The battle for Musa Qala

Musa Qala in the mountainous north of Afghanistan's Helmand province is an important battleground in the war against Taliban insurgents and the narcotics industry. The town has changed hands several times, most recently in December 2007 when Afghan and international forces retook the town from the Taliban. However, the insurgents continue to operate in the district and locals remain uncertain about their future.

Situated along the Musa Qala river valley in northern Helmand, the district is strategically important. From Musa Qala, Taliban fighters can reinforce their comrades in neighbouring Kajaki, where they are trying to disrupt an important dam reconstruction project, and Sangin, another key district where the Musa Qala and Helmand rivers meet.

Central to the USAID financed project to refurbish the Kajaki dam is the installation of a new turbine that will improve the lives of many Afghans by greatly increasing the power supply to Helmand and Kandahar provinces. The turbine is so heavy that the road up the Helmand river valley needs to be improved before it can be shipped to the dam. Work on the road has stalled due to the security situation.

Musa Qala links Sangin and Kajaki with Baghran, an insurgent stronghold further north along the Musa Qala river valley. Although the local strongman has pledged support to the government, Baghran has become a safe haven for the Taliban from where they can move between northern Helmand and neighbouring Oruzgan and Dai Kundi (Ghowr) provinces. Musa Qala therefore sits on a significant route between the mountains of central Afghanistan and the Helmand river valley, one of the areas most fiercely contested by the Taliban.

The success of the December 2007 operation that saw the Afghan National Army retake Musa Qala has been attributed to the defection of Mullah Abdul Salam. A veteran of the anti-Soviet resistance in the 1980s, Salam's defection has been linked by some to tribal splits within the Taliban. Local sources say Abdul Salam lost much of his remaining support base when he turned away from the Taliban. His relationship with the Taliban appears to have been uneasy particularly over issues such as foreign fighters, who are despised by some more moderate Taliban veterans who blame them for extreme and unpopular activities.

The recapture of Musa Qala has been presented as a great success. However, local and foreign sources have voiced frustration with the victory claims, citing the lack of security beyond Musa Qala's district centre.

Much rests on Abdul Salam, who was appointed district commissioner of Musa Qala in January. While this seems to reflect a pragmatic policy of encouraging other Taliban commanders to switch sides, local and foreign sources have questioned his opportunism and the extent to which he will be able to control Musa Qala.

Residents remain uncertain of their future and lack confidence that the town will be held. An educated resident tells Jane's: "They believe the Taliban will return. That is why they do not support the officials. They can see the presence of the Taliban, so how can they be able to help or join the government?"

It is extremely unlikely that the insurgents will be able to overrun the ISAF forward operating base at Musa Qala, given the air power the foreign troops can call in. However, in the absence of effective security and credible local governance, Taliban influence in the town is likely to increase and the ISAF contingent in Musa Qala could find itself under siege again. 575 of 1,990 words