Forces Disrupt Terrorists in Nangarhar Province

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, May 6, 2011 – Combined forces yesterday captured a Taliban leader and three of his associates during an operation in the Bati Kot district of Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province.

The captured insurgents were wanted for launching attacks on security forces in the area. Based on tips from local residents, troops found the insurgents, who are linked to bomb-making activities. Security forces also detained several other suspected insurgents in the operation.

In other operations yesterday throughout Afghanistan:

-- Afghan and coalition forces captured three suspected insurgents, including a Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin network terrorist recruiter in Khost province’s Bak district.

-- Security forces in Kandahar province’s Maiwand district detained a Taliban leader and several other suspected insurgents. The leader is responsible for coordinating attacks throughout the province’s Maiwand and Zharay districts.

-- In Ghazni province’s Gelan district, troops captured a Taliban leader responsible for providing bomb-making materials and intelligence information to insurgent fighters to use against security forces along Highway 1.

-- Security forces found several weapons stockpiles. Operations resulted in seizure of 15,432 pounds of ammonium nitrate -- a banned fertilizer used to make explosives -- as well as six rocket-propelled grenades.