Taliban senior leader among suspected insurgents detained and killed after operations throughout Afghanistan

[News_Editor]

Taliban senior leader among suspected insurgents detained and killed after operations throughout Afghanistan

2010-10-10 12:58:44 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- Several suspected insurgents, including Taliban leaders, were arrested or killed as a result of operations throughout Afghanistan on late Saturday and early Sunday morning, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

In southern Afghanistan, an Afghan and coalition security force killed an alleged senior Taliban leader who was accused of being responsible for the emplacement of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) throughout Helmand province. ISAF identified him as Ajmal Agha Jan.

ISAF said the security force also captured a Taliban mid-level leader who allegedly participated and directed attacks in the Sistani area of Marjah district in Helmand Province. "He led up to 20 fighters and facilitated their materials," ISAF alleged in a statement, without releasing his identity.

Both were the result of an operation carried out at a series of compounds in the Marjah district. ISAF said Afghan forces had used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to exit the compounds peacefully and then the joint security force cleared the compounds.

"After initial questioning of the residents at the scene, the security force identified and detained the Taliban leader along with two of his associates," ISAF said. During the search, however, ISAF said that Ajmal Agha Jan threatened the security force with a pistol. "The security force engaged, killing him," ISAF said. A grenade was also found at the scene.

In western Afghanistan, Afghan and coalition security forces killed another alleged senior Taliban leader who was believed to be one of the possible candidates to become the new shadow governor of Badghis province. The former shadow governor, Mullah Ismail, was killed by a joint coalition security force on Wednesday.

ISAF identified the senior Taliban leader as Mullah Jamaluddin who is accused of having facilitated the improvised explosive device (IED) and weapons movement throughout Badghis province.

According to the alliance, intelligence sources had indicated that Jamaluddin was traveling in the Morghab district of Afghanistan. When security forces arrived in the area, the security force was threatened by three armed individuals. "The security force responded, killing Mullah Jamaluddin and his two accomplices," ISAF said.

"The Taliban has unsuccessfully attempted to establish illegal, shadow governments in northern Afghanistan," said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, who is the director of the ISAF Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center. "These operations are significantly reducing Taliban influence throughout the region and returning it to the people of Afghanistan and the legitimate government they elected."

Other security developments in Afghanistan on Sunday:

• An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban mid-level leader who allegedly conducted IED attacks and facilitated IED materials during an operation in eastern Afghanistan's Paktia Province. He was arrested along with two associates at a compound south of the village of Alijan Kheyl in Zurmat district of Paktia.
• Two suspected insurgents were arrested during an operation targeting a Haqqani Network mid-level leader in the village of Lewan Kheyl in Sabari district of Khost province, ISAF said. At the scene, security forces discovered and destroyed multiple weapons, a blasting cap, explosives and military uniforms.
• In northern Afghanistan's Kunduz province, a security force detained three suspected insurgents while targeting a Taliban mid-level leader for the Gor Tapa area. That leader, ISAF said, is accused of leading attacks in Kunduz City and is believed to be associated with leaders of the Taliban and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.
• The British Ministry of Defence on Saturday evening said that sergeant Peter Anthony Rayner of the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was killed in southern Afghanistan on Friday. He died when he was struck by an IED in the Nahr-e-Saraj District of Helmand province.

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