Administrative map of Afghanistan (courtesty of University of Texas Perry-Casta�eda Library Map Collection)

20.12.2015 Romandie.com (ats)

La province afghane du Helmand est "sur le point" de tomber aux mains des talibans, a prévenu dimanche son vice-gouverneur dans un appel à l'aide adressé au président Ashraf Ghani sur Facebook. Quelque 90 soldats sont morts dans les combats ces derniers jours.

Le Helmand, fief des rebelles islamistes et haut lieu de la culture du pavot dans le sud du pays, est le théâtre de violents combats entre les insurgés et des forces armées déjà mises à rude épreuve dans l'ensemble de l'Afghanistan, notamment dans le nord, autrefois relativement stable.

Le vice-gouverneur Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar juge même "catastrophique" la situation dans son message à M. Ghani. "Tout le monde essaye de cacher la vérité", écrit-il sur sa page Facebook, mais "le Helmand est sur le point" de tomber aux mains des talibans.

Une sombre perspective, d'après le responsable qui dresse un parallèle avec la débâcle de l'armée dans le nord du pays fin septembre, lorsque les talibans ont envahi puis tenu la ville stratégique de Kunduz pendant trois jours.

"Indifférence" dénoncée

Et M. Rasoolyar de fustiger l'"indifférence" face à la mort de "90 soldats morts au combat vendredi et samedi" dans deux districts du Helmand. Cette assertion a été rejetée par le ministère de la Défense, selon lequel la province n'est pas sur le point de tomber.

"Les ravitaillements en vivres et en munitions n'arrivent pas à temps, nous n'évacuons pas nos soldats blessés et tués et les forces étrangères observent la situation depuis leurs bases sans intervenir", s'insurge encore le vice-gouverneur.

Pas de trêve hivernale

L'Otan a mis fin à sa mission de combat en Afghanistan il y a tout juste un an. Les quelque 13'000 soldats étrangers déployés dans le pays se limitent à la formation de leurs homologues afghans et n'interviennent plus officiellement sur le terrain à leurs côtés.

Un obstacle auquel s'ajoute l'absence de répit dans les combats. Contrairement aux années ayant suivi la chute de leur régime en 2001, les talibans n'observent cette année aucune trêve hivernale.

Les rebelles, autrefois surtout actifs dans le sud et l'est, ont même intensifié leur insurrection et particulièrement dans le Helmand, ces dernières semaines. Ils se sont brièvement emparés d'un quartier de la capitale provinciale, Lashkar Gah, en octobre.

9 April 2014 Ewen MacAskill, defence correspondent - The Guardian

Decision by Mike Martin will allow him to publish critical account of Helmand conflict without interference from MoD

A captain in the Territorial Army has resigned after a dispute with the Ministry of Defence over a book he has written that is critical of the conduct of the campaign in Afghanistan's Helmand province.

The MoD commissioned the book by Dr Mike Martin, but took exception to parts of the account. The dispute has gone on for more than a year.

In a statement, the MoD said it "has a strong record of learning from previous campaigns and encourages its officers to challenge existing norms and conventional wisdom. However, the publication of books and articles by serving military personnel is governed by well-established policy and regulations. When these are breached, the MoD will withhold approval."

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Soldiers of 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment were the last UK forces to be based at MOB Lashkar Gah

16 March 2014 Ministry of Defence

UK forces have now closed or handed over to Afghan forces all but 2 of their bases in Helmand province.

In a complex and well-planned operation spanning more than a month, Main Operating Base (MOB) Lashkar Gah and Patrol Base (PB) Lashkar Gah Durai have been handed over to Afghan control. A third base, MOB Price, has also been closed.

From a peak of 137 UK bases, just Camp Bastion, which remains the main base for UK personnel, and Observation Post Sterga 2 are now under UK control. The majority of the former UK bases are now in the hands of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF).

Afghan forces are now leading 97% of all security operations across the country and are carrying out over 90% of their own training.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:

The handover and closure of our bases across Helmand underlines the progress UK forces have made to increase security and stability across the province but also to build up the capability of the Afghan forces who will carry that work forward.

Those service personnel who have served in Lashkar Gah and Lashkar Gah Durai and at MOB Price as part of successive UK brigades have made a huge contribution to the campaign which has safeguarded our national security at home.

