U.S. troops plan to rout Taliban

NAWZAD, Afghanistan, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- The Pentagon said Wednesday it will increase U.S. operations, allowing Afghan forces to secure Taliban-controlled areas in Helmand Province.

The Voice of America reported Defense Department Spokesman Bryan Whitman said the beefed up operations will continue through and past the time of Afghan presidential elections next Thursday.

"U.S. forces along with our Afghan partners and the rest of the coalition that is there are trying to ensure that as we run up to the election that Afghans are going to have the freedom of movement to go to the polling places and be able to cast their vote, and to do it in a secure and unfettered manner," Whitman said, VOA reported.

The operation will involve 400 U.S. troops and 100 Afghan soldiers, and is part of a larger U.S. Marines initiative in Helmand Province. The offensives are part of U.S. President Barack Obama's new strategy announced in March and carried forth by Gen.l Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan.

The plan contemplates international and Afghan troops securing more areas of Afghanistan and then remaining to keep the Taliban out and permit the Afghan government to provide services establish its authority, the VOA said.