The operation, code-named Anaconda by the US, in the Shah-e-Kot area (Arma mountains) near Gardez in the Paktia province of eastern Afghanistan involved a major confrontation between the allied forces led by the US and a mixed group of determined guerilla fighters, operating from inside a cave complex in the area.

On the side of the international coalition were about 1,200 US troops and 200 from Australia, Canada,the UK and other West European countries, reportedly assisted  by about 800 Pashtuns of the area. These were subsequently joined by about 1000 Tadjiks of the Northern Alliance rushed to the area from Kabul, resulting in a strong criticism by the local Pashtun warlords of the induction of the Tadjiks into a Pashtun area. They interpreted this as an insult to their fighting prowess.

Who were pitted against the coalition troops? The answer to this is not clear. American spokesmen have described them as a mix of the remnants of the Taliban and Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda. However, other reports, considered more independent, describe them as a moderate sized contingent of Pakistanis led by Arab instructors of the 055 Brigade of the Al Qaeda.

rest of the article is at http://www.saag.org/papers5/paper425.html

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