Afghan National Army soldiers, with assistance from their British mentors, recently mounted an attack on a Taliban position which forced the insurgents to run for their lives.

The Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers from 3rd Company, 2nd Kandak, based at Patrol Base Waterloo in Sangin, were patrolling in the Green Zone south of Sangin when they came under attack from Taliban machine gun fire.

The patrol, led by the ANA's First Lieutenant Hamid, was being mentored by soldiers from A Company, 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) [2 YORKS]. It had been mounted in order to discuss crop issues and education with local civilians.

When two people were seen acting suspiciously Lt Hamid called the two men over to speak to them; however they turned and ran into the bushes. As the ANA were about to pursue them, shots rang out and Lt Hamid and his men found themselves under sustained attack.

'Taliban try to bully and intimidate civilians'

Quickly seizing the initiative, and in consultation with his British mentor Lieutenant Ian Atkins, Lt Hamid went on the offensive and pushed his soldiers in the direction of the enemy.

The Afghan warriors (soldiers) secured a small village and reassured the locals of their safety before moving to the northern edge of the buildings and locating the enemy firing point a few hundred metres away across the open ground.

Lt Hamid then spoke with Lt Atkins and laid out his plan. Enemy fire intensified as the ANA began to move in to attack, but the ANA warriors and their British comrades pushed on and soon reached the enemy position with no casualties, only to find that the enemy had fled.

Lt Hamid said: "The Taliban are cowards who try to intimidate and bully the civilians in this area, but when you stand up to them, they always run."

The area where the gun battle took place is contested ground for the ANA as the Taliban regularly seek to intimidate the local people there.

Mentoring and liaising

2 YORKS provide the personnel who make up the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT) Battle Group in Helmand.

Working and living with ANA troops in the various checkpoints, patrol bases and forward operating bases, 2 YORKS soldiers offer advice and training wherever it may be needed to increase the effectiveness of the indigenous army.

Speaking about his role in Sangin, Lt Atkins stressed the fact that in addition to improving the fighting skills of the ANA, he saw his role as improving the relationship with the local population. He said: "They [ANA] do things in a different way; I wouldn't say it is a worse way, it is just their method of doing things.

"My main effort really is working on the understanding that solving the problem, and especially in Sangin, is not just about going out and fighting the enemy - which is what the ANA love to do and it's what they are very good at.

"It is more about getting the ANA to see the importance of working with the local nationals. Getting their support and getting them on side."

Security is rapidly improving in the area, with a new patrol base having been established, and local mosques and schools being reopened and refurbished by ISAF and the Government of Afghanistan.