ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan
2010-09-CA-115 For Immediate Release

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 KABUL, Afghanistan (Sept. 10) - Afghan and coalition security forces conducted more than 40 operations in 12 Afghan provinces in the past week, leading to the capture of dozens of commanders, facilitators and commissioners for the Taliban and Haqqani networks.

Clear rules of engagement and extreme measures taken to avoid civilian casualties resulted in more than 85 percent of the operations conducted without shots fired. Afghan-led operations resulted with more than 20 targeted individuals captured and three killed.

In the north, a Taliban commissioner for six Takhar province districts was captured in the Darquad district Saturday. The commissioner also facilitates foreign fighter suicide bombers while leading attacks against Afghan and coalition security forces in the province. Additionally, the security force killed Attallah, the Taliban district commander for Darquad during the same operation.

In the bordering provinces of Khost and Nangarhar, security forces targeted several insurgent leaders, operatives and facilitators. Throughout the week, the assault force detained three Haqqani Network leaders and killed Hazrat Muhammad, a Taliban commander who conducted attacks in Nangarhar. Two additional Taliban commanders were also detained. In other eastern provinces, separate assault forces captured a Taliban improvised explosive device operative, IED facilitator and sub-commander significantly degrading the networks in the region.

Assault forces in the south yielded great success against Taliban leadership in the past week capturing eight Taliban commanders and facilitators in Kandahar, Helmand and Zabul provinces. In Kandahar province alone, six Taliban leaders were detained including the deputy district commander for Dand.

"With the level of success in Afghan and coalition security force operations, Afghan public support for the insurgency is weakening," said U.S. Army Col. Rafael Torres, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command Combined Joint Operations Center director. "Together, with our Afghan and international partners, we will enable sustainable development in Afghanistan to provide a better life for Afghans today and tomorrow."