21 Apr. 2004

Suspected terrorists detained in Afghanistan News 28/04/2004 - ISAF Joint ISAF/CFC-A press conference 22/04/2004 - ISAF NDS apprehend 17 individuals in Kabul Background NATO in Afghanistan Links ISAF website In the past week, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) supported Afghan forces in detaining a number of individuals suspected of posing an imminent threat to security in Kabul. In the early afternoon of Wednesday, April 21, three individuals were detained near Kabul’s Olympic Stadium. A fourth person, carrying on him an improvised explosive device, was apprehended in the same area an hour later. These arrests were followed by a series of joint raids in and round Kabul resulting in the detention of more than 30 suspects on 22, 25 and 28 April. A number of illegal weapons, including rockets, were seized and a route for smuggling arms and munitions into the capital was uncovered. The improving capability of Afghan security agencies In total, since the beginning of April 42 people suspected of terrorist links have been detained. “These operations are indicative of the rapidly expanding capabilities of the Afghan security agencies, and the close working relationships that exist between those agencies, ISAF, and the US-led coalition,” said ISAF Spokesman Chris Henderson at a press briefing on the arrests, “Such information frequently leads security agencies to other individuals or groups who threaten the city and its population; thus, success breeds success.” ISAF is mandated to assist Afghan authorities in maintaining security. Troops from the NATO-led force conduct between 20 to 50 patrols per day in Kabul, over a third jointly with the Kabul City Police.