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Major allied victory over the Taliban

The national flag of Afghanistan is flying over the former Taliban shadow capital of Showal, signalling the end to nearly two years of insurgent rule.

Major allied victory over the Taliban

The national flag of Afghanistan is flying over the former Taliban shadow capital of Showal, signalling the end to nearly two years of insurgent rule. Shortly after dawn a soldier of the Afghan National Army climbed up a 60ft disused crane from which the white flag of the Taliban had flown as a defiant symbol of their rule. Using a knife borrowed from a British soldier Private Aziz Watandosd, cut down the flag and threw it to the small gathering of troops below.

He then raised the red, green and black national flag in its place to show that the government of Afghanistan now ruled Showal. “When I took down the Taliban flag and raised our national flag I knew it would be a proud and happy day for our people," the soldier said. After three days of pushing through the town there was still no sign of Taliban resistance. Its fighters had fled their former stronghold following the launch of Operation Moshtarak which saw 15,000 Isaf (International Security Assistance Force) troops descend on central Helmand. The majority of the force landed in a vast armada of helicopters before dawn on Saturday in the biggest operation mounted in Afghanistan since the overthrow of Taliban rule in 2001.


Operation Moshtarak is planned to rid the central area of Helmand province of Taliban rule and bring in security to allow central government rule. Although the Taliban have melted away barely firing a shot intelligence reports suggest that they are preparing to counter-attack with an IED (improvised explosive device) and suicide bombing campaign. But for now 2nd Lieutenant Chris Annear, whose platoon of the 1st Bn The Royal Welsh, secured the Taliban dominated northern tip of Showal, said the occasion was a “hugely symbolic” for the Afghans. “It is a historic moment for them,” he said speaking at the bottom of the crane. “That white flag can be seen from miles around here and to be able to take it down will have a dramatic effect on the local population. They can now see that this area is no longer under Taliban rule.”


Captain Abdul Latif, commander of 2 Company, 1st Battalion, 201st Corps of the ANA, that joined British forces in the assault on Showal, said it was a day that he would “never forget”. “I am too happy and proud that we have taken down the Taliban flag. “We shall forever remember this as the day when we ended the insurgent’s rule in this area. “When the people see the flag they will understand that the Afghan government will stay here and bring them peace.” He then promised that the Taliban “will never be able to return and remove the Afghan flag”.


Three local men sat close by warming themselves against a compound wall after a night of sub-zero temperatures appeared content that the Taliban flag had been removed. The insurgents are said to have tyrannised the local population beheading at least one man who had voted in the flawed presidential elections at the end of last year. “I am happy because we have seen the end of Taliban rule here and the return of security,” said one of the men called Masjan. It is understood that the Taliban flag is white as a symbol of their alleged Islamic purity.

Mjor allie



Author: Thomas Harding


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