THE bone-chilling morning wind blew strongly from the direction of the Panjshir mountain range, yet hundreds of United States soldiers stood ready at the foot of the snow-topped mountains. Infantry combed the perimeter, while Black Hawk attack helicopters flew among the peaks. On that day, in mid-October, a major operation was conducted by the US Central Command in Bagram.

The large-scale manhunt was made on account of the escape of four high-leve