U.S. forces swept through an insurgency-hit province in southeastern Afghanistan, detaining 35 Pakistanis Taliban suspects, a senior Afghan official said Sunday. Hundreds of American soldiers began combing three districts of Zabul province, about 240 miles southeast of the capital, Kabul, on Friday, Gov. Khial Mohammed told The Associated Press. "There was no resistance," Mohammed said. "All the suspected Taliban are in U.S. custody."
"Stick 'em up, Mahmoud!"
"Don't shoot, coppers!" |
American troops also found weapons during the raids, which continued Sunday, Mohammed said. No Afghan troops were involved in the raids, he said. Mohammed initially said the operation netted Mullah Rozi Khan, who is believed to command Taliban militants in the province, where the U.S.-backed government of President Hamid Karzai has little control. But later he said, "It is now confirmed that Mullah Rozi Khan was not among the 35 Taliban who were arrested."
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