Daily Security Brief: March 5, 2012

KABUL: Four insurgents and as many Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed and five rebels arrested during operations in different provinces over the past 24 hours, defence and interior ministries said on Monday.

The operations were conducted by Afghan and international servicemembers in Kabul, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Farah and Badghis provinces, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said in a statement.

Four rebels were killed five others detained during the offensives, which also led to the seizure of one tonne of explosives powder, four anti-vehicle mines, hand grenades, two rocket launchers, drugs and 25 weapons, including AK-47 assault rifles and machine guns.

Additionally, security personnel arrested a man involved in planting roadside bombs in the Chora district of central Uruzgan province.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a separate statement that four ANA soldiers were killed and a fifth wounded during clashes in Kunar and Kandahar provinces.

Four AK-47 assault rifles, as many anti-personnel mines and 15kg of drugs were confiscated in Farah, Badghis, Kandahar and Maidan Wardak provinces, the ministry said.

–Pajhwok report

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KABUL: Seven individuals have been detained on charges of involvement in the insurgency in southern Kandahar province, the spy service said on Monday.

The National Director of Security (NDS) identified the detainees as Abdullah, Naqibullah, Muhammad Rafi, Sharaffudin, Muhammad Nasim, Khairullah and Muhammad Sabir.

A statement from the NDS said the detainees had confessed to being involved in anti-government activities. “The suspects, residents of Kandahar, emplaced roadside bombs and conducted attacks on airports and government offices.”

–Pajhwok Report

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KHOST: A large quantity of opium and 1000 litres of alcoholic beverages were torched in southeastern Khost province on Monday, security officials said.

Police chief Brig. Gen. Sardar Muhammad Zazai told Pajhwok Afghan News the drugs had been seized in several operations across the province. The materials included 1,050 litres of alcohol, 68 kilograms of hashish and about one kilogram of heroine.

Zazai said 51 people, arrested in connection with the contraband, were being investigated. He linked the seizure of drugs to increased cooperation from residents. Three small alcohol factories were destroyed in Tani district three months ago.

–Hidayatullah Khosti

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LAGHMAN: Two back-to-back bomb explosions rocked Mehtarlam city, the capital of eastern Laghman province, overnight, while a third explosion was prevented, police said on Monday. There were no casualties.

The twin blasts took place in Saraj port and Alingar bus stop areas on Sunday night, police officer Maj. Mohammad Daud Barakzai, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Although there were no casualties, police had launched an investigation, he said, adding a third bomb attack had been prevented after police found some explosives planted along Ulfat Road in the city.

Resident Bashir Ahmad said the two explosions happened at around 9 pm.

The Taliban have claimed responsibilities for the incident, with their spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, saying several security men were killed and injured in the provincial capital.

He said there were four blasts.

–Pajhwok Report

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