Video of canine wearing complex harness, along with weapons that Taliban say they captured from US forces, are posted online

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

The Afghan Taliban say they have captured a US military sniffer dog and posted a video of the animal online.

Fighters, showing off weapons they say were also captured from US forces in east Laghman province just before Christmas, mill around the chocolate-brown dog.

Glossier and better fed than most guard dogs kept in Afghan villages, the animal is wearing a complex harness similar to ones used by some Nato forces.

A Taliban Twitter account shared video of the dog

. An experienced dog handler who has worked in Afghanistan said it appeared to be a Belgian shepherd, a breed popular with soldiers owing to its ability to work for hours without a break.

"You see the ears? They are down, that tells you that the dog is not aggressive and just wants to feel safe. Right now the dog is terrified," said the handler, who asked not to be named while talking about Nato.

"I can see in his eyes he just wants to get his handler," he added.

A spokesman for Nato forces in Afghanistan said they were aware of the reports, and looking into them, but had no immediate comment.

Dogs have been widely used by western forces in Afghanistan to sniff out buried bombs and hidden narcotics, as well as help search homes. They usually stay close to the men and women who manage them, but can occasionally be separated by a heavy gun battle or large bomb, the handler said.

He remembered at least one other incident when Afghan insurgents captured a dog alive, and held it for several months.