19/07/2012 Sources : EMA

La cérémonie de transfert d’autorité du COP Anjiran a eu lieu en présence du colonel Gilles Haberey, commandant le Battle Group (BG) Wild Geese, et du lieutenant-colonel Sekandar, chef du kandak 36 de l’armée nationale afghane (ANA).

En liaison étroite avec le bataillon logistique (BatLog) Voie Sacrée, le BG Wild Geese a conduit l’opération Green Stork 20, qui comprenait le rapatriement sur la FOB (base opérationnelle avancée) Surobi et sur le camp Warehouse à Kaboul du matériel français présent sur le COP Anjiran. Le convoi logistique a sillonné l’axe Vermont et la Highway 7 entre Anjiran, Surobi et Kaboul, avec une dizaine de containers.

Les éléments français déployés jusqu’alors sur le COP Anjiran ont donc rejoint la FOB Surobi. Le BG Wild Geese réarticule ainsi son dispositif tout en poursuivant la concrétisation du transfert de responsabilité aux forces de sécurités afghanes.

Le transfert d’autorité du COP Anjiran s’inscrit dans le cadre du processus de transition du district de Surobi lancé en novembre 2011 et intervient à la suite de la cérémonie officielle de transition du district, le 12 avril 2012 . Le COP Anjiran est le dernier poste de combat avancé de la Task Force La Fayette à passer sous la responsabilité de l’ANA, après le départ du GTIA Surobi du COP Uzbeen, le 30 juin 2012 et de la FOB de Gwan en janvier 2012. Le départ des militaires français du COP Anjiran marque ainsi l’avancée du processus de transfert de responsabilité aux autorités afghanes, et l’autonomie croissante de la 3ème brigade de l’ANA.

17 July 2012 by TOLOnews.com

Afghanistan and Iran are in the process of drafting a strategic agreement to boost cooperation between the two countries, Iranian Foreign Secretary Ali Akbar Salehi told TOLOnews in Japan.

The agreement will focus on different aspects of their relationship, particularly on the training of Afghan national security forces, Salehi said, marking the first time an Iranian high-ranking official has stated the country's interest in training Afghan soldiers.

He confirmed that there were people already working on a draft of a long-term agreement.

"We hope to sign a strategic agreement soon, which was proposed by President [Hamid] Karzai, in order to boost cooperation between the two countries. The two countries' experts are working to write a draft of the agreement which will be signed in the near future," he said.

Salehi pointed out that Iran has a demonstrable interest in Afghanistan's future.

"We have attended many conferences in the past several months including Istanbul, Bonne, Kabul, and now the Tokyo conference which shows the strong commitment of Iran to our Afghan brothers and sisters," Salehi said in the interview.

He added that the Iranian government is already making steps in this regard, trying to connect Afghanistan to international waters through Iran's Chabahar port.

"One of the projects we've announced was to connect Afghanistan to Chabahar port in order to connect the country with waters which will ease the transit issues," Salehi added.

He said that Iran wants Afghanistan to stand on its own feet after withdrawal of the foreign troops from the country.

Iran will be the second regional country to sign a strategic agreement with Afghanistan after India.

Afghanistan has signed similar agreements with countries such as Italy, Britain, Australia, and the US, in recent months to secure their cooperation during the "transformation decade" of 2015 to 2024 and possibly beyond.

July 18, 2012 Ministry of Defence of Hungary  - defpro.com

Last weekend, Hungarian and Afghan EOD technicians saved the lives of hundreds by removing a magnetic bomb from a tanker truck filled up with 16,000 liters of kerosene in downtown Pol-e Khomri. The commander of the HDF Provincial Reconstruction Team (HUN PRT) and the chief of the EOD cell told us the story.

„On Saturday at 18:30 local time, we received a telephone call from the deputy provincial police chief. He told us that an IED emplaced on a tanker truck had been found less than three kilometers from Camp Pannonia in downtown Pol-e Khomri at a busy hub near a mosque, on the main road leading to Kunduz. The police officer informed us that unfortunately there weren’t any deployable local bomb disposal units around, so he requested our help”, Lt.-Col. János Somogyi, the commander of the HUN PRT-12 told us.

