Operation Wyconda Pincer draws down in Farah Province

Farah, Afghanistan - 23 September 2006

Operation Wyconda Pincer ended today, following a three-day multi-national operation in Bala Boluk and Pusht-e Rud Districts.

During the operation, Afghan security forces worked together to improve security in regions recently threatened by Taliban elements. Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Farah Commander, Commander Michael Horan said; “this operation is in response to a growing number of insurgent acts that have occurred in recent weeks, and shows the resolve of the Government of Afghanistan and ISAF to retain the security and stability of the region.”

While the operation was Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP) driven, support came from a number of elements including the Border Police, National Directorate for Security forces, American soldiers from PRT Farah, and Italian and Spanish forces from Herat. These diverse and multi-national forces came together with a common goal, to engage the elders and to work towards making the region more secure and stable. ISAF forces and NGOs can then move ahead even more rapidly with the reconstruction and business development necessary to bring long term economic and social security to the region.

ANA Colonel Dayan Andaraby added, “The people who want to disrupt security don’t want children to go to school, and are destroying clinics. The main target of this operation was to clear Farah Rud and Shewan of those people who are making Farah unstable,”

Several mini-missions unfolded within the larger operation. These included discussions with village elders and visits with children by the PRT Civil Affairs team, cross training between police support teams and the local ANP forces, and medical support. It was also an opportunity to spread knowledge about ISAF forces in an area where people have very little knowledge about ISAF.

Police support teams engaged the local police and provided training on checkpoints and weapons throughout the operations area. “They received some very good professional development training that will help them man their posts and give them added confidence to hold their positions in the face of danger,” said Commander Horan.

During the operation, three individuals were apprehended with suspected ties to criminal and Taliban activity. Some weapons and a substantial amount of opium were also seized and the opium was burned on site. “It showed how weak the Taliban are when faced with a show of force,” added Cdr Horan.

He told village elders that coalition forces were here to cooperate with the Afghan people, not to fight them. General Saed Aga, Chief of Police for Farah province, told the villagers they must stand up and fight for their towns saying; “If you cooperate, I will give you whatever you need. Just help me. Secure your own town using local security forces.”

Village elders agreed to cooperate with the ANA and ANP to put a stop to the criminal activity in the area.