NATO chases Taliban from Musa Qala

Guardian:

The battle to retake the Taliban's only urban base of Musa Qala in southern Afghanistan has been completed, Nato announced today.

The declaration came 24 hours after the Afghan defence ministry said Nato and Afghan forces had "completely captured" the town in Helmand province.

Afghan soldiers, backed by British, US and Estonian forces, were reported to have moved into the centre of Musa Qala this morning with little resistance. Taliban commanders withdrew their forces after heavy bombardment.

A statement from Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) said troops had been welcomed by residents after they "liberated" the centre of the town.

"With the support of Isaf forces, hundreds of Afghan national army (ANA) troops moved into the centre this morning and met with little resistance," Isaf said.

"Taliban commanders had earlier fled the area as their resistance crumbled. The action to retake the centre - after several months of Taliban control - was greeted enthusiastically by local residents, whose safety had been of paramount importance to the liberating forces."

Isaf said ANA and Nato troops had spent last night consolidating their positions on the outskirts before the final push to retake the town.

Nato has been keen to claim the final assault on the town would be "Afghan-led".

Isaf said: "The task now is to provide a safe and secure environment for the local people to be able to enjoy the benefits of the rule of law and reconstruction and economic development."

...

No kidding. Defeating the Taliban is the easy part. Protecting the people from their return will be a true test for the Afghans and NATO. It will also be a test of the commitment to a counterinsurgency strategy.

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