He added that he immediately alerted the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) and the EOD team of the Hungarian contingent, and then they deployed to the scene under police escort. According to the lieutenant-colonel, it is fortunate that cases like this are relatively rare, but recently there have been more and more of them at the seat of Baghlan Province.

Last time, on June 28 a tanker truck filled up with gasoline was blown up in the inner city traffic circle. On that occasion, one Afghan was killed, several people were injured and more than a dozen shops were gutted.

„Arriving on the scene, we continued to gather information and found the truck driver who told us that there were 16,000 liters of kerosene inside the tank. He also told us that an Afghan motorcyclist had emplaced an IED on the tank. The driver tried to remove it, but he did not succeed, and then he notified the local police”, the commander of the HUN PRT related the events.

SSG K., the chief the HUN PRT EOD cell told us that in line with the usual protocols first they sent an EOD robot to the tanker truck to reconnoiter the scene.

They tried to remove the IED from the tank using the manipulator arm of the robot, but the magnet was so strong that they failed, although the robot is capable of lifting weights up to 35 kgs with its “hand”, or to tow a car if its handbrakes are released.

„At that point, the Afghan EOD technicians arrived on the scene. After watching the video footages shot by the robot, we decided to use the Hook and Line kit from the EOD equipment to remove the IED. One of the Afghan bomb technicians attached the hook to the IED and then we removed the bomb remotely”, the EOD chief said, adding that they had already met the local EOD technicians several times before, as they regularly organize trainings and refresher courses for them.

By that time it was 10:00 pm., which means the action took over three hours. The local policemen transported the IED to the Afghan National Directorate of Security, where it is currently under investigation.

Through their successful action, the Hungarian and Afghan EOD technicians have saved the lives of several hundred people, because the explosion of such a large amount of kerosene would have caused a huge disaster, Lt.-Col. János Somogyi told us.

A Merlin HC3 helicopter at Camp Bastion

17 Jul 12 UK MoD - A Military Operations news article

As daytime temperatures soar towards 50 degrees Celsius in the shade in Afghanistan the heat is on for the engineers who keep the fleet of helicopters in the air.

The tri-Service Joint Aviation Group provides rotary wing support to British and coalition forces. At Camp Bastion in Helmand province RAF Chinook and Merlin crews operate alongside colleagues from the Army Air Corps and the Fleet Air Arm flying Apache, Lynx and Sea King helicopters.

For the ground crew who keep the aircraft serviceable the extreme heat of the summer months brings with it a unique set of engineering challenges.

The Merlin HC3 helicopters of 1419 Flight are being operated by 78 Squadron's A Flight from RAF Benson:

    "When we first came here last July and got off the aircraft at midnight it was like walking into an oven," said Senior Aircraftman Chris Bird. "I didn't expect it to be that hot in the middle of the night."

    "The aircraft isn't specifically designed to operate in these extreme temperatures, which brings with it a whole host of engineering challenges which we don't see in the UK," said Flight Lieutenant Suzie Gray.

    "For example the engines require cleaning regularly, which requires more manpower, and our other equipment can also overheat very quickly in the height of summer," continued the junior Engineering Officer.

    "These helos were primarily designed for the North Sea environment and the vast amount of avionics equipment fitted does get to a phenomenal temperature out here," explained Corporal Stuart Robertson, an Avionics Technician.

    "The Merlin is equipped with a complex avionics suite which generates a lot of heat when in use. Couple that with the extreme temperatures and dusty environment here and the kit gets very hot."

Sensible precautions are drilled into the RAF personnel who work through the day and night, whatever the conditions:

    "When an aircraft returns we have to wait for it to cool down" said Corporal Robertson.

    "You take on plenty of water and keep an eye out for each other. If anyone looks like they're struggling you take them off the job immediately and take them to cool down."

