Afghan, Coalition Force Captures Haqqani Insurgents

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, June 10, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition force yesterday captured a Haqqani network leader, a Haqqani facilitator and several of their associates during a security operation in the Orgun district of Paktika province in Afghanistan, military officials reported.

The leader directs Haqqani insurgents in Sar Rowzah district. The facilitator helped senior Haqqani leaders plan attacks, as well as procuring funding and supplies.

The insurgents where captured during a search of the facilitator’s compound. The force cleared the compound and the Haqqani leader, the facilitator and several other individuals were taken into custody.

No shots were fired and the force ensured the safety of the women and children.

In other operations in Afghanistan yesterday:

-- In Baghlan province, an Afghan and coalition force detained several suspects while searching for a Taliban leader in the Baghlan-e Jadid district. The target is a leader for the Kunduz attack network and is typically active in Kabul and Ghazni provinces.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspects during a search for a Taliban facilitator in the Tarnek wa Jaldak district of Zabul province. The facilitator is responsible for construction and emplacement of roadside bombs targeting Afghan soldiers. The Afghan-led force detained the two individuals during a search of a compound associated with the facilitator.

-- In Kandahar province, an Afghan and coalition force detained a suspected insurgent while searching for a Taliban facilitator in the Panjwa’i district. The target of the operation is a Taliban facilitator linked to the movement of explosives throughout the district.

-- During a search in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, a security force detained one suspect while searching for a Taliban facilitator. The facilitator smuggles weapons across various provinces for the Taliban. He and his associates travel from Helmand to Kandahar, transporting weapons collected from Pakistan.

-- An Afghan and coalition force detained numerous suspects during an overnight security operation targeting a Haqqani network leader in the Sharan district of Paktika province. The leader is the Haqqani appointed governing official for network attacks in the Mata Khan district.

-- In Logar province, a combined Afghan and coalition security force detained two individuals during an operation targeting a Taliban leader in the Baraki Barak district. The leader is linked to planning and preparing attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, as well as facilitating weapons and ammunition to fellow insurgents.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected insurgents during an operation in the Sherzad district of Nangarhar province. The Afghan-led force was searching for a Taliban leader who plans and conducts roadside bomb attacks against Afghan security forces, as well as facilitating the movement of suicide vests to insurgents in the area. While searching, the force confiscated several grenades, an AK-47 rifle, several pistols and multiple chest racks.

-- A coalition force discovered a drugs cache in the Garm Ser district of Helmand province. The cache was discovered on a local pick-up truck and consisted of 110 pounds of opium. The insurgents were detained by the security forces for questioning. The drugs will be destroyed.

-- An ISAF patrol discovered a drugs cache in the Panjwa’i district of Kandahar province. The cache consisted of 300 pounds of marijuana. The drugs were safely destroyed by the security forces.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force discovered a weapons cache in the Qarghah’i district of Laghman province. The cache consisted of two 82 mm rounds, 30 7.62 mm rounds, 12 anti-personnel mines, six grenades and a quantity of explosives. All the weapons were destroyed by the security forces.

In June 8 Afghanistan operations:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force killed several insurgents and seized weapons and narcotics during an operation in the Baghran district of Helmand province. The insurgents were killed when they engaged the patrol. The combined patrol seized 187 pounds of opium, two AK-47 rifles, one machine gun, one rifle, one grenade and some small-arms ammunition. The weapons and narcotics were destroyed on site.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force killed a Taliban improvised explosive device expert during a security operation in the Maidan Shahr district of Wardak province. The target, Juma Shan, was a mid-level Taliban leader of an IED cell active along Highway 1. Shan specialized in advanced IED construction that targeted Afghan civilians and security force members. Shan was killed when he attempted to engage the patrol with a rifle. The force confiscated one AK-47 rifle, one grenade, one night vision device and some small-arms ammunition. All weapons were destroyed.

And, during a June 6 operation in the Baghran district, security forces discovered a drugs cache consisting of 4,519 pounds of opium and 157 pounds of heroin.