“Every time we meet them on the field of battle…”
Afghan officials had said 500 Taliban fighters seized the area earlier this week. The governor of Kandahar province said Thursday that hundreds of insurgents had been killed or injured in the coalition campaign to drive them out.Canadian officials doubt that estimate.
They have maintained that the strength of the insurgency had been greatly exaggerated, and suggested Thursday that no more than 150 Taliban fighters had been in the area.
“Those that chose to stay and fight were defeated,” Thompson said.
“The reality of the situation in Kandahar province is this: Taliban insurgents can cause temporary disruptions and intimidate the local population, but they cannot hold ground.”
“Every time we meet them on the field of battle, insurgents either flee or are destroyed.”
