NEWS FROM THE AFGHANISTAN FRONT

Photo:  Helicopter Flying Over Afghanistan.  Credit:  U.S. Air Force

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Afghan-led, Coalition-supported Force Detains Taliban Leader

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, June 5, 2012 - An Afghan-led, coalition-supported security force detained a Taliban leader and several suspected insurgents in the Kandahar district of Afghanistan's Kandahar province today, military officials reported.

The leader directed the placement of improvised explosive devices and coordinated the delivery of weapons and explosives to insurgents throughout the district, officials said.

The security force also confiscated several AK-47 rifles and other weapons.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- A combined force detained a Taliban leader and two suspects in the Zharay district of Kandahar province. The detained insurgent leader was responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and transported explosives and weapons to insurgents throughout the province.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Haqqani leader in the Khost district of Khost province. The Haqqani leader is suspected of planning the attack against Forward Operating Base Salerno on June 1. He is also an explosives expert suspected of building the vehicle-born IEDs that the insurgents detonated at the Salerno gate.

-- A combined force detained several suspects during a search for a Haqqani leader in the Pul-e 'Alam district of Logar province. The Haqqani leader supplies insurgent fighters with weapons and executes attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

In Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- In the Waygal district of Nuristan province, a combined force called in an airstrike that killed several insurgents.

-- A combined force requested airstrike killed two Taliban leaders in the Wali Muhammad Shahid Khugyani district of Ghazni province. One deceased insurgent was the senior Taliban leader in the Wali Muhammad Shahid Khugyani and Ghazni districts. He led an improvised explosive device cell and conducted attacks against coalition and Afghan forces throughout the region. The second deceased Taliban leader directed the placement of IED's against coalition and Afghan forces throughout the district.

AFGHANISTAN'S KARZAI CONDEMNS VIOLENCE BY INSURGENTS

The following excerpt is from an e-mail from the Department of Defense: 

"

Compiled from International Security Assistance Force and ISAF Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2012 - The commander of the International Security Assistance Force joined with Afghan President Hamid Karzai in condemning a recent spate of insurgent violence in Afghanistan.

Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen offered condolences to the Afghan people for the "desperate acts of murder by insurgents."

At least six Afghans and an ISAF service member died in insurgent attacks yesterday. In the most recent attack, a man wearing an Afghan police uniform shot and killed an ISAF member in southern Afghanistan.

In other attacks yesterday:

-- A vehicle bearing a homemade bomb exploded when it rammed a district police station in Kandahar, killing two policemen and wounding four Afghan civilians.

-- A roadside bomb killed four civilians, including a child, in Kandahar's Shah Wali Kot district when the victims drove over a roadside bomb.

"My sincere thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and injured in these attacks against the people of Afghanistan," Allen said. "On behalf of the coalition of 50 nations within ISAF, I send condolences to the loved ones concerned and pray for a swift recovery for the injured.

"These incidents again show the insurgency's total disregard for the Afghan people and disdain for peace," he continued. "The lack of concern for the peace and security of the Afghan people, and the continued killing of innocents, sends an obvious message by the insurgents: the Taliban do not care who or how many of their fellow Afghans are killed."

Allen said the attacks show insurgents' growing concern about an increasingly capable Afghan police force, as the attacks are conducted from a distance "to avoid certain capture."

"The insurgents should be concerned," the general said. "We -- ISAF and [Afghan security forces] together -- will continue in our efforts to hold these murderers to account."

In recent Afghanistan operations:

-- A coalition patrol in Kandahar's Zharay district Feb. 19 seized 16 mortar rounds, 12 recoilless rifle rounds and about 62 pounds of homemade explosives.

-- An Afghan and coalition security force in the Kunduz district of Kunduz province Feb. 18 captured a Taliban leader who directed the placement of explosives targeting Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In the Sabari district of Khost province, an Afghan-led security force confiscated bomb-making materials and weapons and detained suspected insurgents while searching for a Haqqani leader who directs roadside-bomb and direct-fire attacks against Afghan forces."