Taliban insurgents from a fortified position in Pashmul. For the operation, the battle group was partnered with forces from the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Denmark and Afghanistan. The Battle of Pashmul marked the first time NATO had engaged in combat operations at the battle group-level. In the citation for the Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation, the battle group had succeeded "where larger forces had failed, they prevented the enemy from realizing their goals of capturing the city and weakening international resolve and cohesion". An Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) was formed to work with the 1st Brigade of the 205 Atul (Hero) Corps (1/250 Corps), based in Kandahar Province. This surge, along with the deployment of a squadron of Leopard 1 tanks from Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), CFB Edmonton, increased the number Canadian Forces in Afghanistan to 2500. With Brigadier-General Timothy Grant assuming command of the Canadian elements in Kandahar in November 2006 and the construction of Provincial Operations Centre at Kandahar Airfield, the framework for Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTF-Afg) was in place. Task Force 1-07 (Operation Athena Rotation 3) Although the battle group for TF 1-07 was based on 2nd Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR) from CFB Gagetown, the headquarters for Task Force Kandahar was primarily force generated from Land Force Atlantic Area, taking on a greater responsibility than previously rotations' Nation Command Elements. The commander for Task Force Kandahar was also designated Commander Joint Task Force Afghanistan, ultimately responsible for all Canadian Forces personnel and assets deployed in southwest Asia. The task force contributed to Operation Achilles mid-April to mid-March 2007, the clearing of Taliban fighters from Helmand Province. This offensive action was the largest NATO operation in Afghanistan up to this point. On 15 May 2007, the Canadian OMLT took over full responsibility for the mentoring of 1/250 Corps from the United States Army. In July 2007, the Government of Canada increased its diplomatic presence in Kandahar by appointing Michel de Salaberry as the Representative of Canada Kandahar (RoCK). Task Force 3-07 (Operation Athena Rotation 4) Both the headquarters and the battle group were generated from 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG) with Brigadier-General Guy Laroche as the commander. This rotation of the headquarters saw the "digitizing" of the task force, modernizing the command and control information systems within the task force and the standing up of Task Force Kandahar Signal