By U.S. Army Sgt. Warren W. Wright, Jr. 
19th Public Affairs Detachment

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Sept. 25, 2011) – Afghan National Army Commandos with the 3rd and 4th Commando Kandaks, combat advised by coalition Special Operations Forces (SOF), completed a 14-day operation ending Sept. 20, in an effort to reduce the Taliban’s freedom of movement and bring a Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan presence to the Panjwa’i district.

The Commandos, an elite Afghan military force whose purpose is to carry out operations targeting high-value militants in order to strengthen security, conducted their operation to disrupt insurgent leadership, activity and facilitation in the northern area of the district.

“Their execution of this operation demonstrated to local villagers that GIRoA will not abandon its people,” said a SOF representative.

The mission began on Sept. 6 with the Commando’s being air lifted into an area of Panjwa’i that has long been known as a significant insurgent support zone as well as a command and control area.  Throughout the 14-day mission the Commandos cleared multiple villages within the district and suspect that most of the insurgents, who for a long time had a foothold in the district, had fled the area.

The operation into the area known as the horn of Panjwa’i, “has served to significantly cripple insurgents operating in the district,” said a SOF representative.

The operation also resulted in the discovery and destruction of multiple improvised explosive devices as well as multiple suspected insurgents being taken into custody.

According to a SOF representative, these types of operations show the continued growth and development of the Commandos, as they were in the lead from the early stages of planning through the execution of the operation, with minimal coalition SOF oversight throughout the entire process.

In the days following the Commandos’ mission into Panjwa’i, reports have shown that the civilians in the area have become more comfortable with carrying out activities outdoors such as going to the local markets. 

Recently, local children have also been seen playing outside and flying kites, a possible sign that the local population is beginning to feel more secure, said the SOF representative.

 No civilian casualties and no property damage resulted from the operation.