NATO forces detained a Germany-based Moroccan al-Qaeda fighter during an operation in southern Afghanistan, the military said Tuesday, DPA reported.
The man, who was described as a facilitator, was arrested during a joint operation with Afghan forces in Qalat, the capital of Zabul province, on May 8, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said in a statement.
"After his capture, the facilitator provided details about his personal travel from Germany," it said, adding, "He also observed foreigners from many countries converging in Pakistan to conduct attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan.
The Afghan Defence Ministry said earlier this month that a French national was also arrested, but Tuesday's statement said that the coalition forces found passports and identification cards from France, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia among 10 insurgents killed during the operation.
The detained Moroccan had also travelled to Iran, where he was "approached to become a suicide bomber" but he had declined because of his goal to take part in global jihad.
"Additional information provided by the facilitator on the mechanics of getting foreign fighters to Afghanistan will serve to support targeting the network of facilitators who bring global terrorism to bear on coalition forces and civilians in Afghanistan," the statement added.
Concerns have been increasing about the ability of al-Qaeda and Taliban to recruit in European countries.
Earlier this month, Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak said a bomber who tried to kill him late last month had lived in London for six years.
The attacker, wearing an army uniform over a bomb vest, broke into the ministry and shot dead three soldiers. He was shot dead before he could detonate his explosives.