Kent troops are continuing to hold their position to the north of Musa Qal’eh in one of the key successes of Operation Herrick Nine.

Despite contacts with Taliban fighters on a near-on daily basis, soldiers from the Second Battalion of Royal Gurkha Rifles continue to hold strong at the recently established Patrol Base Woqab.

Patrol Base Woqab was set up by the Gurkhas as part of Operation Mar Nonu Two in November.

Reporter Chris Price has been out in Afghanistan with Kent's troops. Here is his latest report.

It saw British forces push north of the Musa Qal’eh District Centre, where a base had already been firmly established.

It has effectively created a safe zone for Afghan civilians in the area between Patrol Base Woqab and FOB (Forward Operating Base) Musa Qal’eh in the district centre.

Officer in Command of both 2RGR B Company and Patrol Base Woqab Major, Ross Daines, said: “At first the locals avoided us because they thought we were not going to be here long and once we left the Taliban would come and hurt them.

“Now we’ve been here for a long time they are much more comfortable with us.

“People now stop to talk to us and do not feel threatened by our presence.

“When we arrived in theatre the Taliban moved freely in the area between PB Woqab and the district centre. Now there are no contacts with the enemy in that area.”

Patrol Bases Woqab regularly faces fire from enemy soldiers because of the high number of compounds very close to it.

“It is an advantage because it means we can see the enemy and also there is lots of cover” said Major Daines.

“We know they don’t like the patrol base being here, which is what we want.

“They fired at us from a compound we call the White House. Yet we don't like firing at the White House because it sits in an area of many desert compounds that could be occupied by civilians. We never fire mortars in that area, but we have no option but to return fire of other natures if they open fire on us.

“We go out and occupy enemy compounds in their lands to show them we will do what we want when we want to.

“We often go out to find them to stop them coming further south but these have to be measured to stop civilian damage.

“Once you establish a patrol base you have to protect it and there was a good argument before Operation Mar Nonu Two that we should stay put and operate from the district centre.

“However, moving here was definitely the right thing to do. The people consider us neighbours and it has done wonders for relations with them. We do not fear being around them at all.”

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