Kohistan district Faryab province was recaptured by Afghan Commandos on Friday, August 24, 2018. [1] Afghan Commandos from the Fifth Special Operations Kandak (SOK) and Second Special Operations Kandak of the National Mission Brigade (NMB) have taken back the northwestern Faryab province district center of Kohistan from Taliban militants.
According to Afghan National Army Special Operations Command (ANASOC) spokesman Lt. Col. Qayoom Nuristani, the mission was not carried out by ANASOC Commandos alone. The Afghan National Army (ANA), Afghan Police, Afghan Special Mission Wing (SMW), and U.S. Special Forces assisted in this joint operation to rid Faryab of Taliban militant presence. The operation resulted in approximately 30 enemy killed.
Faryab province is one of 34 provinces of Afghanistan and is located in the north of the country. It borders the country of Turkmenistan to the north. The province is multi-ethnic and a tribal society with 15 districts. Until recent years the province had been relatively peaceful (since 2001). However, the past few years have seen much more conflict within the province.
Kohistan district is the southern most part of Faryab province. It has a population of about 50,000 people. The Taliban overran the district in mid-June 2018, taking control of the district administration center, police headquarters, and other compounds. The district governor and 13 Afghan soldiers were killed with more wounded and missing. [2] The district has been heavily contested over the past year.
Photo: Afghan National Security Forces representing ANASOC Commando’s and Afghan National Army pose for a quick picture after clearing the Kohisan district center (Faryab province) from Taliban militants on August 24, 2018.
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Footnotes:
[1] “Afghan Forces Retake Kohistan District of Faryab Province”, Ariana News, August 25, 2018.
[2] “Taliban kill Afghan district governor despite truce”, Aljazeera.com, June 12, 2018.
Photos: Photos courtesy ANASOC Public Affairs Office / Lt. Col. Qayoom Nuristani.
Top photo: Afghan Commandos identify Taliban enemy positions, and prepare to fire a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) in order to disrupt Taliban operation cells in Kohistan district, Faryab province on 24 August 2018.
