WASHINGTON: A top American general in Afghanistan has expressed
serious concern over the continued smuggling of ammonium nitrate, a key
ingredient for making bombs, from Pakistan into the strife-torn
country.
Army Major General Daniel Allyn, Commanding General,
Regional Command East, Afghanistan told Pentagon reporters in a video
conference that ammonium nitrate was being smuggled across the border
from Pakistan and in large quantities.
"In fact, Afghan Uniform
Police this past week conducted two independent operations responding
to intelligence from their own sources, and captured two different
shipments totaling over 5,750 kilograms of ammonium nitrate," he said.
Ammonium
nitrate is a key content for explosives and its smuggling to an
insurgency-hit country is obviously a matter of worry.
"So
those types of operations are focused on interdicting the flow of
manpower, weapons and equipment across the border from whatever their
originating source might be," he said in response to a question.
Allyn,
however, said the Afghan government and security forces in his area of
operation continue to grow in capability and confidence, allowing them
to build upon security conditions and deliver essential services to the
people.
"Tactically, along with our security force partners, we
have kept the pressure on insurgent networks, cleared several support
zones and, in the process, strengthened the leadership and capability
of our Afghan partners," he said.
"A side effect of this
pressure on the insurgent networks is the ruthless, desperate and
inexplicable actions of insurgents against the people of Afghanistan,"
he said.
The General said their blatant disregard for the
Afghan people manifests itself in suicide attacks that predominantly
target innocent civilians, and ill-disciplined direct and indirect fire
attacks that brutalise population centres.
"Over the past 90
days, 85 to 90 per cent of Afghan civilian casualties are caused by
insurgent violence. As a result, more and more communities are becoming
inhospitable to insurgent influence and cohabitation. Online
