Combined Force Arrests Taliban Leader in Balkh Province

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2012 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested the senior Taliban leader for eastern Chimtal district in Afghanistan’s Balkh province today, military officials reported.
The leader planned and conducted numerous attacks, including improvised explosive device attacks, against Afghan and coalition forces, officials said. He also directly supported other senior Taliban leaders in the province.

In other Afghanistan operations today:
-- In the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province, a combined force arrested a Taliban leader who organized attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and facilitated the movement of Taliban fighters, weapons and ammunition. The security force also detained a suspected insurgent and seized several weapons.
-- A combined force in Helmand province’s Nad-e Ali district arrested a Taliban leader who controlled insurgents and facilitated the movement of weapons. He also was responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also detained two suspected insurgents.
-- In Logar province’s Pul-e Alam district, a combined force arrested a Haqqani network leader who controlled a group of insurgents and facilitated the acquisition and movement of weapons and ammunition.
In operations yesterday:
-- A combined force in Baghlan province’s Pul-e Khumri district arrested a local Taliban leader who built and distributed IEDs and was responsible for transporting IED components to insurgents.
-- In Helmand province’s Nad-e Ali district, a combined force arrested a Taliban leader who oversaw the emplacement of IEDs, conducted direct-fire attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and acquired and distributed IED materials to insurgents. The security force also detained a suspected insurgent.
-- A combined force in Logar province’s Pul-e Alam district arrested a Haqqani network leader who led direct-fire attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and facilitated the transfer of weapons and ammunition to insurgents. The security force also detained two suspected insurgents.
-- In Khost province’s Khost district, a combined force arrested a Taliban leader who planned and conducted indirect-fire attacks on Forward Operating Base Shan and directed IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.
– A combined force in Ghazni province’s Gelan district detained several suspected insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader who plans and coordinates attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and assists senior Taliban leaders in the province.

In Dec. 1 operations:
-- A local Taliban leader who planned and conducted IED attacks and helped senior Taliban leaders was arrested in the Sar-e Pul district of Sar-e Pul province.
-- An Afghan and coalition security force killed Taliban leader Juma Gul Akhund in Kandahar province’s Panjwai district. Akhund oversaw IED operations in three Kandahar districts, and he organized the movement of weapons and IEDs throughout the province.
-- In Baghlan province’s Pul-e Khumri district, a combined force killed local Taliban leader Hanif and another insurgent. Hanif oversaw the movement of suicide bombers throughout the province, directly aided more-senior Taliban leaders.
-- A combined security force in Helmand province’s Washer district arrested a local Taliban leader who planned and coordinated attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also stored and distributed weapons for insurgent fighters in the region. The security force also detained two suspected insurgents.
-- In Kandahar province’s Panjwai district, a combined force arrested a local Taliban leader who carried out attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and oversaw the emplacement of IEDs. The security force also detained a suspected insurgent.
-- A combined force in Logar province’s Pul-e Alam district arrested a Haqqani network facilitator who coordinated the movement of weapons and ammunition into the province and distributed them to insurgent fighters.
-- In Nangarhar province’s Khugyani district, a combined force arrested two insurgents while searching for a Taliban facilitator. The security force also seized 500 pounds of narcotics, some Afghan army uniforms and several weapons.
-- A combined force in Paktia province’s Lajah–Ahmad Khel district detained several suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani network leader who directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and is suspected of involvement in the kidnapping and execution of several Afghan soldiers.
In Nov. 30 operations:
-- In Sar-e Pul province’s Sar-e Pul district, a combined force arrested two insurgents during a search for a Taliban leader who controls insurgents in Jowzjan and Sar-e Pul provinces and is responsible for attacking Afghan and coalition forces in both provinces.
-- A combined force killed Shukrullah, a senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader, in Faryab province’s Almar district. Shukrullah coordinated a Oct. 26 suicide-bomber attack that killed 41 Afghans, and he trained insurgents and provided IED components to IMU and Taliban fighters.