Strengthened Presence In Mirabad Valley

Strengthened Presence In Mirabad Valley

Australian mentors and their Afghan partners have a new patrol base to live and operate from in Uruzgan province’s dangerous Mirabad Valley.

The patrol base was constructed from the ground up over a three week period by engineers from the 1st Mentoring Task Force (MTF-1) and the Afghan National Army.

Commanding Officer of MTF-1, Lieutenant Colonel Mark Jennings, said the insurgency is threatened by the impact of the patrol base, unsuccessfully attacking it a number of times over the course of its construction.

“Obviously the insurgents did not want this base to proceed and tried their hardest to slow down its construction,” Lieutenant Colonel Jennings said.

“The Mirabad Valley is a strategically important region with a history of violence in recent years.”

“Combined with two nearby outposts, the base will have a significant and enduring impact on security in the Mirabad Valley and will empower the Afghan Security Forces to protect their communities long into the future.”

Project Manager, Major Carl Miller, said the local community was consulted throughout the construction process along with key government stakeholders in Tarin Kot.

“From its inception back in April the plan was to build a ‘patrol house’ that could accommodate the Afghan National Army and Coalition force presence in the Mirabad Valley,” Major Miller said.

“And that’s what we’ve done - it’s like a big, significantly fortified house.”

The base can accommodate over 50 people and is strengthened by a ringed perimeter fence, two guard towers and an over-watch position. It includes air conditioning and kitchen facilities.

The base is now occupied by the Australian and Afghan soldiers who are responsible for securing the Mirabad Valley.

ENDS

© Scoop Media