Afghan forces demonstrate professionalism, eliminate militants

Afghan security forces put on display their competence and ability as they foiled terrorist attacks in capital Kabul by killing five would-be suicide bombers Thursday. In the well-coordinated operation involving police, army and the intelligence launched Thursday morning, no security personnel or civilians has been hurt. The brazen operation which lasted for a while was conducted on a tip-off in Butkhak area, some 8 km east of Kabul city, where eight militants armed with suicide vests, firearms and ammunitions had hidden in a rented house to launch massive offensive including suicide attacks, police said. "Based on intelligence report, the security forces carried out an operation against a house in Butkhak neighborhood in eastern Kabul and upon arrival of the forces, the armed terrorists engaged them with firefight. As a result, five armed terrorists were killed in the gunfight," the Kabul police said in a statement. Another militant was captured and two others made their good escape, the statement said, adding a manhunt operation has been launched to trace them. The militants had rented a house from where they planned to organize their attacks in Kabul city. In previous operations against well-trench anti-government militants in cities, the security forces often suffered casualties. But this time no security personnel was hurt. An explosive-laden vehicle was found at the site and defused on the spot, the statement said. Separately, Kabul police discovered and defused two bombs planted under a bridge to target security forces vehicles in Sheena village, a neighboring locality to Butkhak on Thursday morning, according to the statement. Two men responsible for planting the bombs under bridge have been captured, it added. Earlier, Taliban targeted a hotel overlooking a lake in west of Kabul in June, killing 17 civilians and a policeman, besides holding scores of people as hostages for more than 11 hours. Nevertheless, the security forces after 11 hours of intense gun battle killed all five Taliban fighters and ended the drama in the Qargha lake, a picnic spot in the west of Kabul. In a related development, 10 terrorists had been arrested in Taliban's former stronghold Kandahar couple of days ago, according to a statement of the National Directorate for Security (NDS) or intelligence agency Thursday. The Afghan forces' professionalism has been shown during security transition process from NATO-led troops to Afghan government, a process scheduled to complete by the end of 2004 when the U.S. and allied forces pull out from Afghanistan.