Taliban leader detained in southern Helmand province

Afghan-led and coalition-supported security force captured a Taliban facilitator during an operation at southern Helmand province.

NATO-led International Security Assistance Force following a statement on Friday said, the Taliban facilitator was detained following an operation at Nahr-e-Saraj district fof southern Helmand province.

The source further added, the leader conducted direct-fire attacks in Nahr-e Saraj district and distributed ammunition and bomb-making materials to insurgent fighters throughout Helmand province.

One additional suspected insurgent was detained during the operation, officials said.

In the meantime another Taliban facilitator during an operation in Lashkar Gah district, Helmand province following an operation by Afghan and Coalition security forces.

The facilitator distributed weapons and explosives to insurgent fighters and coordinated roadside bomb attacks against Afghan forces throughout the area.

Multiple suspected insurgents were detained during the operation.

According to ISAF officials, Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban facilitator during an operation in Jalrayz district, Wardak province.

IsAF officials further added, the facilitator distributed homemade explosives and weapons to insurgent fighters throughout Maidan Shahr district.

Meanwhile in eastern Khost province Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Haqqani leader.

The leader constructs roadside bombs and distributes weapons to insurgents in Bak and Terayzai districts.

The security force confiscated multiple weapons and ammunition and detained several suspected insurgents during the operation.


from KHAAMA

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NATO air raid kills 3 roadside bomb planters in Khost province

According to local authorities in eastern Afghanistan, at least 3 insurgents planting roadside bombs were killed following an air raid by NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in eastern Khost province.

The officials further added, the incident took place on Thursday night at Haram Khel village in central Lakan in eastern Khost province.

According to reports, one of the insurgents was detained following the operation, along with explosives and other equipments at the scene of the incident.

Security forces launched an operation to detain one of the insurgents who managed to flee the area, officials.

At least three more suspects were detained during the search operation.

International Security Assistance Force Media and eastern Khost provincial police chief Sardar Zazai confirmed the operations.

Taliban, the main militants group fighting the Afghan government and NaTO-led International Coalition Security Forces yet to comment regarding the reports.

Report by Ismail Haqmal, Khost province.

from KHAAMA

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Suicide bomber kills 32 at Iraq funeral procession

BAGHDAD -- A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-packed car near a funeral procession in Baghdad on Friday, killing at least 32 people - including six policemen who were guarding the march - in the latest brazen attack since the U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq.

Police said the blast struck around 11:00 a.m. in the predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Zafaraniyah, where mourners had gathered for the funeral of a person killed the day before. They said 65 people were wounded in the attack, including 16 police.

Hospital officials confirmed the death toll.

People clean the scene of a car bomb attack in Zafaraniyah, Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Jan. 27, 2012. (AP / Khalid Mohammed)

Read more: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20120127/iraq-suicide-bombing-20120127/#ixzz1kgh5SjRa

Related articles

• Suicide bomber kills 32 at Iraq funeral procession (newsok.com)
• Suicide bomber kills 32 at Shiite funeral in Iraq (ctv.ca)
• Blast near funeral procession kills 32 in Baghdad (latimes.com)

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Afghan MP relative shot dead in Baghlan province

An Afghan security force service member on Wednesday evening shot dead a relative of the Afghan Parliament member Aashiqullah in northern Pul-e-Khumri city.

Hashmatullah the brother of Haji Aashiqullah’s wife died of his wounds in the hospital after he was shot two bullets by Farshid, a service member of the Afghan Reserved forces.

The main motive behind the assassination of Hashmat was recongized as personal issues between the two individuals.

According to local officials, Hashmatullah married with the sister of assailant Farshid’s sister after they both escaped.

Security chief for the second district of northern Pul-e-Khhumri city Gen. Fazal-ur-Rahman confirming the report said, the assailant security service member Farshid managed to flee the area after shooting his sister’s husband Hashmat.

He also said, Afghan security forces have launched a search operation to detain Farshid.

Report by Ajmal Omeri, Baghlan province.

from KHAAMA

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Nawa district cleared from Taliban

Ghazni Governor Muhammad Musa Akbarzada

NATO troops succeeded to clear the Nawa District of central Ghazni province from Taliban militants after four years struggle.   The international troops have launched the clearance operations in Nawa district many weeks ago.

Ghazni Governor Muhammad Musa Akbarzada said that the provincial Government will soon appoint the new district governor and security chief of Nawa district. The Governor added that Afghan security forces have not deployed in Nawa district yet.

Nawa district is one of few Afghan districts that had controlled by Taliban for four years.

Nawa district was being important for Taliban as it is located near Afghan border with Pakistan and local authorities considered Nawa as save heaven for Taliban.

NATO and Afghan security forces have recently fasten their military operations in areas that are under Taliban control.

Meanwhile, it is said that Ghazni city will be named as “central of Islamic Civilization”.

