Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2011 A combined Afghan and coalition security force today captured a Taliban leader in Afghanistan's Paktiya province, military officials reported.

The man and his associates are linked to multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, including the Sept. 13 attacks on the NATO headquarters and the U.S. Embassy in Kabul. The man, who also planned vehicle-bomb attacks, was captured in Paktiya's Zurmat district.

In other Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- A combined force captured a Taliban leader in the Shirin Tagab district of Faryab province. The man ordered attacks on Afghan forces and gave orders to arrest Afghan government supporters.

-- A combined patrol seized a cache of improvised explosive device-making materials in the Musa Qal 'ah district of Helmand province. The cache contained 2,090 pounds of ammonium nitrate, a material used in making IEDs.

-- In the Nawah-ye Barakzai district of Helmand province, a combined force detained five suspects during a search for a Taliban leader involved in roadside and bombings.

-- A combined force detained multiple suspects during an operation targeting a Haqqani insurgent responsible for vehicle-bomb attacks in the Kandahar district of Kandahar province.

-- Combined forces killed six insurgents and detained six suspects during separate operations in the Regional Command East area.

In Sept. 13 Afghanistan operations:

-- In the Zurmat district of Paktiya province, a combined patrol discovered a weapons cache containing 728 pounds of homemade explosive, seven mines, and several IED-making components.

-- A combined force captured a Haqqani leader and an associate in the Khost district of Khost province. The man coordinated attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, to include the Sept. 13 attacks on NATO headquarters and the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.

-- In the Ghazni district of Ghazni province, a combined force captured a Taliban leader and two suspects. The leader managed fighters and directed attacks against Afghan forces.

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