afghanistan report 1

8/14/2019 Afghanistan Report 1

1/35

institutE For tHE

studY f WarMilitary Analysis and Education

for Civilian Leaders

AFGHANISTAN REPORT 1

Michael Moore and James Fussell

july 2009

Kunar and nuristanRethinking u.s. counteRinsuRgency opeRations


2/35


3/35

Front Cover Photograph: Soldiers with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment,3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, patrol through a mountain village on April 17.

all h eeve. Pe he ue se f amec. n p f h pblcmy be epce me y fm by y me, elecc mechcl,cl phcpy, ec, y fm e eevl yem, whpem w fm he pblhe.

2009 by he ie f he sy f W.

Pblhe 2009 he ue se f amec by he ie f he sy f W,

1401 K see nW, 11h Fl, Wh, dC 20005.

hp://www.ew.


4/35

aBout the authoRs

Mchel Me, fme reech a wh he ie, hl Bchel deee cm

le scl se wh Fe Le C Me s abc fm Hvuvey. Mchel h l e he abc Le ie Fe, Mcc, h

velle eevely hh Epe he Meee.

Jme Fell, fme Mj he u.s. amy specl Fce, eve w ye nhee

afh well me he cmb -cmb eplyme hh he

wl. up fm he ue se Mly acemy wh Bchel scece,

he w we he nY se scey f he Cc-Blche s. Lelh Meml aw f

hhe Mly Hy.

aBout the institute

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) is a private, nonpartisan, not-for-prot institution whose

l ece ce fe ec mke heeby ehce he qly f plcy

debates. The Institutes work is addressed to government ocials and legislators, teachers and

e, be eecve, pfel, jl, ll cze eee e

e f w veme plcy.


5/35

taBLE oF ContEnts aFgHanistan rEPort 1 | Kunar and nuristan | MiCHaEL MoorE and JaMEs FussELLJuLY 2009

executive summaRy .............................................................................. 05

intRoduction ........................................................................................ 06

ovevew: K n ........................................................................ 06

u.s. Fce dp tcc ....................................................................09

the Eemy syce ....................................................................................11

the K rve Vlley Be ...................................................................15

nhe K Ee n ...............................................................17

ie K Pvce: Vlley f deh ..............................................................20

conclusion ........................................................................................... 24

notes ..................................................................................................... 26


6/35

ExECutiVE suMMarY

5www.undeRstandingwaR.oRg

key Findings and Recommendations

alhh ceecy ce w cceflly mplemee b iq, h pvehmore dicult to apply in the sparsely-populated mountains of Kunar and Nuristan.

U.S. forces are disproportionately committed to defending marginally signicant areas in theseheme pvce.

U.S missions in eastern Afghanistan, specically places like the Korengal and Pech River Valley,hmust be re-examined and forces must be re-deployed to areas where they will have greater eect.

the Kel Vlley K pvce he ele plce afh. the ppl h-htorically hostile to any outside inuence, including any Afghans from outside the valley.

The Korengalis have successfully fought o every attempt to subdue their valley, including the

sve he 80, he tlb le he 90, cely, he u.s. mly.

The presence of U.S. forces in the Korengal generates violence and undermines U.S. eorts tohb bly ecy.

the ce u.s. fce p he hpble vlley, lke he Kel, ele hevly le p h eqe mve m f lley pwe efe

u.s. fce e ey he eemy he hh , llw e ck e-ze he ppl.

alley pwe e cepcve el wh he ecy h p f hecy bece he e lee he vey ppl he u.s. y ece.

Cmm l fce e hl h eme e wl be cclly operationally imprudent. The resistance in this area is conned to locals in the valley. It does ccelee he ecy bey he vlley.

Ceecy afh eqe le ec he be ee ecy hthe population centers. Resources must ow to areas that are strategic priorities in order to allowforce densities high enough to practice counterinsurgency eectively.

Rather than maintaining positions in the Korengal and many of the small, ineective postsh he Pech rve Vlley, u.s. fce hl cc cve pl he pple ef he lwe K rve Vlley.

U.S. forces must protect the specic populations that oppose the enemy and support the gov-ernment, rather than ghting populations that historically resist the government. U.S. forcesin Kunar should concentrate eorts in places like Mara Wara, Sarkani and Khas Konar Dis-c whee he ppl clly ee u.s. pp peece, lke he Kel.

Ceecy eqe h-em ecmc pp, well ee mble fce pe-hece. u.s. fce m p l-em evelpme pjec, ch bl , wh h-em, mmee hm ce qck-mpc pjec.

aFgHanistan rEPort 1 | Kunar and nuristan | MiCHaEL MoorE and JaMEs FussELLJuLY 2009


7/35


Kunar and nuristan:

By Mchel Me Jme Fell

undeRstanding the enemy, u.s. opeRations, and the challenges ahe ad

intRoduction

Ceecy, cceflly pple iq, h becme el cmp-nent of U.S. military doctrine. Indeed, an eective counterinsurgency strategywll be ccl blz afh. Hweve, he w iq afhe qe c, mp e iq wll ecely hl e f af-h. th, u.s. fce wll ee l he ey cc he pe-cic condition in each region of Afghanistan.

Em eve K ee n 2007 2008, h ppe be- wh bef vevew f K n pvce he ec mp-ce bh u.s. eemy fce fllwe by c f u.s. fce p ey. the e ec ecbe he eemy yce he e, whle heec hlf f he ppe cme pe mj evelpme hee e:he Pk be, he K ee n, he e f Kpvce, cl he Pech Kel rve Vlley. i ccl, h ppe chl-lee me f he mp b he u.s. ceecy ey K.

oveRview: kunaR and nuRistan

Lce ee afh, K pvcebe nh pvce he h, Lh-

m pvce he we, n pvce he h. K he Pk be,

wh Mhm Bj aece f he Fee-lly amee tbl ae (Fata) hehe he Lwe d, uppe d, Ch-l dc f he nh-We Fe Pvce(nWFP) he he. K p hly1,908 qe mle, lhly le h he ef rhe il.1 a we p, K p-proximately forty-ve miles across, while only vemle c we p. n h f K Lhm pvce, be-

Pjh pvce he we Bkhhpvce he h. P 1896, n

was called Karistan, or the land of disbelievers,.e. -Mlm. afe he i am, abRahman Khan, nally converted the province he p f w, hey eme he en f he l f lh, he peple

wee clle n, f he elhee e,

ce hey h cvee ilm.2n lhe be wh Pk Chl dc he e h e f 3,561 qe mle.3de m e lm

nonexistent road network, it is extremely dicult vel e-we c n, epeclly

we. F emple, vele wh fmnm dc he we Kmeh dcin the east would rst have to travel south throughLhm Pvce nh he hhh K.4 Bece he hh e lmhe mveme f vl e, hppe wll fc K ee n.th e wll be ee e c eemysystem, dierent from that which emanates fromLhm wee n. depe hc, wl be veeme yh hee blely velp bewee he w h hee e mveme beweeee wee n.

the K rve be he hh m fthe Hindu Kush in Chitral, Pakistan then ows afh e gwheh he


8/35


p: sr r r r sr

r b c v f

kr pr af. p cr: sff s.

Br ar


Kunars Nari District. The river ows southwesthh he pvce w he K rve Vl-ley, whch pllel he Pk be,befe empy he Kbl rve n-h pvce, e f he cy f Jllb. sev-el f he c l he K rve Vlleycenter on a tributary that ows into the Kunarrve hh by vlley, lke bche ee k.5 the le f hee b-e he Pech rve, whch fm lmb fm

we e hh he e f he pvce.a mze f ve vlley bche fm hePech rve Vlley K Chp d, Pech,

11,000 he jce f he Pech K rve.8 ab hlf f he ppl lve he dc f he lwe K rve Vlley,h f ab, whle he Pech rve Vlley he ppe K rve Vlley e ech hme qe f he pvce ee.9

the ppl f K vewhelmlyPashtun (nearly ninety-ve percent), except forhe n dc, whch c bln ppl.10 i wh hhe my ee f he Kel vlley e Ph, he hey he ehc e whn.11 ally, he ee f he K-el pek epe le clle Kel,meme efee Ph, he mef he ehc p f he Kel peple.12K ee n e cevve,rural societies and have been largely inuencedhh hy by me eeme epe-tions of Islam (Wahhabi and Sala).13 olve ry

we h eml y f he afh mj-hee, ilm rece afh, helm [ilmc chl] f he Mhq (hehee pvce he e f Kbl [nh,Lhm, Kn e epe pvce]) h well-eblhe - f fmelm -mpelm...

the fmelm f he Mhq lm hlwy bee me cl -lh he e.14 i w he n hrst revolted against communist rule in 1978, andh ebell pe he Ph e fK.15

Bece f he ele f he e helck f evelpe ewk, my e fK n e le. the hb- e eelly pc f e, clhe afh.16 (a he be f 2007,

hee w ly e pve K lkab Jllb pve ee n.17 thee e few be hp he K Pech rve, fhe lhe v cmme.) the ce l- f ce eme cmme K n ll beve by u.s. le y. ile 2008, u.s. pl eee le vlley he K whee w eee by vll-

Wp dc, n Wyl Wm dc. the fm Kel Vlleyee h fm he Pech rve Pech dc hh m pek. a ve vlleyyem l e B Ml Kmehdc n befe j e he hef he K rve n dc. th, K ee n fm e c ve

vlley yem.

thee e me m pe l heleh f he Pk be wh K

Nuristan, and the border is roughly ve milesfm he K rve, l whch he mj-y f he ppl lve. acc he u.s.

aecy f iel develpme, K h401,000 ee.6 the ppl lve lmeely he w ve vlley, lev hem heh e lely ev f h-m eleme.7 ab, he pvcl cpl, he le w, wh ppl f hly


