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The UK contributes 9,500 troops to the NATO led ISAF mission to Afghanistan. Of these:
Around 7,800 troops are deployed to Helmand Province. Since mid June, UK forces in Helmand have been under the command of Regional Command (South West) which is led by US Major General Mills.
1,300 are deployed to Kandahar Air Field; this includes the Headquarters of Regional Command (South) which is under the command of UK Major General Nick Carter.
Around 400 troops and staff officers are deployed in Kabul in support of ISAF Headquarters, ISAF Joint Command and the NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan; the UK provides the Deputy Commander of ISAF, Lieutenant General Nick Carter.
Governance is being extended across Helmand Province under the leadership of Provincial Governor Mangal, supported by UK and international civilian and military efforts. Eleven out of Helmand’s 14 districts are now under Afghan government control; in 2006, that figure was just five. 11 district governors are now in place; four of them are new - part of Mangal's programme to put better district governor's in place. Further, five District Community Councils are in place. Two years ago there were none. Recent re-election of Nad Ali council attracted 1200 elders to one meeting alone (in the Bolan desert) - over 3000 participated in total. The aspiration is to have a District Council in every district of Central Helmand by the end of the year.
With support from the UK-led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Lashkar Gah, Helmand has seen 40 schools reopen since December 2008. With UK support, Lashkar Gah airport opened in June 2009. Over 90km of roads have been resurfaced in the province – helping give farmers and businesses access to markets. 65,000 farmers received seed this year through the Food Zone programme, helping them choose not to grow poppy (80% of Helmandis estimated to depend on agriculture). There has also been clear progress in increasing access to electricity in Helmand, particular in Sangin and Musa Q'alah. Musa Q'alah has had a Low Voltage electricity project completed and this is providing generator electricity to the bazaar area. The major electricity project to increase the capability of Gereshk power plant is in planning, although will take some time to complete. In terms of Health Care, approximately 46% of the total Helmand population are within 5Km of a GIRoA sponsored Health Centre, with the central Helmand Districts having between 60 % and 90% of the population within 5Km of a Health Clinic.
New agribusiness park (also DFID and USAID funded) will help generate longer-term jobs and allow high value produce to be exported from Helmand to the rest of Afghanistan and perhaps beyond. This is a good example of something Governor Mangal promised the people of Helmand and then delivered.
The District Governor in Nad Ali has set up a process to reintegrate fighters who want to put down their weapons back into the community. Hope other districts will take up this model. Numbers are still low as you might expect.
