Key Facts
- Duration
- January 7–31, 2009 (25 days)
- Explosives seized
- 6 large tubs plus 38 pressure plates
- Ammunition seized
- 3,000 rounds, AK47s, 22 RPGs, anti-personnel mines
- Taliban bomb-makers captured
- 8
- Coalition fatalities
- 2 (1 Canadian, 1 British)
- IEDs disarmed
- 15
Strategic Narrative Overview
The operation ran from January 7 to 31, 2009. An initial helicopter and armored-vehicle raid on a Taliban bomb factory in Khakrez and Shah Wali Khot (January 7–9) seized large quantities of explosives, ammunition, and mines, and captured eight bomb-makers. A separate ten-day battle involving roughly 700 Afghan, British, Danish, and Canadian troops cleared a Taliban stronghold near Spin Masjid, north of Lashkar Gar, killing or dispersing hundreds of insurgents and eliminating several Taliban leaders.
01 / The Origins
By late 2008, Taliban insurgents had established bomb-making infrastructure and fortified strongholds across Kandahar and Helmand provinces in Afghanistan. The use of improvised explosive devices and hidden mines posed a severe threat to Coalition and Afghan forces. Operation Shahi Tandar was planned as a multi-national response to degrade Taliban capabilities in the Khakrez, Shah Wali Khot, Panjwayi, and Zhari districts, and to clear insurgent positions near Lashkar Gar.
03 / The Outcome
Coalition forces reported neutralizing the bomb-making network and clearing the Spin Masjid stronghold. Eight Taliban bomb-makers were detained and 20 kg of opium was confiscated. Fifteen IEDs were disarmed. Two Coalition soldiers were killed: Canadian Trooper Brian Good and British Corporal Danny Nield of 1st Battalion The Rifles. Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Strickland assessed that the operation dealt a serious blow to Taliban insurgent capacity in the region.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
5 belligerents
Lt Col Charlie Strickland (42 Commando RM).
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.