Insurgent IED Expert Caught Wearing Burka in Farah Province
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan 2010-07-CA-211  Feature News Release

 KABUL, Afghanistan (July 29) - A Taliban commander and his accomplice were apprehended in Farah province after Afghan National Army Commandos discovered them disguised in burkas July 25.   Afghan National Army officials said the insurgent commander was responsible for numerous attacks on Afghan and Coalition forces in Farah province. The 1st Company, 4th Commando Kandak, partnered with Coalition forces, was conducting a presence patrol to disrupt insurgent activity when the men were captured, according to ANA officials on the scene. Coalition officials said the two men were wearing burkas to disguise themselves after a failed attempt to emplace an IED in the southern part of Diware Village.   Throughout the course of the operation, the ANA Commandos also found a large quantity of opium and a cache of explosives. An explosive ordnance disposal team disabled, removed, and destroyed the cache to prevent the materials from being used to harm innocent civilians, Afghan, and Coalition forces. According to Afghan customs, men wearing burkas is considered cowardly and demeaning toward women.   "The Taliban is becoming desperate in their attempts to regain control of Afghanistan, and as a result they are attempting extraordinary measures to gain any tactical advantage," said U.S. Marine Sgt. Brian Kester, an ISAF spokesperson. "These tactics are inexcusable, and the people of Afghanistan are making it clear they will no longer tolerate such actions."