KHANSHIN, Helmand province - It is all too rare a phenomenon lately: local residents cheerful at the sight of foreign troops. But Operation Khanjar (Dagger Thrust), which the United States Marines Corps launched in early July in southern Helmand, has so far delivered on its promise to put protection of civilians ahead of killing the enemy.
"When the American forces first came to our village, we were very frightened," said Mohammad Isaa, a resident of remote Khanshin district, which the Marines cleared just one day after the start of the operation. "But there was no fighting, and no Taliban. The soldiers are just walking around, but they haven't bothered anybody yet. They are not searching houses. They tell people that they are here for our security, so we can participate in the [presidential] elections. They also said, 'If you don't make problems for us, we will never make problems for you.' We are very happy now."
| "These Americans are very good people. They wave and speak to us in a very friendly way. And they have helped us finally to get rid of these cruel oppressors." |
Khanshin, one of Helmand's largest but least-populated districts, is mostly desert. Villages are scattered throughout, most boasting just a bazaar with a few dozen shops. It is one of five districts targeted in Operation Khanjar, the others being Nawa, Garmsir, Dishu and Marja.
Assadullah Sherzad, the provincial chief of police, said that Nawa, Garmsir and Khanshin were now clear and stable. "In those areas that we have cleared, we have established security checkpoints," he told reporters. "The police have been able to keep those areas clear of the Taliban."
Operation Khanjar has met very little resistance since it got under way early in July; the overwhelming firepower of the US forces doubtless had the Taliban thinking better of a face-to-face fight. But even more surprising than the lack of a counter-punch has been the reception given the troops by the Helmandis, who have been battered and let down over the past eight years. |