7th Special Operations Kandak Commandos conducted a night raid to remove explosives and indiscriminate weapon components from a compound frequented by members of a Taliban “Red Unit” in Khomari Village, Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, Afghanistan, Jan. 23, 2018. The Commandos seized 45 kg of explosives, 41 pressure plates used to make IEDs, 18 sets of body armor, and stockpiles of other IED components and military equipment.
Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, along with the Afghan Special Security Forces, continue to find an increased amount of Taliban explosive materials across the country. Over the weekend, a combined Afghan National Army and special operations force concluded a five-day operation in Kunduz province that demolished 39 emplaced IEDs, seized four IED caches, captured more than 40 anti-vehicle mines, and destroyed nearly 250 kg of homemade explosives.
The Taliban continue to perpetrate high-profile attacks to attract media attention, create the perception of insecurity, and undercut the legitimacy of Afghan institutions. As the Taliban continues to use fear as an instrument of power, the Afghan government counters with the doubling of the Afghan Special Security Forces and the tripling of the Afghan Air Force by 2020.