9/35


FiguRe 1: map oF kunaR and nuRistan pRovinces


e wh hh h he amec le weesve.18

ae fm ymblc vle he e whee hejh he sve amy he cmm

regime in Kabul began and where the Soviets rstsuered defeat at the hands of the mujahideen,K ee n e ec e.The area constitutes a major inltration route afh, e c ee heepvce fm y mbe f plce l he

Pk be cce v ewkof river valleys. The Kunar River Valley, just vemle fm he m f he Pk be,chel e he me eely pplee f Jllb nh, fm whch heyc ech Kbl e bey. alevely,e c vel p he Pech rve Vlley cce Lhm Kp Pvcehh n, lmely, he heppche Kbl. the v vee pcef n K pve cy


10/35


The clear and hold phasesof the new population-centricCOIN strateg y required U.S.and Afghan forces to expandtheir operations in Kunarand Nuristan and establish apermanent presence among thepopulation.


rC E, e he ze f ge shCl cmbe. i ely 2007, he 82

abe me cmm, he 3-10 BCt weee f f mh, ce he mbef be rC E w.25 th lbe, le by Clel (CoL) Jh nchl,

w clly wy hme fm afh he me. ue tk Fce sp, hebe wl be epble f e kw n2KL: he pvce f nh, n,K, Lhm.26

Wh heqe Fw opeBe (FoB) Fey Jllb, tk Fce (tF)

sp e f pe(ao) h pevly beeccpe by j lebattalion--about a fth of ze.27 the fhe 3-10 BCt llwe cm-me rC E p-e he clc ppl-cec ceecy(Coin) ey f cle,hl, bl. i he clephe, he be me ve wee bewee hee he ppl-

hh kec pe-: kll he eemy, cp hem, fcthem to ee, or forcing them to surrender. Itsle fce ze llwe he 3-10 BCt pee he e f K l he Pkborder, where it aimed to disrupt the ow ofinsurgents into Afghanistana dicult task givenhe m e well he elevf ce bewee be p. dhe hl phe, he be h eblh peme peece m he ppll wh he afh nl secy Fce

(ansF) he afh veme. u.s. afh fce ee pve ecy fhe ppl, pec hem fm e he cml, fe e bewee hepeple he veme, em hhe afh veme cl ep bee he ee h cl he e. Lly, he bl phe, afh veme peece cpble wl be epe l wh

ghters coming from Pakistan, allowing them tovve f y eve week he mwy fm mj ppl cee.19

the tlb h ecze he ec m-

pce f K n. i 2008, heTaliban claimed that in its annual spring oensive wl Kbl cee ecc fm he Fata (Bj Mhm) hh K n e ee epe pply f me meel.20 u.s. cmme ejece he clmh he tlb cl clly Kbl he mjhee h e he sve he 1980, hhe tlb cl mly cee he pychl-cl pecep h Kbl

w e.21 Eve ,he mpce f K n mjinsurgent inltration routehl be ce.

Flly, K n e mpbece hh-level l Qelee, cl omb Le, e beleve

be h c he be Pk Bj Mhm aece he Chl dc.22

u.s. FoRce disposition and tactics

K n fll e he nato-leiel secy ace Fce (isaF)rel Cmm (rC) E.23 isaF mecmplee cmm fm he u.s.-le cl ocbe 2006. i Feby 2007, Mj ge-

el (Mg) Bejm Feklely, cmme f heteh M dv, fee hyf rC E he 82 abe dv, leby Mg dv rez.24 alhh hee w v-level heqe rC E, he clfp f cmb p w mch mlle. ale behe th Be Cmb tem(BCt) f he teh M dv (3-10BCt)w epble f ll fee pvce


11/35


veme ecmc cl evelpme, ee he pp f he lcl ppl ce ejec f he ecy.28

the cle hl phe f he ew pp-

l-cec Coin ey eqe u.s. afh fce ep he pe K n eblh pemepeece m he ppl. th wh heee f fce fm 3-10 BCt n2KL wppe eble. the 3-10 BCt ely ple fp be ph pl-zeeleme m he vlle.29 oe bl wphe h fm K n dc n Kmeh dc, whle eleme fhe bl vee fhe p he Pechrve Vlley he e f K Pvce,bl ew FoB cmb p (CoP) hey we l. thee wee ccmp-nied by elements of a eld artillery battalion.30 impleme he Coin ey, hweve, u.s.fce pee mewh ce-vely:rhe h cmm he blk f fce hee h f ab he lwe K rve

Vlley, whee b hlf he ppl Klve, u.s. fce clly phe h e-me vlley he e f K een whee fewe fewe peple lve. i

hee pely-pple e, he peple weeeven more spread out and more dicult to reach, h eemely h efe, epecllyve he lme mbe f fce vlble ee afh.

Still, U.S. ocers would argue that there were ad-ve h ey. a u.s. afh fcemve e, he e wee plce,b befe mk cc. Fm he p- he hh l m e,e lche ck u.s. fce hey

mve hh he vlley belw. alhh heambushes were eective at least initially, the insur-e epe he heh lef hem vleble u.s. lley ke. the u.s. mlysuperior repower was brought to bear, often

with devastating eect on the insurgents.31 they ele u.s. fce pp b-l m f bmb lley rC E,and Kunar specically. During 3-10 BCTs time

in RC East, they red in excess of 30,000 roundsf lley, 8000 m , ve 300 f bmb.32 sbeqely, he whchk ve f 3-10 BCt hve ce he hevyreliance on indirect res through 2008 as oneeleme fm he alley Bey e hePech rve vlley h bee he be lley he ee amy be he mbe f hellred.33

the Pk be, whch eche f lm150 mle l he ee ee f K Nuristan, posed another signicant challenge.the e eemely e, he bec be ce y mbe f plce. Wh lm-e ece, u.s. cmme ecze hthey could not hope to police the entire ill-denedbe, pefe e efe he ppl-tion in the interior. However, they identiedevel chkep v m pe, empe ec e hee.34

When the 3-10 BCT nally departed Afghanistan Je 2007, hey fee hy he173 abe Be Cmb tem (e tkFce Bye), le by CoL Chp Peyle. the173 w mee by w l bl,lhh e f w bl w e -he be wh he 82 abe Pky.35

tk Fce Bye bl he wk f tk Fcesp ce ph he ef K he Pech rve Vlley p ee n, pe mlle eleme lv wh he lcl ppl.36 oe bl-, whch w p f tk Fce sbe, w le byLee Clel (LtC) Chphe Kle w epble f he K e-e n.37 tk Fce sbe h lcmpy che fm he bl hh bee e Pky.38 a ec bl, le

by LtC Wllm ol, eblhe he-qe FoB Ble e nlm Pechdc--pevly ccpe by j le cm-py.39 Elements of a eld artillery battalion wereeche tk Fce sbe rck, lhhhe l me w e f pe- wee n tk Fce K.40

the 173 abe BCt fce w p-



12/35

www.undeRstandingwaR.oRg 11

e: F, h cee he ze cp-bly f he ansF n2KL, cl he afhnl amy (ana), afh nl Plce(anP), he afh Be Plce (aBP). ale emph w plce , eqp-p, w he be plce, whch wlbe integral in interdicting insurgent trac at the

v chkep l he be. sec,tF Bye fce ecmc evelpmehh bl. the cc f

w ee he he me k fme ech mke h pve ecmc b mpveme he eveyy lve f lclpeple. i wl l cec he ly vlle he veme llw he veme cee peece pe-

vly cceble e.thh bl, heansF h ep heecy bbble eb-lhe he cle hl phe. alhh he173 cmme ec-ze h he ecl e he ewly bl, u.s. afhfce ee echem checkp.41

i apl 2008, he 101abe dv, leby MG Jerey Schloesser, assumed command ofrC E fm he 82 abe.42 the Jly2008, tk Fce Bye fee hyf n2KL tk Fce dke, le by CoL Jhspze he th Be Cmb tem,F ify dv (3-1 BCt).43

the enemy syndicate

u.s. cmme ecbe he ecy K n yce f eemyp.44 thee p cle l Qe, heQe sh tlb, Jh-e-Mhmm, Lh-k-e-tb, tehk-e-tlb Pk, tehk-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi, the Salatlb, Hezb-e ilm glb, he Hqqnewk, he. they my hve pe

ccl l, b he ec l e lelyhe me. Bly pek, ll he eemy p

vew he veme Kbl lleme, hey e ll vlely ppe he peece ffe fce afh. Bey h, hw-eve, he ee vee. the p -

w he Pk e vy ely. sme f heep hve le el el-hp wh ilmb hve me ecevef fm he Pk mly he dece f ie-sevce iellece(isi, Pk peme ellece ecy), whlehe e vlely ee he Pkstate. Additionally, some U.S. ocers worry thathee e eleme h ee cmb

u.s. fce he K

n e whchare not aliated with anyf he membe p fhe eemy yce, brather, ght U.S. forcesbece u.s. fce ehee hve eblhep he hcll. sme f hee af-h em fl fe hey hve beef cee.45

th, he eemy yce ve bewee p h

e fce afh; he wh e fce Pk; he whe ee p hebe, he e, he ce f l Qe, helbe. the membe f h eemy yce wkehe cclly ce he pe-, b ch cpe hc hppeelvely feqely. u.s. cmme em-e he l e fce rC E from 7,000 to 11,000 ghters in late 2008.46

al Qe c elcl lee K n c he be Bj, Mhm, Chl.47 i f fcle he e p he e,help hem mve mey, me, ece.

al Qe epble f b m fthe foreign ghters that come from outside of theemly ab, Cheche, uzbek.48


The enemy syndicate is dividedbetween groups that are fo-cused on Afghanistan; thosewho are focused on Pakistan;and those whose interests spanthe border, the region, or in thecase of al Qaeda, the globe.


13/35


FiguRe 2: t e s r kr nr pr


Al Qaeda (AQ)Overall Leader: Osama bin LadenAQ Leader in Kunar is an Egyptian named Abu Ikhlas al MasriThe group funds and facilitates other insurgent groups in teh area, helping them move money, men andresources. It operates as a cadre system, with a small number of dedicated foreign fighters training,equipping, and leading larger forces of local insurgents on both sides of the border. Despite extensiveassistance, AQ is rarely involved in executing attacks.

