October 22, 2010: For the last two months, 12,000 NATO troops, and 7,000 Afghan soldiers and police have been swarming all over Kandahar province, systematically taking down Taliban bases, safe houses, headquarters and bomb workshops. This culminated on the recent air-land assault on the Horn of Panjwai (a hilly and heavily fortified Taliban base area, 30 kilometers long and 10 kilometers at its widest, shaped like a rhino horn). The Taliban have controlled this rural area for four years, but now admit they have been forced to abandon it. However, the Taliban also say they will return from their Pakistan sanctuaries when the foreign troops leave.The successful offensive relied on several factors.
Pretty good roundup of what is happening and how it is working. Seems the Taliban are getting spanked.
| I suspect they were followed home to their Pakistan sanctuaries, which aren't secure from UAV missiles. They may not be able from their Pakistan sanctuaries when the foreign troops leave... The spirit being willing but the flesh weak, that kind of thing. |