Forces Capture Taliban Commander, Other Suspects

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

May 6, 2010 - A Taliban commander and a few other insurgents were captured by an Afghan-international security force in Afghanistan's Kandahar province last night.

The combined force captured the Taliban commander responsible for planning and executing attacks against coalition forces during an operation in the province's Khakrez district. He also is heavily involved in organizing suicide attacks, mortar attacks and buying bomb components. A few other insurgents also were captured.

In Helmand province's Nad-e Ali district last night, a combined security force detained several suspected militants for questioning.

Yesterday in Khost province's Nadir Shah Kot district, a combined patrol found seven rocket-propelled grenades, a machine gun, four rifles, nine assault rifle ammunition magazines, four bandoleers, 200 rifle rounds, and 30 machine gun rounds. Afghan soldiers determined the weapons were from two tribes that had been fighting and detained five people from each tribe for questioning.

In Kandahar province's Maiwand district May 5, an International Security Assistance Force patrol stopped a suspicious vehicle and found a large amount of money and seven pounds of opium. Afghan authorities detained three people.

No shots were fired, and no one was harmed during any of these operations, officials said.