AFGHANISTAN: An Islamic group expressed surprise today at reports that RAF
spy planes in south Afghanistan have detected Taliban fighters speaking in
British accents.

Nimrod surveillance aircraft flying over Helmand province recently picked up
voices lapsing from local languages into English with Midlands and Yorkshire
accents, according to reports.

Inayat Bunglawala, assistant secretary-general of the Muslim Council of
Britain, said he was aware that some British Muslims travelled to
Afghanistan to fight when hostilities began in 2001.

He had heard of no cases since then, but accepted it was "not beyond the
bounds of possibility", given that the conflict had "dragged on with still
no end in sight".

Linguists on board the Nimrods from 51 Squadron, normally based at RAF
Waddington in Lincolnshire, detected the British voices while listening in
on Taliban radio traffic, according to The Sun.

An unnamed RAF source told the newspaper: "The missions specialists could
easily jam the Taliban transmissions - but the RAF believes listening in to
their plans is much more productive.

"It was quite startling to hear English being spoken with clear Bradford and
West Brom accents.

"They reverted to English when they couldn't remember the Afghan Persian or
Pashto - the two local languages - for certain words."

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) would not confirm the report, but it said the
Nimrods had "highly sophisticated and sensitive" reconnaissance equipment.

Mr Bunglawala said: "I do know when the initial bombing was occurring in
late 2001, there was a lot of sympathy for the Afghan people, who had
endured so much.

"I am surprised if people are going now. I wasn't surprised then, but I am
surprised now.

"That's the effect of the conflict having dragged on. We were told it would
all be over in a few weeks, but the conflict has dragged on with still no
end in sight."

He urged British Muslims opposed to the war in Afghanistan to protest
peacefully using the democratic means available in the UK.

He added: "I don't think it can be denied that our actions overseas have
contributed to some British Muslims being radicalised.

"Our advice to youngsters is to campaign within the democratic framework
here.

"Going to fight British soldiers in Afghanistan leaves them open to
accusations, quite rightly, that they are betraying their own country."

The MoD said in a statement: "The Nimrod R1 operated by No 51 Squadron has a
highly sophisticated and sensitive suite of systems used for reconnaissance
and gathering electronic intelligence.

"However, due to operational security, we are unable to discuss its
operational capability."

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/world/ar...&in_page_id=64



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