Posted on 02/14/2004 6:51:05 PM PST by Clive
KABUL (CP) - Canadians led a weekend raid that snatched a suspected key player from the terrorist organization of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, The Canadian Press has learned.
Officials say the man arrested in a mission ending early Saturday is not known to have a direct link to the suicide bombing that killed a Canadian soldier last month.
However, Kabul police chief Gen. Baba Jan said ousted Taliban insurgents, al-Qaida fighters and Hekmatyar's own rebels have formed a tight alliance that is spreading violence throughout the countryside and into Kabul.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the bomb blast that killed Cpl. Jamie Murphy and an Afghan civilian on Jan. 27.
"These organizations are one and the same, but Hekmatyar is now the greatest threat, more dangerous than (Taliban leader) Mullah Omar or (Osama) bin Laden," Jan said, adding Hekmatyar is more familiar with Afghanistan's power structure and the streets of Kabul than either of his two insurgent counterparts.
He also controls more skilful fighters.
"His agents have infiltrated every level of Afghanistan society, so when something happens here, you know he has a hand in it," he said.
In October, two soldiers died when at least one anti-tank landmine planted along their path blew up. Officials have suspected members of Hekmatyar's rebel group, Hizb-I Islami Gulbuddin, of staging the attack.
Canadian soldiers on the ground have suggested the latest attack on Canadians may have been linked to a raid on Hekmatyar associates, but Canadian generals denied any link.
Officials say an investigation continues into the January bombing, along with another attack the next day that killed a British soldier. Military officials say DNA tests still have not confirmed the identity of the bomber in the Canadian incident. Suspicions have risen that the bomber himself may have been a Canadian with family ties to al-Qaida.
Despite the growing threat of terrorism, Jan said Kabul's streets are safer since international troops, led by 2,100 Canadians, arrived in Kabul.
Jan said Kabul had about 15 incidents of violent crime, ranging from murder to armed robberies and kidnapping, each day before NATO-led soldiers began patrols. Now such incidents happen every few days, Jan said.
Lt.-Col. Stephane Roy, commanding officer of the Royal 22nd Regiment, also known as the Vandoos, said his soldiers are prepared for the new threat of suicide attack.
"In terms of fear, I don't think we fear stuff, but I think probably the biggest challenge we have is the terrorist threat," he said.
"I don't think the soldiers are more worried. They're probably taking it more seriously."
The Vandoos officially took over from the Royal Canadian Regiment in a ceremony Saturday.
Three Canadian soldiers died during the RCR's six-month tour in Afghanistan, all from explosive attacks. Lt.-Col. Don Denne, the commanding officer in charge of the departing troops, said he managed to bring more security to Kabul residents during his tour, but he failed to return with all his troops.
Denne said the death of three soldiers in the past six months marks his first loss in 28 years as an army officer. The sacrifice may prove to be a worthwhile, he said.
"If we can bring an everlasting peace to country, I don't think our loss . . . will have been in vain," Denne said.
Denne dedicated a memorial at the front of the parade ground at camp Julien to Murphy. Murphy's name will join the names of six other Canadian soldiers on the monument who have died in Afghanistan since 2001.
Jan promised to find anyone who helped stage the attacks. At the same time, he chuckled at the Canadian reaction to the loss of a few soldiers. Jan was a northern alliance general during eight years of civil war in Afghanistan.
"It's quite something when one Canadian gets killed," Jan said. "In Afghanistan, we lost something like two million."
"We have a saying: 'When you enter an Asian country, dust will cover your body.' When you enter Afghanistan, you have to expect these things."
These boys are doing great work.
I'm quick to scorn the Canadian government (and by implication, scorn the average Canadian voter) for their poor support of national defense.
But the individuals who choose to serve in the Canadian armed forces are among the very best in the world -- we're very lucky to be on the same side of the battle with them!
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