Taliban’s large cache of potent explosives destroyed by Afghan commandos

The NATO Special Operations Component Command in a report said the commandos from the 3rd Special Operations Kandak, advised by U.S. Special Operations Forces, conducted numerous missions over the course of a four-day Afghan-led operation targeting Taliban compounds suspected of concealing large amounts of homemade explosives in Tarin Kot district, Uruzgan province, July 25-29.
The report further added that during the operations in Tarin Kot, 10,100 pounds of homemade explosives and another 1,400 pounds of C-4, a plastic explosive, were destroyed. Commandos clearing the compounds found over 20 82 mm mortars, 50 RPG rounds, over 6,000 rounds of armor-piercing .50 caliber ammunition, two bunker systems and 50 rocket fuses.
“The destruction of this dangerous stockpile of explosives reduces the risk to Afghan civilians who have consistently been injured or killed through attacks made by the Taliban,” said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Smiley, Train, Advise and Assist-South commander. “The large amount of explosives and munitions leaves no doubt that irreconcilable Taliban continue to plan and prepare for more attacks.”
The large cache, which was located next to the homes of Afghan families, were destroyed through a series of strikes and on the ground controlled detonations, the report said.
“Because of the high danger presented by the types and quantities of weapons, it was necessary to carefully plan controlled detonations,” said Smiley. “I find it inconceivable that the Taliban would store weapons this dangerous next to family homes.”