Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


NATO Says Operation Moshtarak is Making Progress

   VOA News 21 February 2010
   U.S.  Marines  with  NATO  forces  keeps  vigil  as Marines and Afghan
   National  Army  (ANA) soldiers setup a joint military base in north of
   Marjah, city of Helmand province, 18 Feb 2010

Photo: AP

   U.S.  Marines  with  NATO  forces  keeps  vigil  as Marines and Afghan
   National  Army  (ANA) soldiers setup a joint military base in north of
   Marjah, city of Helmand province, 18 Feb 2010

   NATO   officials   said   Sunday  the  route  clearance  offensive  by
   international  forces  is  making  progress  in Afghanistan's southern
   Helmand province, a Taliban outpost.
   The alliance says Operation Moshtarak has improved freedom of movement
   in  the  area.   British,  U.S.  and  Afghan  forces  began the ground
   offensive in the town of Marjah as part of an effort to regain control
   of one of the Taliban's largest remaining strongholds.
   However,  NATO  officials said in a statement the combined forces have
   encountered  IED  (improvised explosive device) strikes, weapon finds,
   and some small arms fire.
   Meanwhile,  NATO  announced  Sunday  it  has  captured  two militants,
   including  a  suspected  Taliban  commander.   The  men  were detained
   Friday.
   On  Saturday,  Afghan  President Hamid Karzai renewed his call for the
   Taliban to accept peace and join with the government.
   Reuters  news  agency  quotes a Taliban spokesman Sunday rejecting the
   president's  call  for  peace,  saying Mr. Karzai is only a puppet who
   cannot represent a nation or a government.
   During  a  speech  at  the opening session of the Afghan parliament in
   Kabul,  Mr. Karzai also urged international troops to prevent civilian
   deaths.
   NATO  says  it  is  committed  to  reducing  civilian casualties as it
   continues its offensive in Marjah.
   The alliance said its troops killed a civilian in Marjah Friday, after
   a  man dropped a box that troops believed was a bomb and began running
   towards NATO forces.  At least 16 civilians have been killed since the
   beginning of the offensive.
   U.S.-led  NATO  forces  and  Afghan  troops launched a major offensive
   against the Taliban on February 13.
   At  least  12  NATO  troops  and about 120 insurgents have been killed
   during the fighting.  Hundreds of Afghans are fleeing the violence.

   Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.

.