Military

NATO creates "kill or capture" list for Taliban: German report

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Berlin, Feb 10, IRNA -- NATO has created a "kill or capture" list for Taliban leaders, the weekly news magazine Stern reported Wednesday on its website.

The secret list allows NATO troops in Afghanistan to liquidate or capture mid-and high ranking Taliban members.

German and US special forces are reportedly involved in these secret operations.

A so-called "JPEL-list" (Joint Priority Effects List) indicates who will be included in the "c" (capture) category and who will be listed in the "k" (kill) section.

The final permission for the target killings will ultimately be issued by the headquarters of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul.

American Special Operations Forces (SOF) are reportedly using the German military base in Mazar-i Sharif.

The stationing of some 300 elite US forces was requested by the Pentagon in early August 2009, however then-German defense minister Franz Josef Jung and the chancellor's office were not informed on the issue until the September 4 NATO bombing in Kunduz which killed and injured dozens of people, mostly civilians.

OT**1416

End News / IRNA / News Code 956218