Afghan, Coalition Forces Capture Insurgent Leaders

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2012 – Afghan and coalition forces captured multiple insurgents in eastern Afghanistan today, including three who were leaders in the Taliban and Haqqani networks, military officials reported.

A combined Afghan and international force detained two of the insurgent leaders in Logar province’s Pul-e ‘Alam district. One is a Haqqani leader who directed roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces and provided weapons, ammunition, and explosives to insurgents in the area. The other was a Taliban leader who coordinated attacks against Afghan and coalition troops in the Baraki Barak district.

Also today in the Zurmat district of Paktiya province, a combined force captured a Taliban leader who organized suicide bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the district. Serving as a Taliban judge, the man ordered beheadings and other punishments for Afghan civilians living in the area.

The security force detained several additional insurgents in both operations.

In other security operations in Afghanistan today:

-- A combined force detained a Taliban insurgent in Logar province’s Baraki Barak district. The man is an explosives expert who coordinated roadside bombings against Afghan and coalition security forces throughout the district.

-- In the Dand district of Kandahar province, a combined security force detained multiple suspects during an operation to detain a Taliban leader who distributes weapons to insurgents for attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces.

-- A combined force detained multiple insurgents during an operation to detain a Taliban leader in the Sangin district of Helmand province. The leader plans and supervises roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces.

In operations yesterday:

-- In the Shinwar district of Nangarhar province, an Afghan provincial response team advised by coalition forces detained a Taliban leader and improvised explosive device expert who was responsible for transporting and emplacing IEDs throughout the province, as well as attacks against security forces. Several additional insurgents also were detained.

-- An Afghan provincial response team, working with Afghan security forces and coalition advisors, seized an insurgent weapons cache during an operation to disrupt insurgent weapons trafficking and secure transportation routes in Nangarhar province’s Achin district. The cache, consisting of five recoilless rifles, eight rocket-propelled grenades, some small-arms ammunition and IED components, was destroyed on site.