DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 087/10
Monday, 29 March 2010
One Australian soldier and an Afghan interpreter
wounded in an Improvised Explosive Device attack
An Australian soldier and an Afghan interpreter were wounded on Sunday, following a series
of incidents over the weekend involving Improvised Explosive Devices (IED).
The soldier and the interpreter were travelling as part of a foot patrol in the Mirabad region of
Oruzgan Province on 28 of March 2010 when they were struck by the blast from an IED.
The interpreter suffered serious wounds while the soldier was only slightly wounded.
Both men were evacuated to the medical facility at Tarin Kowt where they have received
further treatment.
On Saturday, three Australian soldiers and two Afghan National Army soldiers were wounded
in multiple IED incidents.
Commander Joint Task Force 633, Major General John Cantwell, said the combined Afghan
and Australian patrols were involved in 10 separate incidents over the weekend, eight
involving IEDs and two small-arms fire attacks.
Major General Cantwell said the increase in Afghan and Australian patrolling in key areas of
Oruzgan Province has prompted a response from Taliban insurgents vying for control of the
region.
“Over the past couple of weeks, partnered 1st Mentoring Task Force and Afghan National
Army patrols have been focusing on several key areas within Oruzgan Province as part of
Operation PSARLAY ASKAR [SPRING SOLDIER in Pashtu],” Major General Cantwell
said.
“Over the weekend we saw a tremendous amount of pressure on young Afghan and
Australian soldiers, and their commanders, and I’m extremely proud of their performance
under fire.”
The patrols show the local population that the Afghan Government and ISAF are committed
to providing security to their areas.
Operation PSARLAY ASKAR is an ISAF operation that combines 1st Mentoring Task Force,
4th Brigade Afghan National Army and other ISAF elements in a population-centric
operation focused on key areas of the province.
“When villagers looked out and saw those men walk out of the valleys on Saturday evening
they saw a force that is determined to bring peace and security to the region,” Major General
Cantwell said.
The additional casualty on Sunday brings the number of Australians wounded this year to 19.
To date, 119 personnel have been wounded since Operation SLIPPER began.
The family of the most recently wounded soldier has been contacted.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
