Combined Forces Arrests Taliban Leader, Seizes Weapons, Drugs

From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

KABUL, Afghanistan, Aug. 17, 2012 - An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in the Alisheng district of Laghman province today, military officials reported.

The Taliban leader supplied heavy weapons and explosives to insurgents in the area and directed insurgent attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. In the weeks leading up to his arrest, officials said, the Taliban leader was involved in planning attacks against local Afghan citizens.

The security force also detained two suspected insurgents and seized several weapons and approximately 6 pounds of opium.

In other news today:

-- In the Chahar Bolak district of Balkh province, a combined force arrested several suspected insurgents during an operation to detain a Taliban leader. The leader finances and provides weapons to Taliban fighters in Chimtal district.

-- In the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province, a combined force detained a suspected insurgent during an operation to arrest a Taliban leader. The leader plans and directs improvised explosive device attacks and provides suicide vests for use in attacks on Afghan and coalition forces.