    "Most of our work is up around the gearbox and engines which run at temperatures of 150 degrees C plus," explained Corporal Tristan Gill.

    "Even if you leave the engines for three hours they are still very warm. We therefore have to wear our sleeves down as a precaution, which in the temperatures out here can make you a tad warm.

    "I normally have two guys working for me and I am therefore responsible for ensuring they take on water and do not stay in the sun too long," he added.

    "Even in the hangar we have a break at least every 30 minutes which results in jobs taking twice as long to complete."

Whilst working out on the pan in the blazing sun wearing personal protective equipment is very uncomfortable, working in the cockpit where the heat is unable to escape is far worse:

    "It's surreal that you have to put on more layers because of the heat," said Senior Aircraftman Bird. "The cockpit is like a greenhouse and it's not uncommon to see the pilots' temperature gauge off the 50 degrees C scale.

    "When you kneel on top of the aircraft you can feel the heat through your overalls and so the trick I've learned is to tip a bottle of water over the airframe I'm working on. It evaporates instantly but it does make it slightly easier," he added.

RAF helicopter engineers work on a Merlin HC3 helicopter at Camp Bastion

For Flight Lieutenant Gray, who is experiencing her first HERRICK tour, the ground crew had exceeded expectations:

    "The team have done absolutely brilliantly. We have some very senior guys here and have been able to deal with everything the environment has thrown at us.

    "Because we've got a mixture of experience, the younger guys are mentored from day one, and as we work 12 hours on, 12 hours off, it only takes a matter of days to settle into a routine," she added.

But despite the harsh environment the RAF personnel do consider themselves to be in a fortunate position:

    "The work's hard and just when you think things are going all right something else will happen," said Corporal Robertson.

    "But it's satisfying to know we're making a difference and helping the troops on the front line, and we all appreciate that we're privileged to be here where we're not in any great danger."

    "We're very linked in to our aircrew who tell us what they've been doing and so the engineers do get a sense of satisfaction from knowing their work is extremely valued," said Flight Lieutenant Gray.

Despite the workload 78 Squadron are finding time to raise money for charity. They have set themselves the target of travelling around the world in 60 days without the aid of transport. With an hour in the gym equating to one minute in each of 24 time zones, to accomplish their task the RAF team will need to spend a total of 1,440 hours working out.

July 17, 2012 Ansar Abbasi - thenews.com.pk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan military has charged the US-led ISAF and Afghan security forces for providing sanctuaries to anti-Pakistan Taliban and terrorists across the border in Afghanistan.

Formally the Foreign Office, the GHQ and even the top civilian leadership in Pakistan is cautious to speak against what the US and other foreign states are doing within Afghanistan to hurt the interest of Pakistan, the Pakistan military through its official publication “Hilal” has, however, spoken out its mind in clear terms.

In its editorial note titled “Terrorist Havens in Afghanistan”, the publication whose patron-in-chief is the DG ISPR, said that the terrorists’ groups are using sanctuaries in Afghanistan for many purposes from training recruits to holding planning meetings.

Training camps at which such skills as hand to hand combat and the handling of firearms are taught, require a large area which has been made available to them in Kunar.” It raises the fundamental questions: “Why these activities have not yet caught the attention of ISAF or the Afghan security forces? The question arises as to why the ‘safe havens’ are tolerated (or at least not attacked) on the Afghan side of the border?”

The editorial note said that somewhere in Kunar Afghanistan, a space was quietly being generated to accommodate the runaway terrorists of Swat who had fled the area due to fear of Pakistan Army.

Conveying the anger of the Pakistan military, the editorial note said: “Re-energized and strong enough, these terrorists have been able to unite themselves in Afghanistan and are attacking Pakistan Army in groups from across the border. The latest attack in Dir on 25th June 2012 is case in point where soldiers of Pakistan Army were attacked, kidnapped and brutally be-headed.”

“The attackers more than 100 in number, were reported to be under the command of Maulana Fazlullah (a wanted terrorist of Swat), and the attack was originated from Kunar province. This type of cross border incursions are regularly featuring for the past two years and are gradually getting an organized shape,” reads the editorial note.

