American forces were involved in an operation that led to the capture of a German man suspected of fighting with the Taliban, the NATO Resolute Support Mission said on Thursday.
Earlier, AFP reported that the German national who calls himself Abdul Wadood, was arrested with other suspected Taliban fighters during an operation in Helmand province on Wednesday. The man has been taken to Kandahar for further investigation, according to the Afghan army.
“Resolute Support can confirm that on 28 February during operations in Helmand Province, Afghan military forces detained an individual claiming German nationality. The individual currently remains in Afghan custody,” Resolute Support Public Affairs Director Captain Tom Gresback told The Defense Post.
“We can confirm U.S. forces were involved in advising their Afghan National Defense and Security Forces counterparts.”
Gresback referred all further questions about the man to Afghan and German officials.
“A man with a long beard, wearing a black turban who identified himself as a German citizen and speaks German, was taken along with three other suspected Taliban on Monday night in Gereshk district of Helmand province,” Omar Zwak, the provincial governor’s spokesperson told AFP.
The suspects were captured during a joint Afghan Special Forces and Afghan air force operation late on Wednesday.
Gereskh police chief Ismail Khplwak said the man was a military advisor to the commander of the Taliban’s “Red Unit” in Helmand, Mullah Nasir.
“They were in a mine-making centre when they were detained.Weapons and ammunitions were also confiscated from them,” Khplwak said.
With reporting from AFP
