securing helmand (isw)

8/14/2019 Securing Helmand (ISW)

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AFGHANISTAN REPORT 2

Jeffrey A. Dressler

September 2009

Securing Helmandunderstanding and responding to the enemy


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AFGHANISTAN REPORT 2

Jeffrey A. Dressler

Securing Helmandunderstanding and responding to the enemy


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aBout the author

Jr Drssr rid his Bhrs Dr r th Piti Si Hrs Prr t Th

uvsty of cott. H so obt o esh bfo t s ud d Phi Bt Kpp. Jr is rqut ttr rius di utts i dditi t

pbsh o th sbjt of afhst.

aBout the institute

Th Istitut r th Stud Wr (ISW) is prit, prtis, t-r-prt istituti whs

is t dut urrt d utur disi krs d thrb h th quit pi

dbts. Th Istituts wrk is ddrssd t rt is d istrs, thrs d

stts, bsss xtvs, pofssos, josts, tzs tst sos

st of w ovt poy.


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TaBle of conTenTS

executive summary .............................................................................. 01

introduction ........................................................................................ 04

oriw: Hd Pri ..........................................................................04

Hd d th Qutt Shur Tib .............................................................07

Th Tib's cpi P 2007-2009 ..........................................................11

Th e Sst i Hd .......................................................................13

H rv Soth ...................................................................................13

H rv ct .................................................................................16

H rv noth ...................................................................................26

Hd's liks t Kdhr d Uruz ........................................................32

Th British epri i Hd .................................................................33

oprti Pthr's cw ..............................................................................34

oprti Khana.........................................................................................38

oprti estr Rs II ..........................................................................41

conclusion ........................................................................................... 42

notes ..................................................................................................... 45

maps

H Pov .......................................................................................06

Soth H Pov ........................................................................... 14

ct H Pov .............................................................................18

noth H Pov ..........................................................................27

ghok dstt ...........................................................................................32

Phs 1 oprti Pthr's cw .................................................................35

Phs 2 oprti Pthr's cw.................................................................36Phs 3 oprti Pthr's cw.................................................................37

oprti Khana.........................................................................................39

oprti estr Rs II...........................................................................42

afgHanISTan RePoRT 2 | SecURIng HelmanD | JeffRey a. DReSSleR | SePTemBeR 2009


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execUTIve SUmmaRy

Key Findings and recommendations

H Pov s t t fo both th y oto fos.h

H ots pott s of oto fo both y fy fos.

it s t hb fo afhst oo xs fo th ots t.

Th rwhi-Pshtu pputi Hd shrs thi d utur tis t thrs of afhst Pkst.

Rt is jd b isurts i Hd h d dibrt d prpr-r-so p by oto fos tht h o t.

Th sst i Hd is rsurd d dirtd b th Qutt Shur Tib (QST).Th is dtrid, w-rizd, d trhd i th pri. I rt rs,

th hs shw its biit t dpt t th i it b dpi d utioht p ps.

Th sst i Hd Pri b diidd it thr distit but rtd rs ith suthr, tr, d rthr Hd Rir v.

Th suthr Hd Rir v iitts th t ri htrs d wpst tr Hd. It s iitts th ri, str d tu t rt-is ut Hd, i thruh th pris suthr brdr with Pkist.

ctr Hd is th s tr rit i th pri. Th hrt th sst is td wst th prii pit lshkr gh d rud th pris -

o t of gshk th nh Sj stt.Th sst i rthr Hd is trhd th Hd d mus Qrvs, o th ft f y s fo op tvto.

Suss i Hd rquirs prhsi pputi-tri utrisur pihtht is prpr rsurd d utd. Suh pi sks t iiz th t t iitdrsurs i riti rs b prtti d psiti iui th pputi. citi rsot b vywh potz objtvs s sst.

gi iitd rsurs, iti rts ust us th riti pputi trs. fr th -hy , th oto, th ost t popto ts th pov lshk gh,grshk, nd ai, nw, grsr, Si, mus Q, d Kjki.

Uit rt is it d prtis ust b utu-riri i rdr t hi iuhpt. coto fos st wok toth to xt popy oot otsypi r thir rts wi i t hi disi ts.

or th pst sr rs, iti rs h d th isur thruh trtdrids, dsid t push isurts ut i r. Th rsut hs b prtis thttpoy bt f to pvt th t of sts.


1 www.understandingwar.org


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Th r d rspsibiitis th ah nti Surit frs (anSf) ust b r rtiu-htd. Thr hs b rri th ah nti Pi (anP) i Hd. Th anP

r sip t quippd r th bt-itsi iiti phss utrisur. Th p-popt o fo th anP sho b t o o th sy hs b to b d ti ru w hs b stbishd.

Th ah nti ar (ana) is pprprit r th bt-itsi phss utrisur-h, thuh ana sdirs r t prst i suit ubrs i Hd. grwi th siz th ana d di its pit t rr ut issi-riti utrisur prtis iH w hp to v so of th b tht s ty sho by oto fos.


2www.understandingwar.org


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rt i iti r th Tib. H-ds i tiitis wr bsd i op tvtos, thoss of pop w f t.3 fr th Ti-b, oto of ths oo hb pov thwth fso of fs thoh th txto th trd. Hd s rdd th Ti-b with iu i Pkists Buhist, th stto fo t afh oos. Qtt,Buhist is urrt th s h r muhor d th Tibs sir drship.

Thruhut 1994 d 1995, th Tib pddt th wst d st, ti tri thpris niruz d frh i dditi t thst povs of Zb, ghz lo.This th Tib tr ahi-sts hihw, whih d dirt it Kbu.Th Rbbi rt i Kbu ws rsp-sb fo th pot w of th Jtpty, wh ah Shh msso, th ofth ti-Tib nrthr ai, itidhis w, sprt iitr-piti wi.4 ThTibs Kbu ws i prt iittdb thir dt Isi Kh i Hrt, wh wsid with th Rbbi rt i Kbu dmsso.5 i Sptb 1996, ft o th

r brut hti, th Tib sizd Kbud ud thir diistrti s th iovt of afhst.6 d th foowthr rs, th Tib pdd thir iitr v stto to oto ohy htypt of th oty.7

atr th rthrw th Tib i t 2001,sv afh opposto ops t th

uspis th Uitd ntis i B, gr-y, to st th fotos fo th w povsoovt afhst. a ey loyJ o "g co" tto afhdisi-ki bd prit drsfo o th otyws h to stbsh ah Trsiti authrit d t Trsiti adiistrti with Hid Krzis Itri Prsidt. Th w Prsidt thppot osso to ft w ostt-to, whh ws ppov by costtto loy

Jir i Jur 2004. Hid Krzi b thrst Prsidt th Isi Rpubi ahi-st duri tiwid tis hd i otbr2004.8

Th Tibs ppurit i Hd rw r2004 t 2006 i th r bs tistt stto th bs of pow byprii is, iudi th th-rrof H, Sh moh akhzh, Dd mhd Kh, th nti Dirtr-t Surit hi r Hd. Ths is

wr ppitd b Prsidt Hid Krzi. as st, thy joy th bk of th afh ov-rt d naTo-ISaf rs. akhudzdhvthss t pvt t sstr-r ttis t r th pri.9 Th

akhudzdh tribs rtur t pwr rsutd ith riizti d tti th pr-Ti-b Ishqzi trib, whih ws spi iutii Hds rthr pris.10

Siir, Dd mhd Kh ws s kwfo hs bss ws vty ov fohs posto, oy t to b t to th po-v o.11 Th rrupti d brutit ths k urs, pudd b th bs stt diistrti is, trishd thiti d tiss th ah r-

t i th s Hds pputi. Thibiit t st d rsur diistrti pstsrtd pi r th Tib. Th stppdi t th surit d r uu,st ts of th show ovt topov sty j ovsht y ofHds distrits.12 my tb s oth

itis th pr-Krzi str turd t thTib r supprt.13 atoy, th -

photo 1 | helmand river view From aBove (photo By

michael yon)


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map 1 | helmand province



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zto of akhzh 2006 wkhis iitis biit t ht th Tib, tribut- to th tot sty stto thpov.14

Hd i 2009 is hub Tib prtisi suthr ahist. Th pri is d-sb s jo twy to soth afh-st fo pow, foo, to fothir bss i Pkist d r th -iprttwri dru trd.15 Hds surit situ-ti hd dtrirtd br th British tkov sposbty fo th pov y 2006.Si th, th British rs h b ub tutriz r ti disrupt th , whihopts wth vt pty o th jopopto ts of lshk gh gshk ts fo of ovt thsoth oth stts of th pov.

helmand and the Quetta shura

taliBan

Th sst i Hd is rsurd ddirtd b th Qutt Shur Tib (QST), r-oz shp stt bs o th y1990s Sp Sh tht sv s th ovboy of th is rpb of afhst po

to 2001.16 Th QST is hdd b muh mh-d or, wh s his th Ami-u-Mmineenr ldr th fithu.17 Th tr QuttShur riitd r muh ors rti th Tib rizti t Qutt duri thwt of 2002.18 muh or d his rupot to f to thsvs s th iset of afhst, spt b ovr pwr i 2001. currt, th QSTs d-shp stt s ops of two bos,th ahbai shua, th mais a-shua.19 Th ahbaishua (drship ui) ws rtd b or mh of 2003, s ssty ptvso of th Sp Sh wth sttt t thirt-thr brs.20 Th mais a-shua(sutti ui) is wr rti, rdbtw Sptbr d otbr 2006 dops of tht bs, ost of who bs of th ahbai shua, sto ofvsos.21 Rspsib r th Tibs pr-

tos soth h of wst afh-st, th QST is th ittu d idi- udrpii th Tib isur iafhst.22 Th ridr th QST sirdrship is d-ut b brs th twshs.23

Th QST hs stbishd tw w itts,bth whih rtd its biit t dpt t thi it; th rst ds with risr drs d htrs whi th sdsss opts fo afh vs.24

addrssi d rsi issus th QSTsdrs d htrs is t t iprth sidrit d hsi th t. frr itrsti is th QSTs dsir t pridsttto to o poptos, ttpt toipr th riztis stdi i th uitis b rii-i ru ts. Ith pst, vs hv op of thvy,sttt xssv btty t th hs th Tib. ciidi with th stbisht ths itts, th QST rsd updtdd dut r htrs d drsopt th b afhst.25Th w d prhibits: disurt, riboto of otos, kpp fo sod th srhi hs withut upts

psso.26

Th w d dut, wth th stbsht of two w ottsdstrts distit shit i th QSTs dusprdi, r sius disi b QSTso shp to w th sppot of th pop-to.

athuh muh mhd or ris thurhd tp th QST rizti, h is r dirts d-t-d prtis. His d-v , tv k of opto xp ost wt stts sstt h

shp. Hs ptto to ork-d- Tib sti k hi th spiritu of th ovt, both fo ohso rruitt. Th QSTs d-t-d prtis rhdd b ors tp dput, muh Brdr,

wh sidid his psiti tr th rrst tp-id muh obiduh i mrh 2007 d thth of mh dh l my 2007.27or d Brdr h s, -stdi



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rtiship. Bth uht sid-b-sid ist thSovts t stbsh th ow madassas Kdhr.28

Prir t Brdrs ssi, th Qutt Shur

ws suprisd b Brdr d ors tp id, idiidu kw s muh obiduh.29 a-rdi t rprts, Brdr d obiduh wrth tw ids tht muh or ui-t wth t th t.30 Thrr, it is pusibtht Brdr wud h ssud th r tpid t or sti tr th rrst obidu-h mh 2007 th of dh my2007.31 Just ths tr i otbr 2007,th i pubiti th QST, A-Samddsribd Brdr, th rr rr Hrti th Tibs ri, s th dput dr thTib wh h ud th QSTs pr-to ps fo th o- sp.32 Brdrso fo sothafhst s bv tob mh abh Zk,th fo gtoB prisr n. 008 whws tsf o wthtwv oths to th stoyof th afh ovt

db 2007 s shoty thf-t.33 it s bv tht Zk s sposb foot th s 2009 coto fosbuid-up i ahists suth.34

Th QST is rizd uti i Hdpri. Th rizti sists idiushti uits, iittrs, d ri htrs.QST drs p d d si dfsv optos st oto afhfos, whs fttos ost -ts. Howv, th s v to sst tht

r sirdrs r rspsibfo both.35

QST drs i Hd prt withi hh h of o stth bk toQutt. Th Qutt drship ss t i - to th ozto t th b th spri hti r d idd, thruh-ut th hti ss whih uti this pst r,

tpi dd i th . Th prti rdrstpi ppr i th r pd -sv, sh s th pst Kamin Ebat sis.36Th Qutt-bsd sir drs s djust thp s t fos f jo hs ssor rsurs r rquird. fr p, sirdrs i Qutt h issud suh rqusts rfots wh oto afh fosh optos to t y t.37This tp uid ws th Qutt-bsddrship t idti its priritis t Hd-bs s, who ht soto t hh o ho.38 most potty,so t shp o so povdrship ts ri htrs t th QSTos thohot th pov to ot

ssd si d dsi prtis istoto afh fos.39

o mrh 16, 2009, pso stk now Z k potHd Tib d-rs Juddi Hi dmw moh S-diq, with tw thirssots.40 ao toISaf rprts, si r

2008, [Hi] stbishd his s itrb of th sy now Z, wshvy vov sv ied ttks, bshs th p xto of ovtottks.41 Hi d rprtd t abdu Q-u Zkir (a.K.a., muh Zkir) d muhni Brih, wh d ah rs rQtt, Pkst.

