KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition security forces captured the Taliban district leader for Chahar Darah District of Kunduz province during an overnight operation in neighboring Takhar province.
The district leader was directly involved in the kidnapping of the British New York Times reporter, Stephen Farrell, in September 2009.
He also maintained close ties with senior Taliban and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leadership in northern Afghanistan and Pakistan, and terrorized the local populace by forcibly collecting taxes from residents, intimidating relatives of police and conducting attacks against government buildings.
“This is exciting news for the Afghan populace in Kunduz and Takhar provinces,” said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. “He actively assaulted established governance and security in northern Afghanistan and his capture will greatly disrupt the insurgent networks future operations.”
Based on intelligence tips, the security force targeted a compound in Darquad 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 compound.
After conducting initial questioning with the residents at the scene, the security force identified and detained the targeted individual and two of his associates.
The security force did not fire their weapons and they protected the women and children for the duration of the search.