Markets open as consolidation of Operation MOSHTARAK continues

Ms Cameron was speaking via a satellite link from Helmand at a press conference today, Friday 26 February 2010.

She said that the bazaars are opening again in Marjah and in Nad 'Ali, adding:

"As well as local people being able to buy their own food again, the Afghan National Army can now get their own supplies, and yesterday Afghan soldiers were walking back to their checkpoints with food they had bought in the local bazaar."

Yesterday, officials hoisted an Afghan flag over the town in Marjah, in the south of the Nad 'Ali district, following operations by predominantly American and Afghan forces to clear the area of Taliban.

Ms Cameron was there along with Helmand Governor Gulab Mangal who was handing out food to people in a sign that it is safe to go out again. Ms Cameron said:

"There were about 700-plus people there and I think it was a very visible signal that the Government has come back to Marjah and of course the whole aim of this operation [MOSHTARAK] was to put the Government back into the whole of the Nad 'Ali district."

Also speaking at the press conference was UK military spokesman Major General Gordon Messenger who said that in the main areas of Marjah the clearance phase of Operation MOSHTARAK is complete, although he added there are still areas to the periphery where clearance operations are ongoing.

He said that there are around 300 Gendarmerie (formerly known as the Afghan National Civil Order Police) in place there now, going about their business, with another 200-300 due to arrive in the coming days.

In northern Nad 'Ali district, where British and Afghan troops have been leading the operation, Major General Messenger said that the operation is into the consolidation phase, which is going well.

The consolidation phase involves patrolling, clearing routes, searching compounds and establishing patrol bases. After the consolidation phase will come the stabilisation phase.

He said a number of new patrol bases and police checkpoints are being built and around 300-400 Gendarmerie are in place in Nad 'Ali too.

He reported that Major General Nick Carter, Commander of ISAF Regional Command South in Afghanistan, feels the operation is well on track, with insurgent activity tailing off in some areas and at a lull in other areas, although there are still some problem areas.

These problem areas have mostly been around Marjah and there has been some insurgent activity south of Babaji. General Messenger said these were mostly 'shoot and scoots' with insurgents letting off some rocket-propelled grenades or small arms fire before running off.

He added that some engagements have been more enduring and that ISAF have used the tactic of low flying fixed wing aircraft shows of force to scare insurgents away with no release of ordnance needed.

General Carter is still concentrating on improving freedom of movement throughout the area, with an emphasis on clearing local routes and settled areas of IEDs, so that locals can go about their business and so that ISAF supply convoys can get through, as well as ensuring larger routes between towns are safe.

General Messenger said that, sadly, it was to the south of Nad 'Ali where a soldier from 28 Engineer Regiment was killed this morning while working as part of the operation to improve the freedom of movement along a key road.

General Messenger said that General Carter reports that the atmospherics, specifically in Marjah, are very positive, with yesterday's flag-raising seen as an important symbolic occasion. He said that the locals are positive and keen to engage and make sure their needs are understood by the Deputy Governor. The key issues coming out so far are better policing and better freedom of movement and access to Lashkar Gah.

General Messenger said:

"We are in the phase now where the locals are looking for signs of enduring commitment to the area. They're looking for signs of permanence and for their army and police to deliver, and that's very much where the security effort is now going."

It is against this background that the Government of Afghanistan set out their vision for the future of the region this week with the launch of the Nad 'Ali Stabilisation Plan.

Lindy Cameron said that part of this plan is to reach out to the local people through shuras and ask them what they want from their Government. She added:

"It's really important that this happens because, as we've seen, some of these areas are better off than we expected and there is actually less demand for 'cash for work' programmes and more demand for things like schools."

The Afghan Government's Stabilisation Plan includes new schools and health clinics, as well as 'cash for work' programmes to clear canals and improve irrigation (some of these programmes are already underway) and support for farmers to grow crops.

The plan also includes a quadrupling of the number of government officials permanently based in Nad 'Ali and Marjah, teachers are being sent to the area, and proposals are in place to help nearly 30,000 farmers receive alfalfa seed, maize and summer vegetables to help them move away from poppy growing.

Ms Cameron added that as well as shuras, the Government is using radio to help reassure people in the area that it is back. 6,500 wind-up radio boxes have been distributed so the Government can broadcast messages so people know what's going on, and people can be told that things like the bazaars are open again.

The District Stabilisation Team, made up of British and American military and civilian personnel, are helping the Afghan Government with their stabilisation plans, including advising on repairing essential infrastructure, bringing schools back into use and refurbishing health clinics.

Ms Cameron said that the key thing though is that they are supporting the Afghan Government, adding:

"I'm more confident than ever before as we've not seen this level of support from the national government. I see more resources and backing to make sure the District Governor has the budget he needs."

General Messenger added that the Taliban response to operations in Nad 'Ali district remain incoherent and there is increasing evidence that they're feeling under pressure and are moving out of the area. He said:

"They have been dislocated and disorientated and are finding it difficult to maintain a coherent response, though that's not to say they won't be able to in the future."

However, he added:

"If the people believe that their security is being provided on an enduring basis, and if they believe that they are best able to get what they need by turning to the Government, then there are very few places for the Taliban to take root in these places."