Toronto Star : Taliban `surrounded' in stronghold -- But general wants 2,000 more troops

Taliban `surrounded' in stronghold -- But general wants 2,000 more troops

by LES PERREAUX | CANADIAN PRESS | September 10, 2006

PANJWAII, Afghanistan—Canadian commanders said yesterday a NATO assault in southern Afghanistan has Taliban forces "surrounded" and on the verge of collapse.

But a different assessment seemed to come from Warsaw, where a Canadian general said at least 2,000 more North Atlantic Treaty Organization troops are needed to battle the region's unexpectedly strong insurgency.

In Panjwaii, a southern Taliban stronghold, Lt.-Col. Omer Lavoie told Canadian Press that firm advances from the north by Canadian-led international troops, combined with a firm stand in mountains to the south, are squeezing the insurgents.

"There's good indication that they are on the brink of collapse in a number of different areas," said Lavoie, commander of Canadian troops on the ground in Afghanistan. He gave few details as to how he reached the conclusion.

"Like most insurgents, they don't have the sustainment ability to have long, protracted engagements. What we see is mostly hit-and-run tactics."

But in Warsaw, Canadian Gen. Ray Henault, NATO's chief military adviser, said 2,000 to 2,500 more NATO troops are needed to quell unexpectedly strong resistance in southern Afghanistan. He plans to formally ask the alliance's council for extra troops tomorrow.

"Afghanistan is the most complex mission NATO has ever undertaken," Henault said. "Our collective assessment is that we are satisfied with the military-related progress to date, particularly in the north and the west, but less so in the south, where it's been more difficult."

Henault said only 85 per cent of forces required for the mission have been supplied by the 26 member countries so far — a level considered acceptable until commanders realized "the intensity of the resistance."

NATO spokesman Canadian Col. Brett Boudreau said military leaders will meet Wednesday and Friday to discuss the shortfall. He noted that Canada, with 2,200 troops based in Kandahar, is a significant contributor to the mission.

The Canadians are leading Operation Medusa against the Taliban in the south and, yesterday, met sporadic resistance as they consolidated their grip on ground taken in the previous two days. "We've got the Taliban surrounded," said Canadian Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, NATO's commander in southern Afghanistan. "We don't want to squeeze them out. We're around them, and they've got choices to make."

In Kabul yesterday, police imposed a security crackdown a day after at least 16 people, including two American soliders, were killed by a suicide bomber near the U.S. embassy.

From the Star's Wire Services