Siir, muwi mhd Sddiq ws id-tid i t 2008 s k isurt iittr iHd. ardi t naTo-ISaf, Sddiq ws

vov sv tvts thpot of ieds oth ty h-w to t H so o of th uthrs th Tib rutis r Hdpov.42 Sddiq d rprtd t thsir Tib dr akhtr mhdmsur (.k.. muh msur). muh msur

ws th miistr cii aiti d Trsprt-ti i th Tibs ri d is sidrd t


QST cmmandes in Hemandpeate ithin a hieachicachain f cmmand stetching

back t Quetta.


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b sir dr th QST prti isoth afhst poty b ofth hb sh.43 gi tht Hi d Sddiqw ty k now Z, t ky s siit d d tr hub r thTib, dspit th prs pprit300 ms th .

Si th QSTs drship prts r utsidof afhst, s th ozto ssshtrs sis, id- d sir-drs ik ru th dt-d isur H. cos th ost o-bi ts th QST, tri thruhutth pov to oz fsv si prtis.44 Bttd rprts su-st tht os ob th thsttoy o ot t owshp stt ss.45 Sir- drs rsposb fo oot tvty wth thzo, whh b s s s s stt os s jo poto of th pov, sh st o oth H.46 Sir- d id-v os wth H oty to hv tht ooto, showtht th ozto s o tzppoh t ts btw os ofhbo zos to pfo ts optos.47 o

oso, os hv o fo-ts fo so s, shft sosrud th bttd s dd.48

Th sir drship i Qutt rthsspovs to, , sots s-ss t os to th so os H.49 So os physy tvt Qutt si t t with QST sirdrship. Ths isits r rrd t shr bstpts ssos to pov op-rti tiss.50 fr p, muh R-

h, so o H ws st- Qtt bf sty th s of 2008.51 mh azzh, soo hbo uz pov,ws st y 2009, poty tfo tp to Qtt.52 coto btwQtt so shp os

ahist is t iitd t -t- itr-to, howv. rs o vos opos

thohot H hv tt sos of st-it tphs d tw-w rdis, susti thtoto btw os otof H y os.53

QST prtis t th sub-distrit r ss, thoh ths optos ost kyrsurd b idius htrs.54 it s ky thtth QSTs tr d d tr is wkrs optos ttks ot t th

i-. lw- drs d s-uit drs ( ss th prs) ikopt wth hh of tooy b-s of th t of th optos.55 Sts typy ops of btw ht twv , sposb fo pt ieds,duti s-s bushs iti dafh ptos hkpots ot -ti s itrti with iti dafh fos.56 Ths uits iti wrkikow of oto afh s of op-ti i spi pi trri, bi thto h ttks wh th oppotty pstsits. lss idi-titd idiushtrs r rruitd t ht udr QSTos.57 ao to so stts, thr t sdir is pid btw $100-150 oth, wh os k osby

o, ppoxty $350 oth.58

fiittrs r rspsib r rii d di-rti ri htrs, distributi wps suhs iprisd psi dis (IeDs), psisd his, uiti, d s-rs.59Th QSTs st-riti iitti pit is -td i suthr Hd btw Kh nshid grsr. This r is s t Brh chhd thr tr pits th Hd-Pk-st bo, t hs b y stbby afh oto fos. Wh th m-

s h opto to tk gs m 2008, th jrit th QSTs prtis th stt, th fttohub, shitd suth t suh is s Ksht dlk oth to s bov gs, shs mrjh d th Si Rir v.60 Th rst th QSTs iittrs r td i distritsthohot th pov, py sposbfo ied ft fts.61



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Buhist d st it Hd, istrutdt rprt t spi dr i Hd tv opto sttos.79

the taliBans campaign plan 2007-2009

fr 2006 t 2007, iti rs d isstruk srius bw t th QSTs drship.I Dbr 2006, th QSTs sir strtist,muh akhtr osi, ws kid duri ir-stk H.80 Th i mrh 2007, mu-h obiduh ws rrstd b Pkisti Suritfrs.81 obiduh ws th rr ds i-istr th Tibs ustd ri d thuht tb ti sir dput muh or.82 Tw

oths t my, mh dh ws kby oto fos H wh vst hsfy.83 Th -d dr ws sid- o of th ost soos H,s sri th QSTsahbai shua.84 i mh2007, oto fospot tts ss th stt of S.85 its possb tht ths foshd b d-up b QST drs tprpr r th Tibs t-spri pi.

Th QST issud s, rrhi uidbut hw t ht th iti. I m 2007, thTib ud th iititi oprtiKamin (Psht r bush).86Kamin stt ths itt t trt ur is d us urttis, suiid bbs, rt-trd [rd-sid bbs] d bushs.87 abst fo thTibs p wr piit, rrhi strtiobjtvs tht th stt tts w t tohv.

Hwr, it ris ur i th Tib did hv pt stt objtvs, o spi pi p, bus th pr-ti r triizd. Th ss ths sirTib drs siit drdd thQSTs d d tr r thir rswth H, to sh xtt tht thy ot d spri-sur si. attks wr

spo y sot Hthohot th of 2007, wh thQST ttptd t rstitut thir d oto stt.

Th b prprtis r sprisi titd oprti Ebat (Psht rss) ud mrh 27, 2008.88 ThEbat ot xpty sttobjtvs, pst oht ozp p, t bst fo pv-os ots. Ebat ws s to sttafh oto s of opto, kit diut r th iti t supp d rsurprii-wid surit d rstruti -rts. Th Tibs spri si i Hdws fos o so afh otors i thir i trs prti- lshkrgh gshk.89 Th Tib b si-t th postos so th pov

pt of lshk gh gshk to th oth.ey optos fo bt stth fo nw th soth, to n a, o th wst of th H rv togshk bov th

r z strthi t Si. oprti,th y soht to stt afh otoovt o th t s of opto,disrupti thir drs. Th s rtsw by t ps posss by so shp Qtt bt ot pb-iizd b th Tibs di wi.90

Pt of ths pbz p ws ky -pi itiidti ist hih- trts th popto.91 i my 2008, ttsstk th hopt of govo gb m

s h ttpt to ms Q to -rt th rstruti squ.92 o thtr, th Tib kidppd d kid ah

jurist wrki r th BBc i lshkr gh,sssst th stt po hf woth stt hf mjh, s thdstruti twrs t prssur is tut iht-ti sri.93 ey fos w -sy o bot th pbty


Taiban peatins did ntdiminish duing the ate fa f2008 as is nmay the case.


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sto v afh w to ow fo tk htrs d drs thruh thir us phos.94 I t-sur, Tib ukid id- jud r grshk d ridd bs sh i mrjh, buri bks d ss-oos.95

Tpi, th ah witr hd urtid Tibprtis d siit swd thir pr-ti tp. Hwr, th Tibs prtis ot sh th t f of 2008 s sr th s. fr th 2008 uti thspri 2009, th Tib tiud t pursuth objtvs st foth Ebat. This t-ssrt ws t t hi th t sur-pris, urthr bi th Tibs psi

wh it ws st ptd. Th tiud -sv thoh th wt oths y show mhBrdrs biit ti t ris his uthr-ty o oto ov optos H.

fwi th hs oprti Ebat th surpris witr si, th Tibs sirshp Qtt ss fo thuh w spri si, titd opr-to Nasat (Psht r vitr).96 Po to Nasat,QST sir drship b rts t trizth o ov th soth sy by

ri d rpi prs i th d.athoh t s wh ths ttows , t s ky tht t ws st of thQSTs uti th Ebat p. aot th Dput eir th QST, ths hs

wr t dirs s strti with sir isd th is dirtrts d di witho of bs th hs soty sttv postos w psstt ssty w z thsthruh ur pris d [sss] rd

r th ds.

97

aoy, ths hsupst prti rk-d- Tib.98 mhBrdr hs b dsribd s prti -, vy h tt to ssos bst pts h ht hv o thhs. o w ru tht h istitutd is thtsir QST drs ust spd t st twths r th rud with thir htrs iafhst.99

Th QSTs rssrti d r ht-s afhst ws vt s y s ap2009, wh th QST rdrd th ssssiti Qri Sd ahd, drt ri i Kd-hr wh ws ppt th Tib.100QST sir drship ws rprtd rspsibr rdri th (usussu) ssssiti

ahd Wi Krzi, th hd th Kdhrpov o th both of PstHid Krzi, th tr.101 Wi Krziss o to b hvy vov th ot-s t, thoh to t, afh otofos hv oy po stt vof hs vovt.102 athoh th ttpt wsusussu, it dstrts th QSTs wii-ss t trt s th st iuti piti

tos of afhst.

oprti Nasat ws r rd d -ti itrti th Tibs prius pi,Ebat. Nasat soht to tt afh otots, ob ovoys, sppy ots, w th p st pot ts,hih-rki rt is, brs prit, ds is, d brs th to to sty sts.103furthrr, th Tib suht t tiht thirt of ky oto ts, pt-

y lshk gh.104

lshk gh s ho to thBritish fri o i Hd, husi thjrit th British ii-iitr t dh t th pri-wid PRT.

Th s shitd its tti pprh, r-i r rqut IeDs t disrupt ah jot ptos ot fw oot-d bushs. Th hd b sustii ty sts afh jot ptosh o, th bs of fo wpoy ooto o. ieds pp

ubrs i Hd. I id-apri 2009, esti itr p s prt oprtiBk Tir ws duti jit prti withBritish, U.S. d ah r uits i suth-wst n a wh thy ov sosof pt povs xposv vs twowokshops ot hs of vs thth ot yt b .105 Tht d thr rhs ud t th ti iditd tht th Tib



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ws pp fo possb oto afhrts t disrupt thir prtis d th rt-is trd (s it ws th ppp hrst ss.)106Th irs i IeDs d sphistitd wpr o n a sst tht th - ky o oto ostshub r th Tib, tr Bk Tir.

Th suht t s- i d sd-y os o to stt afh o-to fos fo of ovt.107 lostsh irsi b us th Tibsp p H s 2007. nst o pvt ostto ops, ts-pot ops, ottos, ows of vhs vs to opty stop sh -is with Kbu d aris, wri tht th

jh wo tk to st th f thy ot opy.108

the enemy system in helmand

i o to st how th y otts sy sophstt ps, t s -ssy to st how t s oz oss thpri. Th sst i Hd Pri b v to th stt bt t -y systs th soth, t, oth

Hd Rir v. Th suthr HdRir v srs tw i purpss. Th rstis t iitt th t ri htrsd wps t th s i tr riti tr Hd. Th sd is t iittth ri, str d tu t ots ot of H, y thoh thpris suthr brdr with Pkist. ctrHd is th s tr rit i thpri. Th hrt th sst is tdwst of th pov pt of lshk gh rud th pris i tr i grshki th nhri Srrj distrit. Th sst ioth H s th o th H- ms Q rvs, o thft f y s fo op tv-ti. athuh th hs usd its siprti i d rud th pris tw ipopto ts of lshk gh gshk,it tius ti t dit th trri

so y stt ts thohotth pov.

helmand river south

Hstoy, tt fos hv o sohtto oto soth H th bo wth Pkst. Soth H povs th hty popt stts of dsh,Kh nshi (R- Kh nshi) d gr-s.109 Th suthr Hd Rir is th ktrsit rut r htrs d wps wi itHd whi rd d urd rt-is r sud ut. Priri, Hds suthsrs s thri pit r ri htrs,wpos oth spps tht ot to

y optos thohot th t pov-i. Th suthr sst is r ss ti ts of ttks st afh otofos, py to th tv bs ofoto fos szb popto ts th Tib-ditd suth.

BArHAM CHAH

Th suthrst pit th Hd Rir sst is Brh chh, rt bzr

tw i Hds psi suthr dsrt,ppsit th chi His r Pkists B-uhist ri. Brh chh hs drus bzrtht s pt to b o of th bst thoty fo th tst of op ho toPkist d Ir, rdi t Hds pr-v ovt spoks d ah.110Th ah rt ds t tr th, whh svs s twy to afhstfo tts wpos.111 Brh chh is ky o th sppy fo th H rv sst. fri htrs, wps d i-

prisd psi di (IeD) pts rtrsitd it ahist, whi rd hri oth ots s ot.

Th st jrit ri htrs tht trHd thruh Brh chh r th urus drsss i Buhist rfo th g J , whh s ho to thssv g J afh f p. a-



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th pss th t s ts(Dsht-i-mr) tht ru r th brdr withPkst to th soth hs of th HRir, r kw s th fish Hk, d rits tr bd rsbi sh hk.

