Forces Arrest Taliban, Haqqani Leaders in Afghanistan

Froman International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release
KABUL, Afghanistan, Sept. 21, 2012 –Afghan and coalition security forces arrested a Taliban leader, as well as aHaqqani chief, during a security operation in the Sayyid Karam district ofPakitya province today, military officials reported.
The detained Taliban leader is linked tothe Nov. 10, 2011, suicide attack that resulted in the deaths of Afghan policeofficers in the Tsamkani district of Paktiya province.
The detained Haqqani leader is asuspected improvised explosive device expert who is believed to haveconstructed IEDs, planned their use and facilitated their movement throughoutthe region to attack Afghan and coalition forces, officials said.
One armed insurgent was killed duringthe operation, officials said. As the security force attempted to enter theTaliban leader’s compound, the armed insurgent fired upon Afghan and coalitiontroops. The security force returned fire, killing the armed insurgent. Nocivilians were harmed in the exchange.
The security force also detained severalsuspected insurgents and seized one assault rifle and Taliban paraphernalia,officials said.
In other operations today:
-- In the Nahr-e Saraj district ofHelmand province, a combined force arrested several suspects during a searchfor a Taliban leader. The sought-after Taliban leader is suspected ofconducting insurgent operations throughout northern Helmand, in addition toproviding equipment and supplies for attacks on Afghan and coalition forces.
-- A combined force detained multiplesuspects during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Atghar district ofZabul province. The sought-after Taliban leader is linked to insurgent activityand attacks throughout the Atghar district. He is also believed to commandseveral dozen insurgent fighters in Zabul province.
-- In the Pul-e ‘Alam district of Logarprovince, a combined force arrested a suspected Haqqani leader, who’s linked toattacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the district, as well assupporting other Haqqani leaders throughout the region. The arrested Haqqanileader is linked to an insurgent network which was responsible for ambushes andmortar attacks. The security force also detained one other suspect.
-- A combined force detained severalsuspects and seized an assault rifle during a search for a Taliban weaponsdealer in the Sayyidabad district of Wardak province. The sought-after weaponsdealer is alleged to be responsible for providing weapons, ammunition and IEDsfor insurgent attacks.
In operations yesterday:
-- Mullah Naim, the senior Talibanleader for the Balkh district of Balkh province, was killed by a combinedforce. No civilians were harmed during the operation. Mullah Naim -- also knownas Mutaqi, Khodai Nur and Mullah Ayeno -- was responsible for insurgentactivity throughout the region. He was also believed to be one of the keyfigures behind a recent IED attack in Mazar-e Sharif that killed several Afghancivilians. The security force also detained one suspect and seized multiplefirearms, grenades and explosives.
-- A combined force killed a group ofarmed insurgents during a vehicle interdiction and narcotics recovery operationin the Nimroz district of Helmand province. Drugs found in the vehiclesincluded 5,000 pounds of dry opium, 330 pounds of wet opium, 1,873 pounds ofbrown heroin and one bag of hashish. The security force also seized somemachine guns, ammunition and magazines. The drugs were destroyed.