Acting on intelligence tips, NATO
claims to have targeted the shadow governor of Kandahar province. Considering the importance of Kandahar province, that would make this the most significant counter-terrorism raid of the year if it did indeed net the shadow governor himself. NATO says that over ten suspected-insurgents were captured in the raid, which occured very close to the border with Pakistan.
Kandahar City was the capital during Taliban rule. It is their homeland, and it is right up the road from the Pakistani city of Quetta. The capture of the shadow governor of Kandahar province could yield significant if it is indeed true. The fact that the raid took place in Spin Boldak is telling; sitting at the Chaman border crossing, it is right between Kandahar and Quetta. No two cities are more important to the Taliban, and indeed the shadow governor of Kandahar would have likely spent most of his time across the border in Pakistan.
According to NATO, they noticed a group of men, some armed and masked, attempting to flee when they began entering one of the targeted compounds. At the scene they found 500 pounds of marijuana and lots of weapons. The press release, saying "more than 10" suspected-insurgents were captured, doesn't specify exactly how many were captured(which is common for these press releases). While the name of the shadow governor of Kandahar is likely to ring very few bells, if true it could provide the U.S. with tremendous intelligence on the Afghan Taliban on both sides of the border.
Counter-terrorism raids have been used with increasing frequency after NATO troops have poured into the country. Besides for the raid targeting the shadow-governor of Kandahar, there were five other raids today throughout Afghanistan.(not including drone strikes)
Maps:
When considering the situation in Pashtunistan, consider these maps of Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is in the Pashtun areas where the U.S. and NATO have the most problems. It's important to note that while Pashtuns make up a much larger proportion of the population of Afghanistan than they do in Pakistan, there are still more Pashtuns in Pakistan than in Afghanistan. Here is a good map and rundown of the areas that make up the main warzone.