Bomb-making ingredient still entering Afghanistan
The New York Times reports that Operation Global Shield is not stopping all ammonium nitrate -- a key bomb-making ingredient -- from entering Afghanistan.
Operation Global Shield — the effort to stop bomb-making materials from getting into Afghanistan — is running into some hurdles. Roadside bombs are still the top killer of American soldiers.
The Afghan government banned ammonium nitrate, the basic ingredient used in the bombs, but police in neighboring Pakistan continue to allow tons of it across the border, The New York Times reports.
The Obama administration said Operation Global Shield must be a world-wide effort. Homeland Security officials said they believe some bomb-making chemicals are manufactured somewhere other than Pakistan and then smuggled through the country. Some of it is also coming across the Iranian border.
The Times reports 24 tons of ammonium nitrate has been seized by NATO troops in Afghanistan in just the past few weeks.
This story is part of Federal News Radio’s daily DoD Report. For more defense news, click here.
Copyright © 2024 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
