Combined Forces Capture Taliban Facilitator

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2011 – A combined Afghan and coalition force captured a Taliban facilitator yesterday during a security operation in Kandahar province’s Zharay district, military officials reported.

The facilitator was a Taliban financier who funds operations and acquires weapons for attacks against coalition forces, including the April 7 vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack against a coalition forward operating base.

Also yesterday, the International Security Assistance Force joined Afghan President Hamid Karzai in condemning the April 10 killing of three Afghan elders and the wounding of other innocent Afghans in Farah province. Reports indicate an insurgent improvised explosive device detonated near the elders' vehicle as they were traveling to a development shura to discuss peace and decide which projects to support with Afghan and international funds.

“We join President Karzai in condemning the disgraceful attack on innocent Afghans,” said Navy Rear Admiral Vic Beck, ISAF director of public affairs. “This is yet another example that the Taliban do not respect Afghanistan’s tribal system and increasingly seem to act as if directed by outside interests.

“This cowardly attack on Afghan leaders, and all who are striving to improve the lives of their fellow Afghans, is another despicable illustration of the insurgents’ attempts to prevent progress in Afghanistan,” he continued. “As we work with our Afghan partners, ISAF will not rest in our efforts to bring those responsible to justice.”

In other Afghanistan news yesterday:

-- An Afghan and coalition force detained one suspected insurgent while searching for a Taliban facilitator during a security operation in the Baghlan-e Jadid district of Baghlan province. The facilitator is an explosives expert operating in the district. He recently constructed suicide vests for use in future attacks by the Baghlan suicide attack network. He is directly responsible for attacks against Afghan security forces and assisted in an attack against an Areeba cell phone tower.

-- In the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, a coalition patrol discovered a weapons cache consisting of two 15-pound jugs filled with homemade explosives, three pressure plates, one 60-pound directional fragmentation charge, two electronic charges with spliced wires and several other IED-making components.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition patrol killed several insurgents during an operation in the Qarghah’i district of Laghman province. The patrol received rocket-propelled grenade and small-arms fire from an unknown number of insurgents. The patrol engaged the insurgents with small-arms fire and called for close-air support, killing several insurgents.

-- A coalition patrol found a weapons cache in the Qarah Bagh district of Ghazni province. The cache consisted of 150 pounds of homemade explosives divided in six different containers, three one-liter cans filled with homemade explosives, five pressure plates, one initiator and several IED-making components.

-- Also in Ghazni province, a coalition patrol discovered a weapons cache consisting of 16 rocket-propelled grenades and 11 82 mm rounds in the Ghazni district.

-- Afghan and coalition forces killed one insurgent in the Sangin district of Helmand province. The combined force received small-arms fire from insurgents while on patrol in the district. The combined force engaged the enemy with small-arms fire, killing one insurgent.

In April 9 operations:

-- A combined Afghan and coalition patrol killed several insurgents and detained several other suspected insurgents during an operation in the Alah Say district of Kapisa province.

-- In the Panjwai’i district of Kandahar province, Afghan and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache consisting of 20 pounds of ammonium nitrate, 20 pounds of black powder and one block of black heroin. The drugs were destroyed by security forces.

-- A combined Afghan and coalition force captured a Taliban leader and detained several suspected insurgents during a security operation in the Khost district of Khost province. The leader was associated with the Taj Mir Jawad network, which plans and conducts attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the Pul-e Alam district of Logar province. He planned attacks in coordination with other Taliban leaders and facilitators in the area.

-- Afghan and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in the Arghandab district of Kandahar province. The cache consisted of nine rocket-propelled grenades and 600 7.62 mm rounds.

-- Afghan and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in the Zurmat district of Paktiya province. The cache consisted of one rocket-propelled grenade, one 82 mm mortar round, one 107 mm cone packed with homemade explosives, one 82 mm mortar round packed with homemade explosives and three other munitions packed with homemade explosives.

-- Several insurgents were killed by ISAF troops during separate clearing operations in Helmand province. An ISAF patrol spotted two armed insurgents displaying hostile intent against coalition forces in the Sangin district. Coalition forces engaged the enemy with small-arms fire, killing the insurgents. In the Musa Qal’ah district, an ISAF patrol was attacked by insurgents’ small-arms fire. Coalition forces returned fire killing one insurgent and forcing the others to flee.

-- In Helmand province, an ISAF patrol observed insurgents emplacing an IED in the Musa Qal’ah district. Coalition forces established positive identification of the enemy position and engaged, killing one insurgent.

-- In the Arghandab district of Kandahar province, a combined patrol discovered a weapons cache consisting of 600 7.62 mm rounds and nine rocket-propelled grenades.

-- In the Mohammad-e Shadid district of Ghazni province, an ISAF patrol was engaged by an unknown number of insurgents. Coalition forces returned fire, killing one insurgent and wounding another.

In April 8 operations:

-- In the Darzab district of Jowzjan province, Afghan and coalition forces repelled an insurgent attack during a clearing operation. Coalition forces called for air support when an Afghan patrol was engaged by several insurgents. The air-weapons team supporting ground forces engaged the enemy position, killing two insurgents and forcing the others to flee.

-- An ISAF patrol discovered a weapons cache in the Andar district of Ghazni province. The cache consisted of four AK-47 rifles, 29 AK-47 magazines, one machine gun, three rocket-propelled grenade rounds, three RPG launchers, 19 grenades, one cell phone, three handheld radios, five batteries, three bags of aluminum nitrate, one IED ignition source, nine tactical vests and six motorcycles.

-- Afghan and ISAF troops killed several insurgents during a clearing operation in the Sangin district of Helmand province. A combined patrol observed armed insurgents displaying hostile intent against coalition forces. The combined patrol engaged the enemy with small-arms fire, killing several insurgents.

-- In Helmand province, an ISAF patrol was attacked by insurgents in the Sangin district. Coalition forces returned fire and called for air support. The air-weapons team killed several insurgents, forcing the others to flee.

-- In Helmand and Uruzgan provinces, Afghan and ISAF troops found several weapons and IED-making components caches in the Garm Ser, Tarin Kot and Marjah districts. The caches contained 1,750 7.62 mm rounds, seven pressure plates, 500 feet of electrical wire, several IED-making electrical components and two rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

-- In the Arghandab district of Kandahar province, Afghan and coalition forces discovered an ammunition cache consisting of 1,200 7.62 mm rounds.

In April 7 operations:

-- Afghan and coalition forces confirmed the capture of a Haqqani network facilitator during a security operation in the Sayyid Karam district of Paktiya province. The Haqqani facilitator was in the final stages of executing a suicide attack in Gardez, Paktiya province, under the direction of a senior Haqqani leader. Security forces captured him along with five suspected Haqqani insurgents at a location in the Sayyid Karam district.