Quetta Shura Taliban (QST)Overall Leader: Mullah Mohammad OmarQST Leader in Kunar, Nuristan, Bajaur, and Mohmand is Qari Ziaur Rahman

The group consists of elements of the former Taliban and its new members who are nominally led byMullah Mohammad Omar from Quetta, Pakistan. QSTs main operational focus in Kunar and Nuristanis the Korengal Valley, Sirkanay District in Kunar, and Kamdesh District in Nuristan. Qari ZiaurRahman also operates training camps in Bajaur.

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)Leader in Bajaur is Qari Ziaur RahmanJeM is a Punjab-based group originally set up with ISI support to fight India in Kashmir in 2000.Prior to 9/11, it developed close ties with al Qaeda and soon turned against the ISI and the Pakistanistate. JeM also fights U.S. Forces in Kunar Province, Afghanistan.

Laskar-e-Taiba (LeT)Leader in Mohmand Agency: Shah Khalid until July 2008.LeT was formed in 1990, and is one of the largest and best-funded Kashmir Islamist militant groups.It is believed that LeT maintains a presence and training facilities in Kunar province. It is also believedto have been involved in the July 13, 2008 attack on a combat outpost in Wanat (Pech District of Kunar)that killed nine U.S. Soldiers.

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)

Overall Leader: Beitullah MehsudCommander in Bajaur Agency: Maulana Faqir MuhammadTTP is an umbrella organization set up by South Waziristans Baitullah Mehsud in December 2007.The TTP provides assistance to both al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, and is believed to beactive in Kunar province.

Tehrik-e-Nafaz-Shariat-e-Mohammadi (TNSM)Overall Leader: Sufi Maulana MohammadLeader in Bajaur Agency: Dr. IsmailTNSM is an insurgent group active in Kunar province. The group had close ties to the Taliban regimein Afghanistan during the 1990s. After the U.S.-led invasion in 2001, TNSM sent thousandsof volunteers to fight the Americans.

Salafi TalibanThis group has a Salafist orientation. It has carried out attacks in the interior of Kunar province inChawki, Pech, Watapur, and the Asadabad districts. Members are likely a group of local Kunarinsurgents who coordinate with the Taliban and other militant groups from time to time.

Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (HIG)Overall Leader: Gulbuddin HekmatyarThe group dates back to the anti-Soviet jihad. It reportedly operates in Kunar and Nuristan provinces.

Haqqani Network (HQN)Overall Leader: Jalaluddin HaqqaniOperational Leader: Sirajuddin HaqqaniThe group has roots in the Soviet invasion. Sirajuddin Haqqani, the son of Jalaluddin Haqqani, iscurrently directing the movement. It reportedly operates in Kunar and Nuristan provinces

The Enemy Syndicate in Kunar and Eastern Nuristan

Globally-Focused Group

Pakistan-Focused Groups

Afghanistan-Focused Groups

Regionally-Focused Groups (India, Afghanistan, Pakistan)


14/35


u.s. cmme beleve h l Qe pee ce yem, wh mll mbe f e-cated foreign ghters training, equipping, andle le fce f lcl e bhe f he be.49 al Qe fe he he K rve Vlley fm ab Jll-b, whch e fcle he mveme fforeign ghters and weapons.50 i help ceck wh he ml p he e, hee evece e h my be m-p cc fm iqpmly mpveeplve evce ce bmb.51 The rstce ck K ly cce Mch2007.52 sll, ce bmb afh wepe pheme, ve he afhppl lece

f cvl cle. Fmy afh he K n e hek f ce lve leble melm hve e l rC E pp hee f ce bmb.53the le l Qe fcl- K Eypme ab ikhl l M,l kw he E-

neer. Abu Ikhlas rst cameto the province to ght thesve he 1980; he ye me

afh wm fm he Kel Vlley.54 abikhl l h e Kel mbe b-e-e lee Hjj M.55 depe eeve ce, l Qe ely vlve eec ck.56

thee e p K n h cllhemelve tlb, em h h becme catch-all phrase to mean anyone ghting against

he veme f afh Pk well u.s. isaF fce. th, pepleh e efee wh efe hemelve tlb my hve cec wh hetlb eme h le afh fm 1996 2001 em. F he ppe f hppe, tlb wll efe he fme emeeleme ew membe wh e mllyle by Mllh Mhmm om fm he cy f

Qe Pk Blch Pvce. thetlb l efe elf he ilmc Emeof Afghanistanthe ocial name for the countrye le h leehp hb be h Qe (he m h), Peh-

w (nWFP), M shh (nh Wz,Fata).57 Whe kw Qe sh tlbpkem clm epbly f ck,ly he wll h ppe efe he cke tlb.

i beleve h he vell lee f he tlb K, n, Bj, Mhm Q Z rhm, y (m-he) af-h l fm K Pvce.58 M-ece, Z rhm pek abc h

bl cec om b Le he

ab ml. He h me lbl eh my le membef he Qe sh tlbleadership, and he rstgained notoriety for ghtinghe amec K n.59 Clfce plce $350,000by h he, he

w cpe by he isi he u.s. Cel iel-lece aecy (Cia)

Pehw. Hweve, he w elee My 2008 eche f he kppe Pk amb- afh, tq azz, chemeepely bkee by tehk-e-tlb Pk(ttP) lee Bllh Meh.60 Z rhmppely epee K n heQe h. i evew hly fe h e-lee My 2008, Q Z rhm e hhe tlb m pel fc K

n he Kel Vlley, sky dc K, Kmeh dc n.61ulke my le tlb cmme, Zrhm pee he bzely Pk direct deance of the Pakistani state. For example, Je 2008, he e pblc eec Bj f w afh fm K h wee c-ce f be amec pe; he l wehe cpee wh he u.s. Pk


In an interview shortly after hisrelease in May 2008, QariZiaur Rahman stated that theTalibans main operationalfocus in Kunar and Nuristan isthe Korengal Valley, SirkanayDistrict in Kunar, and Kam-desh District in Nuristan.61


15/35


mle he tlb.62

Z rhm l pee cmp Bj.63 i a 2008, he Pk ml-y lche ope L He Bj,

a massive oensive against militants in the area.64 d he pe, u.s. fce empe ce wh he Pk mly eort to interdict militants crossing the bor-der, although they had diculty in engaging inccefl le wh he Pk c-ep.65 Qari Ziaur Rahman fought ercely ilmb eve cce he me clm epbly f ck he Pk

amy.66 He e, o m we Jh u.s.-le fce afh b Pkforced us to ght against its own security forcesby ce hle f c he be ey p f fellw bl Mjhee Bj.67 Z rhm fc Pk,l wh he ml K n,led to a reverse ow of guerillas out of Afghanistanto ght in Bajaur and subsequently a decrease in

vlece K.68

Q Z rhm l meme ecbe lee f Jh-e-Mhmm (JeM) Bj.69

JeM Pjb-be p lly e p whISI support to ght India in Kashmir in 2000.70

It was an oshoot of another ISI-supportedp, Hk-l-Mjhee, whch w eb-lished in the 1990s. JeM was the rst terroristz ce ce bmb i-hel Khm 2000.71 P sepem-be 11, 2001, evelpe cle e wh l Qe e he isi he Pke.72 i decembe 2003, l Qe JeMce bmbe empe e PkPee Pevez Mhf.73 JeM also ghts U.S.fce K.74

ahe Pjb-be p h h b-ened its focus from ghting India in Kashmir toinclude ghting the United States in Afghanistan Lhk-e-tb (Let).75 Let w fme 1990 e f he le be-feKhm ilm ml p.76 Let, l

wh JeM, w mplce he ely decembe2001 ck he i Plme, he

nvembe 2008 Mmb ck, whch lef meh 170 peple e.77 Let h l e cebmbe iq.78 i beleve h Let m- peece fcle K.79Many of the best trained ghters in Kunarsome leehp pe ce fmeLet membe fm Pjb.80 Let beleve be beh he Jly 13, 2008 Ble f W,

whch klle e u.s. lehe ec leee l f lfe by u.s. fce afh.81sme ce l e h JeM cce heck.82

up l Jly 2008, shh Khl le Lhk-e-tb Mhm aecy. H -clle shhp ce ck c he afh b-der in Kunar, often inltrating through the NawaP sky dc.83 i 2008, he Pkecy eblhme empe ve wee he e mveme Fata beweep-Pk p he -ilmbp le by l Qe Bllh MehttP, whch wee becm e he he Pk e. By bck he p-Pk,-amec eleme he eemy yce,ilmb hpe h cl eme Meh- ewk e he ece Pk, f b hee eleme me

f eleme afh. i Mhm, heisi elece shh Khl eme Meh,as the former was primarily interested in ght- u.s. fce afh lch- ck Pk. Hweve, Meh el-ze he isi cheme ee h fce mve shh Khl Mhm Jly2008.84 These ghters were led by Omar Khalid,l kw abl Wl, wh w he lee fHarkat-ul-Mujahideen in the area. The ghtingbewee he w p ce cce mhe tlb leehp, bece heee he

ilmc Eme e be Bj Mhm-and and their inltration routes into Kunar andn. th, Q Z rhm uMhmm Yhe tlb cmme f

afh nh Pvce PkKhybe aecywee e mee bewee hew fc.85 A ceasere was reached, and ShahKhl ee leve f Khybe aecy. Hwev-er, before that could happen, some of his ghters



16/35


cke klle e f om Khl lee-ants. The ghting that ensued left more than ftye, cl shh Khl. the ttP omKhl eme cl f Mhm aecy,hw he isi e.86

tehk-e-tlb Pk mbell -z e p by sh Wz BllhMeh decembe 2007. i ppe u.s. cl fce afh ilm-b, b pmy fc Pk.87 thettP pve ce bh l Qe hetlb afh, beleve be cve K.88 Ml Fq Mhmm he ttPcmme Bj aecy, l epyf Meh.89

