PRESS RELEASE HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES AFGHANISTAN Kabul, Afghanistan Phone: [phone]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 10, 2009

Release Number 20091002-02

Note: For releases including photos, photos and cutlines appear within the attached release document; the individual photos are available upon request (no high resolution photos are available).

Afghans turn over weapons and armament caches as part of the SRP

KABUL, Afghanistan - Afghan villagers located in eastern Afghanistan have turned over sizeable weapons caches to Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition forces over the past week as part of the Small Rewards Program (SRP).

Afghan citizens receive compensation for their efforts through the SRP when they facilitate the recovery and turn-in of armament caches. The SRP encourages and compensates Afghan citizens for their efforts to free the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan of weapons used by insurgents and foreign fighters.

Intelligence provided by local villagers led to the recovery of the caches by ANSF and Coalition forces.

One sizeable cache discovered by Afghan National Police in an underground bunker in Ghazni province included numerous mortars, rockets, grenades, mines and various other forms of weaponry and ammunition.

The second cache discovered by Afghan National Army Commandos in Khowst province contained one AK-47, six rocket-propelled grenade launchers, six RPG rounds and a parachute flare.

Afghans who provide Coalition forces with important intelligence information not only benefit monetarily but also help increase security in their area by removing these weapons from the hands of militants.

The SRP has proven to be quite successful for ANSF led forces. More than 200,000 USD have been paid out since June 2008 to individuals who provided information resulting in the location, recovery and destruction of weapons caches throughout Afghanistan.

With the help of intelligence reporting and local villagers, the Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, Afghan Commandos and Coalition forces have been able to recover or destroy more than 107 enemy weapon caches.

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PHOTO CUTLINES:

Note: For releases including photos, photos and cutlines appear within the attached release document; the individual photos are available upon request (no high resolution photos are available).

200902007-01 Dept. of Defense (Released) - A sizeable munitions cache uncovered by Afghan National Police in Ghazni province Feb. 7. The cache was reported by local villagers who were rewarded with cash payments for information leading to the discovery.

200902007-02 Dept. of Defense (Released) - An Afghan National Policeman searches an underground bunker for a weapons cache in Ghazni province Feb. 7. Information from local villagers led to the discovery.

200902007-03 Dept. of Defense (Released) - A weapons cache uncovered by Afghan National Army Commandos in Khowst province Feb. 6 with the help of information from local villagers.

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United States Forces Afghanistan's mission, in coordination with NATO's International Security Assistance Force, is to conduct operations to defeat terrorist networks and insurgents by developing effective governance and building the Afghan National Security Force. Effective security throughout the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan facilitates continued regional stability and increases economic development for the people of Afghanistan.

Contact Information - US Forces Afghanistan Public Affairs Office

Tel [phone] or cell phone [phone]

[e-mail]

Afghanistan

USFOR

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