Polish Commandos Arrest Wanted Insurgent In Afghanistan
31.01.2013 – Polish commandos have arrested a wanted insurgent commander in Afghanistan in a joint operation with Afghan anti-terrorist police.
The Polish military has not disclosed the man’s name, but assert that he is a “dangerous Taliban commander” who was on NATO’s Joint Prioritized Effects List (JPEL) of wanted rebels.
“Information garnered by officers from [Poland’s] Military Intelligence Service shows unequivocally that he played an active role in the attack on the Polish patrol that took place on 22 December 2012,” claimed army press spokesman Captain Janusz Blaszczak, as quoted by the Polish Press Agency (PAP).
Three Polish soldiers were wounded in the December incident.
The insurgent was arrested on Tuesday night, and a statement on the Ministry of Defence’s official web site asserts that “the detainee was associated with the most important leaders of the Taliban movement.
“The success of the operation was made possible thanks to good training and good cooperation between the Afghan PRC (Provision Reponse Company anti-terrorist police) and Polish commandos,” the Ministry of Defence stressed.
Poland’s current military contingent in Afghanistan numbers 1800 soldiers and military personnel.
Last week, commando Captain Krzysztof Wozniak became the 38th member of the Polish contingent to be killed in Afghanistan (including one medic).
Poland is due to cease combat operations by the end of 2013, continuing only in a training capacity until the end of that year, when the Polish contingent is timetabled to leave Afghanistan. (nh)
– Polskie Radio