Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in - United States ...

continued transition process. Force reductions and the planned number of mentor teams will
constrain the coalition’s ability to mentor and advise a high percentage of ANSF units. Further,
as an increasing number of districts and provinces transition to Afghan security lead, ISAF’s
access to information to support operations will be reduced.
REGIONAL COMMAND – CAPITAL
During this reporting period, security incidents in Regional Command – Capital were statistically
insignificant (less than one percent) compared to all security incidents throughout Afghanistan,
and thus represented no significant change compared to the same time period one year ago. RC-
C is by far the smallest RC.
ANSF-ISAF operations in RC-C focused on joint clearing and patrolling operations in order to
provide security for Kabul City as well as control Highway 7 and Highway 1 within Kabul
Province boundaries. Operations during the reported period helped to neutralize insurgent
support zones and reduce spectacular attacks in Kabul while gaining the trust of the Afghan
population. In order to achieve these goals, five Capital Division ANSF kandaks, in
coordination with ISAF, conducted clearing operations focused in Musahi, Paghman, Khake
Jabbar, Qarah Bagh, Deh-e Sabz and Chahar Asiab Districts.
Kabul City had a relatively calm fall and winter. ISAF, partnered with the ANP, decreased the
frequency of some patrols, such as rotary wing and rocket box patrols, due to the low level of
enemy attacks during the last six months. Major security operations were conducted in support
of critical ceremonies, including the Loya Jirga in November, the opening of Ghazi Stadium in
December and the opening of the Afghan Parliament in January, with the overall objective of
having the ANSF units in the lead, supported by ISAF assets.
Throughout the RC, ANSF units have assumed ownership of the security mission and maintained
a positive working relationship with ISAF. The ANSF are increasingly capable of planning and
synchronizing operations to support district and provincial security with increased levels of
Afghan enablers and reduced dependence on ISAF.
With the winter fighting season, the insurgency started to increase their efforts to transport
materiel and suicide bombers into Kabul City for future attacks into Kabul and the surrounding
districts. The general threats and overall violence indicated that the increased security measures
and success of ANSF and coalition forces in and around Kabul City forced the insurgency to
conduct spectacular attacks with low logistical footprints but possible high payoffs. As the
ANSF continues to develop and improve, however, insurgent attacks in the capital are expected
to continue to decline.
4.5: LOCAL DEFENSE INITIATIVES
Village Stability Operations (VSO) and the Afghan Local Police are critical components of
ISAF’s COIN strategy. Together, VSO and ALP continue to make progress in protecting rural
populations, preventing their exploitation by the insurgency and expanding the influence of the
Afghan Government. Taken together, VSO and ALP reflect both “bottom-up” and “top-down”
approaches to COIN – the former being reflected in security, governance, and development built
up from the village and district levels, and the latter evidenced through connections to national
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