Afghan and NATO troops arrest Taliban leader in Helmand

By Ghanizada - Fri Feb 03, 12:55 pm

A Taliban commander was detained following a joint military operation by Afghan and NaTO-led International Security Assistance Force in southern Helmand province.

According to a press release issued by ISAF, the Taliban commander was detained during an operation in Nahr-E Saraj district.

The source further added, the leader was a Taliban-appointed deputy and head of the insurgent group’s military commission in Badghis province.

The captured leader arranged large-scale attacks, distributed weapons and collected taxes, ISAF officials said.

According to ISAF, he represented both the Taliban and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan groups and was responsible for coordinating insurgent activities in Badghis and Faryab province.

One additional suspected insurgent was detained during the operation.

In the meantime Afghan and coalition security forces discovered a drug and weapons cache during an operation in Bakwaw district of western Farah province on Thursday.

The cache consisted of approximately 1,100 pounds (500 kg) of opium, 16 improvised explosive devices, several containers of explosive-making materials, $1.5 million in Pakistan currency and a motorcycle rigged with explosives to be used as a suicide-vehicle-borne IED.

Security forces detained three suspected insurgents and confiscated the drugs and currency. The weapons were destroyed on-site without incident.

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