US Army General David Petraeus, commander of Nato and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan (R) attends a joint press conference held by Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen at the Presidential palace in Kabul on May 24, 2011. - AFP Photo

KABUL: Nato said Tuesday that a Moroccan alleged al Qaeda operative based in Germany had been captured in Afghanistan.

The man, whose name has not been disclosed, is described as a “foreign fighter facilitator” and Nato said he was caught during a security operation in Zabul province, southern Afghanistan, on May 8.

“After his capture the facilitator provided details about his personal travel from Germany,” the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

“He also observed foreigners from many countries converging in Pakistan to conduct attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan.

“The combined force found passports and identification cards from France, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia amongst 10 insurgents killed during the operation.” The military said the suspect confessed to being approached while previously in Iran to become a suicide bomber but had declined “because of his goal to take part in the global jihad.”

The war in Afghanistan has been raging for nearly 10 years and started after a US-led invasion ousted the Taliban from power for harboring al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Alleged al Qaeda fighters are still regularly captured and killed in Afghanistan.

Opinion

Editorial

Vox populi
22 Mar, 2023

Vox populi

History will not judge kindly those who throw the laws of this land in the bin to keep just one man away from power.
Iraq’s wounds
22 Mar, 2023

Iraq’s wounds

TWO decades after the US military machine — aided by the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ — stormed into Iraq, ...
Mental health epidemic
22 Mar, 2023

Mental health epidemic

THERE are mounting stressors in the day-to-day existence of average Pakistanis. Rising inflation and unemployment...
Petroleum subsidy
Updated 21 Mar, 2023

Petroleum subsidy

The govt seems more interested in reviving its political capital through ad hoc measures rather than fixing economy.
Country on edge
Updated 21 Mar, 2023

Country on edge

In this war of petty egos, ordinary people cannot continue to suffer.
Afghan funding cut
21 Mar, 2023

Afghan funding cut

AS the world grapples with multiple crises, the miseries of the people of Afghanistan seem to have been relegated to...