THE FISH HooK

Dshu is th suthr hr th fish Hk, of th ow H rv whh sorus thruh Kh nshi d grsr distrits.Th jrit Dshus pputi rsids i do th stt pt, dsh th tows mkh d Thz, rki th suthr-st pit kw Tib tiit thH rv.112

Dshu distrit is situtd i ahists trsuth, uti r h Hds 160 k- brdr with Pkists Buhist pri.H t sizb prti Hds Ishqzitrib, sub trib Hds Durri Pshtus,dsh shs ts wst bo wth nzpri whih buts Ir. Th Tib hb b to opt wth pty dsh Kh nshi i th bs rt rISaf prs.113 dsh hs b sty fotts th H rv y syst

hb fo ots tht s soth oth H rv.114 dsh s o th s uiti r th t htrs,

wps, d rtis rss th Hd-Pk-st bo phps v fo hbonz.

Th distrit Kh nshi, Tibstrhd, is pprit t kitrsoth of dsh o th H rv.115 ThTib h usd th distrit tr Khnshi d its it Jur frt p

rtid rir strhd rid b wthtwrss th t of th optos th stt.116Kh nshi is bst-kw r its bzr, uhk dsh.117 Po to 2009, ths ws osttir -iits t iti d ah rs.British d ah rs b t dp opt pt of th ow H rv sst tr oprtiAabi Ta (P-shtu r Bu Swrd) ws dutd i fbrur

2009. ardi th British drs,br ur rri - kw wht ws hr itws y bk p.118

lkri d Ksht r td pprit

t- kitrs rth Kh nshi thHd Rir. British rs kw itt butth r prir t th uh oprti KapchaSaaam (Pshtu r cbr Sut) i t Ju-r 2009. Thir Iti Prprti thBttd (IPB) ws isut, s th wrrd t withdrw tr di thss thris bd lkri, itr th p i -y ttoy.119 Duri th rtrt, htrspursud th withdrwi British d ahfos.

Ksht hd srd r rs s jr suthropt pot fo th H rv ysst, sri s supp hub r bb-kiquipt d rtis.120 ao to orprts, th htrs wh trsit rththruh Ksht r ri.121

Ksht d lkri b th i trsit hubr isurts btw apri d otbr 2008.u.S. ms fo th 24th m expto-r Uit (meU) uhd prti t rgs, jst s to th oth ap 2008.

This usd th sst t shit suth tKsht d lkri t id ussr ttd itrti with U.S. rs. Ths tw twsy ow b o pott to th y thgs ts th sppy fo ots,htrs, d wps.122

gs stt, whh s ost th tth of soth H pov, shsHds brdr with Pkist. grsrs tr-ri is t, rid dsrt itrruptd b thhs bks of th H rv tht

rus thruh th distrit. Th jrit gr-srs pputi is th rti r surrudith H rv. gs sv s th josoth hb fo H rv y systpo to ap 2008, fto s sty th twy to th ht of th H pov- th pov pt of lshk gh,

just t kitrs rth th Hd Ri-r. Th r hd b usd s pi,



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sti d istis hub r th Tib d s ky o th ots twok thtir th th Hd Rir v rd- to ts ov th os of thm opto o gs.123 Thmris d siit rsist duri thirri prti, s htrs wd it th rfo oss th pov.124 Th s bsrdhtrs i suth t supp hubs i Ksht lk to obt s.125 Th itsit thht ws ik du t th tii th pr-ti, i duri th phss th spriop hvst.

Th rit th Tib rsist is ti grsrs strti sii t th . ThTib tpi h t suht t U.S.r British rs dirt duri th urs opto, s thy sy otb ot. ist, thy tt poy of syt tts, sh s th y ofIeDs t ht th citi. Th s ttptto ho gs, y o fots foso s, ssts tht thy w -tt to os th ky t kts th distrits i bzr, thuh th wrtu dri suth. Th upid grsri r; stitd 400 iitts wr kid

duri th th- prti.126

ms soud siit qutitis wps d druhs.127 Th mris hd pd r th pr-to to st oy wks, bt thy sov thtth sty stto gs ws wos thxpt thy th t Sp-tb 2008. d tht t, thy opt ot cp Dwr, pprit t kitrswst of gs.

Th mris rprtd tht prir t thir rrith Tib wud it irs d tk

ov th hoss.

128

Thir huss wud th bs s sto s to stokp wpos s thri pit r htrs tri rth rth Pkst bo.129

B id-Ju 2008, th mris prti igs pot tht th sty stto th stt ws b to pov thits bzr ws urishi i.130 yt,

th urr tiit t th rth i trH ssts tht th y ws b torr ut its pi dspit th mris t-tpts t ut supp is t grsr. Bid-auust 2008, rs i nd ai wrosot th oto ov th stt, foth bot of two anP hkposts th stt t.131 Th s sidti ind ai ws trtd rt t pd thirtto oto so th povpt of lshk gh.

Th 24th meU hdd r rspsibiit rgrsr t ah d British rs up itspt fo th tht y Spt-br 2008. Th Tib wrkd t rstbish thd i grsr tr w ths. fihtrsopt ot of th stt wth tv pty,thuh ss th br apri 2008. Britishptos wo osoy ot ieds osuiid bbrs thr. Th British prtd ut s bss d [ptrd] withi rh thir bss t id th risk bi ut .132Th idd ptrs Rut cwb, thi rth-suth strth rd i th distrit,so kow s ied ay.133 csqut, thTib d t irs thir prs igs ov th os of th t f 2008

r witr 2009, r-stbishi k is-tis d iitti prti i th distrit. Bm 2009, th Tib wr prpri, buidifs, o sp ts, bi ri htrs d thr rirts dpt ieds vywh, p to s thr ik ti id d.134

helmand river central

ctr Hd sps th distrits nw (n-w-i-Brkzi), nd ai, nhri Srrj, d lsh-kr gh. Th lshkr gh distrit is h t thidti-d prii pit it, d thrst trti Hds pputi.ct H s kow s th bbskt ofafhst fo th xpsv of tf tht ptts th sp -t surrudi th rir. Th d thH rv s k by to hs



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ths, y of whh w bt s pt of u.S. vopt po th 1950s.135

I rd with oprti Ebat, with oprti Nasat, th s i bjti

hs b to so afh oto st-tos ot th.136 Th priipt of lshk gh s ssty soby y stohos tht fo bt stthfo nw th soth, to n a, o thwst of th H rv to gshk.Thruhut 2008 d 2009, th s isi rts h b dirtd ist ah oto tts thohot t H,pty lshk gh th ooysiit d tr td it grshk.

NAwA

Th Tib tr th nw distrit, whih iskow y fo ts poppy poto. nw hstw riutur zs. Th rst, rti r-rw, thirt kitr- ps rd,s ty to th pov pt of lshkgh. Th sd is sr kitrs wst thdistrit tr r th tw mrjh. Th a-h nti Surit frs iti itt prs- th , s fo fw stt afh

nti Pi (anP) hk psts. csqut,th Tib iti rd tthr, whih th us t supprt th rts t thoth of nw n a. nw ks th pott whih htrs d quipt wi rthfo gs f to lshk gh, ths i rt withi th pri.

Stty, th s pott to th y,both bs of th f vot to poppypoto bs of ts poxty to lsh-kr gh. Th trri i d rud nw is id

fo y hs, y of w op otr th surrudi ds, but s wps xposvs tht s to h ttks osi jit ptrs ah d Britishfos anP hkpots.137 Th trri is dt-t wth t f s opostht stth fo sv kots, ot oyby ow t os s.

Th Tib sidtd thir rip nwthohot h of 2008 2009, thohthy h t sto ps th

distrit r rs. Th Tib hd sd t withi kitrs lshkr gh I otbr 2008,o to pots.138 ah d British rsh jot opto ttpt to vth Tib suth. Th prti ttd wp-os, to, otobks oth vhsbut did t hi -tr is, busth fos ot th to ho tho.139 Jot fos h sv othoptos ov th xt fw oths to v thTib ut r t dit rud, but sti didot t pt ps th .Th Tib squt tiud t prt ith wth tv pty, y ieds kytrri usd b irqut jit ptrs.140 afhd British rs ssti hd t rtk th tr- h t thy t th .

Th Tib prs i th distrit bo otb th t wt ysp oths of 2009, th t of th y whth y typy fos soth s ahist. Th b t ppr i rrubrs, d th uhd r rqut t-

tks o po hkpots.141 Th Tib bto ptz o th xpots nw th t spri d sur 2009. o m 13,2009 anP opt th stt w fot rtrt s Tib htrs b t rwhth posts.142 Th Tib surrudd th rwth ht s to pvt oto afhrs r r-tki th trri.143 Howv,


photo 3 | u.s. marine patrol in nawa. (u.s. marine

corps photo)


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rsps t th Tib si, iti dafh fos h opto th t push bk th di is. o m15 2009, muh mik, sir Tib iitro thoht to b sposb fo svdistrits i Hd d s thr wr-drs wr kid b ISaf ir-strik ith Zshb th opto.144 mhmik is p pb Tib dr-ship tht is st t rquird t rdit si. Whi th iti d ahutrsi ws b t tprri push thTib ut rs i s priit t lshkrgh, th f to t pt toopps o th o t y st s-ss. Th Tibs sustid rt t stbish

footho nw ws hv by t sp of2009, fth osot th oto of kyttoy so lshk gh.

MArjAH

Th tw mrjh is pprit t

kots wst of nw stt t oytwt- kitrs r th prii pit.Th pris i rd rus rth, pr tth H rv, fo gs to mjh tius t th it lshkr gh. Th trrio mjh s s to nw stt t- rd usd r ppp prduti, diiddb rrw s d dirt pths. Th mriopto gs whh b ap 2008,rd th Tib t rt bw d bth stt. i Sptb 2008, mjh thn a stt ty to th oth wpturd b th Tib tr th dr ut thtvy wk po fo tht op svposts th stts.145 it s ky tht mjh wstsfo to y o oto

hb shoty ft th ms b th of gs. S tht t, possby v, mjh hs sv s y wposhub, prir thri pit r htrs dos t H, s th hb fo th t H ots t.146

Th l chrhi (l chrh) Bzr is th -

map 3 | central helmand province


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t of ots y tvty mjh.147Th bzr hs prbb srd s th i r-ots ied tst t o thmrjh-nd ai r si 2008. a jit British afh opto my 2009 to szth bz bs t ws pott op-ti d i hub, s shw b th sto to th oto fos. So ttdrs [dirtd] ihbri drs tssb htrs d rir th hti i rt t rptur th dru s h. additiy fos fo Pkst hv so b po to fo th oo btt.148 Th -y p hh v o pott th bs,v f t t ovto ofotto wthspo coto fos.

Th wps, rtis d tris sizd bcoto fos thjot opto vth xtt to whh thl chrhi Bzr hdsv s ots hbr Hd. orth urs thr-dopto, afh ntoay oos of th 205th cops ssst byoto fos k 47 tts sz th

si-rst dru h b itrti rs afhst to t.149 Th sizur ttd r h tos of op, oph, ho,hshsh poppy ss sto ot rtis prd t prius ds.150 a host prursr his r ri rtis wrso fo, s w s ssott of xposvs ied ts.151

NAD AlI

Th nd ai (nd- ai) distrit t th rth mrjh ws th i supprt z r th Ti-b y syst H, y fos lshkr gh d grshk. ah isf to s s th ost os p thpov.152 n a hosts obto of yhtrs, rtis trkrs, d sptru Tib sir drship d id- -s. n a s phps th ost stt

pi trri r th i Hd. Thr is diut t ptr s it is surrudd b thnhr- Burhr t th rth d disstd bsv oths, th Sh c. a-toy, n a s ho to ky w o vbosss to th wst of lshk gh,iudi Rut 601 whih rus rss th BBrid it th prii pit.153 atoy,n a pots to th oth pov t -ss to th ty of gshk, whh s ot oHihw o (th Ri Rd) iki th ih-bri pris niruz d frh t th wstd Kdhr t th st.

I fbrur 2008, th-Hd grrash Wf o th b of rditi pi i nd ai r B i-, to b ot by sp po fo st

r Kbu.154 govoWf stt, th posho opty tth t ops wthot s-to wh yot th p.155 Thisp, thoh tt trt Tib ud-

, ws ost hf to o poppy fs.Th Tib ttptd t pitiz th piu

rrs distt d it ws s rprtd thtfs th v of mjh w jors with th Tib t ht th rditits.156 Th s id r with th pputi b prtti piu ds. ardit Tib dr muh mh- Qs, w pvt th stto of poppyds bus w h buht [wps] thbk kt ot of ho oy.157 Th supprtof th o popto ow th sy tourish i th r.

Th Tib sizd nd ai i Sptbr 2008d dr ut th rii ah pi. Thisws ot spy jo pop vtoy. rth-r, th Tib bruht sb w do to th pvosy wss stt. aoto o o st n a, wh th gov-t ws h, th po w btpp d sti r th [but] t th rstbzr udr th w Tb ri, thr ws


Nad Ai is pehaps the mststategic piece f teain f the

enemy in Hemand.


