NATO troops battle for key Afghan valley: Dutch military

THE STANS

File photo: Taliban soldiers in the mountains of Afghanistan.

by Staff Writers
The Hague (AFP) Jan 16, 2009
Some 800 NATO troops under Dutch command are battling for control of a key valley in southern Afghanistan used as a base by Taliban insurgents, the Dutch defence ministry said Friday.

Ministry spokeswoman Marloes Visser said the Baluchi valley in Oruzgan province had long been a hiding place for the Taliban where they planned attacks.

After taking control of territory to the north and south, the troops of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force had now advanced into the heart of the valley for the first time, she said.

The plan was to set up a permanent Afghan army base and build a road through the valley between the towns of Takin Kowt and Chora, Visser added.

The ministry said in a communique that some 400 Dutch troops were operating with Australian and Afghan forces commanded by a Dutch colonel.

"We met some resistance but it has calmed down in the past few days," Visser added. "We want to stop the Taliban fighters from organising."

She said the operation had begun on January 10 but declined to say how long it would last.

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THE STANS

Afghanistan troop deaths could be friendly fire: London

London (AFP) Jan 16, 2009
Britain is investigating whether the deaths of two British soldiers in Afghanistan this week were due to friendly fire, the Ministry of Defence said Friday.

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