Report - United States Department of Defense

UNCLASSIFIED
Towards the end of the reporting period, ISAF and ANSF were focused on a growing battle in
Warduj District, Badakshan Province. In early March, an ANSF contingent maneuvered through
Warduj District to stage forces and provide logistics support to ANSF units already in the
district; insurgent forces ambushed the contingent. The ANSF was caught largely unprepared, as
this was the first major engagement since the start of winter. The ANSF sustained heavy
casualties from the fighting and initially lost ground to the insurgents. The ANSF requested and
on this occasion received coalition close air support, and called in further ANSF reinforcements.
The AAF successfully provided support. As of the end of the reporting period, this fighting was
ongoing.
REGIONAL COMMAND – CAPITAL
Kabul is one of the least violent areas of the country, with some of the best ANSF units
providing security. Improved capability and cooperation between Afghan security elements
continues to suppress insurgent activity within Kabul Province; however, the few successful
suicide attacks that occur in the capital will continue to draw a disproportionate amount of
international media attention.
The ANSF has led security operations in Kabul since August 2008 and has demonstrated
improving capability every year since. There were eight HPAs in RC-C this cycle, compared to
three HPAs during the same period in 2011-2012. Despite the HQN planning and facilitation for
most of the attacks in Kabul, the Taliban continued to claim credit for insurgent activity in RC-C.
The HQN accounted for two of the last seven HPAs targeting ANSF and ISAF stationary
positions and mobile convoys, and assassination attempts of GIRoA officials. Apart from
gaining disproportionate media attention, these attacks were largely unsuccessful and resulted in
only minimal disruptions of GIRoA operations. Kabul City remains a primary target of
operations facilitated by the HQN due to the pronounced media attention and political exposure
successful attacks generate.
The number of threat reports in Kabul doubled in comparison to the same period in 2011-2012.
This increase reflected persistent insurgent efforts to conduct HPAs and may also represent an
increased interaction and trust between the populace and the ANSF and ISAF. The significant
reduction in effective insurgent attacks and HPAs in Kabul City is the direct result of successful
ANSF security measures. Combined operations by NDS and Afghan and ISAF Special
Operations Forces will continue to disrupt insurgent attack cells and facilitation routes.
1.6: TRANSITION
ISAF's mission focus remains the protection of the Afghan people by supporting the sovereign
government in the development of a national security force capable of assuming full
responsibility for security operations by the end of 2014. Upon entry by Province, District or
city into transition, the ANSF will assume the lead for security in that area and become the
supported command, with ISAF becoming the supporting command. During the transition
process, staff functions are steadily transferred to ANSF in stages as their capability
increases. ISAF retains military assets in or near transitioning areas, and when required, engages
in combat operations alongside the ANSF. As the ANSF takes on more of the lead for security
28