This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/5-reasons-an-afghan-town-of-just-14000-people-is-so-important-a6785751.html
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Sangin: 5 reasons an Afghan town of just 14,000 people is so important | Sangin: 5 reasons an Afghan town of just 14,000 people is so important |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The district of Sangin, located in Helmand Province, has become a flashpoint of heavy fighting between Afghan forces and the Taliban. | The district of Sangin, located in Helmand Province, has become a flashpoint of heavy fighting between Afghan forces and the Taliban. |
| Government forces, with the help of US air strikes, have been trying to recapture the area from the Taliban, who say they are in control of the district. | Government forces, with the help of US air strikes, have been trying to recapture the area from the Taliban, who say they are in control of the district. |
| Sources in Sangin told The Independent that the Afghan army had been forced to abandon its base and the police headquarters in the town. “The Taliban are in control of the district,” a source said. A Taliban spokesperson later said: “Sangin district has completely collapsed to the Taliban.” | Sources in Sangin told The Independent that the Afghan army had been forced to abandon its base and the police headquarters in the town. “The Taliban are in control of the district,” a source said. A Taliban spokesperson later said: “Sangin district has completely collapsed to the Taliban.” |
| But why is Sangin, a town of just 14,000 people, so important? | But why is Sangin, a town of just 14,000 people, so important? |
| If Sangin was to fall completely into the Taliban's hands, it would be a major propaganda victory for the group. | If Sangin was to fall completely into the Taliban's hands, it would be a major propaganda victory for the group. |
| Nearly a quarter of all British troops who died in Afghanistan were killed in the town. | Nearly a quarter of all British troops who died in Afghanistan were killed in the town. |
| While US and UK troops have been sent to Helmand Province in the last week, they are there in an advisory role only. | While US and UK troops have been sent to Helmand Province in the last week, they are there in an advisory role only. |
| One of the major reasons the Taliban want to maintain control of Helmand is because the poppies that finance the group's war are grown there. | One of the major reasons the Taliban want to maintain control of Helmand is because the poppies that finance the group's war are grown there. |
| If the group were to take Sangin, it would be a significant gain for the militants. | If the group were to take Sangin, it would be a significant gain for the militants. |
| The number of British soldiers who have died in Afghanistan since 2001 (of around 3,000 total coalition deaths). The vast majority of deaths have been low-rank soldiers killed on foot while out patrolling. 226 of those were caused by explosives and 116 were shot. Accidents such as vehicle crashes have accounted for 34 of the total deaths, with 21 caused by other causes including friendly fire and suicide. | The number of British soldiers who have died in Afghanistan since 2001 (of around 3,000 total coalition deaths). The vast majority of deaths have been low-rank soldiers killed on foot while out patrolling. 226 of those were caused by explosives and 116 were shot. Accidents such as vehicle crashes have accounted for 34 of the total deaths, with 21 caused by other causes including friendly fire and suicide. |
| The size of the Helmand province – roughly half the area of England. The region is a mixture of mountains, farmland and desert, with three main groups (tribal warlords, Taliban leaders and drug traffickers) controlling the area prior to the arrival of Western troops. | The size of the Helmand province – roughly half the area of England. The region is a mixture of mountains, farmland and desert, with three main groups (tribal warlords, Taliban leaders and drug traffickers) controlling the area prior to the arrival of Western troops. |
| Percentage of the world’s non-pharmaceutical-grade opium produced in Afghanistan. Helmand has long been the centre of this production and the UK army was sent to the province with the aim of stopping this illegal trade. Between 2002 and 2013 the amount of land given over to opium production rose from just under 75,000 hectares to 209,000 hectares – more than enough to exceed global demand. | Percentage of the world’s non-pharmaceutical-grade opium produced in Afghanistan. Helmand has long been the centre of this production and the UK army was sent to the province with the aim of stopping this illegal trade. Between 2002 and 2013 the amount of land given over to opium production rose from just under 75,000 hectares to 209,000 hectares – more than enough to exceed global demand. |
| The approximate number of personnel first sent to the region. The majority of these were engineers and support troops meant to help with the reconstruction of the region, with only roughly a quarter of the initial deployment actual combat infantry. | The approximate number of personnel first sent to the region. The majority of these were engineers and support troops meant to help with the reconstruction of the region, with only roughly a quarter of the initial deployment actual combat infantry. |
| The peak number of British troops in the region in 2011. Five thousand troops will remain in the war zone until December at Camp Bastion under US command, with 57,000 more Isaf troops (the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force created in 2001) remaining in the country. The majority of these are American and plans for their departure are still unconfirmed. | The peak number of British troops in the region in 2011. Five thousand troops will remain in the war zone until December at Camp Bastion under US command, with 57,000 more Isaf troops (the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force created in 2001) remaining in the country. The majority of these are American and plans for their departure are still unconfirmed. |
| The number of vehicles and major pieces of equipment in the province waiting to be redeployed. All of these must be cleaned and fitted for transport with A 25-tonne Warrior armoured vehicle taking roughly three days for a team of three working 8 hours a day to get ready for transport. So far, 1578 vehicles and items have been redeployed from the front line for future operations. Remaining kit will be auctioned off. | The number of vehicles and major pieces of equipment in the province waiting to be redeployed. All of these must be cleaned and fitted for transport with A 25-tonne Warrior armoured vehicle taking roughly three days for a team of three working 8 hours a day to get ready for transport. So far, 1578 vehicles and items have been redeployed from the front line for future operations. Remaining kit will be auctioned off. |
| The town has become a major centre for the Taliban's insurgency, as it is links Lashkah Gah, the capital of Helmand, to the province's northern districts. | The town has become a major centre for the Taliban's insurgency, as it is links Lashkah Gah, the capital of Helmand, to the province's northern districts. |
| Regaining full control would increase the Taliban's mobility in the north of the province and cut a key supply line for Afghan forces. | Regaining full control would increase the Taliban's mobility in the north of the province and cut a key supply line for Afghan forces. |
| Sangin also borders Pakistan, where the militant group has military and financial support. | Sangin also borders Pakistan, where the militant group has military and financial support. |
| Many local people in Sangin are resentful of the Afghan government troops, whose military operations destroyed homes and farms. | Many local people in Sangin are resentful of the Afghan government troops, whose military operations destroyed homes and farms. |
| The Taliban will likely exploit this resentment to foster sympathy for their cause. | The Taliban will likely exploit this resentment to foster sympathy for their cause. |
| The crisis in Sangin has demonstrated the weakness of the Afghan central government. | The crisis in Sangin has demonstrated the weakness of the Afghan central government. |
| Failure to hold the village could further show the weakness of the government, which has been criticised for being unable to demonstrate a clear political consensus. | |