Handing over Musa Qaleh

ISAF commanders have ordered a reconfiguration of UK Forces that will see British troops hand control of the town of Musa Qalah to other ISAF forces over the coming weeks.

The reconfiguration is intended to better support Commander ISAF General Stanley McChrystal's strategy of winning over the population by protecting them from insurgents.

Under the current laydown of forces in Helmand, British forces are responsible for the protection of around 70 per cent of the population with only 30 per cent of the coalition troops; therefore the rebalancing of forces announced today will improve the ratio of ISAF and Afghan troops to civilians across Helmand's main areas of population.

Over the past 12 months, and principally as a result of the uplift in US forces announced by President Obama in December 2009, the number of ISAF troops in Helmand province has risen from around 7,700 to over 20,000.

In the light of this significant increase in the resources available to them, ISAF commanders are considering options for rebalancing forces in the province in order to ensure that international troops are located where they will have the most effect in countering the threat posed by the insurgency and protecting the Afghan civilian population.

About 500 UK personnel who have been based in Musa Qalah will redeploy to thicken and deepen the British presence in central Helmand.

This will allow them to better protect the local population while accelerating the growth of Afghan security forces.

Major General Nick Carter, Commander of ISAF Regional Command South, said:

"The arrival of the first force package ordered by President Obama prior to Christmas last year enabled Regional Command South to mount Operation MOSHTARAK.

"It now allows us to rebalance all our forces to achieve much improved force densities in central Helmand, delivering better protection of the Afghan people and support to governance.

"As part of this force balancing, the final unit of the first force package will take over Musah Qalah, releasing a British battle group to central Helmand.

"This move has been made possible not just by the uplift of forces but also by the improving situation in Now Zad and Musa Qalah."

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said:

"Since British forces entered Musa Qalah in 2006, there is no doubt that the town has changed for the better.

"This is down to the dedication of successive brigades whose courage and professionalism, alongside that of their Afghan counterparts and other ISAF partners, has enabled the district centre to flourish and improve the lives of the people who live there.

"They should be very proud of the progress that has been made.

"We must never forget the 23 brave Service personnel who gave their lives to make Musa Qalah an area in which Afghans can go about their daily lives in security and under strong, stable governance.

"It is essential that ISAF forces of all nationalities build upon the momentum created by General McChrystal's plan and the early successes of Operation MOSHTARAK.

"There is now a unity of purpose and the resources to deliver real and lasting change in Afghanistan so it can stand on its own two feet and never again become a haven for international terrorism."

UK forces first deployed to Musa Qalah in summer 2006, since when dramatic progress has been made. Insurgent activity in the district centre has been contained and greater security has been brought to the area - a direct result of the developing partnership between UK forces and the Afghan National Army (ANA) and the Afghan National Police.

Major Gule Ahmad, Planning Officer for the 3rd Kandak, the ANA unit based in Musa Qalah, said:

"In two years we have seen more promotion of security in Musa Qalah. If you go to other districts in Helmand province they have two to three kilometres of domination but in Musa Qalah we occupy the whole of Musa Qalah. If you want to go south or north there are no problems for you so you can travel."

Governance, healthcare, education and employment have all improved and there has been a tangible increase in commercial activity in the bazaar and livestock market.

Mike McKie, Foreign Office Stabilisation Officer, said:

"We're building government offices that will accommodate the full 'Tashgil', which is Pashto for the government staff that are required.

"This will be enough space for the various ministries, including the local administration, to carry out their functions. This will be quite a major project due to start in April.

"That's giving daily employment to a team of 170 local people, dismantling the dilapidated former government building, and they're going at a rapid rate, it's as if they're as anxious as we are to put in the civic infrastructure.

"Coupled with this there is to be a significant infrastructure project which will create a mosque sufficient for 800 worshippers.

"2,300 children are now attending regular education, where just over two years ago there was none. That's fairly significant when we consider the population of Musa Qalah; by best estimates it is in the region of 65,000."

Speaking ahead of the handover, Lieutenant Colonel Harry Fullerton, Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment, the unit currently in Musa Qalah, said:

"The important thing to stress is that what they are taking over is a British success story; British battle groups have been here over the past years and they have progressively expanded the area of governance - it hasn't been without its cost but it has been a cost worth making in order to deliver success for the British Army, the British Government and most importantly the people of Afghanistan."