It ruled out the possibility that a group of hundreds, assemble at some place in Afghanistan, carries out a cross border attack and goes back without being noticed by Afghan and allied security forces. “The Americans’ claim and complain that there are ‘safe havens’ for terrorist groups here in Pakistan, but the same can also be claimed about those who attack Pakistani territory from Afghanistan and then return to their sanctuaries.”

The Pakistan military publication urged upon the world to look into this issue seriously and address the concerns of Pakistan. “By providing safe havens, Afghans and international security forces are making that area unsafe and insecure. It will ultimately damage Afghanistan in the longer run and will turn it weak.”

17 July 2012 Pacific Sentinel

photo US Army

July 17, 2012 defense-aerospace.com

(Source: US Army; issued July 16, 2012)

Stryker BCTs in Afghanistan Now Equipped with Precision Mortars

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. --- The first-ever Accelerated Precision Mortar Initiative, or APMI, round fired from a Stryker vehicle in Afghanistan accomplished what few conventional 120mm high-explosive mortars can achieve: a direct hit on a target with the first round fired.

But when firing the Army's new precision-guided cartridges, this is the standard.

First fielded to dismounted troops in Afghanistan last April, Picatinny's Program Executive Office for Ammunition is now fielding the 120 mm precision rounds to Stryker Brigade Combat Teams.

While APMI will not replace standard 120 mm mortars, its accuracy will allow a commander the ability to defeat a target with precision if there is danger of collateral damage.

APMI will be fired from the Army's new Stryker Double-V Hull Mortar Carrier Vehicle, or MCVV. The Stryker MCVV is used to provide high-angle mortar fire to support operations in complex terrain and urban environments. It now can fire APMI precision-guided mortars as well as conventional 120mm rounds.

"Integration of APMI into the Stryker platform gives the troops greater flexibility and increased maneuverability," explained Ted Hom, APMI Product Director.

The dismounted120mm mortar systems in Afghanistan are often kept at mortar positions in Forward Operation Bases and Combat Outposts throughout the country. Now that APMI has been integrated with a mobile platform, the battle space where the APMI round can be used has increased.

Hom said that when fired from Stryker, APMI will "have the same precision, but on a platform that can easily go wherever needed."

With APMI's pinpoint accuracy and the Stryker MCVV's survivability against improvised explosive devices, maneuver commanders now have a very accurate weapon against insurgents.

The APMI cartridge has a requirement of 10 meters CEP, or Circular Error Probable. APMI combat rounds fired in Afghanistan are exceeding the requirement, Hom said.

Ten meters CEP means that if you drew a circle around a target at 10 meters radius, the rounds have to fall inside the circle 50 percent of the time.

TRAINING THE SOLDIERS

PEO Ammunition's Product Manager for Guided Precision Munitions and Mortar Systems, or PdM GPM2S, conducted the first Stryker MCVV combined training and live-fire exercise this June with an infantry division of the 3-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, higher headquarters 5-20 Infantry and B Troop 1-14 Cavalry, who are currently supporting an Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Afghanistan.

"The biggest thing for us is that this is the first time maneuver commanders will have an incredibly accurate munition that is perfect for the targets we see in our area of operation, such as IED emplacers, historic Taliban fighting positions, and enemies close to troops in the open," stated Lt. Eric Birdsley.

"Our responsiveness to threats is greatly increased because commanders can approve the use of this capability," Birdsley added. "Also, due to the small battle space in our AO, or Area of Operation, the ability to shoot APMI at closer ranges than the Excalibur gives us a close-range precision capability we did not previously have."

Many Soldiers who attended the initial training said they were impressed by the performance of the round, especially since many of them had never seen a direct hit on a target.

"After today's successful live fire, we are really impressed with the APMI system," said Platoon Leader Lt. Brian McGillivray.

"The first round effect it brings alleviates any concerns with accuracy of mortars," McGillivary said. "As long as we follow proper procedures, we can pretty much hit anything. Now that this live fire has demonstrated APMI's ability to get a first-round effects of the target, our brigade can start relying on the round."

