Operation Nike IV ends as Coalition Forces gain ground in Eastern Afghanistan
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011 1:38:44 by Zuhaib Gull
Operation Nike IV ends as Coalition Forces gain ground in Eastern Afghanistan
The US Armed Forces and the Coalition establishment have successfully ended Operation Nike IV in Eastern Afghanistan. The news came out of Kabul on Saturday, October 22. The recent assault was launched against militant groups stationed near the Pakistan and Afghanistan border. Citing various cross border clashes, the coalition of US, North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Afghan forces took the initiative to quell the insurgency rampant along the Eastern region of the country.
The operation was conducted between the October 13th and October 18th. Specific regions were targeted which included the mountains of Musa Khel, along the provincial borders of Khowst and Paktya. The coalition has reported a unanimous victory and they claim the operation has reduced the insurgents’ ability to attack ISAF and Afghan forces. Furthermore, eleven men with ties to the militant groups have been apprehended.
The news comes as no surprise as the Coalition forces have launched Operation Knife Edge to reduce militancy along the Eastern region of Afghanistan. This operation is specifically targeting the Haqqani Network, a militant group allegedly working under the influence of the Pakistan secret service, also known as the Inter Services Intelligence.
Afghan Defence minister Abdul Rahim Wardak has claimed that the recent operation would, “deliver a crashing blow to the enemy’s capabilities to conduct operations, especially terrorist operations during the winter”.
Another spokesperson of the Afghan military presented his view on the Knife Edge, recently.
“This operation is launched along the border because the enemy lately operates along the border on both sides. Sometimes on this side and sometimes on the other side,” said the Afghan chief of army staff, Sher Mohammad Karimi.
Master Sgt. Nicholas Conner, a NATO spokesman at Bagram Air Field, stated yesterday that around 115 militants have been killed in the Coalition’s push towards the Eastern areas of Afghanistan. Sgt. Conner explained the Coalition’s strategy along the targeted vicinity.
“This is a series of multiple, smaller operations that have a combined, larger impact,” said Master Sgt. Conner. “Most of the Kunar region is marked with isolated pockets of villages that (Afghan and NATO) forces focus on at the company level or smaller.”
As the US and Coalition forces gain ground against the militant groups in Afghanistan, there is a feeling that there is progress being made. However what could that mean for Pakistan? At the moment, there is not much to conclude from the latest development on the ground.
Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=1292
Posted by Zuhaib Gull
on Oct 25 2011. Filed under Latest News, South Asia.
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