Ml Fq Mhmm w fmely cm-me f tehk-e-nfz-e-sh-e-Mhm-m (tnsM), he e p whch cve K.90 tnsM w fe heearly 1990s by Maulana Su Muhammad after hebecme lle wh he Pk ilmPy, Jm-e-ilm. tnsM h cle e whhe tlb eme afh, fe heu.s.-le v 2001, tnsM e hof volunteers to go ght the Americans.91 tnsM,epely je fce wh he ttP 2007.92i Bj, tnsM epely le by m

named Dr. Ismail, who continues to send ghters K.93

ahe e p cve K he -called Sala Taliban, which emerged in the springf 2008.94 It presumably has a Sala orientation, ppe Mllh om tlb, whch hits roots in the Deobandi movement. Salasm is acevve ilmc efm mveme ml

Wahhabism that looks to emulate the rst genera- f ely Mlm (lf me ce p fefhe abc).95 Sala Islam is

eemely pevle K, whee s other Arab missionaries and ghters have spreadhe el ve he ye, me h hee f sh Cel a.96 The Salatlb hve ce ck he e fK Chwk, Pech, Wp, abc.97 The Sala Taliban claim to be a part ofMllh om tlb, b h lkely veh hey m epee me pe-

pblcze he w ck hthemselves as Sala.98 i me lkely h heSala Taliban are a group of local Kunar insur-e wh ce wh he tlb heml p fm me me.

ohe p h epely pee K n e glb Hekmy Hezb-eilm, whch e bck he -sve jh, he Hqq newk, w le by sjHqq, whch l h he svev, b he Hezb-e ilm fc le byMlv Mhmm Y Khl.99

the kunaR RiveR valley and

BoRdeR

K be wh Pk b e h-e mle l pllel he KRiver, which lies ve miles to the west.100 them l he be e eemely e,

wh me ech 12,000 fee bve e level.thee e few , b wh me mjpe eve mlle ce fph, hebe c be ce lm y p.101 th, pe h K be wh Pkhas been a major guerilla inltration route sincehe y f he -sve jh.

the lwe K rve Vlley epee transient insurgent environment, with ghtersinltrating to and from dierent areas in Pakistan afhhe Kel Pech rve

Vlley, n, Jllb, ec. i , ml- e qck, c-be ke K,fe em he fe f he K rve

Vlley f few y befe e ve ce Pk.102 Mch f hee cvy fce sky d-c, whch hme evel ec m

pe h le Bj Mhm ae-ce, cl he nw P he gpyP. i he w mj pe, hee ghkh P he h f nw P M

W dc well he shek Bb l e-wk he vcy f gpy.103

U.S. bases, Afghan government oces, andansF p he K rve Vlley ely



17/35


take rocket and mortar re from insurgents ringfm c he Pk fe. th ecre is notoriously inaccurate and frequently hitscvl hme. u.s. afh fce cee ml e Pk ey, l ecely, ehe he Pk ecyeblhme.104 the plce he w f Ph sky dc e he feqe e fe ck. a lkely epl f h h Ph le bewee he gpy P the Narang Valley, a key inltration route into theKel Vlley.105 the afh Be Plce,pclly he nw P, e l vleble c-be .106

the ee f he 3-10 BCt 2007 w

ee pve me b be fcef K, llw u.s. fce pee he e f he pvce.107 Hw-eve, ve he ele f he be, he 3-10BCt he h fllwe he 173

abe he 3-1 BCtece pzehe e fc pec he ppl-. Plc he be eme ecmy ffce m, he K rve Vlley ee he me cc f CoP FoB e he Pech rve Vlley.108 i e mkep f h ecmy f fce, he 173 abepee wh he afh Be Plce, eqpp , w h clke he le he Pk be.109 By he e


FiguRe 3: map oF kunaR

and nuRistan pRovinces


18/35


19/35


evelly elee he ve, b befecutting o their ears and noses, as punishmentf elve pple u.s. fce whe heyh bee pevly we .125 th c leve w he wh wl ce u.s. fce he fe.

ie l be e lcl lee.a he e f apl 2007, he tlb eece clec fm n dc, wh hey clme w amec py. the pkem heellece he pve h le he eh capture of several Taliban ghters at the hands ofhe amec, hey heee he whhe me fe.126 dy le, e ehe clec, ahm

Wh Mlm, wh w fme mjhee cm-me fm B Mland a security ocial inKmeh dc.127 i hle ly, he emclcle een: h f pe-ple, cl wme l, lle B Ml week le em hhe veme e he

klle.128

By pe heveme f fle cch he em h ke c, he eef B Ml wee mplcly ecz heveme, he e, he lemehy he e. the ce lvzepblc p he ecy, v he

afh veme u.s. fce pp-y ve wee bewee he ppl he e. th he e

was not conned to Bargi Matal District.

When the forces from 3-10 BCT nally leftafh Je 2007, he eplcemep fm he 173 abe BCtcehe ey f cle, hl, bl: ep hee fm he ppl, fe cec- bewee he peple he veme, pm cecmc evelpme. theyl fce pm he lcl chle, vehe e y mpeble ppl.

r bl pjec ce, cl hewe pv f he fm am K Kmeh n, pjec h hbee ewy f ye.129

u.s. ceecy pe, cmbewh e bly he ppl,e he e f pblc p heecy. i ely Jly 2007, e -empe cke ck u.s. be ndc. they me, kll e-ye-l byand wounding three other civilians along with veu.s. le.130 He f peple fm zef vlle ee he by fel epeehe e he ml.131

the p he

ecy heK ee ncme he e f Jly2007, u.s. peme tw M-. a cvy f u.s.ppe w efm mee wh blele e Km Km-eh dc, whe wmbhe by e. areght ensued, resulting

he eh f w u.s.le he w f hee he. ale wey-f e wee klle.132 Pv-cial ocials also claimed that four Afghan civilians

wee klle ke he pe.133a few y fe he ble, vlle ele cme he lcl u.s. cmme, LtC ChpheKle, eple h hey wee e f he

vlece. they plee he pp u.s. afh fce, le he eblhme f hehe-membe Kmeh h, whch wl

pve mel fe ceecype ece vlece he e.134

the tlb, hweve, ce he m- cmp, h me e plce. ahe be f a 2007, hey cke plce p e gwheh l he bebewee n dc Kmeh dc.135the gwheh p ec lc-


In this latest slaying, theinsurgents miscalculated ineastern Nuristan: thousands ofpeople, including women andgirls, rallied in Bargi Matal aweek later to demand that thegovernment arrest the killers.128


20/35


p: a u.s. ar sr 1 B, 32

ifr R, 10 m d, fr

r rr -

f Br m af nr r.

(p b u.s. ar)

, be c Pk key be l he fm K n.136 The Taliban captured ve police-me, b fe he eve f bl ele,he plceme wee elee w y le.137 thetlb heee kll hem f hey ee, he plceme be he p,eectively ceding the Gowhardesh Valley and theGowhardesh Bridge to the insurgents, cutting ohe am-Kmeh . u.s. afh fce

wl vee he vlley l he fme me ve he cm ye, be mbheech me. Whee he p, e u.s.ocer, is where the insurgency starts.138

a he e f a 2007, he tlb ccea similar kidnapping of fteen new police recruits Kmeh dc he emp m-.139 Hweve, he m ly le-e he ppl. a few week le, vllefm Khz (e he w f Kmeh), kp m ve he e wy.140

ocbe w me kpp f plceme eve empe ce bmb heu.s. be e Bkw, n dc, b heecy qee he we w e ve K n.141 sme ck heplce pee, emp by he e

p vece evelpme he lcllevel. a he e f Jy 2008, f afh

wee bce by e hey wee wk bl pjec Kmeh dc.the f me wee behee whe he fmlecl py he m.142 This eectively haltedcc he am-Kmeh .143 thece evele h he ecy vewe u.s.and Afghan counterinsurgency eorts in thesee he.144 Fheme, l ccele-e he w pblc ve he tlb

bl cc. i emp em h evepblc p, week fe he Kmeh ecp-, Mllh Mhmm om e ec h he tlb wl le eecepe by behemeh whch w ee e Mlm.145

a he e f apl 2008, u.s. afh fcelche ope M Hhwy ii

eke he gwheh Be, whch h beebe a 2007. the pe -

vlve me h e he u.s. afhle w he le pe e. Byec he be he vl-ley, u.s. fce h cee c bleeh eme cc he am-Kmeh b vece, jb, ecmc evelpme he e, el blw he e. ulke pev me hey heee he gwheh Vlley, hey wee -

cke. the pmy e w h h me heyh he ce f he Kmeh h, whch hvelle fm vlle vlle befe h, ell-ing the locals not to ght. The counterinsurgencyey w wk.146

ack ce he e, b Kmeh n dc ye elvely qe vehe e few mh. the ccefl pephe he ecy h B Mldc. i Jly a 2008, e-cluding foreign ghters reportedly from Pakistan tjkepeely cke B Mldc Heqe. the ee f BMl wee lely he w, hweve, hee

wee u.s. fce he e few ansF,wh he ecep f lcl plce.147

the 173 abe w eplce by he thBe, F ify dv Jly 2008. isepembe 2008, cmme ece h



21/35


w he p gwheh h h beeestablished ve months earlier during OperationM Hhwy ii, bece he p weeeee elewhee. a u.s. fce -ce lcl vlle h hey wee lev,ck gwheh eme, em- he fly f he me hepev ye.148

inneR kunaR pRovince: valleys oF

death

the e f K Pvce e f hem vle e afh. the u.s.bl h pee e K ely2007 suered combat losses that accounted for

hlf f he e by he ee th B-e, teh M dv (whch cle he bl).149 i eplceme ccef me h hlf f he 173 abe Becmb le n2KL.150 the epcee f ll hce he Kel Vlley, lce hePech dc. J mle l, he Kel