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sti b th Tb d th btiws of ht st otobk.158 Hwt t stt, th Tb rd his oths th bk o th thy ph thoh th bz th thy bt h thrw hi ut. H w't d it i.159 This is but p Tibs di r rtipopto ts.

ah d ISaf rs wr b t ri -tr nd ai distrit tr i otbr 2008.

atr ds h hti ( iditi thTibs dsir t hd th r), ah suritrs stbishd hdqurtrs buidi i thdistrit tr. Thuh th rid thr trth prti, th British rs did t.160 Ths ah r ws r d t th so th stt t otpto h byo tht, th ovwh-i jrit nd ai t th Tib. Wh th

anP did ptr, th wr rqut bushd brups s r s r s iht htrs. nr bsh ttpts w oot, t-prd ttks usi s rs r, hius, rtrs, d rkt-prpd rds(RPgs).161 ot, iti s ir supprt ws to th y postos, t- hvy y sts , so ss,

s v sts.162

mt tho of t n a ws o wthth objtvs pt foth ebt, to soafh oto ottos of toops to ths fos thoh w y ofsi surs.

I Dbr 2008, British rs uhdoprti Snd Chaa, whh thy sv s oth n a ostttw ptr bss i Shi K d chh--aj.163 chh--ajir is strti td

jr sht th Hd Rir, wst th Tib strhds Bshr d Bbji.chh--ajir ws idtid s k - oto osts o, whh wsk to th t ttks o lshk gh.164

ardi t th UKs miistr Ds, thri prti ttd [ hst] Tibquipt, prius ds i th r t-td trbiks, stit phs, wki-tkis,

ot os, s s h s,uiti, IeDs d IeD-ki quipt,w op vos oth tos sp-ps.165 Whi th st jrit British rsrturd t cp Bsti tr th usiof th opto, th anP h th pto bss ot ptos st s, y ot ofPtr Bs ar th d nd ai distritt.166

Th ah Pi did t iti siitprs i th r. Ths wh wr prst pri-o to Sptb 2008 w stst by th opopto. ao to vs th ,th rts pi r ws s brut drrupt tht th wd th Tib s ibr-tos. ao to ots fo o vs,th anPs pits iudd btis, rbbr dp.167 los stt tht po wo ptbhbzi (s with pr-pubst bs); i thbs wr ut i th ds, th pi wud by p th yo o to y po bsd u wi s ths bs. Th hd th utith r ishd with th d th t th hido. 168

lASHKAr GAH

Th pit Hd pri, lshkr gh,s stt btw th H ahbrvs, whh tst jst soth of th ty.lshk gh s ho to ppoxty 125,000, f t sts ty s-pd pp wh h d th isurit T-ib-trd rur distrits.169 mo lshkgh ws ostt by a s th1950s, wth ty boks k by w t os.lshkr gh is th st Hds priirt, ah ar d Pi hdqur-trs, d th hi-rtid p thBritish-d Prii Rstruti T, dth hdqurtrs th UKs Tsk fr Hd.Th Tib iti rd trss th Hd Rir i suth-rth btrud th pit. yt, th it its is rtistb op to ts so stts.

athuh Tib ss-itr ssuts hb soth afhst, th st



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w ths t dri th Tib ut r t di-t o, bt thy st ot t prt d suit rsurd prs ith r wi thir prtis. Th Tibsqut tiud t prt i th rwth tv pty, y ieds ky tutiizd b irqut jit ptrs.174

Wh th y to th soth, wst, othof lshk gh hs ot soht to oto th tytsf, t hs xt ttks o jot p-tos o th otskts of th pt.175 Th s tvty o lshk gh s th ttpt of ieds.176 coto fos opt H oft v th ots ot id IeDs, t th Tib sd tb o stp h. ms b pott thots s spst gPS tk t sov tht ptos systty ov tt hok pots.177 Thus, rthr th -y ied ts tt pto ots, thy wsip trti hk pits, hii sii-t sss.178 Tpi, th IeDs withi th itr dttd b d-wir, rt, dt uh ssr dr, prssur-pt trirdis (whih rqut rsut i iii su-ts s sts o ot oto th t ofdtti).179 afh oto ptos

t th trt Tib ttks. o oso, ied tt afh o-struti r rspsib r sphti strthof o fo lshk gh to mjh,psby to t th ostto of th o,whh wo k possb jot ptos to thhrt th Tibs prtis.180 Th Tibpf t os wh ieds s to by h to tt.

I mrh 2009, th s bdss d tti- xto otby pov, v by

sr th strth hih pr ttks.Ths ttks rkd th bii th Ti-bs nsrt pi. Th sussu -t tt sssstos wth lshk gh h oot ttks o ky tts, stt tt shft op to pvos pt-ts of vo th ty.181 o mrh 7, 2009,tw ss i ahists ntiDirtrt Surit (nDS) wr kid wh

xposvs pt sk stowd b iti i i lshkr ghtot, k th two j oth.182Th nDS is th dsti iti th rt ahist. Th riztis os hhy pb by afh stsd is pri trt r Tib ttks. Just r wk t, os bob stk th of dmoh, fo jh od rsptd br ahists Wsi

Jir (wr hus Prit).183 Th iidto th y ftoo o th otskts oflshk gh, k d moh, o podr abdu Sd Khksr, d urboys.184

Dd mhd (s kw s air Dd,air Dd mhd Kh) ws utspkppt th Tib, wh srd s HdsnDS hi r th th Tib uti histo to Pt 2005, whh ptyh so sv s b of th otot-is itt. Duri his tur s Hdst hf, h ws poty kow foistrti pturd Tib htrs.185 i-trsti, th Tib did t i rdit rthis spi ttk, but th rup ws prbbsposb, s t t fo ttk

Ju 2006 i Si distrit tht kid thirt-two of hs tvs fs.186 Th isitbtw mhd d th Tib ws ikprs, but ud h b id b hisakoz tb bko s th akozs w jo ty fo th of t

wh kpt th Tib w r Kdhr itpo to 2005.187

Prtti th t-spri ppp hrst ws s Tib pririt, s shw b trtd ttks Spi cutr-nrtis Pi fr thruh-

ot mh ap 2009. a s bob anP fo tt po ovoy ot-sid thir hdqurtrs i lshkr gh i id-mh.188 Th ws prpri t dprt poppy to sso wh t ws stkby th ttk. ev th ttk, whtwt-iht thrs wr wudd.189 a sbob y ap ppoh op ofutr-rtis rs t d dttd



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his psis, kii tw pi rs dth vs, two of th h.190 WhsEbat wrd anSf d rt isbot oopt wth th oto, Nasatdstrtd th Tibs irsi ptitud iy ot sh ttks.

Th uptik i ttks tiud it th tsp of 2009. it sst thtTib isurts pd t uh throot ttk o lshk gh fo mjh,this ti trti th pud Hdsovo, gb m. u.S. t t-pt oto fo Qtt t ap,sii tht r-s ssut lshkr ghws t.191 Th QST issud r ht-s fo s f wy s Wzst Pkst.192Th rprtd shippd i ur SitZPU-1 ti-irrt us r th issi whih isti th s biitt rsur si.193Howv, o os H pss fo y h to th op-to bs y of thhtrs wr sti wrki thvst th of thsss ppp.194 dys t,

British rs kid trib dr with iks t th Tib. o i,th Tib pstpd thir ssut, this ti r po of o. mwh, afh

ar-d ssut r ws dsdi th, th bz mjh ky t todisrupt th Tibs i rtis hub d -d d tr d i tr Hd. Thfo so ov sophstt o-tis quipt t th ti, disr whihsppots th oto of mjh sv s thub i th Tibs tr Hd twrk.

Thr ds hti kid pprit sittts wh ppoxty o h tosof ots hs w sz toto wpos xposvs.195 dspt th ssssof th py sst, th fo ws ot owto ps th soy objtv, sptTib-ru bzr td i th hrt oto ttoy to k of tosos.196 Th wi d, iti it-

ssts pot vhs y wy whtws ik rtis d Tib wps r thso bz.

citi rs idtid thirt isurts

th o th otskts of lshk gh o my15, 2009, thy stks, ktwt-tw iitts iudi si drs.197This hih rti drs t htrs is rr,sst tht th xto of th p ttkrquird irsd rditi d suprisir tht th htrs h b pr trido t ts. Wks t, o otoy xt tt sssstoof th pty hf of th H t j,Sy moh, wh h ws shopp wth hsso Sfy v.198 Tib spks Qri

yusu ahdi id rspsibiit r th ki-.199

furthrr, tw irTib drs d ssut r iht ht-s ttk o popost th v of ayk, s v wth t k-ots of lshk gh.200Th ttk ws rpd bth pi, wh surd

sts. it s tob howv thtth Tib wr bdd uh t ttk sty post oy kots fo th povpt th of th ftoo.201 co-tpoos wth th ttk o th ayk popost, o otoy xt tt ssssto of th pty hf of thH t j, Sy moh, whh ws shopp wth hs so Sfy v.202Tib spks Qri yusu ahdi idsposbty fo th k.203

itsty, th v of ttks lshk ghi Ju 2009 rturd t pr-mrh s, dthr wr hih-pr ttks duri thispo. it s ky tht so os wprupid with utri oprti PanchaiPaang(Psht r Pthrs cw), whih wsuhd b British rs i id-Ju i th rof n a, so h so tht ot op-


The QST issued a ca fghters from as far away as

waziistan.


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tos lshk gh wo o o hv b py objtv.

BABAjI AND SPIN MASjID

Bbji is td ruh twt- kitrsoth of lshk gh, btw th HRir d th nhr-e-Buhr c. Th r istir udr th iu th Tib dts of th ots t, s th ft t-ri is prdit usd t rw ppp. Th svs s tst ot fo th y topits rth, iudi grshk, Hihw o,d Tib strhds i rthr Hd.Th trri is rb r isurts, wh pt th w vbs of th H

rv vt thohot th s vt-to tht sps th t st to gshk.gv th z t s vtto,afh oto fos ot sy otvh o foot ptos.

Just rth Bbji is th r Spi msjid.Sp msj th so v of aK r kw trsit pits r Tib ht-rs d suppis wi rth d suth.204Ths is s sr s kw sti rsfo ttks o sppy ovoys tht soth fo

Hihw o th wstr d th rzo.205 I id-fbrur 2009, ruh 700

ah, British, Dish d cdi trpsh opto to th v stbsh po post th . aft th popost ws ostt, th sst fo t tocp Bsti, i s pi r t hdth r. Th ssut r id t h shutdw it Tib supp ruts, but with po fo to ho th t, thTib rid tr th r st sft th sst fo ft th .206 Wth foths, British rs uhd thr r-s prti t r Bbji d Spi msjid, to tht th y s fo thprius prti hd b st t th Tib.

GErESHK

grshk, th distrit tr nhri Srrj (nhr

Surkh), sits t th itrsti th HdRir d Hihw o, whih rus thruh tht of th ty. gshk hs popto th hbohoo of 50,000, ohy th szof lshk gh.207 gshk s os thoo t of th pov, s hoto szb bz. lk lshk gh, th tysists sprwi ud-wd husi -ps i r it bks tht strth r kitrs r d t d. Th British dU.S. mris h stbishd cp Bsti dcp lthrk, th hdqurtrs itifos H ohy thty kots wstof gshk.

Th t th idit suth d rth gshk s fos o h ttks thty tsf hss afh otoptrs, foBs, d hkpits i th iditvty. lk lshk gh, th y os otsk to ho o th ty tsf s oyo wth t th ppto of -sty. ey objtvs gshk tto: hss afh oto fos ptos ovoys s ots of th ty, o-duti IeD d bush ttks Hihw o th bz gshk, trd t r htrs, wps, d

ots.ey s th stt poy xtof ieds oot bshs, sothoh th os ft fts sto hs ot thohot th stt,r s r suth s ai K, st t yh(ykhh), d rth t mirdw.208 iedttks h b st rqut i th distrittr, Hihw o, d th idit i-ty of afh oto bss.209 eybushs h t b prtiur ti,

spi ist utd ptrs. Thuh thy y hv th t of sps, thy ost wys otb ot.Th rqut sustis rtr sutisth it iits, with th pti ttks sot oto ptos.210 ey bshs so thoh host of wpos hsot thohot th nh Sj stt, sotht ttks o ptos b o sy xt



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so. Wh afh oto fosbshs p, thy oft sh th s-o ot y wpos hs,st oss of y sos yhtrs.211

i to to hss ptos, th y hsso ttk oto bss po hk-pots, sk to h th oto tht o-to fos sf fo ttk o th bss.212Th jrit ttks d trtshv b t po hkpots thohotth stt.213 Ths ttks r ik t titiidt ah Surit frs d dissudth r itrri with th s pr-tos tht oth soth o th HRir. Uik iti foBs, pi hkpits tvy xpos pst h softtrt. Ths ttks rt th s siitps th stt o of th so- t.

Th s st sphis-tt ootttks fos o th sttrt hdqurtrs th o bz gshk. Pvt afh oto fos fot opt oto of th bz s top poty fo th y, s th kt s thtr r rtis d wps trki inhri Srrj. Thir ttis s ttpt t dis-pt st th fto of th sttovt sty ppts, o wthnsrt. Ths sphistitd ttks h b ith r trtd ssssitis, trbik-br IeDs, uti-st ttks id t iit-i ss sutis d Suiid vhi-Br

Iprisd epsi Di ttk (SvBIeD).

