ISAF accused of nabbing public rep’s relatives

PUL-I-KHUMRI (PAN) troops had arrested three family members of a public representative in northern Baghlan province.

The suspects were held on charges of having links with the Taliban during an overnight operation in the Borka district of Baghlan, but the detainees’ identities were yet to be known, said a police spokesman.

Javed Basharat told a press conference they had launched an investigation into the incident. However, he did not give further details of the raid.

Meanwhile, a statement from the Ministry of Defence said three suspected militants had been with a Kalashnikov, a pistol and a walkie-talkie during an operation by the Afghan National Army (ANA) in Borka district.

For its part, the NATO-led said in a brief statement the operation was conducted by Afghan troops.

But member of the provincial council, Haji Mohammad, insisted ISAF soldiers conducted the operation in the village, arresting his uncle and two other relatives who had no links with guerrillas.

“ISAF raids houses of area people on the basis of wrong reports,” he claimed, alleging the foreign troops used a hand grenade that broke open the door and damaged walls of his residence.

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