Vlley he ele plce afh. oe-fth of all the ghting in Afghanistan takes place h vlley, hee-qe f ll he bmbppe he cy hve le he - e.151

the Pech Kel rve Vlley m-p ml e fm Pk, llye by he mjhee he sve. afec he be K, e cvel p he Pech rve Vlley c he Krve vel p vlley nl, Chwk, n dc, fm whch hey c cce Kel. oce hey hve eche heppe Pech, e c hke l he ef n cce Lhm Pvce he ec tb Vlley Kp Pvce, fm hee, Kbl.152

the Pech rve Vlley be, whchp he c f Chp d, Pech,

Wp, e hme hly 100,000 peple( qe f he pvce ppl). al 27,000 peple lve he jce

Wm Wyl dc n, whch ecece he Pech by by ve vlley.153

ree f he e f K Pvce, epe-clly le vlley lke Kel W-p, hve bee ecbe clh, vle,pc f e, pce f

Whhb ilm.154 the Kel, wh e eh-cally and linguistically dierent than the Pastuns

wh me he K ve vlley, hve c-cessfully fought o every attempt to subdue their

vlley, cl he sve he 1980, he tl-b he 1990, cely, he u.s. mly.the he, bl he e f m f e he l, c fe whke lley bmbme.155

tmbe vlble l ece hp f K, mv fc heKel ecy. the Kel e b-e vl he mbe e wh he wh lvefhe (e) w he Pech rve Vlley. afehe u.s. v 2001, he Pech Vlley mbeb e wh he amec cvcehem bmb he he f Hjj M, hebiggest rival from Korengal. After this aront,M w clze je wh ab ikhl,he Eyp l Qe peve wh h ele K.156 Whe afh Pee Hm Kzempe ele he mbe y, heTaliban oered to smuggle out the Korengalis

timber in exchange for ghting the Americans.157

By the time U.S. forces gured out what had hap-pee, w le. i 2007, emp wme mee he mbe pe wh Ke-l ele, b he e fle.158 (u.s.fce h ley bl Cmb op ef Hjj M l w mll.)159 the lc mbetrade has been ocially shut downforcing manypeple f jbb he ml ce f he ecy.160 the tlb py hehhe we he vlley peple wh hve myother reasons to ght U.S. forces and the Afghan

veme.161

Provincial ocials estimated in 2008 that therewee le 2,000 e he mf K.162 th mbe pbbly ve welyve he pmy he Pk be he ee wh whch e c c he f-e. ab hlf he e Kel ebelieved to be local ghters, while the other half



22/35


e beleve be fee, cl Pk,ab, Cheche, uzbek.163

Whe he 3-10 BCt w eee n2KL hebe f 2007, e f bl w e-

e he Pech rve Vlley e. a p f 3-10 BCt ey f ep fp pec he ppl, hebl phe eepe he e f K- pl-ze eleme.164 a f CoP FoB wee bl l he Pech rve hwe fm ab FoB Ble enlm. the l w eblh bbble fecy, he cec he . oe u.s.ocer likened it to the island hopping campaignin the Pacic during the Second World War.165i pcce, he ey me clely eembleh e by he Fech Vem, whee pbuilt xed positions along the main lines of com-mc b ece lle ele.tp lphe h he Kel Vlley, b heyly me b hlf wy w he -mle

valley because the southern half was rmly in the

h f he e wl em hwy f he feeeble fe.166 dce c-ce w mee em f he f y, mle.167 tp he bl l mveh fm M g l he Wyl Vlley n.168 they vew he be fcc he Pech rve r, whch keh mh cmplee ece he velme fm nlm ab by me hhlf.169 Whe 3-10 BCt lef afh Je2007 he e f 16-mh eplyme, hebl he Pech Vlley e h l wey f le ey-e me wee w-e.170 depe he hevy le, he bl wcee wh kll mj e lee,Hbb J, he e f apl 2007.171

Whe he fce fm 3-10 BCt e f hePech Vlley, hey wee eplce by bl fmhe 173 abe. the ew bl ce ph pl-ze eleme mhe ppl he e f K,


FiguRe 4: the pech RiveR-

valley


23/35


mve bl heqe FoB Ble- e nlm, whch h pevly lybee ccpe by cmpy f u.s. le.172the bl, l wh l eleme,

w ee tk Fce rck, ce eece evelpme pjec, bl be l he Pech rve Vlley.173 ime e, le cceflly ece whhe ppl, b he, lke he Kel

Vlley, hey eme le fm he lcl, he ppl eme elvely hle le phec. Ppe hee e weefeqely cke hey lef he be e-c mbhe.174

a u.s. fce rCE eemly embceceecy ey,cmme epeelyemphze he mp-ce f pec heppl. th emph

w peme be helc beh ep heu.s. fp he vl-ley, ph mllpl-ze eleme, eblh pe-

e peece wh hepeple.175 Ye, u.s. cmme me hthe bulk of the ghting was taking place in remotee, lke Kel, f wy fm he mj-y f he ppl. u.s. fce, he hece level, cl ey he eemy fmpe hee e, ppl pec- wl hve eqe; b hey cl b bear their advantages in repower. U.S. ocersely cmmee h he u.s. ce efe he eemy evey eeme wh hehelp of that overwhelming repower.176 th, he

pee peece ppch evelpe efeve cepch ey h eve be f he ech ey m-. By bl be hee e,u.s. fce pvke he e ck- well-efee p whee he u.s. h ecve ve. the eemy h heu.s. p pl, he u.s. eyehe eemy whe cke.177 P he wy,

he u.s. ey w cle by hl. oeu.s. cmme ecbe he u.s. peece he eme e f K ee n tlb me, whch plle he ewy fm me pple e, heebympve ecy hee plce. oe f h b-e ecbe he me ey he wy:Bcllywee he blle pe.178

o a 22, 2007, pl f he 173 a-be w mbhe u.s. p Wyldc e a. rch He, he p wme, h bee eblhe by he teh M- dv w ll e cc he me. the e, wh h me me

than sixty ghters, attackedely he m lm ve he amecp. sme e

wee eve we ana -fm, whch h eblehem ppch he be.the ml beche hepemee, vc whe mee f he efee,b he pl w ble epel he l fe cll- cle pp

he p. Eleve f hewey u.s. le efe rch He weewe, whle w ana le wee klle.179

tw mh le, ocbe 19, 2007, he b-l lche mve pe cemerck avlche. i hee cmpefm he bl, he pe vlve heu.s. cmpy fm elewhee rC E, well evel cmpe fm he ana 201 Cp.the pe, whch le y, me p e ewk cpe kll

e lee, cl ce f abikhl. u.s. le le he vlleyof ve districts: Pech, Watapur, Chapa Dara, andn, hp weep he e hele.180

the fcl p f h pe w YkhCh, mll vlle he he e f heKel Vlley kw e c-


When U.S. forces air assaultedinto the village, hoping toentice the residents with an $11million road building projectand turn them against the in-surgents, they were instead metwith an ambush.


24/35


y.181 Whe u.s. fce le hevlle, hp ece he ee wh $11 mll bl pjec hem he e, hey wee e me wh mbh. a ke w clle hepece f hl e, whch ele ve civilian deaths (including women and chil-e) eleve me we.182 Bl cmpy lee hel h wh he ele f

Ykh Ch he fllw y e eplhe p elve hm ceb wee me wh me hly.183 Le, u.s.ellece e m e cmmc vehe h he ele f

Yakha China had decided to ght.184

By he e f he pe, ve w zee h bee klle, e f whch weehh vle e. u.s. fce fle mke mchcc wh he eemy ew f he l hleke befe he pe be.185 theheaviest ghting took place in the Korengal Valley,

whee hee u.s. le l he lve.186 afehe pe, LtC ol, he bl cm-me, hel h wh he Kel ele c ope rck avlche. 187 olve he ele e y e wh he amecve he e. Whe he lee f he K-

el Vlley l he bl leve, he stayed, and the ghting continued.188 depe vl-lage elders in the valley constantly rebung U.S.ee bl he vlley, u.s. fcehve ce pe emp cvcehe Kel peple h he vlley

wl be he be ee.189

a few week le, nvembe 9, 2007, u.s.ppe wee e fm mee wh

vlle ele Wyl dc, n, jh f he Kel Vlley, whe hey wee

ch cmple mbh e aef he fm rch He ble j fewmh ele.190 s u.s. ppe weeklle, l wh hee ana le.191 thele ele h bee c pelevelpme pjec be bh he e.192

afe h ck, LtC ol cppe he lf pjec he bl h bee ce f

Wyl. sme e hve me he chce, he

, heye be lef beh.193

afe he we w mele he p2008 ghting season had begun, the airbornebl lche he mj pe, m-

l rck avlche, he be f My.ope rck Pee le e y,

which the battalion air assaulted into ve valleys Chwk, n, Pech, Wp dc.specl emph w plce n, heppe h p e m-l e he jce Kel Vlley.Hweve, rck avlche, e hef rck Pee befe e be move out of the area. Even so, provincial ocialsclme h ze f e wee klle.194

o Jly 4, 2008, u.s. cmb p ea Wyl dc, n, w ckeby e m em. the u.s. leclle pp, helcpe eyetwo vehicles as they were driving away. U.S. o-cl ee h ve ze ml h beeklle.195 However, Afghan ocials in Nuristan,cl he pvcl ve, clme hhe nato ke h clly eye w

vehcle cy cvl, el he ehf wey-w ce peple. the llee kllf ce cvl pke pe pl-

cl c n.196

ne y le ly mle w he WylValley, U.S. forces suered the worst attack since2005, whe eee u.s. p wee klle K.197 i ely Jly 2008, u.s. cmmeece whw fm CoP Bell e a n. the mll p feqely cmee ck, hee w lle pp mhe lcl ppl f u.s. fce he afhveme. Fheme, he lc w ech-clly e f he bl e f pe.