UK combat operations will cease by the end of this year but our support for the Afghan people will continue. Meanwhile, our troops will continue the mammoth task of getting our people and equipment home by Christmas.

MOB Lashkar Gah was handed over to the Afghans on 24 February 2014 during a ceremony attended by civilian and military leaders from the district centre. It opened in 2006 and served as the headquarters of UK military forces in Afghanistan until August 2013 when Task Force Helmand moved to Camp Bastion.

PB Lashkar Gah Durai, handed over to the Afghans on 8 March 2014, commands an important junction in Helmand. MOB Price, which has been closed, was formerly home to Danish armed forces and was the UK’s largest forward location for most of Operation Herrick.

Each base provided a strategic location in Helmand for International Security Assistance Force personnel supporting the ANSF.

Brigadier James Woodham, Commander Task Force Helmand, said:

The handover of 3 of the largest British bases in Helmand represents a historic moment in the UK’s military campaign in Afghanistan. This was a complex and significant operation requiring detailed planning and much hard work during its execution.

That we are no longer required to operate from these bases is a sign of the progress made by Afghan forces delivering security for their own people.

While the Afghans are firmly in the lead, UK personnel will continue to serve in Helmand throughout this year supporting the Afghan security forces where necessary.

The gradual operation to remove infrastructure from each base and make the move back to Camp Bastion took around 6 months, with dozens of journeys via road and air, including combat logistic patrols. In the final stages of the operation there were 10 such patrols, involving nearly 600 vehicles.

This month’s handovers come as the ANSF prepare for their second summer in the lead for security operations in Helmand.

27 Sep 2013 By Ben Farmer, Defence Correspondent

Britain will host next year’s Nato summit as the military alliance draws up plans for Afghanistan after combat troops pull out, David Cameron has announced.

The summit will be the first time the biennial gathering of alliance leaders has been held in the UK since 1990.

Downing Street said that the dates and venues would be announced later, but Mr Cameron confirmed the agenda would be dominated by the lengthy Afghan campaign.

He said: "It will be an opportunity for leaders to recognise the contribution and the sacrifice made by our service men and women as the [international] mission in Afghanistan draws to a close, and as Nato draws down its forces and looks to help Afghanistan in different ways.”

The Nato-led international coalition is quickly withdrawing the more than 80,000 troops it still has in the country. Nato has said all combat troops will leave by the end of 2014 and fully handover security duties to Afghan forces.

American and British commanders believe Afghan forces will not be ready in time to stand on their own against the Taliban though, and want to keep a force of military trainers and special forces troops in the country.

Last week The Telegraph disclosed that the Army was pushing a plan to keep up to 200 advisers in Camp Bastion in Helmand province to help the Afghan army.

Gen Sir David Richards, former head of the Armed Forces, said having the summit was “excellent news” for the UK.

He said: “It confirms the leading role the country continues to play in Nato and on the world stage. In terms of combat effectiveness UK armed forces are the second most powerful in Nato. Given other nations’ defence cuts this will still be the case well into the 2020s.

“I am delighted that the UK will play a leading role in devising alliance strategy in the post Afghanistan era. In what is a very troubled world, working closely with allies and friends will be as important as at any time in our history".

10 June 2013 Ministry of Defence

The head of the British Army has visited UK Service personnel working in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan.

General Sir Peter Wall travelled to Lashkar Gah, where he visited the Headquarters of Task Force Helmand and spoke with the Commander of British Forces in Helmand, Brigadier Rupert Jones, who updated him on the role of his troops in support of Afghan security forces.

General Wall also met with the Provincial Reconstruction Team’s Head of Mission, Catriona Laing, to discuss how civilian and military colleagues are working together to ensure Helmand’s progress in governance, development and the rule of law are maintained beyond the drawdown of UK forces from the region.

General Wall then travelled to the Lashkar Gah Training Centre (LTC) where he was briefed by the Commanding Officer of the Police Mentoring and Advisory Group (PMAG), Lieutenant Colonel Robin Lindsay.

The PMAG, formed from 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS), works directly with the Afghan police who will provide enduring security across Helmand.

While at the LTC, General Wall viewed new recruits of the Afghan National Police conducting training to counter the threat of improvised explosive devices.

Lieutenant Colonel Lindsay said:

The Laskar Gah Training Centre is a centre of police excellence and a reflection of the institutional and tactical progress that the Afghan Police have made over the last 4 years.