214

motoy bobs tvy oo Hd (uh r s th SvBIeDs), ikbs of th poo t k of tvsbos.215

Th st it th r ths ttks ws m2009. Th tii ths ttks is siit.

athuh it is diut t dstrt us-

ty, ths ttks foow th ot ofoprti Nasat o ap 30, 2009.216 i thrst iidt, psi-d trws tot os poxty to th stthdqurtrs buidi i grshk, rss r thits bzr m 3, 2009.217 Th ttk kid pi i d thr iiis, d ijurdsx o.218 a ttkr psi-dtr trtd ISaf , s it trdthruh th distrit tr ds tr. Thttk kid tw iiis d wudd thirt-two oths, two po.219 a sbbr dttd r British ptr, kiitw UK sdirs th wi d.220

Th st sphistitd th m ttks igshk o jst ys t o my 10,2009. a s s bob tot t txstop gshk stt t tt afh

Po pto. as ana anP fos spo toth rst ttk, sds bob ppoh tot hs bob.muti-st ttks suh sths H,thoh thy hv o

with rti rqu i

ihbri Kdhr.Th r dsid t iit x ot of sts, tt ott op of spos to th t,vsoy ttk. most sts s byth w- ttk. I , ur anSf d thrvs w k wh ppoxty twtyoths w wo.221

aoth spt ttk o o J 13,wh SvBIeD dr it ISaf tht ws pk oto bs oss fo

th grshk Bzr. ardi t th distrithf of gshk, ab ah, ht vs wkid i th ttk whi twt- thrs wrwo.222 eht f tks fo tksw so stoy th ttk.223 it s bvtht th tu trt th SvBIeD ws shd-ud hih- ti btw British, Dish,d ah is t disuss surit prbsp H pov ov th pst sv


In additin t haassingpats, the enemy has asattacked caitin bases and

pice checkpints


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ths; hwr, th ti ws d du t tp w of ttk th stt t thts y.224

SvBIeDs h b tr rr i Hd

pov, ky bs of th k of vbrds. Hwr, i ihbri Kdhr cit,SvBIeDs ttks ur st th. SvBIeDs r distit r thr suiid di--uturi s. SvBIeD prduti rquirssiit r prtis d tir di-ft st of sos th ied o s vstft s. athoh t s

wh thr hs b rrdd SvBIeD igshk ty, t s ost ky tht th v

ws trsprtd r Kdhr it d t pr-dud withi Hd. Thrr, this suststht Tib drs i th Hd Rir

v ik r ikd t th QST i Kdhrit; hwr, th tt this rtiship is.

i to to b ttk zo, gshk th t nh Sj stt so fto sppot of th ots twok tht optsthohot th H rv.225 o d i thdistrit i r m 2009 ttd r h-tof ty hvst op opo o

with thr suppis, iudi rt-trd

bb-ki pts d u stkdt oo to tt wo tts wth opo nh Sj.226 Wh th -joty of ots s ot of Hthruh th Brh chh bzr it Pkist, itis s ik tht rtis trkrs tk d-t of th hhwy to ov ots st toKdhr d wst twrds Ir thruh niruz,frh, d Hrt. I Kdhr i prtiur, thtw Spi Bdk th brdr with Pkisths b th sit rus rtis ds,

spy th os of 2008.

227

Th shrsiz ths ds susts, but ds t pr,tht ots fo so povs sh sHd r trkd it Pkist r SpiBdk.228

wASHEr

Th distrit Wshr, du wst nhri Srrj

s y st. Wsh s ho to ky stth Hihw o tht rus rss th tir thof t H s th ky sppy otr cps Bsti d lthrk. Th opts fy Wsh fo th stt twh th s o pt afh o otops.229 atoy, Wsh s bv tob soy sppot zo fo ied sttks o gshk.230

helmand river north

noth H pov s th nhSrrj, Si, Kjki, nw Zd, mus Q,d Bhr distrits. or th pst sr rsTib prtis h irsi usd

th rthr Hd Rir v r btwSi d Kjki. This r is t h tth rths i rtis twrk, but s tss iitti hub r QST tiitis i Uruzd pssib Kdhr.231 Th hss itid r tr r th rthwst- stts of Wsh now Z, t hss suht t disrupt ah d ISaf rts ith histri siit distrit mus Q.Th Tib h b st wd b thIshqzi trib i Si, tr rs th tribszto fo H ovoSh moh akhzh.232

SANGIN

S s ppoxty thty kots oth grshk, just bd th s tw Q-e-gz. Th i rd tht trs rth t Sir th Hd-Kdhr brdr is Rut611, whh ots othst fo S to thutius tw Kjki. Rut 611 is dt-td with British Ptr Bss d foBs d is th

i trsit rut btw Si d Kjki.233lot t th tsto of th ms Q H rvs, S s ky t fo thsy bs ts s of oto toth rthr rs Kjki d mus Q ruty thoh th stt.

Th Tib h urishd i Sis isu-rit. Tib htrs prbb b t it



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Si d Kjki tr th wr dri ut ms Q stt db 2007.234 oth, thy st p show ov st-ts. rty, o st of S stttht, whv w hv pob, w o toth Tib d th Tib urt.235 Thr rrprts tht Tib juds hd urt tr fri-y pys S, pov sts wthti ru w, prti tht hps thi r with s. eswhr, th Tib hpoty st p hkpots o jo owys,tx tks tht s th hhwys.236 Th Ti-bs tti dstrts thir uthrit doto of th o poptos.

S stt t s ot jst st of thHd Rir. Th Tib trs th rz strddi bth sids th rir. foB Jk-

so s stt o th st of th HRir d huss p British trps sw s opy of u.S. ms. S sttt s o th o st foJkso s ho to two pto bss. How-v, k y stts H, ost ofSis pputi ds t i i th distritt. a o t th av of Hop o-ts th stt t wth rot 611, whhrus rth twrds Kjki. Th jrit Sis pprit 75,000 rsidts i-hbt th f bo rot 611, so thti r th distrits bzr d rkt. Thafh nto ay s sposb fo sty ths ty to th oth of Sstt t.

Th i Si hs b dsribd s


map 4 | northern helmand province


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utr isur, whr htrs trS to st ttks th tt to thsts to th oth soth o th zo st Sb Q.237 Th jrit y tvty th s t to hssptos obt otposts th , ththoh th s of ieds o bsh s.238 eybshs oft h s s sr disutd ptrs.239 Th pitsth brush- d trid trri th Si

v i dditi t th s d hs thtsk thoh th so f vs,kwi tht th diut trri prhibits ahd iti utd ptrs. Th rrbshs o ptos, s thy oftut-ud d urb t iti ir sup-

pot. ist, o ptos oft ttthoh th s of ieds, tt t todissud UK rs r ptri rs bd of sht of th otposts.240 Th ds t sur r shrt IeDs d thrtos, t ts os hsthohot th to to ied f-t fts s v opos, ffo y ptos.241

Th r btw Si d Kjki t th rths th fo th sto, poss,

trsiti rtis i rthr Hd. ThTib prids th surit ditis tht wth rtis trd t urish i th Si Rir

v. Th , strthi r Si t K-jk s host to xps of f t topoppy tvto.242 atr th t-spri hrstsso, op s ot fo th poppy pts tk to y o of th os horris th . I r 2009, British afh fos sz o th $80 owoth of ots th Sb Q of thSi Rir v.243 Srb Q, Tib-

ot v to th st of S sttt, s ky t th t of ths optos.244I Ju 2009, r d h ts rtis, r ts his usd i thprss ri rw piu it hri, dtw ri brtris wr disrd i thv.245

KAjAKI

appoxty thty kots othst ofSi th Hd Rir v is thistd tw Kjki, th tr distrit

th s . Th distrit is bst kw r thssi Kjki D p, whih is itddto f th ssv H rv fo thKjki Rsrir d t prid triit t siz-b prti suthr ahist. Th d issurrudd b th Kjki mutis. Th distrittr, whih is h t th jrit Kjkis-ri pputi, is t th suthwst th d i th t th d th H-d Rir. muh th distrits pputi issps thohot oto of s vsto th oth soth of th opx.246

Th Kjki D hs b pit r Brit-sh optos th . i t ast r Sptbr 2008, British rs uhdoprti Tsuka (Psht r es Suit) ttspot ov 200 tos of tb othhir r hudrd is diuttrri tht strths r Kdhr aird tth Kjki D. Ruh 5,000 trps, hu-drd his, thirt hiptrs d twt htrjts w vov th opto.247 Th d t k it t Kjki tr d rsbsrbd th jrit th Tibs ttks. Thvy stto of th tb, whhwo s th pty fo t pow foth pop of soth afhst, ws pt of rr strt id t ipri ahs quit i thruh r-s id d dptpojts. it so soht to xp th h of thafh ovt by xt bs svs tooty popto ts. Poss o th pojt hs b svy hp by pssttsurit hs i d rud Kjki.

Si 2008, British rs h itid p-pus r pstur t foB Zbru,ot o h ovook th , -to to oso ssst fo ott of

austri Spi frs. Th prir bjtiof th fo t Zb s to pott th its idit surrudis r Tib ttks.Th British h b iitd i thir biit t


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stbish surit i d rud Kjki r twpy sos: k of pso sosd trri tht uqustib rs th Ti-b th optos th . not oy th too fw sos t Zb, th o-tos t so th bs s opx,prti British rs r ptri Kjkisi pputi trs i th distrits .Th s tr th btt-sp surrud-i foB Zbru rs it th rd -t to ot oot bshs ied ttks y t w.

or th urs th 2008 d witr2009, jit ptrs i th r h rqutb th tt of ieds p o th t os psss so th th sttt.248 osi, British rs d anPhv h tt s o sspt ttopos o th stt t. imh ap 2009, jot fos k iitts i Kjki with Tibo by th of mw Hss, whows poty sposb fo s ttks bobs oth H.249 appox-ty o wk t, wh ps ttswho bsh jot pto th , otofos sov ied fty, opt wth

rd-d IeD dis d thr uturits.250 i to to wpos ied -tris, puds i Kjki s ti rt-s, poppy ss, w op oth pph.251

Th Tib i Kjki h istitutd ts show ovt, pov j sos sty fot o o vs.I Kjki, it hs b rprtd tht iitts thoss wth tty, o to tb S who os by th of moh

as.

252

Th ts r ik usd t thtvts of o y s, so osttth oto ov th ts sts.

Now ZAD

Tib prtis i rthr Hd rot t to th othst hs of thH rv. ists so tv th

distrits rthwstr Hd. Th distrit now Z s swh btw Wsh msQ. nw Zds trri is st t, uihb-t st wh th oth pt of th stt,r th brdr with frh pri, is uti-us. Th distrit tr is td i rir ,so o ss by otos t.

Btw 2006 d 2007, thusds rsidtsd th distrit tr id its htibtw isurts d British rs tht wrsttid th tws utskirts.253 S th,Tib drs d htrs h usd thtw r s p r htrs t rst d rst.254it s so o of sv o otohbs sppot o fo th oth tr Hd Rir v.255 Tpi, isur-ts hv opt o sv ky s o thutskirts th it, whi htrs h ri th vos bk opos bsthohot th oth pt of th ty, st to ts to v thoh-ut. o th str d tw, iittsrprtd h ud wps, htrs, dsuppis thruh th tr-id, drid-up wditht rus suth, s t foB nw Zd.256 is-ts oto th oth ots of th sttt, th o b Pkst ay,

sr rs r th ri htrs thuhtto t.257

MUSA QAlA

T th st nw Zd is th mus Q distrit.Th distrit is h t th mus Q Rir, tbty of th H rv tht s bhs t th rth r Si. Uik thrpopto ts H, th stt tof ms Q s ot ot th h fvy of th stt. ist, t s ot svkots to th st, jt to s tbty

just st th i rir. Th dsp sur-rudi th distrit tr is rti t, sidfo tow ot to th othst th rut t Bhr. Si r Jur 2008, afh oto fos hv b bto t of stbty th stt -t, ho to th o bz szb pop-



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to of Pshts.258 yt, th tr itt s.