iellece l ce h he e weepl e le l he p he e fe.198 th, he pl mCoP Bell mve w he Wyl Vlley e-blhe ew p e he vlle f W, he Wyl dc f n.199 Eve hhu.s. cmme h eceve ellece he wee pl ck CoP Bell,



25/35


p: a u.s. ar sff s. r r

p Rr r b

r kr r f af Fb. 4,

2007. (dd p)

hey beleve he eemy wl e mvel he ew p W, pefee pbe efee.200

th ck, hweve, cme he m f Jly

13, 2008, just ve days after the forty-eight para-pe wey-f ana le h -ve.201 a hey h ly bee hee h me,he efee f he p-- he me, ly

vehcle pl be (VPB) flly blCmb op--ly ce f me cefortications, concertina wire, and a few Hum-

vee.202 a bev p h bee bl e

w beche, b he p w cmpleelyve. i he e, e u.s. le weeklle wey-eve wee we, l whf ana le. th c l cce

j y befe he 173 abe w e leveafh.207 P he ck W, hebattalion had not suered a combat death since

Jy 2008.208

conclusion

i ceecy hey, he ppl paramountit is the center of gravity in the ght.sez hl ey le mph pec he ppl whee lve.the pmy l f ceecy -

ey hl be ece he pplce heebylemze he veme he h fc mlly efe he e. Whle hhey w cceflly mplemee iq, has been dicult to implement in Kunar. In thepely-pple m e f e-e afh, me e hve ef hl he hh ee f clclm wfe ecey pec fpec he ppl. the me eh f he cee e ey heeemy he hh , he he ell wll beble ck eze he ppl wll.i he K n e, h meeqe u.s. fce pe cmb fceecy wfe, wh fc heppl, m wfe, wheeby heu.s. fce eze hl he hh .

Hweve, plce lke he Kel Pechrve Vlley, hee e eh u.s.

afh fce pec he ppl cle hl he ey whee h ppl- lve. Fheme, me f he e

vlley ch he Kel, ce h cee mpwe wl eqe cce, he ppl em fl f evehle e. i he Kel, he peecef u.s. fce ecebe e el e eeme. th fcle vlece he e, he h bly ecy whch he ee ee f ceecy.


he VPB pemee. Me h 200 e

massed for the attack, including foreign ghtersfm Chechy Pk.203 V ccecbe he cke tlb, l Qe, Hezb-eilm glb, Lhk-e-tb, Jh-e-Mhmm, me cmb f heep.204 they mke he f he vceby we hh cl nearby eld, and they forced villagers to leave ine e p p he hp, mqe, hme.205 u.s. ve le f hedc b-ve, he chef f plce, helcl plce fce cmplc he ck, lhhme u.s. cmme beleve h hey weec e e.206

the mbh w well-ce, mlrst targeted the platoons heavy weapons systemshe m p toW (we-e) mlelchebefe ck he bev p.the ble le f f h, he pemee


26/35


gve hle ppl few p,u.s. fce hve bee fce pe efevece-pch ey wheeby hey w heeemy ck he pl be he

vlley he ceck wh he perepower. This approach, however, is neitherble ccve w cceflceecy ey.

the he Kel he pb-lem; it is a consequence of uninhibited inltra- e h he e e c heborder. There is an almost inexhaustible ow ofe afh fm Pk. theyc vve f y week he maway from population centers and quickly exl-e bck fe hve Pk f eee.i ppe h my e ly cme

afh f few y week me. thecounter-punch strategy assumes a nite numberf e c be cpe, klle, fce ve p. F h mp be e, hePakistani border would have to be eectively sealedo, or at least adequately interdicted, especially ifbl fce ce be ece e- e lke he Kel Vlley. Meve, heeemy c ck u.s. afh fce wll, ve he e pmy he be,

pbbly eely epee he lclafh ppl f pp. i fc, he eemymay be ghting in the interior of Kunar simplybece h whee u.s. fce e vleble.

thee lle e eblh le CoP FoB he e m. s small, isolated posts they cannot eectively massthe necessary force to conduct an oensive orcounter an enemy threat without sacricing se-cy me elewhee, ble lke W rch He hve eme. Meve,

establishing xed outposts in such inhospitablee evbly le he e f mvem f lley pwe efe heele p. alley pwe hvefe bee ce be cepcve el wh he ecy h p f hecy. sme fy ye , Jh Pl Vdiscussed the futility of repower in insurgencies

whe he e h ceece cll f

he m cm kll. the bewep f kll kfe. the w -ple. the e w lley. B kfe,the best is a rie--you know who youre killing.the u.s. ey vlley lke he Kel hle le p el le mof indirect re which by its very nature often hurtshe ceecy ey by le he

vey ppl y ece. th helm f he pee peece ey K pvce.209 i cly, fle, e-qe l-em cmmme h eu.s. afh fce cle vcy.

rhe h m p he K-rengal and many of the small, ineective postsh he Pech ve vlley, u.s. fce wlbe bee lze cc cve pl ece he ppl l he lwe K rve

Vlley plce lke M W, sk, KhK dc whee he ppl ee u.s.pp peece, lke he ppl fhe Kel. a hey , u.s. fce mdemonstrate the tangible benets of their pres-ece he lcl ppl. alhh he ceey f bl be e hve ecmc mpc he le em, hepjec m be pe wh h-em, qck

impact civil aairs and humanitarian assistancepjec. thee mlle pjec fe me beedemonstrate the benet of an expanded Ameri-c peece afh vlle. u.s. fce me he ee f he lcl ppl vethem immediate, quantiable humanitarian assis-ce ch mecl el , , blke. n ly wll h pp emeh he ppl he cee f vy, b

will raise the cost of inltration for the insurgents.



27/35

notEs


1 ue se aecy f ieldevelpme-afh, K, afhPvce, Je 9, 2009.2 M Klmb, Bewee Myh rely: HwLegendary Karistan Became Nuristan, Fikrum waFann (Art and Thought), Vl. 78, (n e), 15.3 ue se aecy f ieldevelpme-afh, n, afhPvce, Je 9, 2009.4 Program for Culture and Conict Studies (CCS),

n Pvcl ovevew, nvl Peschl, 1; Wk $12m pjec e wy K, Pajhwok Afghan News, Jly 6,2007.5 dv Klclle, the accel gell: Fhsmll W he M f B oe (new Yk:of uvey Pe, 2009), 71-72.6

ue se aecy f ieldevelpme-afh, K, afhPvce, Je 9, 2009.7 Klclle, the accel gell, 72.8 Program for Culture and Conict Studies, KunarPvcl ovevew, nvl Pe schl;Central Statistics Oce (Afghanistan, CSO),

sele ppl by cvl v (b l) e 2006.9 Central Statistics Oce (Afghanistan, CSO),

sele ppl by cvl v (b l) e 2006.10 Program for Culture and Conict Studies, Kunar

Pvcl ovevew, nvl Pe schl, 1;Klclle, the accel gell, 74.11 Elzbeh rb, Ble Cmpy hee,The New York Times Magazine, Feby 24, 2008; Bgly Wllm, afh He f dke:Fh he tlb K Pvce, CTC Sentinel,Cmb tem Cee We P, Vl. 1,ie 12, nvembe 2008, 11-12.12 J ovee, the Cy f he Ph scey,Flk, 222, Vl. 23, 1981; aew dke Fk

abh, ambh afh schl Vlley fdeh, The Associated Press, My 16, 2009.13 Program for Culture and Conict Studies (CCS),

n Pvcl ovevew, nvl Peschl, 3-4; Klclle, 72; Mchel schee, theb Le eele hyck, Asia Times Online,sepembe 27, 2007.14 olve ry, ilm rece afh,new Yk: Cmbe uvey Pe, secE, 1990, 72.15 ry, ilm rece afh, 99-102.16 Klclle, the accel gell, 72.

17 Klclle, the accel gell, 89; Mk s.Clair, The eort to provide a choice, Stars and Stripes,sepembe 18, 2008.18 Mchel gck, the Ble f afh:Isolation denes ght in the deadly east, Stars andStripes, ocbe 27, 2008.19 sye sleem shhz, a w wh he tlb,P 1: dck v e B-52,Asia TimesOnline, My 22, 2008; sye sleem shhz, re fhe ne-tlb, P 1: deh by he lh f lveym,Asia Times Online, nvembe 13, 2007.20 sye sleem shhz, the tlb hve Kbl he h, Asia Times Online, Feby 27, 2008.21 Mchel gck, the Ble f afh:Isolation denes ght in the deadly east, Stars andStripes, ocbe 27, 2008.22

Mchel schee, the b Le eele hyck, Asia Times Online, sepembe 27, 2007; syeSaleem Shahzad, A ght to the death on Pakistansbe, Asia Times Online, Jly 17, 2007; Phlpsmcke, Chl w he jh cee,

Asia Times Online, Je 28, 2007.23 iel secy ace Fce (isaF),

iel secy ace Fce afhnl amy eh & lyw, Je 8, 2009, 1.24 u.s. depme f defee, DoD news briengwh Mj. ge. Fekley fm afh, Jy26, 2007; u.s. depme f defee, ddnews brieng with Maj. Gen. Rodriguez from

afh, Jly 25, 2007.25 My L. gzlez, 101 abe ke ve f82 abe afh, Cmbe Jtk Fce-101: ope E Feem(CJtF-101: oEF), apl 10, 2008, pe My27, 2008; u.s. depme f defee, ddnews brieng with Brig. Gen. Joseph Votel from

afh, apl 18, 2007; u.s. depmeof Defense, DoD news brieng with Maj. Gen.Fekley fm afh, Jy 26, 2007.26 Mk s. Cl, sky sle we w, pece

afh m, Stars and Stripes, Jly 4, 2007;U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Cl. nchl fm afh, My 8,2007.27 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Cl. Chp Peyle fm afh, ocbe17, 2007; u.s. depme f defee, dd ewbrieng with Col. Nicholson from Afghanistan, May8, 2007.28 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh B. ge. Jeph Vel fm afh,


28/35

notEs


44 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Mj. ge. schlee fm afh, Je24, 2008.45 Me We, repe nebk:Battleeld Circulation Around a Deadly Part of

afh, PBS:The Online Newshour, Mch 10, 2009.46 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Mj. ge. schlee fm afh, Je24, 2008.47 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Mj. ge. schlee fm afh, Je24, 2008.48 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Clel Jh spze, v elecfeecefrom Afghanistan, at the Pentagon Briengrm, al, V, nvembe 18, 2008; u.s.

