Karzai, Allen Condemn Insurgent Attacks

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases.  Read the firsthand accounts of these veterans as they describe action on the front lines in Afghanistan.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17, 2011 – Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, jointly condemned yesterday’s improvised explosive device attack that killed numerous civilians and wounded many others -- including children -- at the bazaar in the Deh Rawud district of Afghanistan’s Uruzgan province, military officials reported.

Initial reports indicate that one motorcycle-borne IED exploded in the bazaar area as local civilians were shopping for their evening meal.

Karzai and Allen also condemned yesterday’s attack that killed Rabia Sadat, an employee of the Kandahar Department of Rural Development, and a member of the Provincial Peace Committee.

“The insurgents' brazen and heinous acts show their complete disregard for the Afghan people and their property," Allen said. "We mourn with our Afghan partners over this tragic loss of life.”

In Afghanistan military operations yesterday:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force detained a Taliban facilitator and one of his associates in the Shinwar district of Nangarhar province. The facilitator operated in the Surkh Rod district and supported Taliban attacks against the Afghan police and other Afghan security forces. The force also confiscated an assault rifle, pistols, several chest racks and ammunition.

-- In the Khanabad district of Kunduz province, a combined force detained numerous suspects during a search for an Islamic Movement Uzbekistan terrorist organization facilitator who is involved in the movement of weapons and explosives for attacks throughout northern Afghanistan.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force detained a suspected insurgent leader in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province. The leader is responsible for multiple ambushes and roadside-bomb attacks against Afghan security forces.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force captured a Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin terrorist organization leader and several of his associates in the Nerkh district of Wardak province. The leader was responsible for planning and coordinating attacks against Afghan security forces.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Haqqani terrorist network leader in the Zurmat district of Paktia province. The leader is responsible for coordinating roadside-bomb and direct attacks against Afghan security forces.

In Aug. 15 Afghanistan operations:

-- A combined patrol killed more than 10 insurgents and detained two others during a search for an insurgent leader operating in the Now Zad district of Helmand province. The targeted insurgent leader is responsible for coordinating and organizing attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces. During the operation, insurgents engaged a combined forces helicopter. The combined forces returned fire and killed the insurgents.

-- A combined patrol detained several suspected insurgents during an operation targeting a Taliban leader in the Kabul district of Kabul province. The insurgent leader is responsible for supplying lethal aid used against Afghan and coalition forces.