Combined Force Detains Taliban Leader

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 31, 2012 – An Afghan and coalition security force detained a Taliban leader as well as multiple other insurgents and seized more than 700 rounds of ammunition during an operation in the Panjwai district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province today, military officials reported.

The insurgent leader recently returned to the district with numerous insurgent fighters for the Taliban’s spring offensive, officials said.

The detained insurgent leader was also the senior Taliban member operating in the district, officials said, and he directed roadside bombings, suicide attacks and other operations against Afghan and coalition forces.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- In the Nad-e Ali district of Helmand province, a combined force detained multiple suspects during a search for a Taliban leader. The sought-after insurgent leader directs attacks against Afghan and coalition bases and coordinates his operations with the senior Taliban member in the district.

-- A combined force detained two suspected insurgents during an operation to detain a Taliban leader in the Arghandab district of Kandahar province. The sought-after insurgent leader conducts roadside bombings, assassinations and other attacks against Afghan officials and security forces and coalition troops. He also provides weapons and ammunition to insurgents.

-- In the Sabari district of Khost province, a combined force detained a Haqqani facilitator and two other insurgents. The facilitator supplied weapons, ammunition, rockets and explosives to insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition troops.

-- A combined force detained several insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader in the Wali Muhammad Shahid Khugyani district of Ghazni province. The sought-after insurgent leader conducts roadside bombings, indirect-fire attacks and other operations against Afghan and coalition troops. He also is suspected in ordering the kidnapping of Afghan troops.

In an operation yesterday, a combined force detained a Taliban leader and two additional insurgents in the Murghab district of Badghis province. The Taliban leader, who is an explosives expert, constructed and directed the use of improvised explosive devices in attacks against coalition forces. He also supervised Taliban informants throughout the region.

When the Taliban leader was detained, he was in the process of acquiring more-powerful explosives for large-scale IED attacks throughout the province.