Karzai, ISAF Condemn Attacks on British Compound

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Aug. 19, 2011 – Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the International Security Assistance Force condemned today’s insurgent bomb attacks against the British Council compound in the Afghan capital of Kabul, military officials reported.

Initial reports indicate a combination of vehicle-borne and personal-borne bombs were detonated.

The attacks occurred as Afghans were observing the 92nd anniversary of their independence from Great Britain.

"This despicable act of murder and destruction today, on this day of Afghan Independence, is yet another indication the insurgents have nothing but contempt for the Afghan people," said Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, commander of ISAF. "We will continue to support our Afghan counterparts to destroy the networks behind this attack, and hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions."

ISAF troops are providing assistance to the Afghan-led response following the attacks. The attack began at about 6 a.m., with two explosions in Kabul’s Kart-e-Parwan section, according to initial reports.

In Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force killed multiple insurgents and detained a Taliban facilitator and an associate during a firefight in the Zharay district of Kandahar province. The facilitator was responsible for delivering lethal aid to Taliban insurgents. Two insurgents wounded in the fight were transported to a medical facility for treatment.

-- A combined force detained two suspects during a security search in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province. The target of the operation was a Taliban leader who conducts mortar and other attacks in the Gereshk area.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Haqqani terrorist network leader in the Zurmat district of Paktia province. The leader provides intelligence to other insurgents, coordinates attacks, and facilitates Haqqani operations in the district.

-- Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents and detained two suspects during several operations conducted in Regional Command East. Meanwhile, Taliban actions resulted in three civilian casualties in the Gardez district of Paktia province. During an operation in Nangahar, Afghan police and coalition forces seized 5,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate – a banned fertilizer used in homemade explosives -- and detained six insurgents.

In Aug. 17 operations:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition patrol killed several insurgents during an operation in the Nerkh district of Wardak province. The insurgents were killed after they engaged the patrol with small-arms fire. The patrol seized and destroyed some enemy small-arms ammunition.

-- Several suspects were detained by a combined Afghan and coalition patrol during an operation targeting an insurgent leader in the Kabul district of Kabul province.

-- In the Pur Chaman district of Farah province, a combined patrol detained several suspects during an operation targeting a Taliban IED facilitator. The facilitator coordinates the movement of bombs to insurgents who carry out attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Farah and Nimroz provinces.