Department of Defense, DoD news brieng withMj. ge. rez fm afh, Jly 25,2007.49 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Cl. Chp Peyle fm afh , ocbe17, 2007; u.s. depme f defee, ddnews brieng with Maj. Gen. Rodriguez from

afh, Jly 25, 2007.50 Cl clm kll evel tlb pe, Pajhwok Afghan News, ocbe 31, 2007;

Cl fce kll 19 ml K, Kh,Pajhwok Afghan News, nvembe 1, 2008; Le neh,

sevel e klle l-Q

fcl, Stars and Stripes, ocbe 30, 2007.51Cl fce kll 19 ml K,

Kh, Pajhwok Afghan News, nvembe 1, 2008; u.s.Department of Defense, DoD news brieng withCl. Chp Peyle fm afh, ocbe17, 2007; u.s. depme f defee, ddnews brieng with Maj. Gen. Rodriguez from

afh, Jly 25, 2007.52 Jv Hmm, F-eve ce ck Kje ana le, Pajhwok Afghan News, Mch 16,2007.53 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Cl. nchl fm afh, My 8,2007.54 seb Je, i he Vlley f deh, VanityFair, Jy 2008; Le neh, sevel eklle l-Q fcl, Stars andStripes, ocbe 30, 2007.55 Elzbeh rb, Ble Cmpy hee,The New York Times Magazine, Feby 24, 2008.56 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Mj. ge. schlee fm afh, Je

apl 18, 2007; u.s. depme f defee, ddnews brieng with Col. Nicholson from Afghanistan,My 8, 2007.29 U.S. Department of Defense, DOD news briengwh Cl. nchl fm afh, My 8,2007.30 Kev dhey, sle ble b, b y afh cmp, Stars and Stripes, My 19, 2007;Kev dhey, tp Cmp Ble ering back, Stars and Stripes, My 16, 2007; gi ep ew cmb p afh pvce, Stars andStripes, Mch 14, 2007.31 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Cl. nchl fm afh, My 8,2007.32 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news brieng

wh Cl. nchl fm afh, My 8,2007.33 al tyl Jh Me, afhKel Vlley, Boston.Com, nvembe 12, 2008.34 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh B. ge. Jeph Vel fm afh,apl 18, 2007; u.s. depme f defee,DoD news brieng with Col. Chip Preysler from

afh, ocbe 17, 2007.35 Mk s. Cl, sky sle we w, pece

afh m, Stars and Stripes, Jly 4, 2007.36 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Cl. Chp Peyle fm afh, ocbe

17, 2007.37 Mk s. Cl, sle ccee fe ,Stars and Stripes, Jly 15, 2007.38 Mark St. Clair, The eort to provide a choice,Stars and Stripes, sepembe 8, 2008.39 Kev dhey, 10h M dvmpve be f cm , Stars and Stripes, My15, 2007; Ke H, the lwe p, Stars andStripes, sepembe 18, 2008.40 Jcb Clwell, tk Fce K fehy Ce, CJtF-101: oEF, Jly 23,2008.41 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Cl. Chp Peyle fm afh, ocbe17, 2007.42 My L. gzlez, 101 abe ke ve f82 abe afh, CJtF-101: oEF,

apl 10, 2008, pe My 27, 2008.43 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Clel Jh spze, v elecfeecefrom Afghanistan, at the Pentagon Brieng Room,

al, Va, nvembe 18, 2008.


29/35


30/35

notEs


BBC M, a 31, 2008.99 Joseph Giordono, U.S. identies inuentialtlb lee, Stars and Stripes, ocbe 20, 2007;ry, ilm rece afh, 128; u.s.Department of Defense, DoD News Brieng withMj. ge. schlee fm afh, sepembe5, 2008.100 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Clel Jh spze, v elecfeecefrom Afghanistan, at the Pentagon Brieng Room,

al, V, nvembe 18, 2008.101 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Cl. Chp Peyle fm afh, ocbe17, 2007; u.s. depme f defee, dd ewbrieng with Col. Nicholson from Afghanistan, May8, 2007.102

sye sleem shhz, re f he ne-tlb,P 1: deh by he lh f lvey m,Asia TimesOnline, nvembe 13, 2007; u.s. depme fDefense, DoD News Brieng with Maj. Gen. Tuckerfrom Afghanistan at the Pentagon Brieng Room,

al, V., decembe 5, 2008.103 Syed Saleem Shahzad, A ght to the death onPk be, Asia Times Online, Jly 17, 2007;Cce re, u.s. Mly relee VeFe f ake Pk , The WashingtonPost, Je 13, 2008, p. a12; Cl fce eePk, cpe be p, The News International(Pakistan), Je 11, 2008.

104 FaCtBox-secy evelpme afh, Jly 2, Reuters, Jly 2, 2008; Fwe afh cke ck,Afghan IslamicPress, le by BBC M, Je 16, 2007;Klclle, the accel gell, 57; Wme,chle we K mle ck, Pajhwok

Afghan News, decembe 11, 2007; sye sleemshhz, re f he ne-tlb, P 1: dehby he lh f lvey m,Asia Times Online,nvembe 13, 2007.105 abl Mee Hhm, dze cvl, wle we m ck, Pajhwok

Afghan News, Mch 3, 2007; Kh Wl slz,Plceme m e K ck, PajhwokAfghan News, nvembe 2, 2007.106 Be p cke; nato le e bl, Pajhwok Afghan News, My 29, 2007; Kh Wlslz, Fve plceme klle K clh,Pajhwok Afghan News, apl 23, 2008.107 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh B. ge. Jeph Vel fm afh,apl 18, 2007

The New International, Jly 19, 2008.87 Hassan Abbas, A prole of Tehrik-i-TalibanPk, CTC Sentinel, Vl. 1, n. 2, Jy 2008,2-3.88 Hassan Abbas, A prole of Tehrik-i-TalibanPk, CTC Sentinel, Vl. 1, n. 2, Jy 2008,3; Mhq Yfz, 27 klle u.s. je bmbMhm aecy, The News International, Je12, 2008; u.s. depme f defee, ddnews brieng with Maj. Gen. Schloesser from

afh, Je 24, 2008.89 Hassan Abbas, A prole of Tehrik-i-TalibanPk, CTC Sentinel, Vl. 1, n. 2, Jy 2008, 290 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD News Briengwh Mj. ge. schlee fm afh,sepembe 5, 2008; rhmllh Yfz, a wh

wh f he ecy Pk nh-WeFe Pvce: P tw, Pk tbleFe, e. H abb , Wh, dC: the Jmew F, 2009, 38-39.91 H abb, the blck-be be: thee f tnsM Pk, Pk tbleFe, e. H abb , Wh, dC: theJmew F, 2009, 227-231.92 Km rehm, sw: Pk l pe,

Al Jazeera, Jy 27, 2009.93 Syed Saleem Shahzad, A ght to the death onPk be, Asia Times Online, Jly 17, 2007.94 Kh Wl slz, F fe le

we K epl, Pajhwok Afghan News,My 24, 2008.95 Cl W. E, Fllw Mhmm: rehkilm he Cempy Wl, Chpel Hll, nC:the uvey f nh Cl Pe, 2003, 66;Jh L. Ep, ilm: the sh Ph, newYk: of uvey Pe, th E, 2005,133.96 Mchel schee, the b Le eele hyck, Asia Times Online, sepembe 27, 2007.97 afh ebel, fe fce ve ccycc f clhe, Afghan Islamic Press, le byBBC M, a 31, 2008; Ocial sayshele by afh e my be tleb cmme,

Afghan Islamic Press, le by BBC M, ocbe

5, 2008; Kh Wl slz, F fe lewe K epl, Pajhwok Afghan News,My 24, 2008; Kh Wl slz, oe e heeje K pe, Pajhwok Afghan News,decembe 13, 2008.98 afh ebel, fe fce ve ccycc f clhe, Afghan Islamic Press, le by


31/35

notEs


108 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Cl. Chp Peyle fm afh, ocbe17, 2007.109 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Cl. Chp Peyle fm afh, ocbe17, 2007; u.s. depme f defee, ddnews brieng with Maj. Gen. Schloesser from

afh, Je 24, 2008.110 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Clel Jh spze, v elecfeecefrom Afghanistan, at the Pentagon Brieng Room,

al, V, nvembe 18, 2008.111 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh B. ge. Jeph Vel fm afh,apl 18, 2007; u.s. depme f defee,DoD news brieng with Col. Chip Preysler from

afh, ocbe 17, 2007.112 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh B. ge. Jeph Vel fm afh,apl 18, 2007; u.s. depme f defee, ddnews brieng with Maj. Gen. Rodriguez from

afh, Feby 26, 2008; u.s. depmeof Defense, DoD news brieng with Maj. Gen.schlee fm afh, Je 24, 2008113 Greg Jae, Afghan-Pakistani Hostility Impedesu.s. tp, The Washington Post, Jly 5, 2009.114 aw iqbl, Pk my fme fMhm pe: us, Dawn, Je 12, 2008;

amec ke kll Pk le, the

ace Pe, Je 11, 2008; Fe fce ke kll 27 afh-Pk be ecy,

Afghan Islamic Press, le by BBC M, Je11, 2008.115 dee Flk, rh he ee, The New YorkTimes Magazine, sepembe 5, 2008.116 dew Bw, C fe ppch eeecy?, Stars and Stripes, My 7, 2008; Mk s.Cl, sle ccee fe , Stars andStripes, Jly 15, 2007.117 dew Bw, C fe ppch eeecy?, Stars and Stripes, My 7, 2008; Mk s.Clair, The eort to provide a choice, Stars and Stripes,sepembe 8, 2008.118 dew Bw, C fe ppch eeecy?, Stars and Stripes, My 7, 2008; Mk s.Cl, sle ccee fe , Stars andStripes, Jly 15, 2007.119 Mark St. Clair, The eort to provide a choice,Stars and Stripes, sepembe 8, 2008; Mk s. Cl,

sle ccee fe , Stars and Stripes,Jly 15, 2007.