The research, development and integration of APMI onto Stryker is a collaboration of PEO Ammunition, the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, Joint Munitions Command and Project Manager Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

July 17th, 2012 By RheinmetallAG - defencetalk.com

Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH, a joint venture by Cassidian and Rheinmetall, will continue to support the German Armed Forces in Afghanistan by providing unmanned airborne reconnaissance services.

The Federal Office for Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) prolonged an existing order to the company to provide the German Armed Forces with Heron 1 ultramodern unmanned reconnaissance aircraft for two more years. The volume of the order prolongation amounts to about 75 million euros for the period from October 2012 to October 2014.

The order includes the continuation of flight operations as well as the training of additional operational personnel of the German Air Force and the installation of new, more powerful sensor payloads.

As part of the SAATEG interim solution, the German Air Force is using two UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) at the Mazar-e-Sharif base in Afghanistan, with a total of three Heron 1 aircraft and two ground control stations that will be provided by Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH as part of an operator solution.

This system for imaging reconnaissance in the depths of the theatre of operations (System zur abbildenden Aufklarung in der Tiefe des Einsatzgebietes, SAATEG) is used for real-time airborne monitoring and reconnaissance in the entire theatre of operations of the German ISAF forces. It was put into operation on 17 March 2010.

Heron, the first UAS operated by the German Air Force, has proved its value in operations and has become an essential component of the regional reconnaissance architecture. To date, the Heron 1 has already flown over 9,300 hours of reconnaissance missions in the theatre of operations of the German Armed Forces. It is expected to have flown for 10,000 hours by the middle of August 2012.

During flights that sometimes last more than 24 hours, the sensors deliver important information and make a valuable contribution to providing the highest possible protection from threats to soldiers and civil personnel.

In autumn 2009 the German Armed Forces opted for an operator solution — and therefore initially against a procurement solution — in order to fill an existing capability gap in the short-term and at a cost which was transparent.

The sub-contractor in cooperation with Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH is the Israeli company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) as the manufacturer of the Heron aerial system. Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH is responsible for the complete package of service, maintenance and repairs in this partnership. In contrast, the operation of the systems in the reconnaissance mission is handled by the military personnel of the German Armed Forces.

The MALE UAS (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) Heron 1, can be deployed for target and effect clarification at any time of the day or night, and is largely independent of the weather. With a wingspan of 16.6 metres and a takeoff weight of 1.2 tonnes, the Heron 1 can operate at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet. Thanks to its satellite data link, the UAS can carry out reconnaissance over great distances.

By January 2012 Cassidian and Rheinmetall had already agreed to operate the former activities of Rheinmetall in the field of UAS in future as a joint GmbH with Cassidian (51% shareholder stake of the company) bearing responsibility for industrial leadership. Rheinmetall is still involved with a 49% stake in the joint company, which started operations on 1 July.

Thomas Reinartz has been appointed CEO of Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH. Reinartz fomerly headed the Sales Operations & Operational Marketing department at Cassidian.

Cassidian, an EADS company, is a worldwide leader in global security solutions and systems, providing Lead Systems Integration and value-added products and services to civil and military customers around the globe. In 2011, Cassidian – with around 28,000 employees – achieved revenues of €5.8 billion.

Headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany, Rheinmetall Defence is part of Rheinmetall AG, an internationally operating technology group serving the global automotive industry and the armed forces of numerous nations. One of the most trusted names in the international defence and security sector, the Rheinmetall Group’s Defence arm has some 10,000 employees, with annual sales of over €2 billion.

15/07/2012 lexpress.fr (AFP)

PARIS - Le ministre de la Défense, Jean-Yves Le Drian, est arrivé dimanche au Kazakhstan, pour une visite au cours de laquelle il doit notamment s'entretenir, avec les autorités kazakhes, du retrait des forces françaises d'Afghanistan, a-t-on appris auprès d'un conseiller du ministre.

