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(CENTCOM) Coalition forces continue to be active in rounding up and eliminating weapons caches – 13 caches in all discovered since Monday. These caches were discovered throughout the country to include five in Hilmand Province, four in Kandahar Province, two in Nangarhar Province, and one each in Herat and Kabul Provinces. Two noteworthy caches were discovered in Hilmand Province. One of the caches contained 10,000 mortar rounds, 500 122 millimeter artillery rounds, rockets and fuses. The other cache contained 85 mortar rounds, 240 Hind helicopter rockets, 285 recoilless rifle rounds, 320 rocket propelled grenade rounds, and six mines. The trend in Afghan citizens and security forces assisting coalition forces by turning in weapons caches has continued to increase over the past two years. In 2003, for example, only 10 percent of all weapons caches were turned in by local Afghan citizens (not including Afghan security forces). In 2004, that number increased to 31 percent. Since October 2004, for example, 236 weapons caches have been discovered throughout Afghanistan. Of these 236 caches, 99 were turned in to coalition forces by local Afghan citizens, local Afghan government officials, or Afghan security forces. This trend is important for many reasons – to create a secure environment, to ensure stability and to improve the quality of life for all Afghans. But, it is also important because of an incident on Tuesday. A local citizen turned in two rocket propelled grenade rounds to Afghan soldiers working with coalition forces. When the Afghan soldiers went to investigate where the rounds came from, they discovered children playing with an even larger cache of RPG rounds. These unattended caches present an even greater danger to innocent people who may come upon them, and it is important that everyone work together to eliminate this hazard. If any citizen has any knowledge of arms, munitions or other dangerous materials, it is important that they contact the nearest coalition or Afghan forces to ensure proper disposal. Articles Related to Weapons Caches Found in Afghanistan: **
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Weapons Caches Discovered in Afghanistan 4 Weapons Caches Discovered in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan, Feb. 6, 2005 -- Coalition forces recovered four weapons caches Feb. 5, Combined Forces Afghanistan officials here reported. Officials said one cache, located in Ghazni province, contained 421 82 mm mortar rounds, one 100 mm projectile, two 122 mm projectiles, eight 57 mm projectiles, one 76 mm projectile, 14 23 mm recoilless rifle rounds, two C-50 rockets, 10 anti-personnel mines, 500 fuses, 21 hand grenades and 12 VOC-25 rifle rounds. Coalition forces secured the cache and were to destroy it later. The second weapons cache, located in Parwan province, contained 75 AK-47 assault rifles and large amounts of machine-gun, anti-aircraft and mortar rounds, officials said. Coalition forces secured the cache and are continuing with the inventory process. In addition, officials said coalition troops discovered and secured another two weapons caches in Nangahar province. They contained five SAGGER anti-tank guided missiles, 139 B-10 rockets, 17 SPG-9 rounds with one booster and nine cans of 12.7 mm machine-gun rounds. Coalition Forces Recover Weapons Caches
The first weapons cache was located in Kabul Province by local Afghan police and turned over to coalition forces. The cache contained two recoilless rifle rounds, six anti-tank mines, one case of fuses, 29 rocket propelled grenade rounds, 94 82 mm mortars, 33 107 mm rockets, 42 cases of 12.7 mm rounds and 97 cases of 23 mm rounds. Coalition forces have secured the weapons cache and will destroy it at a later date. A second weapons cache was located by coalition forces in Salerno Province. The cache contained five 107 mm rockets, 49 anti-personnel mines, 27 boxes of 14.5 mm ammunition. Coalition forces have secured the weapons cache. A third weapons cache was recovered by the Afghan National Army in Shindand Province. The cache contained one Dishka heavy machine gun, one SGM light machine gun, one RP-46 medium machine gun, two RPD medium machine guns, two PPSH-41s assault rifles, six RPG rockets, 500 .51 with links, 1,000 7.62 X54R ammunition, one Dishka mount with tripod, two SGM spare barrels, two SGM tripods and one unidentified weapon mount. Coalition forces have secured the weapons cache. Three weapons caches were turned in to coalition forces by Afghan citizens in Chamkani Province. The caches contained 16 RPG7s, 28 cans of Dishka ammunition, 12 cans of ZKU ammunition, two cases of 82 mm mortar round fuses, 26 hand grenades, two cases (10 units per case) anti-personnel mines. Coalition forces have secured the weapons cache. |