Helmand Province, Afghanistan: Difference between revisions

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(New page: '''Helmand Province''', in southern Afghanistan, has the largest area but relatively small population. Its capital is Lashkar Gah. ==Government and security== *Governor: Tooryalai...)
 
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{{TOC-right}}
'''Helmand Province''', in southern [[Afghanistan]], has the largest area but relatively small population.  Its capital is [[Lashkar Gah]].
'''Helmand Province''', in southern [[Afghanistan]], has the largest area but relatively small population.  Its capital is [[Lashkar Gah]].
==Government and security==
==Government and security==
Line 7: Line 8:
==Geography==
==Geography==


Pakistan’s Balochistan province to the south. [[Nimroz Province Nimroz]] and [[Farah Province]]s are on the west, [[Ghor Province|Ghor]] and [[Daykundi Provinces]] are in the north, which are arid hills or mountains. [[Urzugan Province|Urzugan]] and [[Kandahar Province]] are on its east.  
Pakistan’s [[Balochistan Province]] is the southern border. [[Nimroz Province | Nimroz]] and [[Farah Province]]s are on the west, [[Ghor Province|Ghor]] and [[Daykundi Provinces]] are in the north, which are arid hills or mountains. [[Urzugan Province|Urzugan]] and [[Kandahar Province]] are on its east.  
 
It has thirteen provinces:
*Baghran
*Dishu
*Garmsir
*Gerishk
*Kajaki
*Khanashin
*Lashkargah (capital); contains the  Kajaki Dam
*Nad Ali
*Nawa-I-Barakzayi
*Nawzad
*Musa Qala
*Sangin Qala
*Washeer


In general, over two-thirds of the province is mountainous, but it was once the breadbasket of Afghanistan, and a prime opium growing area.  
In general, over two-thirds of the province is mountainous, but it was once the breadbasket of Afghanistan, and a prime opium growing area.  
Line 17: Line 33:
  | date = April 24, 2008
  | date = April 24, 2008
  | url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89821168
  | url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89821168
  | journal = NPR}}</ref>
  | journal = NPR}}</ref> Victor Company of 40 Commando Royal Marines have taken over security for the dam; in February 2009, they destroyed a Taliban staging base threatening it.<ref name=RM> {{citation
| title = Royal Marines destroy Taliban base
| journal  = Guns Magazine | date =June, 2009
| url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_6_55/ai_n31588670/}}</ref>


There are clear linkages between the Taliban insurgency and the opium trade.  According to the United Nations, the Taliban earn some $300 million annually from the opium trade in Afghanistan.
There are clear linkages between the Taliban insurgency and the opium trade.  According to the United Nations, the Taliban earn some $300 million annually from the opium trade in Afghanistan.
Line 28: Line 47:
   
   
==Security==
==Security==
Helmand is unstable; the situation worsened in 2006. <ref name=ISW>{{citation
| http://www.understandingwar.org/region/regional-command-south-0
| publisher = Institute for the Study of War
| contribution = Helmand Province
| title = Regional Command South
}}</ref> The province is one of the experiments to see if tribal forces can supplement national and ISAF security; the British, especially, are promoting the use of a traditional [[Afghan and Pakistani local forces|community police]],  called ''arkabai'' or ''<ref name=BBC2007-12-26>{{citation
| title = Can tribes take on the Taleban?
| author = Tom Coghlan
| date = December 26, 2007
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7155500.stm}}</ref>


Helmand is unstable. The northern districts of Nawzad, Musa Qala, Sangin Qala, Baghran, Washeer and Kajaki were vulnerable to insurgent attacks targeting ISAF, ANA and ANP forces from 2006 onward. The attacks have resulted in a large number of casualties. ISAF and Afghanistan security forces lost control over these districts.32  Due to the lack of Coalition or Afghan forces, small militias function as reserve police in the northern part of the province.  The militias are said to be implicated in drug crimes, frequent lootings, and killings.33  There is currently no program to disarm these groups. The section of the Ring Road in the province is frequently targeted by insurgent attacks and bandits.34 Criminality is prevalent.
Britain, in particular, is exploring the use of traditional village defence forces in Helmand province. The Helmand police chief Gen Mohammad Hussein Andiwal, in southeastern Afghanistan, disapproves. "I am speaking for myself, not my government here - but as far as Afghanistan is concerned in three decades of war there is not any example of a militia having done anything for the benefit of Afghanistan," He said "The British have not contacted me on this issue, but I will always tell them to focus on the national police, not militias."


