NATO operations in Afghanistan

[petrac]

Hi all,

I have been following closely the British and Dutch oeprations in the Helmand and Uruzgan provinces of Afghanistan. However, I see very little news about other provinces / contributions, like the Canadians (I know they have been operating together with the British), the US forces in the south-east and other NATO contributions in the country.

Does anyone have any info' links, stories or personal experience about the NATO oeprations in Afghanistan. And I mean more then the counter-Taleban operations, the support operations of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) like provided by the Dutch in Uruzgan is as important as all the other (combat) operations.

thanks for the input!
Cheers!

 

[Tasman]

Hi all,

I have been following closely the British and Dutch oeprations in the Helmand and Uruzgan provinces of Afghanistan. However, I see very little news about other provinces / contributions, like the Canadians (I know they have been operating together with the British), the US forces in the south-east and other NATO contributions in the country.

Does anyone have any info' links, stories or personal experience about the NATO oeprations in Afghanistan. And I mean more then the counter-Taleban operations, the support operations of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) like provided by the Dutch in Uruzgan is as important as all the other (combat) operations.

thanks for the input!
Cheers!

The following link from the Australian Government Defence site includes comment and photos of the Dutch force you mention (the Australians are working closely with them) as well as Australian operations. As you are no doubt aware, btw, Australia is not a NATO country but has been a close partner in Afghanistan.

http://www.defence.gov.au/opslipper/default.htm

Cheers

 

[petrac]

Thanks for the info. I forgot Australia is also taking part with ISAF, sorry for the slip ;-) NATO is leading this oeprations, but non-NATO operations are also present and doing a great job!

 

[Eggy]

Southern provinces

Kandahar: Canadian area of responsibility
Helmand: British area of responsibility, Danish and Estonian troop contribute in this province as well.
Uruzgan: Dutch area of responsiblity, about 400 Australian troops are in the province capitol (Tarin kowt) as well.
Zabul: American area of responsiblity, Romania contributes a number of troops there.

In all these provinces are also American FOBs.

Btw. the Dutch do not only have PRTs, they also have a battlegroup of (mechanized) infantry, special forces, artillery (pzh 2000) and air assets (F-16 fighters and Apache gunships) operating in the south of Afghanistan.

The isaf site has alot of usefull information (although not all is up to date):
http://www2.hq.nato.int/isaf/

For Canadian pictures and information check out combat camera:
http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca

Cheers,
Eggy

 

[radiosilence]

NATO sending new brigade to Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan - NATO-led troops battling resurgent Taliban militants will shortly be reinforced with another combat brigade, the top NATO commander in Afghanistan said Thursday.

Looks like Nato is sending reinforcement to deal with the annual Taliban spring offensive.

link

 

[Eggy]

Yeah I wonder what countries will contribute, the ones already in the thick of things in the south or will some other countries that are in the relatively calm north send the extra troops.

 

[radiosilence]

Yeah I wonder what countries will contribute, the ones already in the thick of things in the south or will some other countries that are in the relatively calm north send the extra troops.

From earlier reports, Poland is sending 1200 troops which will arrive in Afghanistan some time in February. Also, the Brits are expected to send 600 additional troops to boost their contingent there..

 

[USNavySEAL3310]

U.S. Ponders Troop Increase in Afghanistan

NATO Seeks More Forces for Afghanistan

 

[spectre]

Southern provinces

Kandahar: Canadian area of responsibility
Helmand: British area of responsibility, Danish and Estonian troop contribute in this province as well.
Uruzgan: Dutch area of responsiblity, about 400 Australian troops are in the province capitol (Tarin kowt) as well.
Zabul: American area of responsiblity, Romania contributes a number of troops there.
Cheers,
Eggy

When did the Romanians give up power in Kandahar?

 

[Eggy]

When did the Romanians give up power in Kandahar?

