Afghan police official accused of helping insurgents make bombs

NATO forces swooped down on the home of a senior Afghan police official, arrested him and accused him of helping insurgents make and plant roadside bombs, Western military officials said Sunday. The incident, which took place last week in Kapisa province, east of the capital, Kabul, is likely to raise tensions between foreign forces and the Afghan national police. That partnership is considered a crucial element of plans by the Obama administration to pave the way for a drawdown of American forces starting next year. Before any large-scale Western pullout occurs, Afghan security forces are supposed to take on more responsibility for safeguarding the country. If the charges against the arrested official are borne out, the case would represent one of the most serious instances to date of complicity by a ranking Afghan security official with the Taliban or other militant groups.