A son arrivée dimanche en début d'après-midi à Pavlodar, au nord-est du pays, M. Le Drian a eu un premier entretien avec le Premier ministre kazakh, Karim Massimov, a-t-on précisé de même source. Il doit rencontrer lundi le ministre kazakh de la Défense, Adilbek Djaksibekov, dans la capitale à Astana.

Les entretiens doivent notamment porter sur le passage par le Kazakhstan des troupes françaises qui se retirent d'Afghanistan et de leur matériel, a-t-on souligné. La coopération civilo-militaire entre Paris et Astana est également au programme de cette visite, dont la durée n'a pas été précisée.

Des discussions sont actuellement en cours, en bilatéral et au niveau de l'Otan, avec les pays limitrophes de l'Afghanistan pour permettre le passage des convois de la force multinationale (Isaf) qui se désengagent de ce pays.

Le 4 juin, l'Alliance atlantique a notamment annoncé la signature d'un accord avec trois pays d'Asie centrale - le Kazakhstan, le Kirghizstan et l'Ouzbékistan - pour rapatrier le matériel au cours des opérations de retrait.

Deux mille militaires français, sur un total d'environ 3.500 encore en Afghanistan, doivent être partis du pays d'ici la fin de l'année. Un millier d'autres partiront courant 2013 et le matériel suivra.

Le retrait français se fait actuellement essentiellement par voie mixte, par avion jusqu'à Abu Dhabi (Emirats arabes unis), puis par bateau jusqu'en France.

Les deux autres voies possibles sont la voie terrestre par le nord, à travers les républiques d'Asie centrale puis la Russie, moins coûteuse, et la voie sud, par le Pakistan, également en discussion.

July 16, 2012. David Pugliese - Defence Watch

Press release from Rheinmetall:

Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH, a joint venture by Cassidian and Rheinmetall, will continue to support the German Armed Forces in Afghanistan by providing unmanned airborne reconnaissance services. The Federal Office for Defence Technology and Procurement (BWB) prolonged an existing order to the company to provide the German Armed Forces with Heron 1 ultramodern unmanned reconnaissance aircraft for two more years. The volume of the order prolongation amounts to about 75 million euros for the period from October 2012 to October 2014.

The order includes the continuation of flight operations as well as the training of additional operational personnel of the German Air Force and the installation of new, more powerful sensor payloads.

As part of the SAATEG interim solution, the German Air Force is using two UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) at the Mazar-e-Sharif base in Afghanistan, with a total of three Heron 1 aircraft and two ground control stations that will be provided by Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH as part of an operator solution. This System for imaging reconnaissance in the depths of the theatre of operations (System zur abbildenden Aufklärung in der Tiefe des Einsatzgebietes – SAATEG) is used for real-time airborne monitoring and reconnaissance in the entire theatre of operations of the German ISAF forces. It was put into operation on 17 March 2010.

Heron, the first UAS operated by the German Air Force, has proved its value in operations and has become an essential component of the regional reconnaissance architecture. To date, the Heron 1 has already flown over 9,300 hours of reconnaissance missions in the theatre of operations of the German Armed Forces. It is expected to have flown for 10,000 hours by the middle of August 2012.

During flights that sometimes last more than 24 hours, the sensors deliver important information and make a valuable contribution to providing the highest possible protection from threats to soldiers and civil personnel.

In autumn 2009 the German Armed Forces opted for an operator solution – and therefore initially against a procurement solution – in order to fill an existing capability gap in the short-term and at a cost which was transparent.

The sub-contractor in cooperation with Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH is the Israeli company Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) as the manufacturer of the Heron aerial system. Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH is responsible for the complete package of service, maintenance and repairs in this partnership. In contrast, the operation of the systems in the reconnaissance mission is handled by the military personnel of the German Armed Forces.

The MALE UAS (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) Heron 1, can be deployed for target and effect clarification at any time of the day or night, and is largely independent of the weather. With a wingspan of 16.6 metres and a takeoff weight of 1.2 tonnes, the Heron 1 can operate at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet. Thanks to its satellite data link, the UAS can carry out reconnaissance over great distances.

