French Army undertakes major combat operation in the Afghan province of Kapisa

Large number of French troops, serving as a part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan took part in a major military operation this week.

The operation as conducted in the province of Kapisa, which lies to the north-eastern direction of the capital city of Kabul. According to the sources within the ISAF, the soldiers were drawn from the French Task Force La Fayette. The operation was conducted on 3rd September 2012.

The main objective of the operation was to clear the road which runs from the Nijrab military base to the junction of the Afghanya, Ghayn and Pacha Ghan valleys. Termed as Operation Gyrfalcon 21, the objectives of the mission also included the delivery of supplies to the local schools, and increasing the capability of the Afghan national police in the area.

Some 100 soldiers from the French contingent took part in the operation, along with hundreds of soldiers from the 33rd Battalion of the Afghan National Army (ANA). In addition to the combat troops, a team of military advisors were also present amongst the French troops. According to the local media, troops from the Battle Group Steel and the French Helicopter Battalion marked their presence during the operations.

The troops hardly faced any resistance from the Taliban fighters, although the area is known as one of the strongholds of Islamist insurgency in the province of Kapisa. A shura (gathering) of tribal elders were held after the operation, to assess the security situation in the area. During the mission, the French troops also supplied essential items like pens, pencils, and books to the local school in the village of Garay.

According to the ISAF officials, the Operation Gyrfalcon 21 was conducted in order to analyze the capability of the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) to independently conduct military operations. The exercise also tested the operational co-operation between the military and the Afghan national police.