TF K-Bar focused on Direct Action (DA) and SR missions. The mission was later expanded to encompass all of Afghanistan, with the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan (CJSOTF-A) being formed. The CJSOTF-A had three SF battalions in-country, including the South battalion, which covered the large swath of border region in the south and east. The CJSOTF-A inherited Operation ANACONDA, the largest military operation in the war to date, which was a success with light US casualties. The Special Operations Joint Task Force - Afghanistan (SOJTF-A) conducts Special Operations activities within the Coalition Joint Operations Area - Afghanistan (CJOA-A), in order to enable the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF), and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) to provide the Afghan people a secure and stable environment and to prevent insurgent activities from threatening the authority and sovereignty of GIRoA. This includes Village Stability Operations (VSO), a bottom-up counterinsurgency (COIN) strategy that establishes expanding security and stability in rural villages, as well as training and partnering with ANSF military and police special operations forces elements. A In addition, SJOTF-A conducts Special Operations to deny terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan that threaten western interest. Task Force K-Bar, originally the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-South (CJSOTF-South), was led by the United States and composed of special operations forces from seven countries. It undertook the first major ground deployment in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), operating from October 2001 to April 2002. Originally operating out of Oman's Masirah Air Base before deploying themselves directly in southeastern Afghanistan, K-Bar was under the command of then-Captain Robert Harward, a US Navy SEAL. Harward was full of praise for the troops under his command, and later stated that the Canadian Joint Task Force 2 team was his first choice for any direct action mission. Task Force K-Bar was part of the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force (CJSOTF), under the overall command of General Tommy Franks at CENTCOM. TF K-Bar was given the responsibility of southern Afghanistan, was commanded by Navy SEAL Captain Robert Harward and formed around SEAL Teams 2, 3 and 8 and operators from 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group. The task force would primarily conduct special reconnaissance (SR) and sensitive site exploitation (SSE) missions – intelligence gathering at former enemy locations, some 3rd SFG ODAs were also given the foreign internal defense and unconventional warfare role. In January 2002, another series of caves was discovered in Zawar Kili, just south of Tora Bora. Airstrikes hit the sites before SOF teams were inserted into the area. A SEAL platoon from SEAL Team 3, including several of their Desert Patrol Vehicles, accompanied by a German KSK element and a Norwegian SOF team spent some nine days conducting an extensive site exploitation, clearing an estimated 70 caves and 60 structures in the area, recovering a huge amount of both intelligence and munitions, but they did not encounter any al-Qaeda fighters. In March 2002, ODAs from 3rd SFG took part in Operation Anaconda, teams from TF-K Bar and Task Force 64 (1 squadron Australian SAS Regiment) were inserted into a valley in the area of operations and were tasked with establishing their own observation posts which "had to be tenable, afford good reconnaissance and cover the identified escape routes or 'rat lines' into Pakistan" according to one of the US planners. In total, K-Bar ran 42 reconnaissance and surveillance missions, and an unreported number of combat missions that resulted in the capture of 107 Afghans and the deaths of at least 115. In 2004, the units participating in Task Force K-Bar were each awarded the Presidential Unit Citation by George W. Bush for their service in Afghanistan. The Task Force was composed of U.S. Navy SEALs, Special warfare combatant-craft crewmen, U.S. Army Special Forces, U.S. Air Force Combat Controllers, and coalition special operations forces from Canada, Norway, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand and Turkey.