District chief killed following blast in Farah province

According to local authorities in western Farah province of Afghanistan, district chief for Parchaman was killed along with one of his bodyguard following a roadside bomb explosion.

The officials further added the incident took place on Tuesday night at the central Parchaman city in this province.

Mohammad Salim Mubariz district chief for Parchaman was assessing the condition of the security check posts and was his way back when the incident took place.

In the meantime provincial security chief Mohammad Ghaus Maliar said Mohammad Salim Mubariz was killed along with an Afghan police officer and two of his bodyguards were injured.

No group including the Taliban militants has so far claimed responsibility behind the incident.

Local officials blamed Taliban group for such incidents as Taliban fighters frequently use improvised explosive device and roadside bombs to target Afghan and coalition security forces and Afghan government officials.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - Wed Oct 24, 2:10 pm

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ANP arrests 5 mine planters in Zabul and Helmand

Publish Date: Oct 24, 2012

Afghan National Police arrests five mine planters in Zabul and Helmand provinces

 

Afghan National Police arrested three mine planters with one AK-47 assault rifle and three anti-vehicle mines while they were planting roadside mines in the Hazari region, Qalat City capital of Zabul province, yesterday.

In the meantime, Afghan National Police arrested two mine planters with one remote control mine while they were planting a roadside mine in the main road of Sra Qala village, Grashk District of Helmand province, yesterday.

IEDs inflict the heaviest casualties to the innocent civilians every day.

Ministry of Interior Affairs praises the good work of ANP in securing the people of Afghanistan and appreciated people’s cooperation in sharing information with Afghan National Security forces.

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2 killed in U.S. drone strike in NW Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and several others injured in a U.S. drone attack in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of North Waziristan on Wednesday afternoon, local media reported.

Local TV Express reported that the drone strike was launched at about 2:50 p.m. local time when the U.S. unmanned aircraft fired two missiles at a house suspected to be a militants' hideout in Miranshah area of North Waziristan, a restive tribal area bordering Afghanistan.

The death toll is likely to increase as there were reportedly many people in the house and several of them are in a critical condition.

According to Xinhua's tally, Wednesday's strike is 34th of its kind since the beginning of this year. So far this year at least 236 people have been killed in such strikes.

from XINHUA
2012-10-24 18:25:43

---
update from LWJ:

US drones kill 4 'militants,' 1 civilian in North Waziristan strike

By Bill Roggio - October 24, 2012

US drones killed four "militants" and one civilian in a strike today on a compound in Pakistan's Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan.
Pakistani officials told Dawn that the unmanned Predators or Reapers fired three missiles at a compound and a vehicle in the village of Tappi near Miramshah in North Waziristan. "The official sources also said that three cows have also been killed as the house was completely destroyed," Dawn reported.
The target of today's strike has not been disclosed. No senior al Qaeda or allied jihadist commanders from foreign terrorist groups are reported to have been killed in the strike.
Terrorists are known to have sheltered in the village of Tappi in the past. The US has struck at targets in the village five other times since the beginning of 2008, according to data on the strikes that has been compiled by The Long War Journal.
The Haqqani Network, a Taliban group that operates in North Waziristan and Kurram, as well as in eastern Afghanistan, administers the area where today's attack took place. Al Qaeda leaders and operatives, who are closely allied with the Haqqani Network, shelter in the area, as do other terror groups. The US added the Haqqani Network to the list of global terror groups in September 2012 for supporting al Qaeda and conducting attacks in Afghanistan.

Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2012/10/us_drones_kill_4_mil_1.php#ixzz2AEu1yTWa

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4 Armed Taliban Killed, 2 Wounded and 22 Arrested by ANP (24.Oct.2012.)

Publish Date: Oct 24, 2012

Four Armed Taliban Killed, Two Wounded and 22 Arrested by Afghan National Police

Counterterrorism:

During the past 24 hours, Afghan National Police, Afghan National Army, NDS and Coalition Forces launched six joint clearance operations in Kabul, Kunduz, Kandahar, Zabul, Ghazni, Khost, and Helmand provinces.

As a result of these operations, four armed Taliban were killed, two wounded and 22 others were arrested by Afghan National Security Forces.

Also, during these operations, Afghan National Police discovered and confiscated some amount of light and heavy rounds.

Additionally, Afghan National Police discovered and defused two anti-vehicle mines as a result of security operations in Laghman and Logar provinces, yesterday.

 

Crimes:
The 101 Kabul Zone National Police detained two suspects accused of theft and trafficking in the 2nd and 10th Districts of Kabul-City.

