“We recognize the hardship that the Afghan people have been through. Both of us recognize that we still have a lot of work to do. The loss of life continues in Afghanistan. There will be hard days ahead, but we’re confident that we’re on the right track.”-Barack Obama, President of the United States, May 20, 2012
May 21, 2012, officials in Herat Province says Italian troops drove over a mine, causing an explosion, no word on casualties. Also, a school was attacked, leaving three students wounded.
Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry says eight Afghan troops have been killed or wounded in battles in Parwan, Paktia, Maidan Wardak and Helmand provinces.
The Afghan Interior Ministry claim that five Mujahideen were killed, and 14 captured in operations in Kabul, Parwan, Kandahar, Helmand and Zabul provinces.
After two days of not issuing their usual Joint Command morning operational update, ISAF has issued the following info: Operations to capture a “facilitator” in Kandahar Province. Weapons and two people with five kilograms (11 pounds) of illegal drugs were captured/destroyed.
Also in Kandahar, approximately 680 kilograms (1,500 pounds) of hashish was destroyed.
In Baghlan Province weapons were captured/destroyed and an opium field was burned. This took place on May 18, but not publicly reported by ISAF until May 21.
The morning of May 21, Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai, and Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard, signed a long term military pact at the NATO summit in Chicago, Illinois.
Australia joins India, Italy, France, United Kingdom, United States and Germany in signing long term military pacts with Afghanistan, a sign the west is not about to leave Afghanistan anytime soon.
In late reporting on May 20, 2012, ISAF revealed that two U.S./NATO troops were killed in southern Afghanistan during an attack by Mujahideen.
At least 160 U.S./NATO/occupying service members have been killed since the beginning of the year.
In Uruzgan Province, Salim Ehsas, a spokesman for 404 Maiwand Security Command, said a huge explosion rocked the town of Tarinkowt. At least four U.S./NATO troops, and two civilians were wounded.
The explosion was caused by a suicide bomber who attacked a NATO supply convoy. Other local sources say at least six children were wounded.
Also late on May 20, Afghan Defense Ministry officials revealed that as many as 31 of their troops had been killed or wounded in battles in a 48 hour period.
In Farah Province an offensive was launched on May 18, resulting in eight Afghan troops killed and nine wounded. No word on Mujahideen casualties. Other military operations took place in Kapisa, Maidan Wardak, Zabul and Helmand provinces.