Combined Patrol Captures Taliban Commander

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

June 18, 2010 - An Afghan-international force captured a Taliban commander in Afghanistan's Zabul province last night, military officials reported.

The commander is responsible for coordinating and assisting in attacks against Afghan and international forces and has also been involved in the procurement and emplacement of roadside bombs, officials said.

The suspect was detained while the security force searched a compound in the province's Shah Joy district after intelligence sources confirmed insurgent activity. The combined force protected several women and children during the operation, officials said, and no shots were fired.

A separate Afghan-international security force detained two suspected insurgents in Kandahar province last night while pursuing a Taliban subcommander responsible for coordinating roadside-bomb attacks and ambushes against coalition forces in the province's Arghandab district.

The combined security force searched a number of compounds in the province's Zhari district after intelligence sources confirmed insurgent activity. No shots were fired during the search, officials said.