US troops move in to protect Afghan election

The US military has launched a new operation in Afghanistan involving thousands of troops to provide security during presidential elections.

The operation, named Lightning Resolve, is “kicking off as we speak,” Lieut General David Barno said at his headquarters in the Afghan capital Kabul.

He said the operation contains enough “offensive punch” to keep militants off-balance and would include targeted, intelligence-driven raids. He gave no specifics.

A 2,000-strong Marine force which has hammered Taliban militants in a southern stronghold since it arrived in March is in the process of leaving the country, Barno said.

The remaining force of 17,000 soldiers will intensify its co-operation with the United Nations, which is helping to organise the October 7 presidential poll, seen as a key step on this war-shattered country’s path to recovery.

The United Nations has helped register some seven million voters despite a string of attacks that have raised fears security will not be adequate to ensure a fair and free vote.

“We’ll be shifting our efforts to helping to build the required security going into the election itself,” Barno said. “The specifics of that plan are still being worked out.”

US forces are expected to provide a broad security blanket across the south and east during the election, leaving Afghan police and soldiers to protect polling stations.

Nato is expected to bulk up its 6,500-strong peacekeeping force focused on Kabul and fan out across the relatively peaceful north in the run-up to the vote.