Hstoy, th stt hs b o of th ostustb i Hd. Th British rrid ith s kt tow 2006 hv btt

th Tib r tr r si. I 2006, Brit-ish rs i mus Q sistd twt-ur pt tht ws bsd t s utpst. Thpost th k, th ao, s t wsstt udr r.259 aft sssvTib sis tht tiu thrtd t r-ru th pst, UK rs quit rrd dbtw o tb s th afh ov-t t mus Q d tur th distritssurit r t s-pii-risdmiiti trid d quippd b th grtof afhst.260 yt, ths tr, i fb-rur 2007, th i ws rru with Tibhtrs wh sizd th distrit tr, ruti th

ah iiti. Th Tib prisd t prttppp rs r rt-d rditirts.261

Duri th Tibs ri i mus Q, it ws r-pot tht th ws tsfo to jortis hub, pi hst t s t hrirris d piu stkpis s r s tos.262 furthrr, th usd th rti- t ps st mus Q s supp i t

Kjki d t uh bush ttks itifos pto th so th tyd is i th Si v.263 Th is Dh-Bb d Shhz whih i ppritt kitrs rthwst Kjki wr id-tid b iti rs s th i isurtstohos o th s of otor Kjki, Si, d mus Q.264

I id-otbr 2007, ISaf rs utd si t rtk th distrit tr, tr muhab S, Psht fo th az tb who

hd hithrt b ti, sir Tib - th , ft fo th y.265Duri th prti, dubbd oprti Sk-bit, British, ah d U.S. rs sw uhtthir w thruh trhd Tib dss.Th pturd th distrit tr i Dbr,tr thr-th ssut ii r ov 2,000.266 aft afh oto fos

took ms Q db 2007, S ws stt ovo, fo hs bty to wok

with th British. Si bi d distrit -o, th fo y o hs both Tibs prir trt i mus Q, prhpsv o so th afh o oto fos.

Tib iitts ttkd th h muh S- ot th s v of Shhzy wst Kjki Dbr 31, 2008.267 Twt anPwho w sv s boys fo S wkid. S ws w i Kbu t th ti thttk ws h.268 Th Tibs shdwpo hf fo H, mh mohQss, tht o of th boys ws Tib spthizr wh hd udd i th -bush, thuh ths rprts r urd.269Sr ths tr, fbrur 4, 2009,

hi with si Ss urds hit IeD st pss thoh ms Q, k pss-s.270 It is pssib tht Ss urds wr thtts of both ttks, s to fht hsthr urds it prti with Tib s-sssto ttpt o S t t t.

Si oprti Skbit d th rtki ms Q, th sty stto th stttr hs iprd, i siht. Thuh anP oto fos y oto th sttt, th oty s ty so-i th tr, suh s Wqb, r sstiTib trd.271 attks o th stt tr usd anP d UK rs ptri th. anP fos pto o vhs soft tt fo y s bobs ied pt s.272 UK rs t ptrswth th stt t hv so b t-td, bit ss rqut, usu with IeDs rs-rs bushs.273 Si 2007, th Tibhv ot soht to pt th stt t.

ist, thy hv ot t ttks o th kt, th ost poptr i th distrit tr. Ths ttks d-strt th Tibs biit t disrupt th rti th stt t t th oto ofthir hsi, prptuti rsidts urtitrrdi th tiss anP d itirs rts.



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Th jrit tiit urs t th suthd rth mus Q distrit tr i Tibtrd is. T th suth, ti-ty hs b pot s f s chh v,ppoxty twty kots soth of thdistrit tr, r th -trd rs

ytih d Dhzr. T th rth, th hs ptd urus h-d IeDs rdsrqutd b jit ptrs, whi tki dt th dsps rid ud-wd pudsto h bshs o pss ptos wth ss, h s rPgs.274

B ib iditrs mus Q hs ti- to sv s th jo ots hb oth-

wstr Hd, h t rii-rtist tht opts o th sttt bz.275 o m 12, 2009, bidrs utd srh susptd iittsh, disri 1,000 puds rw, bk-trpiu. additi, susptd dru trk-bv to hv ts wth pop who s thprds r th s drus t isur-t tvts, ws st o wth op.276 rw op s ot fo poppyfs stt o th ms Q rv, foth othost pot Sbsh to sothry, sspt ots t fo th p-

pr Hd Rir v.277

Th r btwytih d R, pprit tkitr strth th mus Q Rir v isssti Tib-trd, d irtu up-to by afh o oto fos.

BAGHrAN

nr -hudrd kitrs rth thmus Q Rir is th utius Bhrstt, th othost pot H.Th distrit Bhr is st tir -prisd uti rs, kd th wstrh th distrit b th mus Q Rir v.Th is h t th jrit Bhrspopto, who y v th stt t.Bhr is th distrits idtid bth afh ovt J 2009 s hvo ovt ps.278

fr s ti, th Tib hs prtd i th

otos os ow vys of thstt. i ast 2007, pso stktrtd r thri Tib, kii s-r tp Tib drs, iudi muhdh ms, th v of Qh chh,pprit twt- kitrs suth thstt t.279 Th thri ws rizd ty ot pb xto of two sps t thIbrhi Shh Bb shri. Th ir strik rsutd v ths, thoh t ws stt tht sizb ubr Tib htrs wr iitd th stk.

Whi Bhr ws ik Tib strhdo bfo ast 2007, th y ps th ft db 2007 s ftth Tib wr rutd r mus Q.280 Bthmus Q d Bhr r ditd b thaz tb, th s tb of mh S, thrr Tib dr tht ws ppitdstt ovo of ms Q Jy of2008. i ft, th s o hstoy of mj-hidd w Tibdi th rsrud mus Q, Si, Kjki d Bhrtht dts bk t muh nsi akhudzdhsosoto of pow th th t1970s y 1980s.281 yrs tr, th akhudz-dh ssti dd th r t th Tib.

Utit, th Tib id tr th ri 1995 d d Bhr s thir pit rt of pow H.282

S ast 2007, afh oto fosh rr turd it Bhr, si-y h tt stks wth tvytt sss.283 i ap 2009, t ws pottht th i rr Tib dr

ws kid i trtd ISaf ir strik.284 m-h abdu Whid, kw s Ris- Bhr wssusptd itii str iks with Tib

htrs i th r, thuh h w rsids iKbu, i ib btw th rt dth Tib.285 Bhr, aizi Pshtu, isdsribd s th st iuti urs iH.286 athoh h ws th t ttof th stk, h ws ot th t th t.Howv, th th of hs so wf s jostbk fo u.S. oto ttpt to whrts d ids t just th Bhr dis-



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trit but th tir aizis trib. gi Bhrsrti isti r th ssts trof vty th sz sop of th ytht o th H rv, t sdubtu tht Bhr ps riti r i ur-rt Tib prtis i Hd.287

helmands linKs to Kandahar and

uruzgan

cop to th b of ied ts ththv o H pov, th sz ofIeD uturi prtis d th qutitof tos fo o th H rvssts tht H svs s sppot zo foTib ttks i ihbri pris, prtiu-

r Uruz d Kdhr.

Th tri-brdr r btw Hd, Uruz,d Kdhr is irtu -iits r ahd iti rs. Th Hd distrits Si d Kjki, th distrit Dh Rwd uz, stts of nsh ghok Kdhr ti stitut th jrit -ditd trri i th tri-brdr r.

ardi t Bridir gr Jh W. nih-s, dput dr naTo rs isoth afhst, tt s kow bot y

tvty ghok nsh, s fo th fttht prs naTo trps is ii r.288

Kjki d prts Si sr s s-hr htrs i btw Hd duz pov.289 Th suthwstr prtiof Shh Hsss h of th dh rwoodistrit i Uruz r Tib strhds, ipt to th otos t - ISaf r prs but s bus thTibs histri iirit with th r d

tr th brdr r i Hd. I ot-br 2008, th Tib i Dh Rwd uhd ss fty ttk o th stt t, tot-i r th hudrd htrs b sots.290 Wh afh Po otofos to p th ttk wth th hpof sppot, t ws s s to of thTibs str prs i th r.

Th ISaf prs i Uruz s udr thd th Duth-d Tsk fr Uruz,whh s bs ot of cp Ho th po-ii pit Tri Kwt. Si Sptbr 2008, th dth asts hv t toop ps of ov 2,000 toops, bt thyhv oy stbsh sty ppoxtyt t t prt th pri t it.291 Potos of tht fo poy tofoBs Tz d Hdri, suthst Dh R-woo. Wh ost ty pso thtUruz hs t b jr us Tibsi prtis, it is ik tht th rbtw Bhr, Kjki, Dh Rwd supprtsprtis i rthr Hd ss th w htrs d wps th Hd Rir t

Shhidi Hsss d st t Tri Kwt.

ghrk hs b dsribd b ISaf rs s jt str r Tib htrs, wi thruht Kdhr but pssib t Si d gshk f .292 I Jur 2009, ISafstk th vty of ghok k th po-t st, Hj a, poty vovi th t htrs, IeD prduti, th p xto of ttksso th ots t thS .293 a ws poty ot

to oth so H, akhtmuhd msur (muh msur), thuhtt b th st sir Tib iitr -s H, who fos o ttks th lshk gh gshk s.294 This su-sts tht th ks th y syst opt-


map 5 | ghoraK district


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o lshk gh gshk yb sppot, o t th vy st, ot wthts S, now Z, ghok thTib strhd miwd i Kdhr.

i, ts of t optos by astSpi rs trti sir QST d-rs urthr supprt th tribrdr thsis. oof ths os ws bv to b mh

abdu Bri, kid b austri Spi frs(SoTg- Spi air Sri) i th r btwmus Q d Kjki. Bri ws sir - fo ovo of H th Tib ri, thuht t b rspsibr th kidppi th grr Uruzsspoks th sp of 2007 spt ofoth ttks both H uz.295I Jur 2009, SoTg prtis kid muh

abdu Rshd, sir Buhi v Tibdr, idtid s hi rizd thiprtti ri htrs, ik r thHd Rir v tht strths it Uruz-, irtu uitrd b ISaf rs i thr, with th pti th SoTg.296 o thsdrs, th sir dr Bri d th

ss so o rsh hv stbshrtiships with thr rr mujhid ht-rs i Hd d Uruz, w sri s ddrs r th QST. Whi ths d-rs h b iitd b SoTg, th hihihtth pot of th H rv ysst utii i supprt Tib pr-tos oss pov s.

the British experience in helmand

i my 2006, Sty of Stt fo df JohRid ud tht UK-d hdqurtrswo ss sposbty fo xp t-ti iitr rts it th suth ahi-st, y H.297 Th UKs pi r

th H sso b 2005 stss ophsv ppoh, vov ts th fri cwth o (fco),msty of df, th dptt foItrti Dpt (DfID).298 This p-prh ws itdd t irrr th UKs mik-spt strt, utr-isur pprhprtid s t rs i m.299 Bfos o th pov pt of lshk gh,th hop ws tht sssf ptto of ophsv ppoh tows povsty, pot, so oo spts off th pt wo sp sh stbty tooty tows vs.300

Prs i th UK prstd th issipriri s p supprt d utr-r-ots sso, th th otsyp.301 yt, th situti th rud iH ws f wos th ws bv. i rt t djust, th British dptd pthus strt, with British rs disprsd is otposts thohot th pov.302 i my2009, fri o miistr lrd mh-Brw dittd, th strth th isurtopposto w hv f H hs s-prisd us; thr is w rud tht.303 Busth wr disprsd i isuit ubrs, thsutpsts wr rqut d quik rwhdby st fos.304

Th UK suht t ri th utrs r iH st s s fo P-


photo 4 | British royal marines in nad ali district.

(isaF photo)


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t of sjot soz ssost db 2007.305 it ot ss ofobjtvs tht w py towsutr-trrris, utr-rtis, r vopt.306 Th UK ws s ki ttsto wy fo o obt o tosty sto fo.307 mths tr, th Brit-ish Pri miistr ud his grtsstrti priips r th UK issi iafhst.308 Ths priips wr th sb whih th UK wud hi thir bjtis.Ths priips iudd: supprti th ahovt, th ana, th po so tht thyud tk rspsibiit r thir w surit;buidi stt d istitutis; stri p-iti riiti; d duti rstru-

to vopt.309

Dspit riti objtvs pps, th sty stto th pov wos.

Tsk fr Hd stituts th cii-miitrmissi i Hd (cmmH), th ubr r-izti rditi th UKs prhsipprh; Tsk fr Hd prts udrth d th fco, th DfID, d th PriiRstruti T (PRT).310 Th fco is bsdot of opo th t of lshkgh.311 I t 2008, fco prs wr -

s o sv oo zos of vopt lshk gh, S, ms Q, gshk gs oths t, n a.312

yt, th rt hs b hprd b k tto ooto of s s.dvopt pso hv b tt topt wth th otsy opotof th ophsv ppoh.313 i Jy 2009,sir British ar rs id thir rustr-to wth th v t of th cmmH, stt-, o o th ht wo oth pot of ostto afhst.

