ANA, US operation secures Sabari district

KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan—Afghan and U.S. troops worked together in Operation Maiwan VI to disrupt Haqqani operations and deny insurgents access to Sabari district, here, Nov. 2.

The Haqqani network is a criminal organization with links to the Taliban and al-Qaida and believed to be based across the nearby Afghan-Pakistan border.

The partnership between the Afghan National Army’s 203rd Corps and U.S. Soldiers with 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Task Force Duke, played a key role in the success of the operation, said Brig. Gen. Mohammad Nasir, commander of the 203rd ANA Corps.

The operation was also a chance for Nasir to visit with several villages and show people the ANA are committed to protecting and helping them.

“The ANA will treat you with respect,” he told them. “Our enemy wants to make us fight each other, but if we work together we will meet with success and become prosperous.”

ANA leaders discussed recruiting volunteers from the village so they can begin to provide their own security, said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Andrew Short, from Charleston, W.V.

“They really like the idea of securing themselves,” Short explained. “We’re here to help them build the trust between the villagers and their security forces.”

For the American troops the mission meant long days clearing objectives, said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Wildman.

“We’re here to deny the enemy sanctuary,” Wildman explained.

Though his Soldiers were tired from the long hours and physical demands of the job, they were motivated to be part of an extended operation like this, Wildman said.

“They can see the work they are doing paying off in the improvements that have been made since we got here,” he said.

With 10 months in country under TF Duke’s belt, the Soldiers need to stay vigilant, focused and resist complacency, said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Anthony Weiss, from Dallas, Texas.

“The guys are getting more focused the closer we get to the end,” Weiss said. “Everyone’s on their toes and have the promise and potential to keep going.”