Afghan, Coalition Forces Arrest Insurgents in Baghlan Province

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release KABUL, Afghanistan, May 23, 2013 – A combined Afghan and coalition security force in Baghlan province’s Baghlan-e Jadid district arrested six insurgents today during a search for a Taliban facilitator, military officials reported. The facilitator controls a group responsible for attacks on Afghan and coalition forces, stores insurgents’ equipment in his home and coordinates the acquisition of weapons. Also today, a combined force in Helmand province’s Nahr-e Saraj district arrested an insurgent during a search for a Taliban leader who directs and executes attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also procures and distributes bomb-making materials to insurgents and serves as an intelligence operative for senior Taliban leadership. In Afghanistan operations yesterday: -- A combined force in Paktia province’s Sayyid Karam district killed three insurgents during a search for a senior Haqqani network leader involved with improvised explosive device attacks. He also coordinates insurgent movements and attacks, provides information to senior Haqqani leaders and facilitates the movement of IEDs, weapons and money into the area. -- Provincial Response Company Logar, enabled by coalition forces, seized and destroyed an IED and almost 500 pounds of ingredients for homemade explosives in Logar province’s Pul-e Alam district. In May 21 operations: -- Afghan soldiers, along with uniformed and local police, destroyed 20 IEDs during a checkpoint emplacement operation in Helmand province’s Nahr-e-Saraj district. -- Two senior Haqqani network leaders were killed during an operation in Paktia province’s Zurmat district. One, an intelligence operative, also was involved in coordinating mine and IED placements, providing equipment to insurgents and organizing kidnappings for ransom. The other deceased insurgent leader planned and participated in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, and relayed strategic guidance to insurgents from senior Haqqani leaders.