KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan Border Police patrol, following up on a local tip, captured a large group of insurgents, and seized a significant cache of weapons and improvised explosive devices in Arghandab District, Kandahar province earlier this week.
Elements of the ABP conducted the security patrol based on information from a local civilian.
“The seizure of the weapons, explosives, and IEDs is very significant, as is the capture of the terrorists connected with the caches. This represents a significant blow to some of the insurgent networks operating in and around Kandahar,” said ISAF Commander General David H. Petraeus. “The Afghan Border Police continues to distinguish itself through its bravery, initiative, and exemplary efforts on behalf of the Afghan people.”
“This case also demonstrates the courage of the Afghan people -- who remember the brutal actions of the Taliban, do not want to see their return, and are thus willing to do their part to help Afghan and ISAF forces take weapons and explosives out of their neighborhoods.”
Initial reports indicate that during the operation, the patrol captured approximately 60 insurgents along with a weapons cache containing 500 victim-operated IEDs, nine antitank mines, a motorcycle-borne IED, and IED making material including 100kg of ammonium nitrate, an illegal explosive compound commonly used in making IEDs.
The Afghan Border Police are the first line of defense in the disruption of criminal activity related to smuggling, terrorist activities and drug trafficking. They enforce the commerce and immigration laws of Afghanistan at and near the international borders and at Afghanistan’s international airports.