Afghan-led Security Force Detains Taliban Leader

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, May 7, 2012 – In operations around Afghanistan yesterday:

An Afghan-led security force supported by coalition troops detained a Taliban leader in Kandahar province’s Arghistan district yesterday, military officials reported. The leader conducted roadside bombings against Afghan and coalition troops in Kandahar City and was responsible for moving explosive devices into the city from Zabul province, officials said.

He also was suspected of trying to infiltrate the Afghan National Police. The security force detained several additional suspects and seized weapons during the operation.

In May 5 operations in Afghanistan:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition security force in Uruzgan province’s Tarin Kot district found small-arms ammunition, two hand grenades, a rocket-propelled grenade, five 82 mm recoilless rifle rounds, eight roadside-bomb detonators, nine anti-tank mines and a heavy weapons mount.

-- Insurgents attacked an Afghan and coalition security force conducting an operation to capture a Taliban leader in Faryab province’s Almar district. The Taliban leader organizes roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and serves as a Taliban judge who tries to impose Taliban law on the civilians. The security force returned fire, and after ensuring no civilians were in the area, called in a precision air strike. A follow-on assessment determined that five insurgents were killed and no civilians were harmed. The security force detained several insurgents and recovered assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, a heavy machine gun and bomb components.

-- In Baghlan province’s Baghlan-e Jadid district, an Afghan-led security force captured a Taliban leader who coordinated roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces. He also supplied weapons, ammunition and equipment to insurgents. The security force also seized weapons and ammunition.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition security force in Nimroz province’s Khash Rod district found and destroyed 185 pounds of wet opium.

-- In the same district, an Afghan and coalition security force captured a senior Taliban leader who was directly involved in the planning and coordination of roadside bombings, suicide bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces in central Helmand province.

-- In Kandahar province’s Shah Wali Kot district, insurgents attacked an Afghan and coalition security force conducting an operation to capture a Taliban facilitator who provides weapons to insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces in Daman and Arghistan districts. The security force returned fire and called in a precision air strike that killed three insurgents, detained another insurgent and seized weapons.

-- In Ghazni province’s Andar district, an Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader who coordinated roadside bombings, suicide attacks and other operations against Afghan officials, Afghan security forces and coalition troops. The security force also detained four other insurgents.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force detained two suspected insurgents while searching for a Taliban leader in Paktia province’s Zurmat district. The leader organizes roadside bombings, suicide attacks and other operations against Afghan and coalition security forces.

In May 4 operations:

-- Two Taliban commanders and three other insurgents were killed by a coalition airstrike after a battle with a combined Afghan and coalition security force in the Almar district of Afghanistan’s Faryab province. The senior Taliban commander planned and organized roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the province and distributed funds to the Taliban district commanders. The subordinate commander responsible for carrying out attacks was a Taliban judge who tried to impose Taliban law and punishment on civilians in Faryab province. The security force detained several other suspected insurgents and also recovered weapons and bomb components.

-- A team of armed insurgents moved to attack a combined Afghan and coalition security force on patrol in Helmand province’s Nahr-e Seraj district. The force engaged the insurgents, killing several. A search of the compound found bomb components, homemade explosives and several small-arms weapons.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition security force in Wardak Sayyidabad district saw a Taliban commander providing weapons and ammunition to insurgents. He was known to be involved in recruiting insurgents, acquiring weapons and explosives, and planning attacks throughout the region. After ensuring no civilians were nearby, the security force called for an airstrike that killed the Taliban leader and several other insurgents. The security force detained several insurgents and seized a recoilless rifle, a heavy machine gun, assault rifles, grenades and mortar rounds.