U.S. Commander: upcoming Afghan operation to integrate military, civilian efforts

KABUL, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- A planned massive U.S.-Afghan offensive in southern Afghanistan will fully integrate military and civilian efforts, as part of a new strategy emphasizing development and governance to curb Taliban militants, the top U.S. and NATO commander said Sunday.

Thousands of NATO and Afghan forces are expected to launch Operation Mushtarak within days on the Marjah plain in southern Helmand province.

"We're trying to make this not a military operation only, but a civilian and military operation because the thing that is changing is not just going to be the level of security in the area but the governance," General Stanley McChrystal said.

"So all the planning for this operation has been led by the civilian side with the military in support," he added.

McChrystal said the operation is to "send a strong signal that the Afghan government is expanding its security control."

Mark Sedwill, NATO's newly appointed senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, said at the same press conference that he and McChrystal will work together as a team to bring the integration of military and civilian efforts to a new level.

"In the example of Marjah, we need to ensure that the government and development follows up any advances that we make in security," Sedwill said.

Afghan officials said days ago that the operation will enable the government to consolidate its control in the southern region, but did not disclose the exact date of launching the operation.