Printer Friendly VersionSend to a Friend

Afghan National Army and International Security Assistance Forces discovered weapon and improved explosive device component caches in southern and eastern Afghanistan in separate combined patrols over the past four days.

During a dismounted patrol Nov. 21 and 22 in Kandahar province, forces found two weapon and IED component caches in Zharay district.

The caches consisted of 30 pounds (13 kilograms) of explosives, 30 pounds (13 kg) of ammonium nitrate with aluminium, 175 pounds (79 kg) of homemade explosive, 400 pounds (181 kg) of nitrogen fertilizer, 500 pounds (226 kg) of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil mixture, two recoilless rifle rounds, eight Russian blasting caps, six Chinese mortar charges, several pressure plate mines, first aid medical supplies, four ammunition chest racks, communication systems and several documents.

In Kandahar, Uruzgan, Qalat and Helmand provinces, separate dismounted patrols found weapons caches consisting of six 155 mm artillery shells, 740 7.62 mm rounds, six 120 mm shells, one anti-personnel mine, 48 82 mm shells, five rocket-propelled grenades and two launchers and several electronic spare parts.

Two Afghan civilians brought in two weapons caches in Kabul and Kandahar provinces which consisted of 39 82 mm shells, 19 Austrian mortars, four 82 mm Chinese mortars, two Chinese fuses, one rocket-propelled grenade, one 82 Chinese rocket, and one 75 mm Chinese
mortar.

"We greatly appreciate the help of Afghan civilians - they clearly want an end to the violence and destruction," said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, ISAF Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. "However, we ask them to provide us with helpful tips that can lead forces to remove these devices instead of bringing these dangerous weapons directly to us."

Article by ISAF Joint Command