KABUL, Afghanistan–(ENEWSPF)–October 2, 2012 — The Afghan Special Operations Unit, supported by coalition troops, arrested a Taliban leader in Maiwand district, Kandahar province, today.
The arrested leader is suspected of reporting directly to the senior Taliban leader for the district and was responsible for coordinating and directing improvised explosive device emplacement operations, as well as insurgent attacks throughout the region.
In addition to facilitating the movement of weapons, prior to his arrest, the Taliban leader was believed to be directing the preparation of a vehicle-borne IED attack against Afghan and coalition force assets.
The Afghan Special Operations Unit also detained multiple suspected insurgents and seized an IED firing device and IED-making materials as a result of the operation.
In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:
North
An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a senior Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader and weapons facilitator in Chahar Darah district, Kunduz province, today. The arrested IMU leader is suspected of planning and conducting improvised explosive device attacks throughout Kunduz province, as well as coordinating the movement of IED materials for future attacks on Afghan and coalition security forces. The security force also detained two suspected insurgents during the operation.
South
Afghan Special Police and coalition forces confirmed the arrest of a Taliban commander during an operation in Gereshk district, Helmand province yesterday. The Taliban commander, Abdul Bari, who operates across southwest Afghanistan, is suspected of coordinating delivery of heavy machine guns and IED components to insurgents across central Helmand province. A coalition official stated his detention has also identified links to other senior insurgent commanders in the area.
East
An Afghan and coalition security force today confirmed the arrest of a Haqqani leader suspected of being behind the Sept. 26 suicide attack that killed two coalition service members in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province. The security force also detained a number of suspected insurgents, and no civilians were harmed during the operation.
An Afghan and coalition security force detained a number of suspected insurgents during an operation to arrest a Haqqani leader in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province, today. The Haqqani leader is believed to oversee the distribution of weapons to support insurgent operations throughout Logar province.
An Afghan and coalition security force detained one suspected insurgent during an operation in search of a Taliban leader in Sayyidabad district, Wardak province, today. The Taliban leader is suspected of being directly involved in multiple ambush-style attacks on coalition force convoys throughout the district.
An Afghan and coalition security force confirmed the arrest of a Haqqani leader in Sabari district, Khost province, Sunday. The Haqqani leader is alleged to have spearheaded the planning, supply coordination and execution of insurgent attacks on Afghan and coalition forces throughout the Paktiya province. He is also believed to be tied to several rocket attacks on Afghan civilians. During the operation, several suspected insurgents were also detained.
Afghan Special Police members of Provincial Response Company Wardak recovered IED-making materials and heavy weapons, including three mortars, in a coalition-enabled operation in Nerkh district, Wardak province yesterday. The seizure of the IEDs and mortars along with timely evidence collection, said a coalition official, will help prevent insurgents from conducting IED attacks on Highway 1, known for frequent insurgent attacks.
West
The second in command to the Taliban leadership in Shindand district, Herat province was removed from the battlefield by a coalition air strike Sunday. The Taliban key leader, Mullah Mansur, is believed to have commanded an IED cell and having been actively involved in coordinating ambush attacks on Afghan National Security Forces in the province, in addition to moving IED and narcotics. Mullah Mansur was also suspected of recruiting young males into the insurgency.
Source: isaf.nato.int
