GARDEZ, March 4: Al Qaeda-Taliban fighters who shot down a US helicopter on Monday in eastern Afghanistan fear nothing and will defend their positions to the last man, Afghan soldiers just back from the battlefield said.

They were not surprised at the helicopter crash which killed at least six US soldiers, having seen constant anti-aircraft fire from rebels in bunkers and caves since the biggest US-led ground offensive of the Afghan war started three days ago.

“They didn’t tell us about their courage or manner. But what we saw from fighting them, they fear nothing, not aircraft or bombs. Though we have these things, they do not fear them,” said Khial Mahmad.

Speaking about weekend fighting which forced a retreat by the US-led forces in their advance on snow-covered peaks near Gardez, capital of Paktia province, Mahmad said his fighters ran into withering fire.

“Sometimes when we confront our enemies, we either advance or retrace our steps,” said the soldier. “We have been forced back. They control the top of the mountains, which is why we need the American helicopters and bombers.

“We were informed that aircraft had softened up the area, reducing the risk, and we were supposed to just search and explore,” Mahmad said. “But when we got there, our enemies were very much alive, with guns in their hands.”

“They fight from caves,” said the 22-year old soldier, curled up in his green fatigues on a thin mattress.

Afghan Commander Sultan Mahmad said helicopters were ideal for attacking the rebels because they could manoeuvre and target the tiny cave entrances better.

Officials at US Central Command said the MH-47 “Chinook” helicopter “crash landed” after being hit by ground fire.

Sultan Mahmad speculated the helicopter might have been shot down by a US Stinger missile which Washington gave to mujahideen guerrillas during their fight against the Soviet Union.

He believed the rebels still had a number of Stingers.

“The Americans gave the mujahideen Stingers, and the other kind is a rocket called the Bushaq and they probably used one of them,” he said.

Listening around him, young fighters in rubber slippers, some wearing gold embroidered caps and shawls, held on casually to their Kalashnikovs.

They said the Taliban, who had family members with them, had been stocking up on food for weeks. The rebels were Pakistanis, Kashmiris, Chechens and Arabs as well as Afghans.

Afghan Commander Abdel-Rahim was lounging on an old Russian tank captured in fighting with the Soviet army, which ended in 1989.

“Our scouts say the Taliban are wearing cream-coloured or black robes and have traded turbans for pakools to try to resemble us,” he said, referring to the flat, broad brimmed felt caps many Afghan men wear.

“Many of them are foreigners,” he added. “They burrow in caves and keep food stocks — If you stay around here long enough, I will show you a captured Taliban fighter.”—Reuters