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| Afghanistan |
| Afghan Troops Capture 20 Taliban Fighters |
| 2003-04-08 |
| American troops began a search for suspected Taliban fighters in a remote southern corner of Afghanistan on Tuesday, while Afghan government soldiers arrested 20 Taliban suspects in separate raids, officials said. The U.S. soldiers were conducting house-to-house searches in Sangeen district of Helmand province, said Dad Mohammed Khan, head of the province's intelligence department. He did not say how many U.S. troops were involved in the operation. Khan said the American troops may be looking for former Taliban commanders Mullah Dadullah and Mullah Akhtar Mohammed. The two were reported in the area some time ago, according to the intelligence official. Mullah Akhtar Mohammed and his brother, Abul Hassan, were in Sangeen district recently and distributed satellite phones and money among their supporters in several villages in the district, Khan said. Satellite phones? How nice, we'll be sure to listen in. Separately, three Afghan government troops were wounded in a gun fight with suspected Taliban fighters in Zabul province, the region's governor, Hamidullah Khan, said Tuesday. The soldiers were injured Sunday when nearly 50 Taliban fighters attacked a government checkpost in the Shingai district of Zabul province, Khan said. The Taliban fled after a brief gun battle, but government troops captured 20 of them on Monday during raids on several villages in the region. 50 attacked, only 3 Afghan troops wounded and they bagged 20 bad guys after the attack failed. Not bad, not bad at all. The chief of the international peacekeeping force in the capital Kabul said Tuesday it appeared attacks outside the city were on the rise, but stressed the capital itself is still secure. Lt. Gen. Norbert van Heyst, the German commander of the International Security Assistance Force known as ISAF, said patrols and inspections had been stepped up in Kabul after five fuel tankers rigged with explosives were found in the city. "I feel there are an increasing number of incidents in the provinces outside of Kabul, but Kabul itself seems to be relatively calm," van Heyst said. Good thing you found those tankers, that would have disturbed your calm. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #1 GOod to see the Afghan government troops strike a win. The more professional, cohesive, strong and proud they are the better for the country. Get them stronger than the warlords! It would be good, too, if they can mix up the tribes in the units, so that they break down the tribal barriers and bond as a cohesive army: that would do a lot for the country, too. |
| Posted by: anon1 2003-04-08 08:33:08 |