Afghan security forces have detained five insurgents – three Pakistanis and two Afghans – with 10 tons of explosives that authorities say the militants intended to use in attacks in the capital, Kabul.

A National Directorate of Security spokesman, Shafiqullah Tahiri, said if the explosives had been used, the result would have been “large scale bloodshed.”

Tahiri said the explosives were brought into Afghanistan from Pakistan. He said they were found in Kabul in 400 bags under piles of potatoes in the back of a truck.

Afghan officials have long accused Pakistan of harboring insurgent groups. Pakistan has denied supporting or giving sanctuary to insurgents on its territory.

Afghan cities and the diplomatic and government areas of Kabul were hit by a wave of attacks Sunday in what the Taliban said was the start of its spring offensive.

Afghan and U.S. officials have blamed the attacks on the Haqqani network, an insurgent group that is allied with the Taliban and al-Qaida, and has been described by American officials as the most dangerous militant force in the Afghan war.

1. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Shafiqullah Tahiry, Afghan Intelligence Service Department spokesman:

“Three Pakistani terrorists and two of their Afghan colleagues were arrested with 10,000 kilograms of explosives in the Kabul province.”

2. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Shafiqullah Tahiry, Afghan Intelligence Service Department spokesman:

“If 10,000 kilograms of explosives, which were already inside Kabul, could disappear under the vigilant eyes of our forces, think of what a disaster could have happened, carried out by the enemies of peace and stability of Afghanistan and the Afghan Nation.”