Brits send thunder run column into Taliban turf

Telegraph:

British commanders have pushed an armoured column deep into Taliban-held territory in southern Afghanistan, threatening the stronghold of Musa Qala as commanders seek to capitalise on a rift within enemy ranks.

Senior British officers told The Daily Telegraph that the convoy of more than 50 armoured vehicles from the Scots Guards is designed to "disrupt and confuse" the Taliban.

The operation in northern Helmand province comes with the Taliban apparently facing internal splits.

One of the four senior Taliban commanders in the area, Mullah Abdul Salaam, has been in negotiations with the Afghan government and indicated that he wishes to defect with up to a third of the forces defending Musa Qala.

Intelligence reports suggest that the Taliban are anticipating an imminent full-scale assault on the town by British forces, who refused to speculate on whether such an attack is planned.

The Daily Telegraph accompanied Bravo Company from 40 Commando of the Royal Marines last week as they initiated the push north, driving across the Helmand river north of Sangin to create a bridgehead for the Scots Guards convoy.

The operation, which came under fire from Taliban fighters armed with rockets, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), could not be reported until now because of the sensitivity of the unfolding tactical situation in Helmand.

Under salmon pink dawn skies, the Marines began their advance in Viking armoured vehicles by fording the Helmand river.

In the fields beyond - an area of rich farmland and numerous compounds where local farmers were busy sowing next year's hugely lucrative opium crop - men in black turbans watched their passage in silent apprehension.

"Don't expect any smiles up there, there's heavy Taliban influence," said Maj Dan Cheeseman, commander of Bravo Company, in a pre-operation briefing.

Two hours after they crossed the river a dull thud announced the arrival of the first Taliban mortar shell as the Marines stopped south of a drab hamlet called Khor Ghak.

Engineers from the Royal Gurkha Rifles set about filling an irrigation ditch, knocking down walls and trees and driving a roadway through the edge of the village to clear a route for the Scots Guards to reach the open country beyond. The inhabitants watched with unconcealed dismay.

"If you come here, then the Taliban will also come here and we will suffer," said Haji Allah Jan, the elderly headman of the village, whose white beard and turban were offset with a pair of antiquated red spectacles missing one lens.

"We will pay compensation for any damage we cause," Maj Cheeseman told him. "Can my Engineers build anything you might need, a well perhaps?"

"No," replied the headman gloomily. He assessed that the damage would cost $20,000 to fix, a figure the British forces' interpreters suggested was vastly exaggerated. The village later accepted $550.

From old Soviet-built trench positions in the hills above, Marines traded fire with Taliban fighters to the north, who fired mortar, 107mm rockets and RPGs.

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According to Afghan intelligence sources, the Taliban mortar units are receiving instruction from Iranian instructors in Musa Qala.

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Musa Qala has become a talisman for the Taliban leadership since the insurgents took it in March. British military officials said another unit was pushing overnight into the area to the west of Musa Qala. Officials declined to identify the unit, which was said to be "company strength", or in excess of 100 men.

With the Scots Guards already to the south-east of the town, one senior military source said: "The pressure is mounting around Musa Qala."

Salmon pink skies in Afghanistan must be quite a sight.

It is interesting that the Iranians are training the Taliban in the use of mortars. Perhaps they like al Qaeda have given up on Iraq and are also focusing their efforts on Afghanistan. Musa Qala has been compared to Fallujah in Iraq by some, but I doubt the Taliban are as tough as the enemy in Fallujah. American planes are flying support for this mission, which makes it unlikely the Taliban can sustain any attacks even with field fortifications. Their likely tactics will be to impose themselves on some unfortunate human shields. The main news is that an offensive is underway against a Taliban stronghold just as the Taliban would like to settle in for the winter.