[8] The task force comprised approximately 2,800 troops, 1,300 operating in Afghanistan and another 1,500 based throughout the theater of operations. In a recent book released in Norwegian about the special forces of Norway, US admiral Robert Harward praised the Norwegian contributions; " I can attest to the fact that the Norwegian special operators were absolutely critical to the success of our operations. They came to the fight with specialized skill sets for operating in mountain and arctic climates that enabled the survival and effectiveness of the entire coalition of special operators. Just as important, was the planning and staff experience the Norwegian SOF proved to the operational expertise of the entire Task Force effort. As a direct result of their partnership, our unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, the highest honor the United States bestows on a military unit for which President George W. Bush personally delivered the award". Led by the United States and composed of special operations forces from eight nations, Task Force K-Bar (originally Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force - South (CJSOTF-SOUTH)) was the first major ground deployment in the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, operating from October 2001 to April 2002. Originally operating out of Oman's Masirah Air Base before deploying themselves directly in southeastern Afghanistan, K-Bar was under the command of then-Captain Robert Harward, a US Navy SEAL. Harward was full of praise for the troops under his command, and later stated that the Canadian Joint Task Force 2 team was his first choice for any direct action mission. In total, K-Bar ran 42 reconnaissance and surveillance missions, and an unreported number of combat missions that resulted in the capture of 107 Afghans and the deaths of at least 115. In 2004, the units participating in Task Force K-Bar were each awarded the Presidential Unit Citation by George W. Bush for their service in Afghanistan.[4] The Task Force was composed of U.S. Navy SEALs, Special Warfare Combatant-craft crewmen, U.S. Army Special Forces, U.S. Air Force Combat Controllers, and Coalition special operations forces from Canada, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Turkey.
In accordance with all the relevant Security Council Resolutions, ISAF’s main role is to assist the Afghan government in the establishment of a secure and stable environment. To this end, ISAF forces are conducting security and stability operations throughout the country together with the Afghan National Security Forces and are directly involved in the development of the Afghan National Army through mentoring, training and equipping.'
Key Facts:
- • Commander: General (USA) Stanley A. McChrystal
- • 43 Troop Contributing Nations
- • ISAF Total Strength: approx 85,795
- • ISAF AOR (Afghanistan land mass) 650,000 km²
- • 26 Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs)
Regional Command North: (appx ISAF strength 5,895)
- • HQ RC(N) in MAZAR-E-SHARIF (DEU)
- • Forward Support Base MAZAR-E-SHARIF (DEU)
- • PRT MAZAR-E-SHARIF (SWE)
- • PRT FEYZABAD (DEU)
- • PRT KONDUZ (DEU)
- • PRT POL-E KHOMRI (HUN)
- • PRT MEYMANA (NOR)
Regional Command West: (appx ISAF strength 4,600)
- • HQ RC(W) in HERAT (ITA)
- • Forward Support Base HERAT (ESP)
- • PRT HERAT (ITA)
- • PRT FARAH (USA)
- • PRT QALA-E-NOW (ESP)
- • PRT CHAGHCHARAN (LTU)
Regional Command South: (appx ISAF strength 45,100)
- • HQ RC(S) in KANDAHAR (GBR) (rotates CAN, NLD, GBR)
- • Forward Support Base KANDAHAR (multinational)
- • PRT KANDAHAR (CAN)
- • PRT LASHKAR-GAH (GBR, DNK, EST)
- • PRT TARIN KOWT (NLD,AUS)
- • PRT QALAT (USA,ROU)
Regional Command Capital: (appx ISAF strength 6,300)
- • HQ ISAF KABUL (COMPOSITE)
- • HQ RC(C) KABUL (TUR)
- • KAIA (ESP)
Regional Command East: (appx ISAF strength 24,900)
- • HQ RC(E) in BAGRAM
- • Forward Support Base BAGRAM (USA)
- • PRT LOGAR (CZE)
- • PRT SHARANA (USA)
- • PRT KHOST (USA)
- • PRT METHER LAM (USA)
- • PRT BAMYAN (NZL)
- • PRT PANJSHIR (USA)
- • PRT JALALABAD (USA)
- • PRT GHAZNI (POL,USA)
- • PRT ASADABAD (USA)
- • PRT BAGRAM (USA)
- • PRT NURISTAN (USA)
- • PRT WARDAK (TUR)
- • PRT GARDEZ (USA).
