An invite-only briefing took place at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London on Wednesday 31 March 2010, where British defence journalists were updated on operations in Afghanistan by military spokesman Major General Gordon Messenger. Here follows a transcript of Maj Gen Messenger's briefing:
There's certainly a sense in theatre in the South [of Afghanistan] and in Helmand, of a strong sense of continued progress. It is against the backdrop of some intimidation by the Taliban of the locals, which the commanders on the ground are taking very seriously.
In terms of what I mean by progress, well in those areas that have been clearly consolidated post-MOSHTARAK there have been considerably reduced numbers of incidents.
An example would be in the Grenadier Guards battle group. As they come to the end of their time, the number of incidents in their area has reduced by 80 per cent from the peak during their six months. And that's a significant reduction and it's reflective both of the force densities that MOSHTARAK has been able to generate and, linked to that, the degree to which the population are prepared to be on the side of the legitimate forces and show some support.
Freedom of movement; all routes in Nad 'Ali and Marjah, and across Helmand, are experiencing greater densities of traffic. There are still some areas which are considered vulnerable, namely the route from Lashkar Gah into Marjah; this is passable but it isn't seeing the big increase in vehicle densities that some of the other routes are seeing. And there are a number of road updates which will improve that further.
On the police, the ANCOP [Afghan National Civil Order Police] the Gendarmerie are still in place and keep a good relationship going with the locals where they are deployed.
The plan is to gradually phase that out with uniformed police over time, but that will be based on the security situation at the time and the quality of the Afghan police that are going to come in, rather than having some sort of deadline. For the Afghan police now coming out of the training centre, there is a degree of hope that they will be of a considerably better standard.
Local engagement is continuing to be positive. A theme that has been developed n the last couple of weeks has been the introduction of continued female engagement to the process. This may not sound like much, but it has been encouraging, an increasing number of females have been ringing up, giving information on confidential hotlines. I said it doesn't sound much, but I think it matters, and what you're seeing is greater female attendance at some of the shuras, and I think that's a positive sign that people are prepared to come out of the shackles of what's gone. And the two key governors in the area, District Governor Haba Bhula and Deputy District Governor Zahir, continue to impress.
Cash for Works is going strong in the food zone, the project, this is dated 31st March, over about 14,500 people have registered for it, which is about 90 per cent of the quota and registration will begin in Marjah on 4th April. There are over 10,000 people who have already collected their seeds and the like, and you will be aware that that is not simply on account of narcotics, that's all about stimulating an agricultural economy in an area which is fertile and agriculturally viable.
In terms of details, Musa Qal'ah handed over to the US Embassy on the 27th [March]. That has gone well and the reports from theatre are that the incoming unit are very happy with what they have taken over.
In Babaji, the new Route Trident is improving the freedom of movement through the area with plans to extend it.
In Marjah the confidential hotline is getting between 50 and 80 calls a week, which is considered positive. Political outreach is continuing there, not only at the district level with Deputy Governor Zahir and Governor Mangal, but we have, in the last week, had a visit by Minister Popal from the IDLG [Independent Directorate for Local Governance], which is good because it's showing continued national engagement and ownership of what has happened in the recent past.
Some intimidation remains throughout the area. This is something that the commanders on the ground are taking very seriously. Examples are [the Taliban] threatening people who are signing up for Cash for Works, or extorting money from those who have been paid as a result of Cash for Works. [The Taliban are also] threatening to burn down shops of those who are choosing to establish stalls in the many bazaars that are opening up, and there are also issues in certain areas where Taliban see the ownership of a mobile phone as suspicious. This is happening often at night, and is clearly something that the commanders on the ground are taking very seriously.
This is about having a ubiquitous presence countering that sort of influence, and it is clearly a key context, because as we are seeking the reassurance and the loyalty of the population. We can't allow this sort of thing to take root, so that is something which is driving the conduct of operations quite considerably.
Sangin, I've talked about Sangin many times, but allow me to do so again: Every time I say I accept that Sangin is the most challenging area in Helmand, and we have had three fatalities in Sangin in the last week, but it is an important area to secure. I don't feel we can say that we secure Helmand unless we secure the district centre of Sangin, and that's why ensuring this secure area is such a key node and such a critical part of the operation in Helmand.
There are also good signs, some early signs that progress is there [in Sangin]. There is a new District Governor. It is very early days and everyone accepts that, but the signs are good that he is going about his business in the right way.
There is a new Chief of Police; the same is being said of him. Between them, and with the continued engagement of Governor Mangal - who is going up there some time in the future to check on progress - it is hopeful that those sort of things will lead to progress.
There are going to be increases in both ANA and ANP in the coming weeks. I don't want you to think that the operation there is entirely responsive, entirely passive and we take what they [the Taliban] are giving. There is very much, in Sangin, within the battle group - a sense of momentum and a sense of needing to keep on the front foot.
There are numerous strikes; there have been numerous strikes in the last week, which have killed insurgents that were in the process of laying IEDs. There have been numerous intelligence-led search, arrest and detentions in the Sangin area, in the last week. This sense of momentum, this sense of taking a front foot approach is vital to success there and it's also important in morale terms.
I have some stats on the air contribution. The Tornados flying out of Kandahar have flown 40 sorties in the last week. Two of those involved scrambles at short notice in response to troops in contact on the ground. There was an incident where the Tornados conducted a strafing attack in response to troops being pinned down and feeling very much under threat. The choice of weapon was selected to minimise collateral damage, it was the 27mm cannon, which was successful in halting the contact. It was followed up by a show of force - a preferred means of applying a sort of latent threat to the enemies that engage our troops. There have been six such shows of force in the past week.
Two other things: A bit of talk about Kandahar ops and Phase Three. I hope you understand that the sort of context of where Phase Three is at - I think I've explained that for some time, and that Kandahar will be the focus, and we're seeing that being picked up in the press. It's not for me to go through an outline of how that operation will unfold now, although I'm sure it will be the subject of a briefing in the future, once we've got the detail. And whilst there will clearly be a significant military component to that operation, it's clear that the commanders on the ground are well aware of the specifics and sensitivity of operating in Kandahar and its environs, and the operation will be very much about strengthening institutions there and reducing negative influences there.
There is no current intention to move British forces from central Helmand to Kandahar or anywhere else, and there is no planning in place for that eventuality.
The focus of the British effort at the moment is categorically in central Helmand, where there is a job to be done. It is a job which is front and centre in the ISAF plan and is a key component to the securing of the whole of the populated belt in the South.
What I cannot do and will not do is second guess where we are going to be in two and three years time. We're hoping that the role of the British forces in central Helmand will change over time, including increased transition to Afghan forces as they become capable enough to do so. But that is the unequivocal place at the moment.
