*Source: DTN News / MOD Report by Sharon Kean
(NSI News Source Info) LONDON, U.K. - August 11, 2009: Even at the ferocious height of Operation PANTHER'S CLAW, civilian and military stabilisation teams were moving into territory cleared of the Taliban to prepare local communities for national elections.
Sergeant Matt Pallas, C Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, speaks to locals during Operation PANTHER'S CLAW [Picture: Sgt Dan Harmer, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
A major offensive to remove the Taliban from key towns and villages in central Helmand involved British troops in fierce fighting against Taliban insurgents.
Ten British soldiers were killed and more were injured during Operation PANCHAI PALANG (PANTHER'S CLAW).
It did not help that the decisive operation took place in the searing heat of Afghanistan's summer.
The aim was to create the security needed to restore the authority of the Afghanistan Government, in advance of elections.
Commander Task Force Helmand, Brigadier Tim Radford, paid tribute to the soldiers involved:
"They are fighting hard out there, with quite extraordinary skill and courage, to protect the population from fear and oppression - not just today, tomorrow or next month, but for the long term."
At the same time, the US-led Task Force Leatherneck carried out a similar offensive in the south of the province, along the banks of the River Helmand.
Head of the US Task Force, Brigadier General Larry Nicholson, said:
"The Taliban have had a chance to stand and fight or to run and hide. Most have decided to leave the area."
As soon as initial clearance was complete, mixed military-civilian stabilisation teams began work to restore order and civil rule.
The Royal Navy's Lieutenant Hannah Byers, who works for the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) based in the central town of Lashkar Gah, said:
"When we plan for an operation, we work with civilians to establish what will need to happen afterwards. Within 24 hours of the fighting, we had teams on the ground assessing the state of villages, identifying the village elders and establishing what sort of infrastructure exists."
The priority is always to build links between the remote areas of the district and government institutions in Lashkar Gah:
"There's often been intimidation, a lack of transport, that means people feel disconnected from the centre," said Lt Byers.
Iain King, a Civilian Stabilisation Advisor working in a team of six based in the Nad e-Ali district, parts of which were reached by PANTHER'S CLAW, added:
"There are displaced and often confused people who don't know who is in charge or where to go for help."
Mr King was with the District Governor as he arrived in some of the areas cleared during the operation.
The welcome was largely positive, he said:
"We have a very capable District Governor who spearheads our efforts. We make sure people are clear that the Government of Afghanistan is there to serve their needs."
He is confident there has been progress in the Nad e-Ali district. Bridges have been repaired and irrigation improved. More people are using the central bazaar, which is near a new Army forward operating base.
Iain King was optimistic about the coming elections in those areas where PANTHER'S CLAW cleared away the opposition:
"There's a lot of interest from local people," he said. "They're discussing who they'll vote for, and there are lots of posters around."
However, work in the area is far from finished, and his team is operating in one of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan. This is reflected by the fact that team members travel in Mastiffs, the most heavily protected of military vehicles, with dedicated security teams. 
Briagadier Tim Radford speaking to Governor Mangal during the shura at Pay Kalay[Picture: Sgt Dan Harmer, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
As Mr King spoke, he was sitting at a desk next to one which was formerly occupied by Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, the most senior British officer killed in Afghanistan:
"It brings home the danger, and of course it's very sad," he said.
But there is little time for such reflection. Top of the Afghans' list of concerns is security. Lt Byers said:
"That will always be the case, but as they see we are staying, they become less intimidated by the Taliban and they start to articulate what they want for their community."
The key to success is ensuring that, however money is spent, it enhances trust in civil administration. Mr King added:
"It's about demonstrating good government. We can say all we want on the radio, and write what we want on noticeboards, but the most effective way of communicating our message is to show Afghans that their Government is better than the Taliban."
Sergeant Matt Pallas, C Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, speaks to locals during Operation PANTHER'S CLAW [Picture: Sgt Dan Harmer, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
A major offensive to remove the Taliban from key towns and villages in central Helmand involved British troops in fierce fighting against Taliban insurgents.
Ten British soldiers were killed and more were injured during Operation PANCHAI PALANG (PANTHER'S CLAW).
It did not help that the decisive operation took place in the searing heat of Afghanistan's summer.
The aim was to create the security needed to restore the authority of the Afghanistan Government, in advance of elections.
Commander Task Force Helmand, Brigadier Tim Radford, paid tribute to the soldiers involved:
"They are fighting hard out there, with quite extraordinary skill and courage, to protect the population from fear and oppression - not just today, tomorrow or next month, but for the long term."
At the same time, the US-led Task Force Leatherneck carried out a similar offensive in the south of the province, along the banks of the River Helmand.
Head of the US Task Force, Brigadier General Larry Nicholson, said:
"The Taliban have had a chance to stand and fight or to run and hide. Most have decided to leave the area."
As soon as initial clearance was complete, mixed military-civilian stabilisation teams began work to restore order and civil rule.
The Royal Navy's Lieutenant Hannah Byers, who works for the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) based in the central town of Lashkar Gah, said:
"When we plan for an operation, we work with civilians to establish what will need to happen afterwards. Within 24 hours of the fighting, we had teams on the ground assessing the state of villages, identifying the village elders and establishing what sort of infrastructure exists."
The priority is always to build links between the remote areas of the district and government institutions in Lashkar Gah:
"There's often been intimidation, a lack of transport, that means people feel disconnected from the centre," said Lt Byers.
Iain King, a Civilian Stabilisation Advisor working in a team of six based in the Nad e-Ali district, parts of which were reached by PANTHER'S CLAW, added:
"There are displaced and often confused people who don't know who is in charge or where to go for help."
Mr King was with the District Governor as he arrived in some of the areas cleared during the operation.
The welcome was largely positive, he said:
"We have a very capable District Governor who spearheads our efforts. We make sure people are clear that the Government of Afghanistan is there to serve their needs."
He is confident there has been progress in the Nad e-Ali district. Bridges have been repaired and irrigation improved. More people are using the central bazaar, which is near a new Army forward operating base.
Iain King was optimistic about the coming elections in those areas where PANTHER'S CLAW cleared away the opposition:
"There's a lot of interest from local people," he said. "They're discussing who they'll vote for, and there are lots of posters around."
However, work in the area is far from finished, and his team is operating in one of the most dangerous areas of Afghanistan. This is reflected by the fact that team members travel in Mastiffs, the most heavily protected of military vehicles, with dedicated security teams. Briagadier Tim Radford speaking to Governor Mangal during the shura at Pay Kalay[Picture: Sgt Dan Harmer, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
As Mr King spoke, he was sitting at a desk next to one which was formerly occupied by Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Thorneloe, the most senior British officer killed in Afghanistan:
"It brings home the danger, and of course it's very sad," he said.
But there is little time for such reflection. Top of the Afghans' list of concerns is security. Lt Byers said:
"That will always be the case, but as they see we are staying, they become less intimidated by the Taliban and they start to articulate what they want for their community."
The key to success is ensuring that, however money is spent, it enhances trust in civil administration. Mr King added:
"It's about demonstrating good government. We can say all we want on the radio, and write what we want on noticeboards, but the most effective way of communicating our message is to show Afghans that their Government is better than the Taliban."
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