HERAT, Afghanistan (Apr. 04) ¬–¬¬ Afghan National Security Forces and Italian Troops of Regional Command West concluded an operation in the village of Farsi, 130 km east of Shindad, yesterday.
One major objective of the operation was to to ensure the presence of trained Afghan security forces through cooperation with ISAF troops. A goal for the cooperative effort was to maintain positive control of the territory and the freedom of movement in an area characterized by a high presence of insurgents in the deep province of Herat.
Approximately 140 units were involved in the joint feat, with over fifty of them belonged to the Afghan National Security Forces. In the operation were used three helicopters CH-47 , two of them from task force “Ready” and one from Italian task force “Fenice," two attack helicopters AH-64 “Apache” from Task Force “Ready,” one helicopter multi-role AB-412 from Task Force “Fenice," one unmanned aerial vehicle "Predator" from the Italian Joint Air Task Force, five Light Multi-Role Tactical Vehicles “Lince”, four armored fighting vehicles "Dardo" and six pick-ups from local security forces.
While a company of bersaglieri operated in support of a platoon of the Afghan National Army to oppose any hostile forces present in so-called “Gully of Farsi,” a second company on helicopter patrolled the rugged valleys landing near the village of Farsi. The joint force task was needed to maintain security throughout the operation. Additionally, a core health unit carried out numerous medical examinations for the population.
At the end, the Commander of Regional Command West, Brig. Gen. Alessandro Veltri, and the Commander of Task Force Center, Col. Francesco Maria Ceravolo, met with Farsi and other area villages local representatives and elders during a Key Leaders Engagment to discuss on the ongoing process of joint activities. In this way, ANSF and ISAF forces maintained the people and elders of the area involvement to get more consensus and confidence. The goal was to offer a positive alternative to hostile elements and their intimidation which would otherwise obstruct the pacification of the region and the growth process in the country.
At the meeting, held at the local Governorate, which was built with Italian funds, the Sub-Governor of Farsi, Abdul Ahmad, local prosecutor Abdul Ahad, District Police commander, Col. Bahauddin and more than fifty elders of the area met with Veltri and Ceravolo.
Veltri stressed the importance of the ISAF presence in province, highlighting "the need for a common effort to improve the process of growth and development of the territory”.
“Prosperity and peace in this area is dependent on common enforcement action against insurgents and on continued support of the legitimate representatives of the District of Farsi,” Veltri said. “ISAF’s presence is directed to helping achieve stability of the province. This is accomplished with the consent of the people in the area. ISAF forces will continue the work of reconstruction and development by ensuring the distribution of humanitarian aid and medical aid to the population. In addition, we will maintain other initiatives targeted primarily at meeting the needs of the poorest families of the district ".
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