KABUL, Afghanistan - ISAF confirmed today the capture of a major Taliban facilitator involved in the transportation of narcotics and munitions, including suicide improvised explosive device material, between Iran and southern Afghanistan, during an Afghan and coalition force operation in Kandahar province.
The facilitator was among several suspected insurgents detained in an operation conducted near Adirah in Arghandab District Monday.
Additionally, one of the other detainees was previously captured during an Afghan and coalition force operation in December.
Afghan forces used a loudspeaker to call for all occupants to peacefully exit the buildings and then secured the area. After questioning all of the residents, the security force detained the facilitator and other additional suspected insurgents.
Afghan and coalition forces did not fire their weapons and they protected the women and children throughout the search.
Afghan civilians are often the victim of the Taliban's indiscriminate attacks. On Monday, a suicide bomber detonated his vehicle-borne IED near a police truck in Kandahar City, killing five children. The attack targeted the Dand District governor, which was the eighth such attempt on his life. Taliban-led conflicts have claimed the lives of more than 1,100 civilians and injured more than 1,300 others since beginning of the year in Afghanistan, according to the Afghan Interior Ministry spokesperson Zamarai Bashari.