Pul-e 'Alam Taliban network commander captured

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN

08.20.2010

Courtesy Story

ISAF Joint Command

KABUL - An Afghan and coalition security force continued capturing the Taliban leadership of the Pul-e 'Alam District network in Logar province, detaining the Taliban deputy district commander Thursday.

The network has direct ties to the Kabul Attack Network.

The security force targeted a compound near Kowtgay in pursuit of the commander. Afghan forces used a loudspeaker calling for all occupants to exit the buildings and then cleared the compound. After questioning the residents, the security force detained the commander and two additional suspected insurgents. They also discovered and destroyed a large weapons cache consisting of multiple rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, AK-47s, ammunition for automatic weapons and military gear.

"This network has enjoyed a relative safe haven in eastern Afghanistan, but we've made it priority to secure it and give it back to the peaceful people of Afghanistan," said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. "We've had significant success against this network over the last month and these operations will continue until we eliminate the Taliban's capability to threaten the people of Afghanistan."

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

A senior Taliban commander within the network, Qari Munir, was killed along with 15 other insurgents during an Afghan and coalition force operation Wednesday. ISAF is still trying to confirm the possibility that two other Taliban commanders were killed in the operation.

• Date Taken: 08.20.2010
• Date Posted: 08.20.2010 06:28
• Story ID: 54894
• Location: KABUL, AF