Forces in Afghanistan Detain Numerous Insurgents

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2011 – Combined forces yesterday captured a Taliban leader and numerous other suspected insurgents in the Panjwai district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, military officials reported.

The Taliban leader is believed to be the No. 2 commander of insurgent operations in the district. The operation also resulted in seizure of 150 pounds of marijuana.

In other news throughout Afghanistan yesterday:

-- Afghan and coalition forces in Helmand province’s Kajaki district detained several suspected insurgents and destroyed a stockpile of drugs while searching for an insurgent they believe is responsible for trafficking narcotics and laundering money in nearby Baghlan district. The operation resulted in seizure of 120 pounds of opium.

-- Security forces in Khost province’s Khost district detained several suspected insurgents who allegedly were planning an attack. The suspects also have alleged ties with al-Qaida leaders in Pakistan.

-- Forces captured a Haqqani network terrorist and several other suspected network members responsible for planning and carrying out attacks on security forces in Khost province’s Terayzai district.

-- Afghan and coalition forces in Paktika province’s Dila wa Khoshamand district detained several suspected insurgents and found a weapons cache. The stockpile included 10 rocket-propelled grenades, four grenade machine-gun rounds, two hand grenades and an assault rifle with more than 200 rounds of ammunition.

-- In Helmand province’s Kajaki district, troops detained a suspected insurgent with alleged ties to Taliban activities in the area.

-- Combined forces detained a suspected insurgent during a clearing operation in Logar province’s Charkh district in an effort to prevent Taliban forces from staging and launching attacks from the area.

-- Security forces found several other weapons and drug stockpiles throughout Afghanistan. Operations resulted in seizure of 745 assault rifle rounds, 190 vehicle-mounted, automatic machine-gun rounds, 40 40 mm rifle rounds, 23 rocket-propelled grenades, 15 satchel charges, six rocket-propelled grenade warheads, five hand grenades, five tactical radios, two assault rifles, two 82 mm mortars, a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and assorted bomb-making materials.