Bomber among 3 militants detained in Kandahar

KANDAHAR CITY/GARDEZ (PAN): A would-suicide bomber was among three militants detained by intelligence operatives in the southern province of Kandahar, officials said on Monday.

The militants were detained on the Arafa night, the night between the ninth and the tenth days of Islamic calendar month of Zil-hijja, the governor’s spokesman, Zalmay Ayubi, told Pajhwok Afghan News.

The three were travelling in a car laden with explosives, he said.

The detainees identified as Siddiqullah, Ahmad and Mohammad Daud during initial interrogation had confessed to their intention of carrying out a suicide attack on Afghan and foreign troops in the city, he added.

The minibus was packed with 300 kilograms of explosives, he said, adding the explosives had been defused.

One of the detainees, Ahmad, is a resident of Chaman City of Balochistan province of Pakistan. He had received training how to perform a suicide attack, Ayubi said.

Another detainee, Ahmad said he was encouraged by religious leaders to fight against foreign troops in Afghanistan.

Provincial NDS Bank in Kandahar city.

In south-eastern Paktia province, a Taliban leader, accused of insurgency and violence related incidents, has been arrested by police, an official said on Monday.

Police chief Brig. Gen. Abdul Ghafar Sapai identified the detainee as Noor Khan.

The suspect had links with an insurgent group led by Adam Khan, he said.

The detainee had also killed the head of a tribal militia, Khan Wali, with mortar, he said.

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