Five out of thirteen districts of Helmand are under virtual control of insurgents. Three others have only minimal presence of government and Coalition Force.
The Taliban established a shadow government and their own courts in the districts for almost ten months until thousands of British and U.S. forces recaptured the district with the ANA fighting in the front line. The district center is currently held by the Afghan government and ISAF, but insurgents still have presence in remote north and south of the district.<ref name=ISW />


The Garm Ser district in the south has seen a large number of insurgent attacks during the past two years. ISAF and the government also lost and fought to regain control of the Garm Ser district several times.  
The northern districts of Nawzad, Musa Qala, Sangin Qala, Baghran, Washeer and Kajaki were have been under effective insurgent control.


Fierce fighting between ISAF and insurgents is also common in the Greshk district. There have been many civilian casualties as a result of suicide bombings, but also ISAF airstrikes.
The section of the Ring Road in the province is frequently targeted by insurgent attacks and bandits. Criminality is prevalent. Control of Garm Ser, in the south, goes back and forth. Greshk is disputed and there are high numbers of civilian casualties.


Musa Qala is another of the most volatile district in the province. The British handed over security of the district to tribal leaders in October 2006 – only to be overrun by the Taliban three months later.  
A U.S. spokesman, in December 2008, mentioned Afghan security forces are taking control, but also mentioned four separate incidents in Nar Surkh district. <ref name=USFOR-A-2008-12-09>{{citation
| publisher = United States Forces-Afghanistan
| date = December 9, 2008
| id = Release Number: 20080912-02
| url = http://www.centcom.mil/en/press-releases/afghan-forces-lead-security-efforts-in-helmand-province.html}}</ref>


The Taliban established a shadow government and their own courts in the districts for almost ten months until thousands of British and U.S. forces recaptured the district with the ANA fighting in the front line. The district center is currently held by the Afghan government and ISAF, but insurgents still have presence in remote north and south of the district.
The British handed over security of Musa Qala district to tribal leaders in October 2006 – only to be overrun by the Taliban three months later. It took a turn for the worst in 2007. <ref name=RFE2007-10-10>{{citation
| title = Afghanistan: Volatile Helmand Province Grapples With Insecurity
| date = October 10, 2007
| url = http://www.rferl.org/content/Article/1078913.html
| journal = Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
| author = Abubakar Siddique and Salih Muhammad Salih}}</ref>


Lashkargah, the capital, has also seen suicide attacks. The enemy likewise seeks to destroy the Kajaki Dam to undercut confidence in the central government and ISAF.  
Lashkargah, the capital, has also seen suicide attacks, as has Sangin. Sangin has a great problem with land mines.


In Sangin district, the Taliban use landmines, ambushes, and suicide attacks. Civilian casualty numbers are very high in this district.
Australian Special Forces  killed an estimated 80 Taliban fighters in March 19, intended to distupt insurgents in northern Helmand Province.<ref name=ABC>{{citation
| title = Aussie troops strike Taliban heartland, 80 dead
| author = Matt Brown and staff
| date = April 25, 2009
| journal = ABC News (Australia)
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 16:32, 17 May 2009

Template:TOC-right Helmand Province, in southern Afghanistan, has the largest area but relatively small population. Its capital is Lashkar Gah.

Government and security

  • Governor: Tooryalai Wesa
  • Chief of police: Assadullah Sherzad

There is a U.K. Provincial Reconstruction team.

Geography

Pakistan’s Balochistan Province is the southern border. Nimroz and Farah Provinces are on the west, Ghor and Daykundi Provinces are in the north, which are arid hills or mountains. Urzugan and Kandahar Province are on its east.

