Musa Qala District

Musa Qala موسی قلعه
District
Valley and mountains surrounding Musa Qaleh
Musa Qala Location within Afghanistan[1]
Coordinates: 32°28′12″N 64°44′24″E / 32.47000°N 64.74000°E / 32.47000; 64.74000
Country	Afghanistan
Province	Helmand Province
Population  (2012)[2]
• Total	57,500

Musa Qala is a district in the north of Helmand Province, Afghanistan.^[3] Its population was around 57,500^[2] in 2012 and are 97% ethnic Pashtun. The district centre is the village of Musa Qala; there are 19 other large villages and 200 smaller settlements, mostly along the Musa Qala River. The area is irrigated by the Helmand and Arghandab Valley Authority.^[4]

NATO-led International Security Assistance Force extended its presence to this region in mid-2006. Musa Qala, along with the rest of Helmand, was to be under the responsibility of British forces.

The village of Musa Qala was the scene of fierce fighting between British Pathfinder Platoon troops and Taliban insurgents during the summer of 2006. The British had set up a stronghold in the local governor's office and faced daily waves of determined attacks. The British garrison was later relieved by a Danish infantry team who faced renewed insurgent attacks, culminating in better-trained militant fighters equipped with rockets and mortars. After a month of these attacks, the fighting died down, and the Danish forces handed control of the base back to British forces. On 17 October 2006, after a 35-day lull in violence, the British left the village, handing over control to the local elders' council.