Gates reviews plans ahead of a major offensive against Taliban in Kandahar; Gates: US forces may start handing over security responsibilities to Afghan authorities before July 2011; 30 dead in four suicide attacks in Kandahar; US House of Representatives
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    • US Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with President Karzai and Gen. McChrystal ahead of the launch of a major offensive in Kandahar in summer. Gen. McChrystal told reporters that it would take several more months before coalition and Afghan forces would be able to mount a full-fledged assault on Kandahar. He however added that the Kandahar offensive would be different from the Marja campaign.1

    Secretary Gates also met with US troop divisions in southern Afghanistan which had to encounter heavy losses in the fight against the Taliban. Gates told them that they will soon be part of a "decisive phase" in the war, with the offensive against the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar to be undertaken.2

    Visiting an Afghan Army training center outside Kabul accompanied by Afghan Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak, Gates stated that US forces may start handing over security responsibilities to Afghan authorities before July 2011. He added that any decision on speeding up the handover will have to be based on conditions on the ground.3

    The situation in Kandahar deteriorated further with the death of more than 30 people in four suicide bomb attacks on March 14. The targets that were attacked included a new prison complex and the local police headquarters.4

    The US House of Representatives meanwhile on March 10 rejected a proposal to withdraw American troops by the end of the year. While five Republicans joined 60 Democrats in support of pulling out, 189 Democrats and 167 Republicans opposed the move.5

    President Karzai on a visit to Pakistan held meetings with President Zardari, PM Gilani, Army Chief Gen. Kayani, and members of Pakistan’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs.6

    In other developments, the newly-appointed head of the UN mission to Afghanistan Staffan de Mistura took over his new assignment on March 13. De Mistura had previously led the UN mission in Iraq. The new UN chief stated that the UN will focus on ensuring stability and socio-economic improvement in Afghanistan, adding that the effort should be "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned."7

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