Global General

Afghan, NATO forces seize weapon caches

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-02-07 19:34

KABUL: Afghan and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops have found three weapon caches in different parts of the post-Taliban country, said a press release issued by the ISAF Sunday.

"An ANSF (Afghan National Security Force) patrol found a large weapons cache after receiving a tip from a local resident in Wazah Khwah district, Paktika province yesterday," said the press release.

According to the press release, the cache found in the eastern province consisted of 54 artillery rounds, four mortar rounds and 18 fuses.

"The munitions were brought to a nearby forward operating base and are pending disposal by an explosive ordnance disposal team," said the press release.

In another joint ANSF-ISAF patrol, the press release said, 11 hand grenades and an RPG launcher round were found in Kajaki district of former Taliban stronghold Helmand province of southern Afghanistan on Saturday.

The rounds were destroyed by the forces, it said.

Southern and eastern Afghanistan, where Taliban militants are active, have been the scene of the Taliban-led insurgency over the past years.

The outfit fighters often use explosive devices to carry out suicide and roadside bombings to destabilize security in the militancy-hit central Asian state.