John
12-26-2010, 08:35 PM
A suspected arms smuggler captured in southern Afghanistan is not a member of Iran's Revolutionary Guard as first believed, Nato has said.
Forces in Afghanistan
Nato troops in Kandahar in southern Afghanistan
Initial intelligence reports suggested the man was part of the al-Quds force, which specialises in foreign operations for Iran, the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.
But it was later determined he was not a member of the unit.
"It was determined that while the individual may be affiliated with several insurgent-related organisations, he is not a member of al-Quds," ISAF said in a statement.
ISAF declined to comment on the nationality of the man.
He was captured during a night raid last Saturday in the Zharay district of southern Kandahar province by Afghan and coalition forces, who described him as "a key Taliban weapons facilitator".
"The joint security team specifically targeted the individual for facilitating the movement of weapons between Iran and Kandahar through Nimroz province," ISAF said in an earlier statement.
The US and its Nato allies accuse Shi'ite Iran of attempting to destabilise Afghanistan.
But Tehran denies supporting militant groups in Afghanistan and blames the instability on the presence of Western troops.
Iran has wide and growing influence in Afghanistan, especially in the west, where it has important economic ties.
A senior Iranian official said last month the country has provided some $500m (£323m) in aid for its conflict-torn neighbour.
Source - SkyNews.
Forces in Afghanistan
Nato troops in Kandahar in southern Afghanistan
Initial intelligence reports suggested the man was part of the al-Quds force, which specialises in foreign operations for Iran, the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.
But it was later determined he was not a member of the unit.
"It was determined that while the individual may be affiliated with several insurgent-related organisations, he is not a member of al-Quds," ISAF said in a statement.
ISAF declined to comment on the nationality of the man.
He was captured during a night raid last Saturday in the Zharay district of southern Kandahar province by Afghan and coalition forces, who described him as "a key Taliban weapons facilitator".
"The joint security team specifically targeted the individual for facilitating the movement of weapons between Iran and Kandahar through Nimroz province," ISAF said in an earlier statement.
The US and its Nato allies accuse Shi'ite Iran of attempting to destabilise Afghanistan.
But Tehran denies supporting militant groups in Afghanistan and blames the instability on the presence of Western troops.
Iran has wide and growing influence in Afghanistan, especially in the west, where it has important economic ties.
A senior Iranian official said last month the country has provided some $500m (£323m) in aid for its conflict-torn neighbour.
Source - SkyNews.