Coldstream Guards take on the Taliban in Helmand's Green Zone: Part 1

Since taking over Forward Operating Base (FOB) Keenan from 2nd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment in October 2007, the guardsmen have been involved in numerous contacts with enemy forces as they continue the mission to drive the Taliban out of the green zone.

As their efforts bear fruit, many of the civilian population from the nearby village of Zumbelay have begun to move back to their homes and the guardsmen have embarked upon an equally important operation to win over the hearts and minds of their new neighbours.

Company commander Major Tom Charles, Welsh Guards, says that many of the residents moved into the desert during September's Operation PALK WAHEL, when the Mercian Regiment first captured the area from Taliban control:

"When we arrived in the consolidation phase, we had to create a degree of security and persuade people to move back in and start living their lives without the Taliban interfering," said Maj Charles.

"Over the time we have been here the number of locals has definitely increased and that is because they see ISAF [the International Security Assistance Force] as a force for good.

"I think they understand that we are here to help them and to support the Afghan Government. Because this is such a remote area the Government's tentacles are yet to reach out here, but in the meantime we are trying to meet the problems they encounter."

Venturing out of FOB Keenan on a patrol with the Guards, it is clear that the civilian population appreciates the Army's presence. Platoon commander Lieutenant Storm Green is enthusiastically greeted by a group of residents immediately after leaving the compound; the ensuing conversation - carried out through an interpreter - is upbeat and lively.

After enquiring about the residents' well-being, Lt Green is steered onto the subject of compensation which ISAF forces are distributing to homeowners whose property has been damaged during contacts with Taliban forces:

"There has been a lot of fighting in the green zone and previously it had just been troops pushing through and then leaving," says Lt Green. "We have the job of rebuilding the place, so there are a lot of claims that come forward - some truthful, some not so.

"The idea is to push the friendly zone further and further away and influence more people by helping them out with compensation and new equipment. The Mercians made the big push into the green zone but the consolidation was done by us. They met with the locals but we have had to reassure them and then put the words into practice. You can see the relationship improving."

Although the mood on the patrol is generally upbeat, there is no room for complacency from any of the nine platoon troops involved with the Taliban's favoured method of attack being to use ambush tactics. The Guards are well rehearsed in their formations and have become familiar with the patrol routes, but the terrain encompasses everything from urban dwellings to woodland areas and progress can be difficult.

The surrounding area is prime agricultural land and the ground alternates between muddy fields dotted with evidence of harvested poppy and a criss-crossed network of irrigation ditches, which become more hazardous when torrential downpours cause them to swell and widen.

As they negotiate the hazardous conditions underfoot, the soldiers discover a number of Taliban firing points. The very fact that the infantrymen constantly have to raise their weapons at the sudden appearance of people and motorbikes in surrounding fields is a reminder that the threat of attack is very real.

Section commander Lance Corporal 'Shakey' Marks explained:

"It's a small area that we have to cross but the ground makes it difficult. It can take an hour to move one kilometre and that's really going for it. When we first got here there was green on the trees and the ground was OK but it has deteriorated and become really boggy over the winter."

Dominating the ground through the friendly patrols has helped the Coldstream Guards get to know Zumbelay's prominent figures and allowed them to address some of the most pressing needs of the villagers, many of whom live in desperate poverty.

Compensation cases are the main order of business, but a series of shuras - meetings with the key men - identify religion, medical care, electricity, education and, most importantly, security as the primary concerns.

The distribution of four mosques' worth of loudspeakers, batteries and prayer mats has helped villagers to practise their religion and several residents have received free blankets to protect themselves against the excesses of winter, when night-time temperatures drop tens of degrees below freezing.

A weekly clinic offered by company medics provides medical care for the sick and injured and anyone seriously ill is given financial help to travel to the nearest hospital 15km away in Gereshk:

"They absolutely crave security. This is the number one issue to all locals," Maj Charles said. "Unfortunately this means we have to fight much of the time, but locals understand why and are prepared to be inconvenienced for security. We do anything we can to help them practise their religion because it's a good way of winning their consent, and that's why we gave them the mosque equipment.

"This area is not ready for a school because the Taliban would bomb it and probably kill the teacher, but we have bought some equipment - blackboards, notebooks, pens, pencils - and in the meantime we are going to try and get a teacher in once a week."

The battle to rid Afghanistan's green zone of the Taliban rule is moving full steam ahead thanks to the efforts of the Coldstream Guards as they carry out their traditional light infantry role. But the human element of the non-kinetic hearts-and-minds patrol teams is playing just as big a part in ensuring that life after the Taliban is enjoyable and prosperous for the farming village of Zumbelay and its surrounding area.

Tomorrow we hear about some of the battles which the Coldstream Guards have fought against the Taliban.