Sher Mohammed Akhundzada
Sher Mohammed Akhundzada is the governor of Helmand province. Helmand was a strong base of support for the Taliban in previous years, and international coalition forces receive little warmth from the provincial governor. Akhundzada warns that the conduct of coalition troops and their Afghan allies could drive Afghans toward remaining Taliban influence. He faces pressure from the Americans and the interim government in Kabul to foster understanding and cooperation between the tribes of Helmand and the coalition troops.
On 9 August 2004, Akhundzada narrowly survived an assassination attempt carried out by Taliban militants. In subsequent search operations, the provincial police arrested 20 suspected Taliban in Lashkargah city agencies and seized a large number of weapons from them. Other militants who have been captured by Akhundzada's forces thus far are Afghans from the refugee community in Pakistan. They have described receiving training in large, walled residential compounds in and around Quetta, rather than in military camps.