120 dew Bw, C fe ppch eeecy?, Stars and Stripes, My 7, 2008; Mk s.Clair, The eort to provide a choice, Stars and Stripes,sepembe 8, 2008.121 dew Bw, C fe ppch eeecy?, Stars and Stripes, My 7, 2008.122 gi e p ew cmb p afh pvce,Stars and Stripes, Mch 14, 2007; u.s. depme fDefense, DoD news brieng with Col. Nicholsonfm afh, My 8, 2007.123 Mark St. Clair, The eort to provide a choice,Stars and Stripes, sepembe 8, 2008.124 gi e p ew cmb p afh pvce,Stars and Stripes, Mch 14, 2007; Kh Wllz,

gme chp ve e n, PajhwokAfghan News, Mch 18, 2007.125

rhmllh Yfz, tlb c e f fafh Pk webe, The News International,fm BBC M, Mch 19, 2007.126 tleb kll m f py f he amec

afh ecy,Afghan Islamic Press, le by BBCM, apl 28, 2007; tleb hee kll ec afh he, bve jl,

Afghan Islamic Press, le by BBC M,apl 9, 2007.

127 Lcl ecy ccl he klle afh e,Afghan Islamic Press, le by BBC M,apl 30, 2007; te peh, 20 we fehvlece, Pajhwok Afghan News, apl 30, 2007.

128 th pe kll f el chl n, Stars and Stripes, My 8, 2007.129 dew Bw, u.s., afh p eke keybe, Stars and Stripes, apl 25, 2008; Mk s.Cl, sle ccee fe , Stars andStripes, Jly 15, 2007.130 afh chle klle, 5 nato le jeby ml, Xinhua, Jly 9, 2007; Klclle, the

accel gell, 57.131 Mk s. Cl, sle ccee fe, Stars and Stripes, Jly 15, 2007.132 B a, K be me fe fllehe, CJtF-101: oEF, Jly 6, 2008; tw isaFsoldiers killed, 13 hurt in Nuristan ghting, Pajhwok

Afghan News, Jly 28, 2007.133 Hm shlz, afh clhe kll 3 natole, 24 tlb, Reuters, Jly 28, 2007.134 afh FoB me f le klle mbh,Stars and Stripes, Jly 6, 2008; B a,

K be me fe flle he, CJtF-101:oEF, Jly 6, 2008; dew Bw, u.s., afhp eke key be, Stars and Stripes, apl 25,


32/35


33/35

notEs


170 afh recp, F Bl, 32ify reme, pe Jy 30, 2008.171 Kev dhey, repe nebk: tk bek ve Ql, Stars and Stripes, My 26, 2007;

Key militant among ve killed in Kunar operation,Pajhwok Afghan News, apl 30, 2007.172 Kev dhey, 10h M dvmpve be f cm , Stars and Stripes, My15, 2007; Phlp smcke, C- zel ve ableCmpy,Asia Times Online, Feby 29, 2008.173 B a, able Cmpy ble eleme,vlece b hpe Pech Vlley, CJtF-101:oEF, Jy 23, 2008; B a, Mbe wll cec vlle Pech r, CJtF-101: oEF, Jy 18, 2008; Kh Wl slz,

22-mee l be cce K, Pajhwok

Afghan News, Mch 18, 2008; Kh Wl slz,Be be bl ve K Pech rve, PajhwokAfghan News, Jly 20, 2008.174 seb Je, i he Vlley f deh,Vanity Fair, Jy 2008; Elzbeh rb, BleCmpy hee, The New York Times Magazine,Feby 24, 2008.175 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Cl. nchl fm afh, My 8,2007.176 U.S. Department of Defense, DoD news briengwh Clel Jh spze, v elecfeecefrom Afghanistan, at the Pentagon Brieng

rm, al, V, nvembe 18, 2008; u.s.Department of Defense, DoD news brieng withCl. nchl fm afh, My 8, 2007.177 Klclle, the accel gell, 96-97178 CJ Chve, g.i. eme afh p hveweary job, drawing re, The New York Times, nvembe10, 2008.179 2 ana le klle, 11 pecekeepe je ck, Pajhwok Afghan News, a 22, 2007;

afh ecp; Ke H, a ble -ee, Stars and Stripes, sepembe 16, 2008; KeH, aw eme vl f the rck,Stars and Stripes, Je 29, 2008; seb Je,

i he Vlley f deh, Vanity Fair, Jy 2008.180 20 tlb, eh cvl klle Kpe, Pajhwok Afghan News, ocbe 21, 2007;

Jacob Caldwell, Company works to ush out Taliban rck avlche, ocbe 31, 2007; LeNeuhaus, NATO soldier killed in oensive againsttlb afh, Stars and Stripes, ocbe25, 2007; Le neh, tw me nato leklle afh, Stars and Stripes, ocbe 27,

2007.181 20 tlb, eh cvl klle Kpe, Pajhwok Afghan News, ocbe 21, 2007;Elzbeh rb, Ble Cmpy hee,TheNew York Times Magazine, Feby 24, 2008.182 Elzbeh rb, Ble Cmpy hee,The New York Times Magazine, Feby 24, 2008.183 Le neh, Vlle h j u.s.-afhpe, Stars and Stripes, ocbe 22, 2007;Elzbeh rb, Ble Cmpy hee, TheNew York Times Magazine, Feby 24, 2008.184 Elzbeh rb, Ble Cmpy hee,The New York Times Magazine, Feby 24, 2008.185 Le neh, tw me nato le klle

afh, Stars and Stripes, ocbe 27, 2007.186 173 abe Be Cmb tem flle

hee: oEF Viii; Le neh, tw menato le klle afh, Stars andStripes, ocbe 27, 2007; Elzbeh rb, BleCmpy hee, The New York Times Magazine,Feby 24, 2008.187 Elzbeh rb, Ble Cmpy hee,The New York Times Magazine, Feby 24, 2008.188 Elzbeh rb, Ble Cmpy hee,The New York Times Magazine, Feby 24, 2008.189 Me We, repe nebk:Battleeld Circulation Around a Deadly Part of

afh, PBS:The Online Newshour, Mch 10,2009; al tyl Jh Me, afh

Kel Vlley, Boston.Com, nvembe 12, 2008190 173 abe Be Cmb tem fllehee: oEF Viii; abl Whee Wf, nele e mbh afh, The New YorkTimes, nvembe 10, 2007.191 s us le klle n mbh(upe), Pajhwok Afghan News, nvembe 10, 2007.192 Ke H, the rck m we beyghting, Stars and Stripes, sepembe 18, 2008.193 Ke H, the rck m we beyghting, Stars and Stripes, sepembe 18, 2008.194 gey J. aee, ana, sky slelch op. rck Pee, CJtF-101: oEF, My30, 2008; Bw, d, mpel ck afh; dew Bw, u.s.: iekew f K pe, Stars and Stripes, My 23,2008; ove 30 tleb klle 11-y pe afh e, Afghan Islamic Press, le by BBCM, My 22, 2008; Kh Wl slz, 35Taliban ghters perish in Kunar operation: Wahidi,Pajhwok Afghan News, My 22, 2008.195 u.s. wh afh ke, The


34/35

notEs


Associated Press, Jly 5, 2008; Bm Me Cee,Cl helcpe ey ml m em,CJtF-101: oEF, Jly 6, 2008.196 ome sm, Mee Hhm, Wl slz,

nato ke kll 22 cvl n, PajhwokAfghan News, Jly 5, 2008.197 L Blmefel, the le vv, TheWashington Post, Je 11, 2007.198 Ke H, the lwe p, Stars and Stripes,sepembe 18, 2008.199 seve Mz, sle ec ely ck afh p, Stars and Stripes, Jly 19,2008; Ke H Jeph g, repel ck gi afh, Stars and Stripes,nvembe 9, 2008.200 Eric Schmitt, Afghan ocials aided an attack on

u.s. le, The New York Times, nvembe 3, 2008.201 Eric Schmitt, Afghan ocials aided an attack onu.s. le, The New York Times, nvembe 3, 2008.202tk Fce Bye Memm f Cmme,Combined Joint Task Force 101, Bagram Aireld,

afh, ar 15-6 ive F recmme Vehcle Pl Be W Cmple

ack Cle, 13 Jly, 2009, depme f he

amy, a 13, 2008.203 Ke H, the lwe p, Stars and Stripes,sepembe 18, 2008.204azz; Bh w Pk f e c;

Taleban say ghting still continuing in Afghan east,AfghanIslamic Press, le by BBC M, Jly 14, 2008;

Taliban ghters storm US base, Al Jazeera, Jly 14, 2008.205 Nine ISAF soldiers die in Kunar ghting; EricSchmitt, Afghan ocials aided an attack on U.S.le, The New York Times, nvembe 3, 2008.206David Morgan, U.S. says Afghan ocials supportedely ck, Reuters, nvembe 4, 2008; Ec schm,

Afghan ocials aided an attack on U.S. soldiers, TheNew York Times, nvembe 3, 2008.207 Eric Schmitt, Afghan ocials aided an attack onu.s. le, The New York Times, nvembe 3, 2008.208 Ke H Jeph g, repel ck gi afh, Stars and Stripes,

nvembe 9, 2008.209 Klclle, the accel gell, 97.


35/35

afghanistan report 1

Documents