Commandos discover explosives cache in Wushtan mosque

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

03.04.2012

Story by Cpl. Kyle McNally 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan – Commandos from the 7th Commando Kandak discovered a cache of insurgent bombs and bomb-making material hidden in a mosque in Wushtan village, Ghorak district, March 4.

This latest discovery occurred during a commando–led security patrol designed to increase safety in Ghorak’s rural areas. The commandos, combat advised by coalition Special Operations Forces, were conducting a multi-day patrol in Wushtan to provide a security assessment to local leaders and to determine what future assistance may be necessary.

The commandos safely removed five pressure-plates, a roll of electrical cord and a bottle of explosive chemicals from the mosque without damaging property. After ensuring the area was secured, the commando patrol leader met with village elders to inform them of the situation.

According to the coalition SOF team leader, the commandos handled the mosque find without any assistance from coalition personnel. In previous years, operations that required developed technical capabilities were performed with coalition assistance, but the commandos have flourished as a competent professional organization.

“Coalition [SOF] continue to take a back seat during combat operations in their role as advisers to the Afghan forces; especially with commandos,” said Maj. Michael Smith, spokesman for the Special Operations Task Force-West. “The commandos are a multi-faceted force that consistently demonstrates its ability to achieve quality results in full spectrum warfighting and peacekeeping functions.”

The multi-use bomb-making material that was found indicates that the type of bombs the insurgents intended to build were not only manually controlled but also victim-activated. Victim-activated improvised explosive devices cannot choose their targets, and require only slight pressure – such as that of a child’s footstep – to explode.

A February 2012 United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan report found that insurgents are increasing their use of these bombs, despite their lethality towards civilians. The report also concluded that insurgent IEDs were collectively the largest killer of Afghan children, women and men in 2011. Insurgent IEDs, combined with suicide bombings and attacks on places of worship such as mosques, contributed to nearly 80 percent of all civilian deaths in 2011. Despite their catastrophic outcome, this recent find coupled with UN statistics suggests insurgents are continuing these deadly tactics.

The safety of the Afghan people is the top priority for the Afghan National Security Forces and their coalition partners.

The ANSF and coalition SOF are resolved to continue protecting local communities in the Ghorak district from insurgent attempts to gain ground through violence, fear and intimidation of the Afghan people.

No civilian casualties or property damage was reported during the operation.

• Date Taken: 03.04.2012
• Date Posted: 03.06.2012 09:07
• Story ID: 84800
• Location: KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AF