Air Force Staff
Sgt. LuCelia Ball
ISAF Public Affairs Office

KABUL, Afghanistan (June 19) – German Army Brig. Gen. Josef Blotz, spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force, today announced a dramatic decrease in the number of civilian casualties during an operational update; over the past 12 weeks, the number of civilian casualties dropped by approximately 44 percent and the total number of killed and wounded individuals by approximately 22 percent when compared to the same time period in 2009.

The main progress was recorded for close air support, with 82 percent less civilian casualties, indirect fire, with 52 percent less casualties and for road traffic accidents, with 55 percent less casualties.

“This clearly shows that our efforts to bring the numbers of ISAF-caused civilian casualties down are successful,” said Blotz. “It also shows that we need to continue to work very hard to bring these numbers down even more and that when civilian casualties occur, it’s important for us to be honest with the Afghan people – to take responsibility and provide facts.”

It was also noted, that during the same period, the number of civilian casualties caused by the insurgency increased by approximately 36 percent. Blotz also provided an overview on ISAF operations.

“There has been a great deal of kinetic activity over the past week as Afghan and ISAF forces challenge insurgents in the South,” he said. “As General McChrystal has said, things are tough in the South now, we expected this, but we are making steady progress. Every casualty, both ISAF and Afghan, represents sacrifice toward a better future for the Afghan people. We will emerge from this period with a battlefield that is more lethal for them, and with the enemies of Afghanistan facing a stronger Afghan government, supported by the international community. We are making progress, and will continue to do so.”

Operation Moshtarak in Central Helmand River Valley is now at about four months old, and this week there was a significant development in ISAF’s command and control as RC South was split to create a new command, RC-Southwest. RC-Southwest includes Nimruz and Helmand Provinces, under the command of U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Richard Mills.

“This new command will ensure that ISAF and Afghan forces in Helmand and Nimruz provinces achieve the objectives of Operation MOSHTARAK, which are intended to assert the GIRoA’s presence in the region,” said Blotz. “Tough fighting is expected to continue, but the situation is trending in our favor as more forces flow into the area.”

Afghan National Security Forces are working with their Coalition partners to step up the pace of identifying and neutralizing those responsible for attacks against the Afghan people. In many cases the commanders and sub-commanders of these dangerous networks are apprehended by coalition forces. These operations are ongoing constantly, and the capability of the ANSF and Coalition Special Operations Forces has tripled over the past year.

“These operations, some of which occur at night, are a critical part of achieving security for the Afghan people,” said Blotz. “Afghan government officials coordinate these operations in concert with our forces. Over time, these operations disrupt the ability of insurgents to organize suicide and IED attacks … it will take time, but these efforts will reduce the effectiveness of the insurgency.”

As an example, this week Afghan security troops and coalition Forces conducted disruption operations in southern Afghanistan that targeted Taliban networks in an insurgent stronghold in northern Kandahar Province in and around Shah Wali Kot. A significant number of insurgents were killed in the fighting, and the operation has denied insurgents a staging area from which to transit into Uruzgan province.

“This is a strategically important development that is expected to have a positive effect on security,” said Blotz. “But progress in non-kinetic operations continues as well, as our efforts are “on track,” and the Coalition and Afghan partners continue to make progress.”

After Blotz concluded, Chris Chambers, acting spokesman, NATO Senior Civilian Representative, provided an update on political issues, with special emphasis on the upcoming Hamkari Conference.

The conference is entirely the initiative of the IDLG and the Kandahar Provincial Governors Office - and as such an example of co-operation between the national government in Kabul working in partnership with the provincial and district governments.

“I want to highlight it to you and convey the support of NATO/ISAF, as a partner of the Afghan Government, in this initiative that will provide momentum for the IDLG as the coordinating body for Hamkari as decreed by President Karzai,” said Chambers.

The conference is being co-chaired by Jelani Popal, the Director General for the Independent Directorate of Local Governance, and Gov. Wesa, the Kandahar Provincial Governor.

“Hamkari is not about fighting insurgents,” said Chambers. “It is about better connecting the government with its people and, in the words of Provincial Governor Wesa, to be present; to listen and respond to their needs; and to deliver improved governance, and economic opportunity, and security to the people of Kandahar.”

A major topic of discussion will be the government’s District Delivery Program plan for Kandahar. DDP is an inter-ministerial program led by the IDLG designed to promote good governance and the delivery of government services at the sub-national level by building the capacity of local government.

 “The DDP is about building capacity of the government to deliver basic services to the people,” said Chambers. “Through the steady building of district government capacity, the process will empower provincial and district governors and mayors to perform their appointed duties on behalf of the Afghan.

The DDP - and this Hamkari Conference – is a clear illustration the national government in Kabul is working with the provincial and district governments in Kandahar and, supported by NATO/ISAF and the international community is determined to provide an environment for social and economic progress in Kandahar.”

Transcript: ISAF Weekly Update on Operations in Southern Afghanistan, Hamkari Conference
Dari Version: June 19-ISAF Joint News Conference

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4