Marjah one month after anti-Taliban offensive began

Moshtarak means together in Dari and the operation was supposed to launch a new tactic: A joint effort between Afghan troops and NATO forces against the Taliban in the southern stronghold of Helmand. Thousands of civilians fled the area of Marjah. Those that stayed or have come back cannot say that "Operation Moshtarak" has been a great success.

Abdul Rahman is very critical but relieved at least that his family still has a roof over its head. He explains that the Americans used the doors of his house as firewood, whereas the Taliban used the windows to shoot from.

Although the fiercest battles have subsided, he says the situation is far from calm: "Many people and the media say that the operation is over but the government and ISAF have still not managed to secure the territory. The Taliban still haunt the streets with their weapons and go unchallenged."

Troops clear mines, Taliban plant new ones

Abdullah can confirm this point of view. His home was destroyed by the foreign troops and he now lives with his wife and small daughter at their neighbor's.

He says that such operations are bound to fail, considering the way they are conducted. "The Americans clear the Taliban's mines in the day and go back to their military bases at night," explains. "Then the Taliban come back and plant new ones. And that’s how it goes – on and on."

"Operation Moshtarak" is not the first such offensive that the journalist Mushtabar has witnessed in Helmand province. He says that there is little evidence left there of a previous operation in July 2009.

Taliban destroy reconstruction work immediately

He explains that the schools, which were built by foreign organizations after the operation, have since been burnt down by the Taliban.

"The problem is that the foreign troops withdraw straight after the operation and the reconstruction begins straightaway. But the Taliban come and destroy everything that is built. This time, the operation did not bring much because the soldiers didn’t stay."

Mushtabar's opinion is that the troops should stay put after such offensives and this is also how those people he has spoken to in Marjah reason. "They all say that anyone who starts an operation here has to stay here and support them, whether it’s the government or the Americans. As it is, they say, they’re so scared that the Taliban will come back and kill them if they help the Americans."

The inhabitants of the area argue that the fight against the Taliban will only be successful if there is a long-term police and military presence in the area. This would be a sign that the Afghan government, foreign troops and the police are really working "together" towards peace and stability in the Taliban stronghold of Helmand.

Authors: Melanie Riedel, Najibullah Zeyarmal / act
Editor: Thomas Baerthlein