But u ust h surit t h rstrutid r, d w d't thik th fco dDfID h quit t th quti riht. W do toops to s thy o th job.314

yt, Prit id r tht thr ws th kt tvty o othy tos th v of ostto vop-t tht s wht th ovt hs pstt th British pp.315 Th itdd bts

ostto w ost o popto tht ot hv sty.

i ms Q, vopt osttohv b hp by opto, s-

t d st , prsistt isurit. ThUKs Stbiizti adisr i mus Q, c.Jst Hot stt th s of 2008 thtft ht oths of opt th stt,thr hst b uh isib prrss.316 ms-s of fs thoh sbott, bby, dibrt ah iti sts r just s th prbs tht h pud th UKsrt.317 furthrr, th Tibs tr th os so th stt hs pvtsuppis r rrii. athuh s th Brit-sh hv sssfy bt os fbshshoos o ovt bs, thy rqut trts Tib ttks. I r th zos of vopt stts, th oto afh fos oto th stt t wh swths of th so sstyh b dd t th Tib.318

a apri 2009 rprt titd UK Pi i a-hist d Pkist: a W frwrd utidth UKs itt t thir utrisur-y stty, fos o lshk gh thstt ts of gs, gshk, ms Q,S n a.319 Howv, th op-hsi, ii-iitr utrisur rtws ot hv sbsttv sts. a Jy 2009rprt r th British Hus csfri airs citt udd tht thsurit situti [i Hd] is prti stth of ov afh pty tht th sty stto ks t xtydiut r iiis t rud th pri,d s rsut iii prjts sur.320 i shot,to stbz th pov pov sty, th

British rs dd t us bti thsy.

operation panthers claw

I Ju 2009, British rs uhd thir r-st opto to t H pov, whhid r 3,000 British, Dish, esti afh fos sppot by w of



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ssts.321 oprti Pthrs cw (oprtiPanchai Paangi Psht) ws dsid t r dhd th w rii Tb str-hos... th st w pov st styfo th o popto, o to lt. co.nik Rihrds, spks r th British rs H.322 Th prti suht t r dho t p of t btw lshkgh d grshk, prti Hds rzo, o to ow th o popto to voti th auust 20, 2009 tis. This prtiurp of t s soth fo gshk btwth Hd Rir d nhr--Buhr ;ts soth bo s fo by th Sh, rthwst Bbji. Th trri hs budr Tib tr r rs, sri s th k

oo fo th optos o th Hrv .

Th iiti phs th prti b tho of J 20, 2009, wh 350 toopsot sst to s vt oss-i pit it th r z. Th sizur thoss pot ow fo t sst o isurt-trd drus bzr. Th bzrws ot jst to th st of th tsto of

th lu md wdi d nhr-e-Buhr .a st of y ieds st to obstt otord t rquird th ssut rt ir-it it thir trt r.323 British rskd suit supp chik hiptrsfo th ft h to boow sx u.S. hop-ts.324 Dspit rts t thir d, htrs rd th British pprhd rd th r s th dd. Th ri- fo ov fo th oth o

his t ik-up with th ir ssut r thtws osot th posto.325 Th ssutd British psitis with ti-irrt, srs, d RPg r tht tiud thruhut thopto, thoh to ss .326 app-t, th rs rsidts wr s wr th

p sst. Jst ys bfo th h ofth opto, os oto th tow -rdd srs rsidts i th tw, iksk f ost oth ty sppsos to th oth gshk o soth lsh-k gh.

British d ana rs utit id t surth bzr i Bbji urthr t th suth, th ibjti th Pthrs cw tri.327 Th


pin asjid

Nahr-E-

BughraC

anal

Shamalan Canal

June 20

350 troops air assault on drugs

bazaar and secure crossing

point on Nahr-E Bughra Canal

June 25

Troops move to secure 14

crossing points along the

Shamalan Canal

June 25

ANP & coalition troops

advance on Chah-E-Anjir

from Basharan

map 6 | phase 1 oF operation panther's claw


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bzr ws kw istis d io, thoh t ws ot oy othst th rprtd sur tw Bshr.328 ThBritish d rti dst rsist s thdd twrds th bzr. Th s dis- tht th t h b bo.329Th trps i tt with tw sboy s b y who ws toosk to v wth th st of th sts.330Wth-

i ds, th jrit th British r rturdt cp Bsti, i s r i p tho th otpost th bz.331

Th anP, ssistd b p British rs,b t rth r Bshr twrds th-hd tw chh-e-ajir Ju 25,2009.332 athuh th ah d British rws b to sz th tow wthot h ss-t, th rturd t prb th rsot fss.333 I di s, th Tib sdto y ost hvy o y ieds th th -

th fo ovto btt. St, thyiitd urus sutis Tib htrswho ot sv ttks o th postos.334

mwhi, British trps b prti tsz tht oss pots oss th Sh, whih ti stitutd th wstrpritr oprti Pthrs cw.335 Thov ws s to tp sts th


z d prt rirts wi fo n a, to th sothwst, s th ws dw r th nhr-e-Buhr, tispt n a fo th of th zo to th othst.336 it ws h thtth Tib std thir rst ds. It wsrprtd tht pt thirt sdirs surdt sts.337 Thruhut th ri-dr Ju, rs rud Bbji, th Sh

d nhr-e-Buhr s sidtd d hdth postos t th h of th sophs of th opto y Jy.

o Ju 2, 2009, th sd phs th p-to o.338 dsh anP fosov soth fo cp P gshk tosiz tw tr rssis th nhr-e-Buhr. Th r is iprtt trri r th isur-y bs of ts s vtto vosto ths, whh pov p o-t t iitt th t htrs, drus

wpos oth soth. atoy, th oy hf of ss pots to th ,whh hv b hvy wth ieds to t pto by coto afh fos.I th ths di up t Pthrs cw,sts th zo th dshfos ss to th thoh th s of stt-i pd IeDs d s rs r.339 evt-y, th dsh fo s th oth of

pin asjidShamalan Canal

July 3-10

Coalition forces begin clearing

southwest from Nahr-E-Bughra

entry point to Malgir

July 2

ANP & Coalition Troops

sieze two entry points along

the Nahr-E-Bughra Canal

July 23

Coalition forces clear

remaining terrain from

Malgir to Shamalan Canal

Nahr-E-Bugh

raCanal

map 7 | phase 2 oF operation panther's claw


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th r btw mir d Bbji.353 aot th British fri d cwth o,surit [i d rud Bbji] wi b dur-. it w b th xt wk. it w b th xtoth. it w b th xt y.354

Th tii th prti ws, i prt, dsidto pov sf sty vot fo so80,000 b vots to o to th pos stth bots o ast 20, 2009, th totos. Howv, bs o y stts foth BBc, pprit 150 turd ut t ti Bbji, th r i th r z soh to op po stto.355 at st oto toops hv b k th sth opto ws sss.356

Th shrtis Pthrs cw wr i-dt. first, th r id t prhsi thoy th zo. H, thtsto to th ho phs ws pt. aisuit hdi r hs b t t pps prs tht is sti quit str. Thpoo vot tot ws ky st of yps tht s pb of tt ri th pputi. athuh th Brit-ish hd Bbji distrit tr, th ridrof th zo s ot th oto. d-spit th itud Pthrs cw, th rsuts ky to b th s s pvos optosthohot H.

operation KhanJar

With th British-d prti dsid t surth s oth of lshk gh, u.S. ms Hd uhd oprti Khana, Stk ofth Swo, th y o hos of Jy 2,2009. Khanaid r 4,000 w-rridmris r th mri epditir Brid-

ahist (meB-a) d pprit 600ana anP.357Khanaws th st op-to tk afhst s th tisi i 2001. Th bjti ws t stbish surit prs i Tib-trd trritrsuth Hds prii pit hd th ast 20, 2009 to to spt thTibs is uiti d rdof ovt.358 ardi t Bridir gr

lrr nihs, th dr th meB-a,wh w o w w sty, wh w sty, ww ho, b wok tow tsto of sty sposbts to afh fos.359

d th y o hos of Jy 2, 2009, m btto ws ft to th stt ofnw, bh y s to tk p posto d utsid th distrit tr.360 Sy, so m btto v soth of g-s stt t m Poshth to fo opy of u.S. ms who h b o-t shp optos th fo ytwo oths, h of th sst.361 a btti mris d it th Tib-trd distrit Kh nshi, th suthrhr th Hd Rirs shhk. Inw, th sst fo f tvy tt ss-t s thy poss thoh th stt.362d th t hos of th opto, ms ott wth op of twty sts,

wh rd thir psiti r pud.Th isurts wr b t sp tr mris ot to fo f of v s-ts.363 Th d tr rrii i th distrit, thms b ssvy pto to w oty sts to wth osts.364 Th sw pdd thir ptri

to th soth o o othgs.365

T th suth i grsr, th jrit thmris rts usd sr s i-s, b wth th t sto mPshth. mi Pshth sw s th rst rsist th prti. Th mrisrprtd th duti it ttk[s]r pss dirti, th ri r so to, foow p wth popttk r third [dirti].366

Bd mi Pshth, th i Ksht wsidtid s isurt strhd, dspit b- jst s fo th stt t of gs-.367 atr brki thruh th Tibs suth- fsv bow gs, th mspsh fth soth to lk stbshobt otposts ky y ttoy.368 a-o to th ms, th anP gs hv



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systty fs to opt vs jstsuth th tw suh s mi Pshth, Kshtd lkri r r th Tib.369

athoh th fo f tvy tt sst

r Tib htrs s th d suth, th ws sti b t prt i th r. Tib

IeD ts rprtd bd-i mri tsprti i uti rs suth grsr, - t os bh o th wthbobs.370 o th mris rizd wht wshpp, thy ss vb powto t ostt sv of ky tstpots.371 Th th Tibs IeD pr-


Friendly Area of Operations

Insertion Point

Enemy Area of Operations

Enemy Movement

map 9 | operation KhanJar


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tos hs fo y ms to wk th thv, tk tos ots sow thp of th optos.372 as squ, thoptos f to hv th t tof sps.

U.S. d naTo rs kwdd tht sTib d Hd hd th mris,

whi thrs rprtd spd duri th -sv.373 I Kh nshi, Tib ud si hd t ubr is t wst d pssibit ihbri niruz. Btw Kh nshid grsr, th Tib h r b bto sps h th y of vs, tooos fo th ms to pto. Hsto-, th Tibs dus prdi hs b trtrt; t r stri ttis suh s IeDsd idirt r; d t itifos wh tpp o b to xt oo-td bush s ptr. o urusosos, so os msrqusts t pursu Tib htrs suth lkri to k of hopts to pov pow to vt y possb sts, s ws os tht h ot b of bobs.374I ikihd, th jrit Tib htrsv ft th H rv.

I th suthr Kh nshi distrit, th mris

hd sidrb r suss. Kh nshi isth suthrst pit r Tib prtiso th H rv.375 fr rs, th Tibh prtd ut th distrits it Jurfrt p with ipuit. o Ju 2, 2009,ppoxty 500 ms v by vh th tow.376 Jst ys ft v th stt,th ms w b to sz th fot thsurrudi rs with ii rsist. Thfo spth stbzto t, st wy ppot stt ovo, b

Hds rr t ris th ah i thstt t o Jy 8, 2009.377

Dspit s suss, oprti Khanawsp by shot of pow. u.S.

ah rs wr thi sprd rss Tib-oto t, spt of th o th4,500 pso ptpt th opto.as sh, thy w b to t ostt

ps so of th s vs btwgrsr distrit tr d Kh nshi.378

ardi t Bri. g. nihs, th shrt- ah rs [prtiur ana] hs bpty pobt, s thy stituiti whts i i r tht w justv t thy s ys o th stt, th t u tht this us t , thths t ah.379 furthrr, th pprit 500 anSf prs tht rptpt Khana, sss of opto, -ty, fs to pto k of ttowth th o poptos hv b pot,spt th ps of th ana 205th cop, 3Brid prti ut Hd.380 Th k suit d pb ah rs h wd

th Tib t sidt thir prtis iso of th s vs btw gs Kh nshi, ri th mris t ithr dttoy o sk sp th fo too th.381Thruhut id t t auust, th mrisb i-r, sidti thir psitisd struti rtitis r whih t p-rt. Th mris strutd ptr bs dobt otpost soth of gs stt t,iudi si-prt rwth psitis ts fo y tvty.382

muh ik Pthrs cw t th rth, Khanawstid t prid suit surit r ahs tvot th tos. Po sttos w opi th distrit trs Kh nshi d gr-s, bt ot th hty kot stth of thshhk i-btw.383 i gs, th pi stti ws pd i th Sks Hd, s of t t th oth of thstt.384 Sv oth s po sttosw op oth pts of th stt whth Tib hd r sw. estits susttht ss th prt th distrits p-

poxty 80,000 sts t ot to vot,idst Tib thrts d iht ttrs distrib-t thohot th .385 or th urs th y, ot s wo ws pot to hvst bot.

