Polish forces in Afghanistan foil Taliban bomb plan
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
27.11.2012 13:34
Poland's armed forces have claimed to have foiled a bomb attack on Afghanistan's Shiite Muslim minority, after seizing nearly half a ton of explosives.
Canisters found by Polish forces: photo - PKW press materials
According to Poland's contingent in Afghanistan, the attacks were set to take place last Saturday in the eastern province of Ghazni, during processions marking the Shiite Day of Ashura.
“Thanks to intelligence information, and constant surveillance of the course of the holiday, a tragedy was averted, the consequences of which one can only begin to imagine,” said Brigadier General Andrzej Tuz, Commander of the Polish Contingent in Afghanistan, as cited by Polska Zbrojna (Armed Poland), a news source maintained by an offshoot of the Ministry of Defence.
Owing to intelligence gathered by Polish operatives, 26 canisters containing explosive material were pinpointed beneath an abandoned building in a village in the Ghazni province.
TNT and ammonium nitrate were found in the canisters, following analysis.
Some 84 percent of the Afghani population are Sunni Muslims, and during Shiite holidays, the risk of attack against the Shiite minority rises.
Polish forces have been stationed in Afghanistan since 2002, just months after the Taliban regime was compelled to abandon the capital, Kabul, in November 2001, under heavy attack from American forces.
To date, there have 37 Polish casualties, including one medic.
Poland is due to cease combat operations by the close of 2013, continuing only in a training capacity until the end of that year, when the Polish contingent is timetabled to leave Afghanistan. (nh)