Combined Force Arrests Taliban Leader in Kandahar Province

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, May 8, 2013 – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader and three other insurgents during an operation in the Panjwa’i district of Afghanistan’s Kandahar province today, military officials reported.

The arrested insurgent leader has coordinated and carried out attacks against tribal elders in the region, as well as against Afghan and coalition forces.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- A combined force arrested a Taliban leader in the Marjeh district of Helmand province. The leader planned, directed and took part in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also procures and distributes weapons to insurgent cells in the local area and advises senior insurgent leaders on long-term strategic goals. The security force also seized one AK-47 rifle, three magazines and 250 rounds of ammunition.

-- A combined force arrested three insurgents during a search for a high-ranking Haqqani leader in Paktika province’s Ziruk district. The sought-after Haqqani leader directs attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and has led attacks on government facilities throughout Afghanistan, including in Khost and Kabul provinces. The security force also seized ammunition during the operation.

In Afghanistan operations yesterday, Provincial Response Company Logar, enabled by coalition forces, detained four insurgents and discovered a cache of weapons and explosives-making materials while conducting a cordon-and-search operation in Logar province’s Pul-e district. The cache, which was destroyed on location, included 15 Chinese 107 mm rockets, one 82 mm recoilless rifle round and two 50-kilogram [110-pound] bags of fertilizer.