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| Operation Pickaxe-Handle | |||||||
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| Part of theWar in Afghanistan (2001–2021) | |||||||
 Airstrike in Sangin, 10 April 2007. | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United Kingdom Canada United States Estonia Denmark Norway Islamic Republic of Afghanistan |  Taliban | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Maj.-Gen.Jacko Page | Tor JanHaji Nika[1] | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| ~1,000 500 ~150 Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Total:~2,000 | ~1,000insurgents | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 7 killed 3 killed, 24 wounded[2] 1 killed | Over 100 confirmed killed ~150+ (British estimates)[2] | ||||||
Operation Lastay Kulang orPickaxe Handle was a British-ledNATO offensive in the southernHelmand province ofAfghanistan. (The name of the operation isPashto for "pickaxe-handle".)Lastay Kulang began on 30 May and ended on 14 June 2007, with 2000ISAF andAfghan National Army troops taking part. The mission was a direct follow-up ofOperation Achilles that ended on the same day.
At around 4:00 local time on 30 May 2007, ISAF and ANSF personnel advanced towards the village ofKajaki Sofle, ten kilometres south-west of the town ofKajaki, to remove a Taliban force whose presence threatened the security and stability of the LowerSangin Valley.During the night, elements of the American82nd Airborne Division mounted an aerial assault on a Taliban compound. One of theChinook helicopters taking part in the raid was apparently hit by anRPG round and crashed, killing five Americans, a Briton and a Canadian on board.[3]
By 2 June, NATO claimed to have surrounded several pockets of Taliban fighters.[4]
TheRoyal Engineers have also started several reconstruction projects in the area, such as digging irrigation ditches, to try to win over local support.
On 5 June, a gun battle and air strikes killed an estimated two dozen Taliban fighters in Southern Afghanistan, the U.S.-led coalition and Afghan government reported.
Upwards of 80 Taliban fighters may have drowned in two separate incidents in early June, when the makeshift boats they were travelling on sank as they attempted to cross the Helmand River. The sinkings were witnessed by NATO helicopters.[5]
A British soldier was killed in a firefight at a Taliban compound to the north east ofGereshk on 6 June.[6]
Another NATO soldier was killed in the south of the country that same day.
On 8 June, a battle and air strikes in southern Afghanistan left 30 suspected Taliban dead or wounded, the Ministry of Defense reported.
The outcome of "Lastay Kulang" is disputed. NATO spokespersons claimed the operation was a success, having cleared Sangin and Gereshk of Taliban and securing theKajaki District. A new governor has been installed in Sangin andShuras (councils) of tribal elders have been organised to hear their concerns. Conversely, the Taliban claim that they still control much of Kajaki, and some of the Sangin districts. These claims are confirmed by the local residents, who complain that the Taliban returned as soon as NATO and ANA troops had left, and that the security situation has not improved at all.[7]
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