Troops Find Weapons Caches Across Afghanistan

American Forces Press Service ^

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2006 – Afghan and coalition troops continue to find and dispose of weapons caches throughout Afghanistan, Combined Forces Command Afghanistan officials reported. In Kunar province today, coalition forces discovered a cache of 7.62 mm rounds, 81 mm rounds and a rocket-propelled grenade.

Last night in Kandahar province, Afghan National Army and coalition forces discovered another weapons cache. Elements of the Afghan National Army's 2nd Kandak, 1st Brigade, 205th Corps, were searching a compound along with coalition forces in the village of Pirgadam in Kandahar province when they discovered the cache. It included rocket-propelled grenades and materials to build improvised explosive devices.

The compound belonged to a Taliban facilitator who has plotted to ambush and kill Afghan government officials and coalition forces, officials said.

No shots were fired, and no injuries were reported.

Separately, a government official in Ghazni province turned over a large cache of weapons to coalition forces. It included mines, mine fuses, heat grenades, and TNT.

"Recovering and disposing of these weapons increases the safety and security of citizens, and reduces the danger posed by criminals and insurgents who would use these munitions indiscriminately to harm civilians or Afghan and coalition forces," said Army Lt. Col Paul Fitzpatrick, spokesman for the coalition's Combined Joint Task Force 76.

In recent weeks, Afghan National Army and coalition service members have killed and detained several Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan.

"The Afghan National Army and coalition forces are continuing to assert their presence, sending a message to the enemies of Afghanistan that there is no place where they are safe," Fitzpatrick said.

(Compiled from Combined Forces Command Afghanistan news releases.)

[SandRat]

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