ISAF concludes Operation Medusa
in Southern Afghanistan

Background NATO in Afghanistan

Mons, Belgium— Since the commencement of NATO's Operation Medusa in southern Afghanistan, numerous Taliban tunnel systems, arms caches and bomb making equipment have been discovered, thus degrading their capabilities to threaten Kandahar in particular and the south in general.

"It has been necessary to fight in this instance to achieve the required effect. Importantly it has proved that NATO will not shirk from taking robust action where necessary and especially given the level of insurgent activity," said Gen. James L. Jones commander of Allied Command Operations. "NATO’s International Security Assistance Force mission has not shifted primarily to combat operations; Operation Medusa is but one part of the whole operation."

The operation made good progress and succeeded in terms of the defeating of Opposing Militant Forces in the vicinity of Pashmul, enabling the return of the local people to their homes, providing freedom for the Government of Afghanistan and Non-Governmental Organizations to operate and ensuring freedom of movement for ISAF throughout the Pashmul area.

The ISAF forces alongside Afghan National Army troops have clearly demonstrated that NATO can deliver a decisive blow to the insurgents and now we must be equally decisive and effective in our immediate response to the damage and dislocation such military operations inevitably and regrettably cause.

The ISAF element of this combat operation comprised troops and assets from 5 nations, primarily Canada, supported by Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.

“Just as the brave soldiers of ISAF and the Afghan National Army demonstrated their will to succeed, I do not doubt that the nations represented here will go the next step and deliver the tangible evidence of our intent to move forward to stabilization and reconstruction,” said Gen. Jones.

Operation Medusa is but the latest in a series of military efforts to set the conditions for bringing good governance and reconstruction back to this region. The operation has met its initial aims by dealing a severe blow to the leadership and forces of the extremists so that they are no longer a cohesive force and have had to disperse after suffering important losses.

It has been clear from the outset that progress in education, agriculture, economic development, public services and health care has to go hand-in-hand with providing a stable, secure environment. The Afghan authorities and ISAF are now focusing on the key task of ensuring that reconstruction and development can take place, in accordance with the priorities identified by the local authorities themselves.

Taliban have been laying booby traps and Improvised Explosive Devices, which is hampering the return effort and further demonstrating their total disregard for the lives of innocent Afghan civilians. In the near future ISAF will have a major role to help with clearing the area of unexploded ordnance, and to provide or transport emergency supplies for the population.

Progress is evident in many regions of Afghanistan. Schools, health clinics, roads, bridges, irrigation systems and electrical power generation are all improving and expanding.
Today, there are six million children, including 2 million girls, going to school every day. In the last 4 years over 3000 kilometres of roads have been reconstructed. Between May and September this year $324,100,000 has been spent on 238 development projects across the ISAF Area of Operation. In the west, 12 major infrastructure projects valued at over $216 million are underway. In the south, a $62 million reconstruction of a key section of road is ready to resume.

“In order to accelerate reconstruction efforts, we are working closely with embassies and assistance officials in Kabul," Gen. Jones stated,  "and the Commander of ISAF has already identified several hundred thousand dollars worth of immediate assistance funds that can be brought to bear on the most urgent requirements.”