NATO establishes a new Regional Command Southwest (RC-SW) for its operations in Southern Afghanistan; The restructuring brings majority of British troops in Afghanistan under the US command;
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    • NATO has announced on June 14 that it had split the most violent Southern Afghanistan region in half in a bid to improve security by focusing on smaller geographical areas. The restructuring process was being planned for many months but the new announcement marked the official start of a new Regional Command Southwest (RC-SW) which reflects the influx of thousands of new US troops into the region. This announcement comes ahead when more than 20,000 international and Afghan troops are set to launch a massive operation to drive out Taliban militant from Kandahar province. NATO said in a statement that new structure will allow NATO commanders to deliver improved security in the region by focusing on smaller geographical areas and ensuring greater partnering with Afghan forces. Previously, all international forces in the southern Afghanistan were under one Regional Command South (RC-S), having the responsible for six provinces. But this new Regional Command Southwest (RC-SW) will be in charge of some 27,000 troops in Helmand and Nimroz provinces. However, RC-S will be responsible for other four provinces. The restructure will also bring the majority of the 9,500 British troops who are based in Helmand, under the command of a US Marine general. British forces have been operating in Helmand province since 2006.1

    In a report published by the London School of Economics (LSE), suggests that support to the Taliban is the “official policy” of the Pakistan’s Inter- Services Intelligence (ISI). According to the report, the ISI not only funds and trains Taliban fighters in Afghanistan but it also makes official representation on the Quetta Shura, thus providing significant influence over its operations. Based on interviews with Taliban commanders, report points out that “Pakistan continues to give extensive support to the insurgency in terms of funding, munitions and supplies”. The report notes that, “Without a change in Pakistani behaviour, it will be difficult if not impossible for international forces and the Afghan government to make progress against the insurgency.” However, Pakistani officials have dismissed the allegations in the report calling it “absolutely spurious”.2

    Issuing a dire warning to US legislators, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said that if Congress fails to approve billions in additional war funding by July 4, the US troops in Afghanistan will be left with scaled back defense operations which will put them in further peril. Gates made these remarks while testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 17. He stated, "I am becoming increasingly concerned about the lack of progress on the supplemental and strongly urge Congress to complete its work on the request as quickly as possible,". Earlier, the Senate had approved its version of the $58.8 billion defense bill, but the House has lagged in approving its measure.3

    President Hamid Karzai who was on a four-day visit to Japan, praised Japanese government for its generous contribution to Afghanistan. It should be noted that Japan is second biggest donor country in Afghanistan following the United States. Karzai thanked Japan for the $6.5 billion assistance and expressed hope that the aid would effectively be utilized for rural rehabilitation, improving health facilities, capacity development and other areas.4

    According to a UN report, violence in Afghanistan has sharply increased this year as on an average, there is an assassination each day and a suicide bombing every second or third day. The report confirms the NATO statistics which claimed a continuing decrease in civilian deaths caused by the United States military and its allies. At the same time, it blames stepped-up military operations for an overall increase in the violence. There has been an alarming increase in suicide bombings and assassinations of government officials in a three-month period ending June 16, and a near-doubling of roadside bombings for the first four months of 2010 as compared to same period in 2009.5

    In other developments, reports noted that Afghanistan has nearly one trillion dollars in mineral deposits. A study conducted in the United States found that existing reserves of lithium, iron, gold, niobium, cobalt and other minerals could transform Afghanistan into a global mining hub. The spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Industries said, “The natural resources of Afghanistan will play a magnificent role in Afghanistan's economic growth,”.6

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