The standards here are high and the quality of graduates illustrates the increasing professionalism of the police. These policemen and women represent the future for Helmand’s security, so to see their enthusiasm to serve their local communities is really encouraging.

General Wall then flew to the main British operating base in Helmand, Camp Bastion, where he visited the Brigade Advisory Group (BAG), made up of 4th Battalion The Rifles (4 RIFLES), under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Tom Bewick.

The BAG advises the Afghan National Army’s 3/215 Brigade, and General Wall took the opportunity to watch Afghan soldiers conduct mortar training in the adjacent Afghan Camp Shorabak.

Before leaving Camp Bastion, General Wall visited the Headquarters of Joint Force Support (Afghanistan) where he was briefed by the commander, Air Commodore John Bessell. He then conducted a tour of the various sites on camp involved in the redeployment of military equipment back to the UK – a process that is well underway since it began in October 2012.

General Wall said:

It’s invaluable to come and get an assessment from those on the ground of the progress we’re making, the issues we are having to confront as the campaign evolves, and also to see what sort of shape our people are in.

This was also a great opportunity to see for myself the quality of the training that the Afghan Police and Army are undertaking and I have been impressed by both their professionalism and confidence.

The change between what I found at Christmas time during my last visit and the current situation is quite remarkable.

01/17/2012 STRATEGY PAGE

A Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey flies in the sky above Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 17. This was the last mission flown during Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162's six-month deployment in Helmand province, Afghanistan. Photo by Cpl. Justin Boling

A huge Mastiff armoured vehicle overshadows a young Afghan boy, on his way to fetch water from the village well, in the Shahzad region of Helmand province - [Picture: Staff Sergeant Mark Jones, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]

23 Aug 11 UK MoD - A Military Operations news article

A group of soldiers whose task it is to clear routes in Helmand province of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) recently emerged from their Mastiff armoured vehicle unscathed when a device exploded underneath it.

31 Armoured Engineer Squadron (31 AES), 32 Engineer Regiment, normally based in Hohne in northern Germany, are currently part of the Task Force Helmand Engineer Group.

They are the leading route proving and clearance squadron and their job is to travel across the UK's area of operations in their Mastiff armoured vehicles to make sure routes are safe from IEDs and bombs.

On one of their many patrols recently, the team were clearing one of the main routes through Helmand when their vehicle struck an IED. Sapper Gareth Addy said immediately they knew what it was:

"There was a massive explosion that seriously rocked the vehicle. It was the biggest I've ever experienced. Immediately afterwards it went very quiet and then you start to realise what's happened and worry if everyone is OK."

The team quickly began their drills to assess the situation and check whether there were any injuries. Despite the size of the bomb and the force of the blast, none of the people in the Mastiff were hurt.

The vehicle sustained some damage, but, thanks to the armour and design of the Mastiff, it was only minor, and after a further assessment by the team of the route, the patrol continued with their journey.

Sapper Gareth Addy, 31 Armoured Engineer Squadron, ready to go out on patrol in his team's Mastiff vehicle - [Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2011]

Sapper Addy, aged 31 from Bridlington, who is a Mastiff driver and gunner, said it was only when they returned to Camp Bastion some hours later they realised how lucky they had been:

"The vehicles we use really do work and everyone now knows that, should the worst happen, they will do a good job of protecting us. In a strange way, that incident increased everyone's morale and confidence for the remainder of the tour."

The Mastiff is a heavily armoured, 6x6 wheel-drive protected patrol vehicle which carries eight people, plus two crew. It is used in Afghanistan to transport troops and protect large convoys as well as directly engaging the Taliban with its advanced weapons systems.

Although heavily armoured, these wheeled patrol vehicles have a less intimidating profile than tracked vehicles and give commanders on the ground in Afghanistan more options to deal with the threats they are facing.

Part of the Mastiff's resilience towards mine explosions comes from the fact that its hull is V-shaped, as opposed to flat, which pushes the force of any explosion outwards.

During Operation HERRICK 14, the engineers from 31 AES have played an important part in enabling both troops and locals to move more freely from one area to another and with greater confidence in their security.

31 AES is part of the Task Force Helmand Engineer Group, made up of Royal Engineers from both 32 Engineer Regiment based in Hohne, Germany, and 24 Commando Engineer Regiment based in Barnstaple, North Devon.