US officials say the number of improvised bombs being made in Afghanistan is at record levels despite huge increases in the seizure of the fertiliser used by the Taleban to make explosives.
Senior officials told the Washington Post newspaper this week that seizures of ammonium nitrate fertiliser had doubled in the first seven months of 2012 compared to the previous year.
The homemade bombs are the biggest killer of US and coalition forces in Afghanistan, and were responsible for the deaths of three New Zealanders in Bamiyan Province on Sunday.
US and Afghan troops have seized about 480 tonnes of the fertiliser this year, enough explosive material to manufacture 30,000 to 50,000 improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
In the same period, 16,600 bombs have either been triggered or found by armed forces. They were usually planted on roadsides or footpaths.