It has thirteen provinces:

  • Baghran
  • Dishu
  • Garmsir
  • Gerishk
  • Kajaki
  • Khanashin
  • Lashkargah (capital); contains the Kajaki Dam
  • Nad Ali
  • Nawa-I-Barakzayi
  • Nawzad
  • Musa Qala
  • Sangin Qala
  • Washeer

In general, over two-thirds of the province is mountainous, but it was once the breadbasket of Afghanistan, and a prime opium growing area.

Economy

Helmand was once a major agricultural area. Only 28 percent of people in the province have access to safe drinking water and only twenty one percent of households have electricity in 2008. This is an improvement on 7 percent in 2007, but electrification depends on security for the repair of the Kajaki dam and power station. [1] Victor Company of 40 Commando Royal Marines have taken over security for the dam; in February 2009, they destroyed a Taliban staging base threatening it.[2]

There are clear linkages between the Taliban insurgency and the opium trade. According to the United Nations, the Taliban earn some $300 million annually from the opium trade in Afghanistan.

Demographics

Although it is the largest province in Afghanistan, Helmand province is one of the most sparsely populated. The provincial population is roughly 1,000,000. The largest city, Lashkargah, is the capital of the province. Most of the population lives in rural areas. Pashtuns form the majority of the population. THis is one of the provinces where Pashtuns may call themselves Kalaharis, and be part of the Taliban leadership.

There are smaller numbers of Balochis, Hazaras and Tajiks in the province. In the winter, roughly 100,000 Kuchi nomads migrate to the province.

Security

Helmand is unstable; the situation worsened in 2006. [3] The province is one of the experiments to see if tribal forces can supplement national and ISAF security; the British, especially, are promoting the use of a traditional community police, called arkabai or [4]

Britain, in particular, is exploring the use of traditional village defence forces in Helmand province. The Helmand police chief Gen Mohammad Hussein Andiwal, in southeastern Afghanistan, disapproves. "I am speaking for myself, not my government here - but as far as Afghanistan is concerned in three decades of war there is not any example of a militia having done anything for the benefit of Afghanistan," He said "The British have not contacted me on this issue, but I will always tell them to focus on the national police, not militias."

The Taliban established a shadow government and their own courts in the districts for almost ten months until thousands of British and U.S. forces recaptured the district with the ANA fighting in the front line. The district center is currently held by the Afghan government and ISAF, but insurgents still have presence in remote north and south of the district.[3]

The northern districts of Nawzad, Musa Qala, Sangin Qala, Baghran, Washeer and Kajaki were have been under effective insurgent control.

The section of the Ring Road in the province is frequently targeted by insurgent attacks and bandits. Criminality is prevalent. Control of Garm Ser, in the south, goes back and forth. Greshk is disputed and there are high numbers of civilian casualties.

A U.S. spokesman, in December 2008, mentioned Afghan security forces are taking control, but also mentioned four separate incidents in Nar Surkh district. [5]

The British handed over security of Musa Qala district to tribal leaders in October 2006 – only to be overrun by the Taliban three months later. It took a turn for the worst in 2007. [6]

Lashkargah, the capital, has also seen suicide attacks, as has Sangin. Sangin has a great problem with land mines.

Australian Special Forces killed an estimated 80 Taliban fighters in March 19, intended to distupt insurgents in northern Helmand Province.<ref name=ABC>{{citation 

| title = Aussie troops strike Taliban heartland, 80 dead
| author = Matt Brown and staff
| date = April 25, 2009
| journal = ABC News (Australia)

References

  1. ↑ Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson (April 24, 2008), "Restoring an Afghan Dam in a Taliban Stronghold", NPR
  2. ↑ "Royal Marines destroy Taliban base", Guns Magazine, June, 2009
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 , Helmand Province, Regional Command South, Institute for the Study of War
  4. ↑ Tom Coghlan (December 26, 2007), Can tribes take on the Taleban?
  5. ↑ , December 9, 2008, Release Number: 20080912-02
  6. ↑ Abubakar Siddique and Salih Muhammad Salih (October 10, 2007), "Afghanistan: Volatile Helmand Province Grapples With Insecurity", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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