The Taliban is making serious attempts to kidnap or assassinate the United Kingdom’s Prince Harry during his current four-month tour of Afghanistan.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters on Monday that, “we are using all our strength to get rid of him, either by killing or kidnapping.
“We have informed our commanders in Helmand to do whatever they can to eliminate him.”
Prince Harry of Wales, a trained Apache helicopter pilot, arrived at Camp Bastion in the volatile southern Helmand province last Friday to serve as a co-pilot and gunner in the Army Air Corps.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, Prince Harry will work as part of the Joint Aviation Group providing helicopter support, surveillance, deterrence, and possible close combat attack.
Camp Bastion is a UK-controlled logistics hub and is Great Britain’s largest overseas base since World War II.
Prince Harry was scheduled for deployment in 2007 to serve in Iraq but plans were cancelled due to his status as a “high value target” who would pose a threat to the soldiers around him as a result of anticipated concerted efforts by groups that had already made specific threats on him. In 2008, the prince served ten weeks as a forward air controller in Afghanistan before a media blackout, agreed to by media outlets, was violated, resulting in his premature withdrawal.
The Defence Ministry maintains that his deployment has been carefully assessed and the possible threat he poses to fellow soldiers has been taken into account.
The 27 year old prince is the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II and third in line to the British Throne.
