support because when the Taliban hear planes they run away but the British told me their aircraft were engaged elsewhere and according to their regulations can only come to support when their own men are on the ground.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2189888,00.html
how funny it is when the Afghan governer said that becuase first of all there never had been hundreds of hundreds Al-qaeda people on Pak side they were hadfull of who had been either captured or killed while few dozens not hunderds are there attacking the PA. Now if PA had flushed them out than what the NATO forces and Afghan Army is doing there cant they handdle them??
TAP line is then through!