 Ten Taliban fighters stand handcuffed after they were captured with their ammunitions during an operation by Afghan security forces in Helmand province south of Afghanistan, Oct. 24, 2012. Around ten Taliban fighters captured with their ammunitions by Afghan security forces during an operation on Wednesday, officials said. (Xinhua/Zaheer)

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Shabaab women’s leader captured

The retreat of the Al Shabaab Islamist
militant group in Somalia since 2011.
Original map by Evan Centanni.
www.polgeonow.com

KISMAYO (Sh.M.Network)—The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and those of Somalia have have captured Al Shabaab women’s leader in Kismayu port.

Apart from the woman, the troops also arrested 72 suspected militants and recovered an assortment of weapons.

Among those arrested was the woman identified as Marianna Issa Mohammed who was identified by residents of Kismayu as the Al Shabaab women leader.

Her arrest is seen as a boost as the troops race to pacify the city that has been under the rule of the militants for long.

KDF information operations officer Col Cyrus Oguna said the Sunday operation was a success because of the cooperation from the locals.

Col Oguna added the troops also arrested five Al-Shabaab members as they tried to enter Kenya in Kolbio area.

Two KDF soldiers were injured in the exercise after the militants engaged them in a shootout that left three of them killed and two AK 47 rifles and an RPG recovered.

“Economic activities continue to thrive at the Port City with 5 ships carrying foodstuffs and cement docking at the Kismayu Sea Port today,” said Col Oguna in a statement on Tuesday.

He added the UN and WHO representatives visited the area on a fact finding mission and were received warmly by the locals.

The troops took control of Kismayu last month in an operation that has been seen as a success in their efforts to restore order in the war torn country.

The Kenyan troops crossed to Somalia last year in an operation that was aimed at neutralising the militants.

In a related development, police in Wajir intercepted a lorry carrying 400 sacks of sugar from Somalia on Tuesday.

from Shabelle
maalik_eng October 24, 2012

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Oct. 24., 2012. - ISAF Joint Command Morning Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan and coalition forces yesterday confirmed the arrest of Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Rahman in Kunduz province Oct. 19.

He is accused of being the planner and coordinator behind several high-profile attacks in northern Afghanistan, including the hijacking of fuel trucks in Kunduz in 2009 and the killing of several ISAF soldiers in 2010.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

East

Afghan and coalition officials today confirmed the death of Haqqani leader Ehsan, who was killed along with another insurgent by Afghan and coalition forces Monday after being observed executing a mortar attack against Forward Operating Base Shank in Logar province.

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader in Logar province today. The arrested leader maintained close ties to Haqqani network leadership and was directly involved in planning vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the province. The security force also detained two suspected insurgents and seized several firearms and grenades as a result of the operation.

Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents after being attacked by small arms fire during a partnered patrol in Wardak province yesterday. The combined force engaged the three attackers, killing two and forcing a third to flee the area.

South

Afghan and coalition forces today confirmed the arrest of a Taliban leader in Kandahar province yesterday. The detained Taliban leader was responsible for assassination attempts, IED attacks, and facilitation of lethal aid throughout Kandahar province. During the operation, the security force also detained three suspected insurgents.

An Afghan and coalition force arrested three insurgents during a security operation in search of a Taliban leader in Helmand province today.

The Afghan National Interdiction Unit, partnered with coalition forces, seized nearly 1,000 pounds (455 kilograms) of narcotics and bomb-making material, including opium, heroin, hashish and ammonium nitrate, in Nimroz province Monday. "The NIU has taken the lead on eradicating the contraband in the area," said Maj. Moni Laube, an ISAF special operations official in southern Afghanistan. "They are here to help rid the area of drugs that insurgents rely upon for financial support, thus making the area safe for the people of Afghanistan."

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Oct. 24., 2012. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces killed two insurgents, detained one, located a weapons cache and cleared five improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Oct. 23.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared two IEDs, one in Ghazni district and one in Qarah Bagh district.

Kapisa province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Nejrab district.

Khowst province
Afghan Border Police and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Terezayi district. The cache contained three five-gallon jugs of homemade explosives.

Laghman province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces killed two insurgents during engagements in Mehtar Lam district.

Paktya province
Afghan National Army soldiers and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Zurmat district.

Wardak province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared an IED in Sayyidabad district.

Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces detained an insurgent during an engagement in Sayyidabad district. The detained suspect was transferred to a base for questioning.

Operations in RC-East are still ongoing.

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