By January 2012 Cassidian and Rheinmetall had already agreed to operate the former activities of Rheinmetall in the field of UAS in future as a joint GmbH with Cassidian (51% shareholder stake of the company) bearing responsibility for industrial leadership. Rheinmetall is still involved with a 49% stake in the joint company, which started operations on 1 July. Thomas Reinartz has been appointed CEO of Rheinmetall Airborne Systems GmbH. Reinartz fomerly headed the Sales Operations & Operational Marketing department at Cassidian.

July 16^th, 2012. By Kamran Yousaf The Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD: With fissures in their bilateral ties quickly being healed, Pakistan has offered the US a new mechanism encompassing ‘surveillance’ of targeted operations against wanted militants as an alternative to drone strikes in the country’s tribal regions.

The plan, as crafted by Islamabad, involves both the identification of targets by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in the tribal areas and swapping of information with the Pakistani security agencies. The latter will then deal with the situation accordingly, said officials familiar with the development.

“To ensure that Pakistan acts on the information provided by the CIA, the US can use any mechanism to monitor our operation on the ground,” revealed a senior figure of the country’s security establishment.

“They (US) can even use drones for this purpose,” the official explained. However, he clarified that no foreign boots on the ground would be allowed for surveillance.

The mechanism is currently figuring in behind-the-scene discussions between Pakistan and the US, he said.

The idea also seeks to dispel the growing perception in Washington that Islamabad is playing a ‘double game’ in the ‘war on terror’.

He disclosed that both sides had coordinated initial drone attacks when the CIA first launched its campaign back in 2004. Another official remarked that “the CIA later took a solo flight under the assumption that Pakistan is playing a double game”.

The official said Pakistan expects a breakthrough in its ongoing negotiations with the US on finding a ‘mutually acceptable’ alternative to the CIA-piloted drone campaign.

The optimism stems from the fact that until now, Pakistan had never offered the US any serious alternative to predator strikes.

The reason, the official cited, was a tacit understanding between Pakistan and the US to use pilotless drones in the rugged terrain along the Pak-Afghan border where key al Qaeda figures are believed to have found refuge.

Perhaps for the first time, officials also acknowledged that drone attacks eliminated several key militants who posed an equal threat to both Pakistan and the US.

In a candid admission, one official went to the extent of saying that collateral damage figures compiled by independent human rights organisations in the drone attacks were somewhat exaggerated.

However, the official said the government ‘had’ to oppose the drones campaign due to the widely-held public opinion that drones violate Pakistan’s territorial sovereignty and integrity.

“That is why we have offered this alternative to the US – because we (Pakistan) want to become part of the system rather than being isolated,” he maintained.

However, officials did not give any timeframe for a breakthrough on the stalemate over drones, which the US believes are critical to eliminating high-value targets associated with al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Given that it’s election year in the US, many experts are sceptical that the administration of US President Barack Obama would agree on any drastic changes in their drones’ campaign.

July 12, 2012 Spacewar.com (AFP)

Chaman, Pakistan - Trucks carrying supplies for NATO troops in Afghanistan crossed the Pakistani border on Thursday for only the second time since Islamabad agreed to lift a seven-month blockade, officials said.

Pakistan closed overland routes for NATO convoys going to its war-torn neighbour after botched US air strikes killed 24 Pakistani soldiers in November, plunging ties between the "war on terror" allies to a new low.

Islamabad agreed to reopen the routes after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on July 3 apologised for the deaths, but very few vehicles have crossed the border.

Thousands of truck owners are awaiting compensation before going back to work, and drivers say the trips into Afghanistan are too dangerous and too poorly paid.

The Pakistani Taliban have threatened to attack NATO supply trucks and kill drivers if they resume trips to Afghanistan.

On Thursday, the umbrella militant organisation threatened a further wave of attacks, and claimed responsibility for shooting nine police prison officers being trained in the eastern city of Lahore.

