The new NATO commander in southern Afghanistan formally took the helm Tuesday, saying the coalition will remain focused on providing security for development in the region.
Maj.-Gen. Jacko Page, a 25-year veteran of the British military, replaces Maj.-Gen. Ton van Loon as the commander of the southern command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), known as RC South.
Page said Tuesday that his top priority was to ensure the continued training and building of Afghanistan's local army and police forces.
"They have already shown themselves to be a courageous and potent force,'' Page said. ''Their bravery on the battlefield has the respect and admiration of every ISAF soldier.''
Page said development can only grow under the right security conditions.
As an example, he referenced the current coalition effort, Operation Silicon, to flush out Taliban fighters hiding in the Sangin River valley. The British-led offensive that kicked off on Monday has so far left 75 suspected insurgents dead, NATO has confirmed.
Part of the mission's goal is to allow reconstruction work to continue on the valuable Kajaki hydroelectric dam, said Page.
"This dam is so critically important because it will supply power to the rest of the province," CTV's Lisa LaFlamme reported from Kandahar.
"Now there is intermittent electricity here but if they can secure the Kajaki dam that will improve and they feel that the reconstruction projects will increase in number and in speed -- as long as they can get a handle on the Taliban who clearly have regrouped in the last few years and certainly in the last few months."
The mission is the latest in a series that fall under the umbrella of Operation Achilles -- launched in early March to bolster security conditions in the northern region of Helmand province.
"Whether it be roads, better water supplies or electricity, development can only happen if the security conditions are right," said Page. "All, therefore, have an interest in security."
Van Loon, who took over command of RC South from Canadian Brig.-Gen. David Fraser, stole a metaphor from his predecessor comparing the mission to a river made of "many single drops."
He said the Afghan people are slowly making progress.
"Success in southern Afghanistan can be seen when religious scholars and elders feel safe enough to freely express their disdain for Taliban militants, and . . . to publicly state that Taliban extremists can no longer be referred to as Muslims due to their ruthless actions,'' van Loon said in his outgoing speech.
Instead of the standard six month deployment, Page will serve as commander of RC South for nine months, said LaFlamme.
She said the term has been extended to allow for "more stability to the command and a longer period so that they can act on their gains before having to handover."
With files from The Canadian Press