I used the ISAF site for this information. It only mentions where countries PRT teams are active but there could also be Romanian troops in Kandahar. There are alot of nationalities there including a Dutch Air Assault company that I didn't mention either.

 

[spectre]

I used the ISAF site for this information. It only mentions where countries PRT teams are active but there could also be Romanian troops in Kandahar. There are alot of nationalities there including a Dutch Air Assault company that I didn't mention either.

I am not saying you are wrong, I was just commenting because I never saw a Canadian there and the Romanians had a lot of soldiers there....they ran a good mess tent too...


(speaking of mess tents, the RNLAF had some great food when we flew from Kyrgyzstan)

 

[Eggy]

Air force is spoiled hehe. But since ISAF III expanded into southern Afghanistan Canada officialy took over there, they had been there for a while already though.

 

[spectre]

Air force is spoiled hehe.

You ain't lying

But since ISAF III expanded into southern Afghanistan Canada officialy took over there, they had been there for a while already though.

Thanks for the info.

 

[johndoe]

As long as Pakistan keeps the border secure (and takes casualties), the ISAF should have an easy mission there.

 

[spectre]

As long as Pakistan keeps the border secure (and takes casualties), the ISAF should have an easy mission there.

How likely do you think that is?

 

[Waylander]

And how easy do you think it is to secure such a big border in such a natural environment?

 

[radiosilence]

And how easy do you think it is to secure such a big border in such a natural environment?

Well alot of "experts" think it is. They repeat the same talking point "Pakistan needs do more". I would think that having 80,000 troops on the border and taking more casualties than coalition forces is more than doing your share but some how these geniuses seem think thats not enought.

 

[Waylander]

You got it.


The US is not even able to secure its border to Mexico or Israel its border to the palestinian zones, how should it be done there...

 

[Tasman]

As long as Pakistan keeps the border secure (and takes casualties), the ISAF should have an easy mission there.

This would be a massive undertaking and IMO it would be impossible to guarantee border security. Patrolling the border and endeavouring to secure trouble spots is a reasonable ask but controlling the entire border would, I think, require more resources than Pakistan possesses. This border has been a problem for centuries. It is approximately 2500km long and passes through some of the most geographically unhospitable country in the world. Large sections are unmarked and some are disputed. Pakistan does appear to be making some progress in its attempts to control the border, including mining and fencing some sections and allocating at least 80,000 troops, but the task is immense.

A quick google will provide numerous articles re the problems of border security. The following is just one of them:

http://www.cfr.org/publication/12486/pakistans_lack_of_border_control.html

Cheers

 

[johndoe]

This would be a massive undertaking and IMO it would be impossible to guarantee border security. Patrolling the border and endeavouring to secure trouble spots is a reasonable ask but controlling the entire border would, I think, require more resources than Pakistan possesses. This border has been a problem for centuries. It is approximately 2500km long and passes through some of the most geographically unhospitable country in the world. Large sections are unmarked and some are disputed. Pakistan does appear to be making some progress in its attempts to control the border, including mining and fencing some sections and allocating at least 80,000 troops, but the task is immense.

A quick google will provide numerous articles re the problems of border security. The following is just one of them:

http://www.cfr.org/publication/12486/pakistans_lack_of_border_control.html

Cheers

There is some sarcasm in my post as well but looks like right now Pakistan is willing to help ISAF / NATO have an easy going in afghanistan.

Taliban have basically nothing compared to what the mujahideen had in the eighties. The real "test" for the alliance (europeans) would have been if the Taliban had 155 mm artillery, heavy machine guns, anti-a/c missile. I mean llook at Iraq at how easily US choppers fall down in machine gun fire! The european choppers aren't that better either.

If you compare it to the hinds (soviets only lost 330 choppers in afghanistan in the whole 10 year conflict), you will see what a workhorse that helicopter was. Many of those that fell down also were in the hands of afghans which is unlike today (no choppers for iraqis / afghans).