Afghanistan Operations Disrupt Extremist Plans

American Forces Press Service

Sept. 30, 2007 - Afghan and coalition forces detained two suspected militants in Afghanistan's Paktika province, and Afghan National Police officers detained an improvised explosive device maker in Nangarhar province today. In the first operation, the combined force working from intelligence approached compounds in the Yahya Khail district, where the suspected militants were believed to be hiding.

"We will continue to aggressively pursue extremist forces, denying them sanctuary and time to coordinate their efforts," said Army Maj. Chris Belcher, Combined Joint Task Force 82 spokesman. "Stopping them is vital to the long-term security and stability of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan."

The detained militants will be questioned as to their involvement in extremist activities.

The Khogyani Afghan National Police officers, with coalition advisors, detained an IED cell member named Nurullah and one other in an operation designed to disrupt insurgent IED activities in the Nangarhar province.

The police officers arrested Nurullah near Omarkheyl in the Khogyani district. The terrorist is known to be extensively involved in the making and placing of insurgent IEDs in Nangarhar province. He is suspected of directing and participating in the IED attack that killed three coalition servicemembers and an interpreter and wounded another coalition servicemember near Bar Kalakney on Aug. 12.

The police officers discovered a substantial amount of IED-making material and a 50-pound bag of opium. Afghan police officers destroyed the IED material and opium on site.

No shots were fired, and no police officers, coalition or non-combatants were injured or killed during the operation, officials said.

(Compiled from Combined Joint Task Force 82 news releases.)