But despite of major development work and achievements in Ghazni, insecurity is till the main challenge for government and local residents.

from ARIANANEWS

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Rockets hit Pakistan military academy in Abbottabad

Image via Wikipedia

PESHAWAR: Unknown assailants on Friday fired nine rockets at Pakistan’s premier military academy near the compound where Osama bin Laden was killed, damaging the outer wall, officials said.

“Nine rockets were fired. Three rockets hit the boundary wall of the military academy and damaged it.

No one was hurt in the attack,” Imtiaz Hussain Shah, a top local government official in Abbottabad told AFP.

“We have launched a search operation,” Shah added.

The six other rockets landed in open fields near the outer wall, he said.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack.

from DAWN

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Taliban diplomats arrive in Qatar

Image via Wikipedia

A team of senior Taliban diplomats has arrived in Qatar in preparation for the opening of a political office to host negotiations between America, the insurgents and the Afghan government. 

The envoys from the former regime have assembled in the past month and the first tentative talks could begin within weeks according to former Taliban officials now part of Hamid Karzai's peace council.

A Taliban declaration earlier this month that the movement would open an office "to come to an understanding with other nations" is seen as the most significant political breakthrough in ten years of conflict.

The delegation was apparently granted safe passage to the Gulf state despite several members still being on a United Nations' sanctions blacklist banning international travel.

It includes Tayeb Agha, former secretary to Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar, who has acted as go-between with American and German diplomats for more than a year.

He is joined by Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, a former deputy foreign minister, and Shahabuddin Delawar, a former envoy to Riyadh, according to Mohammed Qalamuddin.

By Ben Farmer, Kabul - telegprah.co.uk

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/9041544/Taliban-diplomats-arrive-in-Qatar.html 

 

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Jan.27., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan (Jan. 27) — In Chahar Darah district, Kunduz province, an Afghan led and coalition supported security force conducted an operation in search of insurgent suicide bombers yesterday.

The targets were suspected of planning attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout Chahar Darah district.

The security force detained several suspected suicide bombers during the operation. The security force also seized a prepared suicide improvised explosive device vest and approximately 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms) of homemade explosives.

No civilians were harmed during the operation.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South
A combined Afghan and coalition security force discovered a drug cache during a patrol in Panjwa ‘i district, Kandahar province, yesterday. The cache consisted of approximately 440 pounds (200 kilograms) of marijuana seeds. The seeds were confiscated and will be destroyed at a later date.

In Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, an Afghan led and coalition supported security force captured a Taliban facilitator during an operation today. The leader conducted direct-fire attacks in Nahr-e Saraj district and distributed ammunition and bomb-making materials to insurgent fighters throughout Helmand province. One additional suspected insurgent was detained during the operation.

A combined Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban facilitator during an operation in Lashkar Gah district, Helmand province, today. The facilitator distributed weapons and explosives to insurgent fighters and coordinated roadside bomb attacks against Afghan forces throughout the area. Multiple suspected insurgents were detained during the operation.

East
A combined Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban facilitator during an operation in Jalrayz district, Wardak province, today. The facilitator distributed homemade explosives and weapons to insurgent fighters throughout Maidan Shahr district.

In Khost district, Khost province, an Afghan and coalition security force conducted an operation in search of a Haqqani leader today. The leader constructs roadside bombs and distributes weapons to insurgents in Bak and Terayzai districts. The security force confiscated multiple weapons and ammunition and detained several suspected insurgents during the operation.

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R.I.P. - 1st Lt. David A. Johnson

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

            1st Lt. David A. Johnson, 24, of Horicon, Wis., died Jan. 25, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered after encountering an improvised explosive device while conducting a dismounted patrol.

            Johnson was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.

            For more information media may contact Joint Base Lewis-McChord public affairs office at 253-967-0152 or 253-967-0148.

---

According to unit records, Johnson was commissioned in 2010 through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), and he is a graduate of Evangel University, Springfield, Mo.  In 2011 he attended the Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Benning, Ga.  He arrived at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in August 2011, and was assigned to 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team.  The unit deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in December.  This was 1st Lt. Johnson’s first deployment.

Johnson’s civilian and military education includes a Bachelor of Science degree from Evangel University (2010), Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course (2011), Combatives level 1 and 2 (2011), and the Stryker Brigade Combat Team Leaders Course (2011).
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terror Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge and the Overseas Service Bar.
On behalf of the entire Joint Base Lewis-McChord military and civilian community, we extend our sincere condolences to the family and friends of 1st Lt. Johnson.

Family Statement:

Andrew and Laura Johnson and their children Michael, Matthew and Emily would like to honor their son and brother David with the following official statement:

“We are very proud of our son. He is a hero. He first was a man of God. He has been a strong leader at Mayville High School, at Evangel University and to the men in his unit. David had no fear of adversity; he lived life to the fullest. There are no regrets. He is an American hero. We love him very much and miss him very much.”

Part of a letter from Lt. Col. (Ret) Kirby A. Hanson, who was David’s ROTC Commander in Springfield.

“David was an outstanding cadet in every aspect of military training…He was destined to serve in the Infantry and I was certain he would excel…Aside from the Army life, David was a kind, well mannered, fun young man.”

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