Taliban launches assault on former Camp Bastion
Thread Starter
Taliban launches assault on former Camp Bastion
(Reuters) - Taliban militants have launched an offensive against Afghan forces at Camp Bastion, the huge base in southern Helmand province vacated by the British military a month ago, officials said.
"Taliban attacked under the cover of darkness during the night, but our security forces fought against them well and prevented any damage to the camp," General Ghulam Farooq Parwani, deputy commander of Maiwand 215 military corps said on Friday.
Camp Bastion was handed over to the Afghan military as part of the coalition's withdrawal of most foreign troops by the end of 2014.
General Parwani said five of his men had been killed, along with 20 Taliban fighters, and the battle was continuing. The figures could not be verified.
"Taliban attacked under the cover of darkness during the night, but our security forces fought against them well and prevented any damage to the camp," General Ghulam Farooq Parwani, deputy commander of Maiwand 215 military corps said on Friday.
Camp Bastion was handed over to the Afghan military as part of the coalition's withdrawal of most foreign troops by the end of 2014.
General Parwani said five of his men had been killed, along with 20 Taliban fighters, and the battle was continuing. The figures could not be verified.
I remember discussing the likely trajectory of Afghanistan with a historian / operational analyst in my last post, and at the time the rather flippant comment doing the rounds went along the lines of 'I don't know whether to give them 6 days, 6 weeks or 6 months before the Taliban take over'. Is this a portent of things to come I wonder? We're back in Iraq after only a few years away, what are the odds of us being back in Afghanistan in the same sort of time frame I wonder?
Just once I'd like to be not cynical about something, but the way in which this achieved almost no press coverage seems a bit odd. Or would it just be too much too close to an election for someone to stick their head above the parapet and give an honest reflection of the last 13 years in Afghanistan?
Maybe the Taliban were right after all - we had all the watches, they have all the time.
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
Posts: 7,810
Received 136 Likes
on
64 Posts
My only surprise factor is "Gosh, that was quick". But then probing the defences, especially with those happy to die in the process, makes military sense. Does it not?
On the evidence available, this seems to be a relatively minor incursion attempt. Does anyone expect a full-frontal assault by thousands of Taliban on little motorcycles? Of course not ... It will be the "nibbled to death by ducks" process, accompanied by more suicide and car bombs.
And the Taliban will, IMO, inevitably win, thus negating all the expense, suffering and death of the last 13 years.
I cannot believe that News such as this would be suppressed by the Media for political purposes ... Possibly
On the evidence available, this seems to be a relatively minor incursion attempt. Does anyone expect a full-frontal assault by thousands of Taliban on little motorcycles? Of course not ... It will be the "nibbled to death by ducks" process, accompanied by more suicide and car bombs.
And the Taliban will, IMO, inevitably win, thus negating all the expense, suffering and death of the last 13 years.
I cannot believe that News such as this would be suppressed by the Media for political purposes ... Possibly
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
read Wm Dalyrmples "Return of a King" about the First Afghan War
Its been a pretty good guide to recent happenings in that God forsaken country - don't see any reason why it shouldn't be right about the future
basically the place falls into the usual tribal divisions with a notional "King" in Kabul- his influence depends on how many sovereigns or $ he can distribute to the tribal groups
They work off steam on each other in remembrance of past fights and killings and accept help from outside if it's available but won't accept any strings attached.
Depressing really.................
Its been a pretty good guide to recent happenings in that God forsaken country - don't see any reason why it shouldn't be right about the future
basically the place falls into the usual tribal divisions with a notional "King" in Kabul- his influence depends on how many sovereigns or $ he can distribute to the tribal groups
They work off steam on each other in remembrance of past fights and killings and accept help from outside if it's available but won't accept any strings attached.
Depressing really.................
Scorched Sand ?
UK TV Channel 4 - 8pm Sunday 7th Dec "Dismantling Camp Bastion"
According to today's Sunday Times this should be an interesting watch, whatever side you might be on. ................. LFH
According to today's Sunday Times this should be an interesting watch, whatever side you might be on. ................. LFH
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,975
Received 2,882 Likes
on
1,231 Posts
In a way you can see the Afghan point of view, hand over a wacking great base, but remove a lot of the infrastructure to defend it, however they would have struggled to maintain it if it had been left.
The prayer mat as a rug went down well.. Shame they couldn't have offloaded his bagpipes.
The Afghan getting the key looked like he was thinking, what's this crap?
So how did the last chinooks get home?
The prayer mat as a rug went down well.. Shame they couldn't have offloaded his bagpipes.
The Afghan getting the key looked like he was thinking, what's this crap?
So how did the last chinooks get home?
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,975
Received 2,882 Likes
on
1,231 Posts
I meaning they normally strip them and fly them out, as they were getting into one at the end that obviously hadn't happened.
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: raf
Posts: 610
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In a way you can see the Afghan point of view, hand over a wacking great base, but remove a lot of the infrastructure to defend it, however they would have struggled to maintain it if it had been left.
I wonder who profited from the £37 billion cost ?
I saw the tail end of it last night. One scene showed an Afghan sentry briefing his boss about drills if they spot the enemy.
He said something along the lines of, "Well sir, we don't have radios, so we wave to the other watch tower!"
He said something along the lines of, "Well sir, we don't have radios, so we wave to the other watch tower!"
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: England
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I meaning they normally strip them and fly them out, as they were getting into one at the end that obviously hadn't happened.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,975
Received 2,882 Likes
on
1,231 Posts
Ahh.. forgot about that place, thanks.
re Apaches - well I distinctly remember the Army hand-over boss saying he had a lego one! Good to see someone enjoying their job in the military still. Also good to see my ex-IOT Flt Cdr grabbing TV time as the 'last man' to leave the base (except the cameraman who would have got on the helo after him of course 
)
)
They work off steam on each other in remembrance of past fights and killings
I looked around for the hidden microphone