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf ordered authorities to allow the more than 1,500 vehicles stuck in Pakistan to cross into Afghanistan following talks with US ambassador Cameron Munter, his spokesman Akram Shaheedi told AFP.

But on Thursday customs officials told AFP that only another four NATO trucks carrying food supplies had gone into Afghanistan at the Chaman border post in Pakistan's remote southwest.

In the northwestern tribal district of Khyber, officials said seven to 10 trucks loaded with NATO supplies were due to cross the Torkham post for the first time since Pakistan agreed to resume supplies.

Later in the day Mohammad Fayyaz, an administrative official at Torkham, told AFP that four trucks loaded with food had crossed the frontier into Afghanistan.

But in Karachi, where NATO containers begin their long journey to Pakistan's two Afghan border crossings from the Arabian Sea port, many are waiting for compensation from subcontractors for being out of work for seven months.

"We are too wary, too anxious and too cautious about the situation. It was dangerous to go overland before the government ban, but now the dangers have increased," Akram Khan Durrani, president of the All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association, told AFP.

"No one from the authorities have contacted us properly and assured us of foolproof security," he said.

Rana Mohammad Aslam, vice president of the All Pakistan Goods Carrier Association, said NATO subcontractors were supposed to pay $6,000 compensation per vehicle to truck owners.

"Except for some trucks which were stuck elsewhere and have settled their payment issues with the contractors, none have started moving," he told AFP from Karachi.

"Subcontractors have started installing satellite trackers on trucks as a means of security, but still there is no nod from the government, which has to arrange foolproof security for the operation."

Officials in customs and at the ports and shipping ministry, who wished not to be named, said it would still "take a few days" to finalise compensation and were unable to give a specific date for trucks to leave Karachi.

The interior ministry in southern Sindh province, of which Karachi is capital, said it was finalising a security plan, but declined to go into details.

Tensions have been high among right-wing and extremist organisations since Pakistan last week decided to reopen its Afghan border to NATO supply convoys, ending a seven-month blockade following negotiations with US officials.

The Defence Council of Pakistan, a coalition of right-wing and hardline Islamist groups opposed to the country's alliance with Washington, has led protests against the resumption of supplies for NATO troops fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan.

"You see how many people are opposing it? Earlier, we only feared the Taliban, but now we're afraid of many people and groups," said truck owner Mohammad Asghar.

12/07/2012 Sources : EMA

Le 8 juillet 2012 s’est déroulée l’opération «Black Stork  dans le sud de la vallée de la Koh e Safi, entre le district de Surobi et Kaboul. Cette opération conduite par l’armée nationale afghane (ANA), appuyée par les soldats du Battle Group (BG) Wild Geese, avait pour but de poursuivre la désorganisation des réseaux d’insurgés locaux et de renforcer la présence du kandak(bataillon) 31 chargé d’assurer la sécurité de l’Highway 7, axe logistique majeur emprunté notamment par les convois des forces françaises.

Pendant 24 heures,  Black Stork  s’est déroulée le long de l’axe « Loiret » et a consisté à fouiller les villages de Senjalay, Kotagay et Dahane Kuh, trois localités situées dans le sud de la vallée de la Koh e Safi. Cette opération complexe, entièrement planifiée et conduite par le kandak 31 et appuyée par un détachement génie du kandak34 de la 3ème brigade de l’ANA, a été l’occasion de mettre en exergue la coopération interarmes entre les deux kandaks.

Fidèle à sa mission, le BG Wild Geese a appuyé l’ANA lors de la fouille des différents villages et durant la Shura. Un détachement de liaison, d’appui et de soutien (DLAS) a été mis en place sur les crêtes dominant l’ensemble de la vallée afin de renseigner le kandak sur les éventuelles activités des insurgés tout en conservant en permanence, de jour comme de nuit, une capacité d’appui feu. Grâce à l’efficacité du dispositif tactique, les insurgés n’ont pas été en mesure de porter de coups à l’ANA. Les forces de sécurité afghanes ont une nouvelle fois démontré leurs capacités à mener des opérations dans des zones refuge de l’insurrection.