Afghan army chasing Taliban

2003-07-23 13:00

Kabul - Afghanistan's new national army, backed by United States-led forces, has launched its first major anti-Taliban combat operation in the southeast of the country, said a US military spokesperson on Wednesday.

"Two days ago, six Afghan National Army companies numbering about 1 000 soldiers departed for the Zermat valley region in southern Paktia province," said Colonel Rodney Davis at the Afghan army's Pul-i-Charki barracks 15km east of Kabul.

"Operation Warrior Sweep marks the ANA's first major combat operation and Operation Warrior Sweep is ongoing.

"The ANA's mission is to kill, capture and deny sanctuary to anti-coalition fighters and to disrupt anti-coalition activity in the Zermat valley region in support of the Islamic transitional government of Afghanistan," he said, referring to Taliban remnants and their al-Qaeda allies and fighters of renegade former premier Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who regularly launch attacks on foreign and government targets.

The Zermat valley region 100km south of Kabul was the scene of the massive Operation Anaconda assault against al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters in March last year.

Planned well in advance

Coalition forces last month launched two operations against suspected Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters in the area.

Operation Warrior Sweep was intended to disrupt routes used by these anti-coalition forces in the mountainous Afghan-Pakistan border area.

The operation had been "planned for some time and it is not in direct response to anything that would have occurred yesterday or the day before yesterday or in the recent past", the colonel said.

Afghan infantry troops were backed by US-led coalition forces, but Davis would not disclose further details of the operation or whether any fighting had taken place.

Pakistan had been told of the operation taking place near its border, he said.

"As a matter of practice, we co-ordinate our activities with the affected governments, so you can be assured that any government affected by this operation has been informed that the operation was launched and is currently ongoing."

Davis said Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters were located in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The US-led coalition force of about 11 500 troops is hunting Taliban and al-Qaeda remnants and helping with reconstruction work throughout Afghanistan.

- AFX