Coalition, Afghan Troops Arrest 2 Taliban Leaders

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Froman International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release
KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 26, 2012 – Acombined coalition and Afghan security force arrested two Taliban leaders -- anattack commander and an improvised explosive device expert -- during anoperation in the Ghazni district of Afghanistan’s Ghazni province today,military officials reported.
The attack commander is suspected ofhaving directed IED attacks against coalition and Afghan security forces acrossthe district, officials said, in addition to coordinating the construction ofhomemade bombs and providing training on their use and placement. He also isbelieved to be involved in suicide bomber training. The security force alsodetained three other suspected insurgents in the operation.
Also today, an Afghan and coalitionsecurity force arrested a Taliban leader in Ghazni province’s Wali MuhammadShahid Khugyani district. He is believed to have coordinated with insurgentgroups to conduct direct-fire and IED attacks targeting Afghan and coalitionforces. The security force also detained four other suspected insurgents.
In operations around Afghanistanyesterday:
-- A precision airstrike killed Malang,a Taliban leader, in the Sayyidabad district of Afghanistan’s Wardak provinceafter a combined security force saw him engaged in insurgent activity andensured that no civilians were in the area. Malang was directly involved inplanning attacks using improvised explosive devices against Afghan andcoalition forces, as well coordinating the movement of insurgent fightersthroughout the region. A post-strike assessment determined no civilians wereharmed and no civilian property was damaged during the operation.
-- Provincial Response Company Wardak,mentored by coalition forces, reinforced another response company patrol thatcame under enemy fire in Wardak province’s Maidan Shahr district. The combinedforce defeated the attack, killing seven insurgents. Responding to a requestfor a quick-reaction force, the combined element reached the unit in contactand was itself engaged by small arms and rocket propelled grenade fire frominsurgents before fighting off the attack. Coalition officials said the rapidand effective response from PRC Wardak demonstrates their increased capabilityand their dedication to supporting their fellow Afghans in arms.
-- A combined U.S. Army Special Forcesand Afghan National Army force killed an insurgent after being attacked at alocal bazaar and at a combined outpost in Wardak province’s Bahadur village.After eight to 10 insurgents opened fire with small arms and rocket propelledgrenades, the combined force returned fire, secured the bazaar and village, andkilled the insurgent at his fighting position. No civilians or Afghan forceswere injured or killed during the engagement.
In a Sept. 24 operation, a combinedsecurity force arrested a Haqqani network IED attack leader in Khost province’sKhost district. Officials said he is suspected of coordinating and planning IEDattacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the region and wasdirectly involved in acquiring and distributing a large amount of explosivesand weapons, as well as providing training on the use of homemade bombs. Healso is believed to have been trying to infiltrate Afghan security forces. Thesecurity force also seized firearms and heavy weapons ammunition.
In other news, an orphaned Afghan boyescaped from insurgents who were trying to use him as a suicide bomber and fledto the Afghan National Police in Helmand province’s Nawa district Sept. 22.
The boy told Afghan police thatinsurgents had given him money to influence him to wear a suicide vest anddetonate it near coalition or Afghan security personnel. He refused, and now isreceiving care and support from the police.