UPDATE Senior Nawah-ye Barakzai Taliban leader captured

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

09.30.2010

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan - The International Security Assistance Force confirmed the capture of a Nawa-ye Barakzai Taliban senior leader with influence throughout the Nawa and Lashkar Gah Districts.

Afghan and coalition security forces have degraded the Nawah Taliban network through recent operations resulting in the capture of several high-level Taliban operatives within the network.

"The security force, in partnership with Afghan National Security Forces, is concentrating their efforts on removing the upper-tier insurgent leaders from the battle space in order to establish the conditions to sustain peace and security for Afghanistan," said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director.

Intelligence reports led the security force to a remote compound in Nawa-ye Barakzai District to search for the targeted individual.

Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the buildings peacefully and then the joint security force cleared and secured the area.

After initial questioning at the scene, the security force detained the targeted individual along with three of his associates.

The security force also found improvised explosive device material and Taliban propaganda at the scene.

The assault force did not fire their weapons and they protected the women and children for the duration of the search.

• Date Taken: 09.30.2010
• Date Posted: 09.30.2010 06:58
• Story ID: 57232
• Location: KABUL, AF