Forces Arrest Haqqani Terrorists in Afghanistan

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, March 16, 2011 – Afghan and coalition forces captured two Haqqani network terrorists and detained several other suspected insurgents yesterday in the Sabari district of Afghanistan’s Khost province, military officials reported.

Security forces found the terrorists based on tips from local residents, officials said.

In other operations yesterday throughout Afghanistan:

-- Security forces detained several suspected insurgents, including a Haqqani network terrorist linked to planning suicide bombings, indoctrination of network members and training, in Paktika province’s Orgun district.

-- Troops detained several suspected insurgents, including a Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin terrorist leader who leads a large group of foreign and Taliban fighters, in Nangarhar province’s Kyogyani district.

-- Forces in Khost province’s Sabari district captured a Haqqani network terrorist and a suspected insurgent. The Haqqani terrorist is a weapons expert and trafficker who recently coordinated the kidnapping of a local man to use his vehicle as a car bomb.

-- In Khost province’s Nadir Shah Kot district, troops found a weapons stockpile with 50 automatic machine-gun rounds, 30 pounds of homemade explosives, 30 pounds of propellant, nine mortars and rockets, seven anti-personnel mines and assorted bomb-making materials.

In operations March 15:

-- Afghan and coalition forces killed several armed insurgents and detained another while searching for a Taliban leader in Helmand province’s Washer district. The enemy fighters ambushed the patrolling troops, but were overwhelmed. Security forces recovered five assault rifles with more than 2,000 rounds of ammunition, two automatic machine guns, two rocket-propelled grenade launchers, five communication radios, several documents and medical supplies.

-- Security forces found several weapons stockpiles throughout Afghanistan. Operations resulted in seizure of 43 hand grenades, 25 rocket-propelled grenades, 16 artillery rounds, eight assault rifles and seven land mines. Troops also found bomb-making materials.