JOINT OPERATION OF AFGHAN NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES AND ISAF REGIONAL COMMAND WEST

HERAT, Afghanistan (Mar. 22) – An sensible joint operation conducted in Farah province by Afghan National Security Forces and ISAF Regional Command West, ended with the capture of an important Taliban leader and the arrest of five alleged associates.

The operation, kicked off at dawn on March 20, was the result of information from the National Directorate of Security. The agency had been tracking individuals responsible for numerous attacks – including ambushes and use of improvised explosive devices - against the civilian population, local security forces and ISAF.

The complex operation, which employed around 500 troops, was coordinated by the Commander of Italian Task Force South, Colonel Massimo Raccampo. Officials attribute the success of the operation to the creation of a robust security framework performed by Afghan Army soldiers, the U.S. military of Task Force 3 FURY and the Italian soldiers of Task Force South, which is composed of 152nd Infantry Regiment of Brigade "Sassari". The security framework has allowed local police forces to proceed with the capture of suspected terrorists and their supporters who have also been found in possession of opium and an array of weapons.The success of the joint operation, carried out in according with the most recent directives of ISAF through ISAF Joint Command and without affecting the resident population, indicates the increasing level of reliability reached by the Afghan security forces. As a vital aspect of ISAF, the Afghan security forces are emerging as an autonomous and effective agency capable of intervention and stabilization throughout the Country.According to the Commander of Regional Command West - Brigadier General Alessandro Veltri - said the international forces in Regional Command West must continue to support the Afghan forces as they increase their level of independence. "This is the attitude that the forces of Regional Command West, in adherence to the contents of the doctrine enunciated by the Commander of ISAF - General Stanley McChrystal - continue to maintain in order to strengthen the mutual relationship of trust with the population now instilled in most of the Region ,” he said.