MUSA QALA, Afghanistan, March 16 (UPI) -- British forces in the city of Musa Qala in the north of Helmand say life is slowly returning to normal in the former Taliban stronghold.
British troops scuffled with Taliban insurgents in 2006. Tribal elders reached a deal with international forces to take power once the Taliban were overthrown, though insurgents regrouped to take back the town.
Four years on, British forces say a holistic effort by Afghan military and civilians is bringing a sense of normalcy to Musa Qala, the British Ministry of Defense reports.
"Both Afghan military and civilians have said that security has improved vastly and their quality of life has also improved," said Cpl. Earnie Adams, a section commander for The Royal Anglian Regiment.
British forces hand control over parts of Helmand province in Afghanistan to U.S. forces in April as part of a rebalancing effort. The estimated 500 British soldiers left in Musa Qala will redeploy to parts of central Helmand to better support counterinsurgency strategies outlined by war planners.
British Maj. Gen. Nick Carter said the rebalancing effort would allow British forces to better protect the local population while giving Afghan forces room to grow.
Military strategists are keen to highlight the role of Afghan forces in the plans for the war effort under way there.
