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Translator of U.S. Special Forces arrested by Afghan National Security officers

According to the Afghan authorities, the arrested is an Afghan of American origin
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS
Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

CAIRO, July 9. /ITAR-TASS /. Agents of the National Directorate of Security of Afghanistan /NDS/ have arrested an interpreter of American special forces accused of torturing and killing civilians. This was reported in a statement of NDS. Afghan media pointed out that this incident shows a further deterioration of already strained relations between the Afghan government and NATO forces.

The arrested has been identified as Zakeria Kandahari. For several years he has been working as a translator with the U.S. commandos who fought with Taliban militants in Wardak province. According to the Afghan authorities, Kandahari is an Afghan of American origin. Details of his biography are unknown.

In a statement of NDS it is noted that during the arrest of Kandahari were found three pistols, a computer, two fake birth certificates and several other false personal identity documents.

In March of this year, the charges against the American special forces of committing crimes against the civilian population of Wardak forced President Hamid Karzai to demand the withdrawal of U.S. forces from that province which is of strategic importance to the security of Kabul.

The situation in the country in connection with these crimes has been particularly acute in March last year, when a U.S. sergeant was accused of killing 16 civilians.