KABUL, Dec 10: US-led Nato and Afghan troops fought their way into the centre of the southern Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala on Monday, but encountered light resistance as the militants melted away, officials and the militants said.
As British Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid a surprise visit to the Helmand province, soldiers pushed into Musa Qala’s centre on day four of a major operation to re-take the town.
“Our troops are in the centre of the town but the Taliban might be around,” Afghan defence ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi said.
Troops were clearing the area, his ministry said, adding that the Taliban resistance had “crashed.” A spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) also said Afghan troops had entered Musa Qala, which was overrun by hundreds of Afghan militants in early February. “They are in the centre of the town,” Major Charles Anthony said.
The alliance said Isaf and Afghan troops were “consolidating their positions” and making “deliberate, appropriate and measured” progress.
Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi said the militants had retreated to prevent civilian deaths in air strikes.
Residents said militants had left the town without putting up serious opposition.
“The bazaar is empty. The only people seen were the Taliban walking out with their arms and rockets on their shoulders,” said elderly resident Atta Mohammad.
“We see the Nato tanks and vehicles moving towards the town,” said another man, Abdul Bari.
Two Isaf soldiers, two children and an unknown number of militants have been killed in the advance on Musa Qala, which was launched on Friday.The Taliban stormed the town 10 months ago, breaking a controversial deal in which British forces pulled out on the request of elders who said they would handle security after months of intense fighting.
Brown, on his first visit to Afghanistan as prime minister, praised British troops who have played a key role as Isaf’s lead nation in the Helmand province.
“To win here and to defeat the Taliban and to make sure that we can give strength to the new democracy in Afghanistan is important in defeating terrorism all around the world,” he told troops at British base Camp Bastion.
Brown, who later met US-installed President Hamid Karzai in Kabul, also promised help to Musa Qala’s residents as soon as the military operation was over.—AFP
KABUL, Dec 10: US-led Nato and Afghan troops fought their way into the centre of the southern Taliban stronghold of Musa Qala on Monday, but encountered light resistance as the militants melted away, officials and the militants said.