Th mris r sti i th ri phs i s thohot th soth H rv.Tht tsk is th rspsibiit lt. c. mthw



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Kih, dr Rit cbt T3, rspsib r suthr Hd. Th m Poshth s pty sstt o-ts to th ms o y bss.386i th t, th ms w ot tops th y th soth H rv.mr iprtt, th ppr t h suitfos to ho o t s popy .g mchyst, th top o afhst, ty stt tht wthothdi is itu d utr-prdu-tv.387

Th mris r si s psiti rsuts. Iy Sptb, th ms ot tht oshv bo o ooptv fotho

with irti d h pturd Tibhtrs d turd th r t anSf prs-.388 Th mris s rprt tht thir rd t hs iprd siit i rtwks.389 i so s, th sty stto hspov to sh xtt tht osttopojts b. i gs, th ms,th stt ovo o afhs hv bprjt Srb Sui gt, r-ruti thHd Rir t iiz rrs ssto wt fo to.390

operation eastern resolve ii

i th now Z stt of oth H, p mris h bttd th Tib ith bo stt t s J 2008,wh thy w oy st to t th s-trits pi r.391 Wh th ms v,th disrd tht th distrits rsidts hdd, tht th Tib hd tk r, d tht thpi wr . Th mris prtd r bs o pv o, jst ots of th sttt t bs o anP Hjst to th soth, ft th po tht wsppos to b opt th stt.392

I otbr 2008, th mris uhd prti t dri th Tib ut th dis-trit tr. Th prti, thuh hrd uht,sssfy psh th sts ot svkots to th oth.393 Th mris wr

shoth, howv, thy o ot hoth thy h jst . Shoty ft thyt to bs, th sts t.394 inbr 2008, f cp th 2d Bt-ti, 7th Rit (2/7) mris wr rpdb th 3rd Btti, 8th Rit (3/8) mris.Thir pri wud s irrr tht fcp. Th rird p ptrd thtow o y bss, o th bst to voth s ieds stt thohot thstt.

o apri 3, 2009, th rird p th3/8 mris uhd oprti estr Rsi. Po to th h of th opto, msot obt optos to shp th op-to tfy sposb y postos.395Th prti ws dsid t trt ths postos, spt y optos th prir t thir u spri si. Th -di r th mri p ddth opto sss, bt t ws whthd b hid. Th mris sti did t hoh fos to ho now Z stt t oth so vs tht hos th towssp sts. ao ths s t, thmris i nw Zd rqustd pprit1,000 trps, t t r th Tib r

th stt, bt to ho th o -w nw Zds rsidts t rtur.396 Th rqustws did, d th ts estr Rs Iw shot v.397

d th ht of ast 11, 2009, ppox-ty 400 ms o h anauhd oprti estr Rs II.398 Th objtv ws th v of dhh, th oo t of now Z oy ssuth th mris prti bs th ut-skirts th distrit tr. Th tw hd b

strhd r th Tib, whih th usd bthto oto th now Z vy opt jopiu rkt i th tws bzr.399 furthr-o, th opto ws xt bfo th a-ust tis s tht th tws 2,000 rsidtswo b b to vot.

Th mris d t siz ruh h thtw b auust 13, 2009, but tr r



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y sst.400 e htrs wr rprtdi t th utis surrudi th tw,ri th mris s th dd.401 orth t ds, mris d t push thridr th Tib ut th tw, whioto sppot ot to thy postos th so ots.dspt th t ssss of est rsov,oy o po stto ws op byKhwj J i pprit iht ki-ts wy.402 Wh so sts w w tosk th joy to vot, f o ot ofsht.403

conclusion: counterinsurgency

in helmand

Th i Hd is dtrid, w-oz, th th pov. it ys, t hs show ts bty to pt toth i it b priritizi bjtis dxt oht p ps. coto

ah rs ust udrstd th s bj-tvs to bst spo to th tht.

or th pst sr rs, iti rshv th y thoh tt s,s to psh sts ot of v .Ths prtis bst b dsribd s -stt optos.404 Ths rts hid t hi sti ts bus th r

bt f to pvt th sy forturi. Suss i Hd rquirs usdd prhsi pputi-tri utr-sy p to ft th y.

as s 2009 v, th ws stss tht th t, t st H, ws bott h. Th U.S. mris rizd th dto w otsy h thrst prti i Hd i rt rs;howv, th joty of to sos

th pov w ot fos o th pop-to ts y stohos tHd. Th U.S. mri si, opr-to Khana, ws b to s s of nw grsr, tw iprtt pputi trs. yt,thoss of to ms w st soth grsr t r sprs-pputd trri spt st s of oto.

gv th so ttos H, o-to fos st potz objtvs. i o-tsy, th potto of th popto s

prut, d iti rts ust us riti pputi trs. fr th d, th oto, th ost t poptots H ot lshk gh gshk, foow by n a, nw, g-sr, Si, mus Q d Kjki.

cotsy s ot oy so tsv,but s ti-itsi. It tks ti t dp


map 10 | operation eastern resolve ii


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st of th y st th o-tos fo sssf . Sssf ot-sy vovs th tst of th opputi b ii st th. Trps ustostt to th popto th ottt pridi sur irt. This stttto wth th popto so tst t bot th y. it tks tto ho s tht sts otb t ritrt. fi, it tks ti t ip-t ostto vopt pojtso sty hs b stbsh -tid. Suri Hd rquirs sustidrt th prt iti rs.

Sussu utrisur rquirs uit rt st iti d ah rsi Hd. oprtis ust b siutus,tiuus, d utu-riri, s tht th t r d rrup s-

whr. Duri th sur 2009, oprtisPthrs cw d Khanaw ot s-tosy, yt th y ws b to wthw tos o th pphy of th optos.

fi, th r d rspsibiitis th anSfust b r rtiutd. Thr hs b ov o th anP thohot h of af-hist, but prtiur i Hd. Th anPr t quippd r th bt-itsi iitiphss utrisur. Th pprprit rfo th anP sho b t o oth sy hs b to b d ti ru w hs b stbishd.Thr h b urus ss d bus,opto opt o th

anP. Rquiri th t prr r r whihth r i-suitd is th surst w t it pputis. Th r-ri anP iH s st of th shot of ana fos.

Th ana is pprprit r th bt-itsiphss of otsy. is thb of ana H v thpit t rr ut issi-riti utri-sy optos w hp to v so ofth b tht s ty sho by o-to fos.

fiur i Hd wi h squs t

jst fo soth afhst, bt fo th -t oty. istbty H w hiti d ah rts t sur d stbi-z so povs. covsy, stbH sv s ptfo fo afh iti rts t th wst d st i ihbr-i Kdhr. athuh suss wi b ithrs r quik, it is pssib d ssr.



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noTeS1 ah rsh, Tib, nw H: y Uirsit Prss, 2000, 1.

2 Whi th Tib t is t Pshtu t, it is ty p of Pshts.

3 ntoh noj, Th Ris th Tib i ahist: mssmbiizti, cii Wr, d th futur th Ri, nw yrk: Pr,2002, 136.

4 W my, s., fudtis Rbr?, loo: Hst & copy,2001, 35.

5 W my, s., fudtis Rbr?, 36.

6 ntoh noj, Th Ris th Tib i ahist: mssmbiizti, cii Wr, d th futur th Ri, 136.

7 ntoh noj, Th Ris th Tib i ahist: mssmbiizti, cii Wr, d th futur th Ri, 137.

8 Ths: ah grt, UdrstdiWr.r.

9 atoo gstozz, Kr, Kshik d lptp: Th n-Tibisy afhst, nw yrk: cubi Uirsit Prss, 2008, 60.

10 atoo gstozz, Kr, Kshik d lptp: Th n-Tibisy afhst, 60.


12 atoo gstozz, Kr, Kshik d lptp: Th n-Tib

isy afhst, 61.13 gth Pts, Sds Trrr, nw yrk: St. mrti's Prss, 2009, 186;

D ns, Hid Krzi bs Briti r Tib rsur,TheSunday Times, Sptb 7, 2008.


15 ah rsh, Dt it chs: Th Uitd Stts d th fiur nti Buidi i Pkist, ahist d ctr asi, nw yrk:

viki, 2008, 396.

16 eri Shitt d mrk mzztti, Tib h i Pkisti it riss rs,The Ne Yk Times, fbrur 9, 2009.

17 Rt, thr hs b substti dbt s t ors urrt r i thQST rizti. Whi h is rti sti th urhd d spiritudr th t, his it i d-t-d prtis is ikiitd t bst. Rthr, rprts tht or hs sidtd his dirttr r prtis i ahist ik rrs t th ts sir

drship i d rud Qutt, suh s Brdr d Zkir, rthr thor his. nt is ors prti prtis iitd, his rtisoto to f of pt v ks t hhy ky thth s tvy vov opto ts. it hs v b pot thtsir brs th Shur ui ust thruh Brdr, his dput, o to h th sv .

18 ah rsh, dt ito chos, 242.


20atoo gstozz, Kr, Kshik d lptp: Th n-Tibisy afhst, 90.

21 atoo gstozz, Kr, Kshik d lptp: Th n-Tibisy afhst, 90; muh or s w mjis Shur,isst Wbst moto, MEMrI, Sp dspth no. 1310

22 eri Shitt d mrk mzztti, Tib h i Pkisti it rissfs, The Ne Yk Times, fbrur 9, 2009.

23

mukhtr a. Kh, Qutt: Th Hdqurtrs th ah Tib, CTCSentine, v. 2 Issu 5, m 2009.

24 R mru, aris nw nihtr, Neseek, Jy 25, 2009.

25 Tib issus d dut,A jazeea.Net, Jy 27, 2009.

26 Tib issus d dut, A jazeea.Net, Jy 27, 2009.

27 muh Brdr is stis rrrd t s muh Brthr r muhabdu ghi; Burt Hr, U.S. spi rs sdir dis r wudssurd i bt i suthr ahist, The Assciated Pess, otbr 31,2003; fris chipu, Tib sti rsist t Kbu, ManchesteGuadian weeky, fbrur 19, 2003; Stt Bdu d owis Thid, Tibpprs t b rrupd d w-udd, Chistian Science Mnit, my 8,

2003; Tb d tks with ah uthritis, ws t tiu jihd,Afghan Isamic Pess Nes Agency, Jur 16, 2005; Wiuh Rhi, Tibxpot o os stt to tt dth dsh toops, TeismFcus, v. 5 Issu 10, mrh 11, 2008; gr Sith, Tib srbft top o k, Tnt Gbe and Mai, m 14, 2007; IsiKh, muh ors dput obiduh pturd,The Dan, mh2, 2007; Si yuszi d R mru, Th mstrius muhor, Neseek, mrh 5, 2007; Srh Sis, austri rs ptur

k Tib dr; Prisr hdd t ahs, The Austaian, otbr 7,2008; Sttt r mu Brdr, Sd i cd th Tib,nefa fudti, mrh 25, 2008; Hidi vt d nr Kh, Tibthts wv of ttks st uS s, The Assciated Pess, apri 30, 2009;

Tib u strt w prti i ahist,BBC MnitingSuth Asia, apri 29, 2009; Itriw with muh Brdr, MEMrI: SpDispth n. 2393, Ju 10, 2009; gr Sith, Tib srb trtop o k, Tnt Gbe and Mai, m 14, 2007; Bi Ri,

Pkist rrrsts muh obiduh,The lng wa juna, fbrur 24, 2008.


29 Thr r iti rprts tht muh obiduh ws rsd trhis rrst b Pkisti uthritis i fbrur 2008, thuh it isdubtu i th Tibs rti si th ttr d th bs obiduhs r rt prss.

30 Si yuszi d R mru, Th mstrius muh or,Neseek,mh 5, 2007.

31 Isi Kh, muh ors dput obiduh pturd, The Dan, mh

2, 2007.32 Rhi, Wiuh, Tib pit riius stit t trt

dth dsh toops, Teism Fcus, v. 5 Issu. 10, mrh 11, 2008;Sith, gr, Tib srb tr tp dr kid, Tnt Gbeand Mai, my 14, 2007.

33 mh Zk hs so b f to s ab Qyo Zk o abhghu Rsu; P Hss, ois: Tib ps hi hd tgto, The Assciated Pess, mh 10, 2009.

34 P Hss, ois: Tib ps hi hd t git,The AssciatedPess, mh 10, 2009.

35D Wsh, ah drus brs ut thir wth d pwr, TheGuadian, apri 7, 2006; fur susptd iitts dtid, Pahk AfghanNes, m 31, 2009; Tib dr kid i Hd, Pahk Afghan Nes,otbr 22, 2008.

36 Tib uhs w ah prti, The Assciated Pess, m 28, 2007;Dput eir th Birs drs bii th sris spriprtis (aditi), SITE Inte Gup, mh 24, 2008.

37 Ki Supt, Udr r i th ah bdds, The Independent, fbrur2, 2009.


39 Ki Supt, Udr r i th ah bdds, The Independent, fbrur2, 2009.

40 Kkr, Jd Hi, K dr 33 iitts kid: ISaf,Pjhwok afh nws, mh 17, 2009.

41 ISaf rs sussu trt suht tr isurts i rthrHd, naTo-ISaf prss rs, mrh 17, 2009.

42 ISaf rs sussu trt suht tr isurts i rthrHd, naTo-ISaf prss rs, mrh 17, 2009.

43 mjr Shhid asr, mjr chris Sps d mjr Ths Wd, ThTib: rizti sis, Miitay revie, m-Ju 2008.

44 Sth Jos, i th gvy of eps, nw yrk: nrt, 2009, 228.

45 Sth Jos, i th gvy of eps, 228.

46 Zh Stkz, cos o 22 bs k, Pahk AfghanNes, m 15, 2009; British trps ki sir Tib dr: iistr,

Agence Fance Pesse, Ju 2, 2009; Bi Ri, ah rs ki sirTib dr i Hd, The lng wa juna, my 5, 2009.

47 Js Strzius, mris tur ah tw r t British, ahs, TheAssciated Pess, Sptbr 8, 2008; ah cds ki 18 htrs i Hd pri,Ameican

securing helmand (isw)

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