ISAF Joint Command morning operational update: 03 October 2012

East

Afghan and coalition forces confirmed one of the insurgents captured during a security operation in Pul-e ‘Alam district, Logar province, Tuesday, is a Haqqani leader and weapons financier. The detained Haqqani leader is believed to have overseen the acquisition and distribution of rockets, heavy weapons, assault rifles, explosives and body armor to support insurgent operations throughout Logar province. Prior to his capture, the weapons financier had reportedly purchased multiple missiles to be used in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. During the operation, the security force also detained two other suspected insurgents.

South

An ISAF and Afghan National Army partnered patrol discovered nearly a dozen improvised explosive devices in a three-hour stretch during an operation in Panjwa’i district, Kandahar province yesterday. The combined force found each of the pressure-plate operated IEDs at a different location along the patrol route. While recovering the IEDs, the partnered force was also engaged by insurgent fire twice, returned fire, and forced the insurgents to break contact. The IEDs, which totaled 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of homemade explosives, were destroyed in place. No ISAF, ANA soldiers or Afghan civilians were wounded during this operation.

West

Coalition forces have confirmed the deaths of two insurgent leaders targeted in a coalition airstrike Sept. 28 in Shindand district, Herat province.

Mullah Sultan, a top level Taliban leader, weapons supplier and member of the Taliban Quetta Shura of Bala Baluk district, is reported to have directed numerous attack against coalition forces, kidnapped Afghan civilians and conducted other criminal activities. Sultan is believed to have facilitated IED attacks and was also known to send insurgent fighters into villages in Farah to intimidate the local population into not supporting the Afghanistan government.

Mullah Akhtar Mohammad, a Taliban leader in Shindand, Herat, was reportedly involved in the facilitation of suicide bombers and attacks on Afghan and coalition troops in the area. He is also known to have disrupted local elections in the district by intimidating the local population.

The removal of these two insurgent leaders, said a coalition official, will have a major impact on Taliban command and logistics networks in Farah province.