Coalition forces discover largest weapons stash in Afghanistan

BAGRAM, Afghanistan -- Romanian troops have found the biggest stash of weapons yet in Afghanistan -- two caves stuffed with thousands of rockets and more than 1.25 million rounds of ammunition.

The weapons were found Wednesday and Thursday during searches outside the village of Hazarkhel, U.S. military spokesman Col. Roger King said Friday. The village is about 220 miles southwest of Kabul.

Also Friday, King said U.S. forces were concerned about a standoff between Afghan and Pakistani forces near the border.

The cause of the dispute was unclear and so far only warning shots have been fired, King said.

In the caves near Hazarkhel, the Romanians found some 3,000 107 mm rockets, about 150 mortar rounds, 30 anti-tank mines and the ammunition, King said.

"This is the largest cache found to date by coalition forces in Afghanistan," King said, adding all the weapons were blown up at the site.

The 107 mm rockets have become staples in the guerrilla war being waged by remnants of al-Qaida and the ousted Taliban against coalition troops.

Five rockets were fired overnight at a U.S. base in Orgun, 100 miles south of Kabul, King said at Bagram Air Base. No one was hurt in the attack.

Border standoff

King said Afghan militia forces were locked in a standoff with Pakistani troops at the border near the eastern village of Ghulam Khan.

"Nobody's engaging in a direct fire fight as far as we've been able to determine," he said.

Coalition forces were in the area and were trying to calm the situation, he said.

"We have two governments, both of which work with us, seemingly having a dispute," King said.

"We're concerned, we're interested and we're hopeful of a good outcome."

The cause of the standoff was unclear, and without a clearly marked border it was unclear if the Pakistani troops had crossed into Afghanistan, he said.