6 rebels including commander detained during a raid

PUL-I-KHUMRI/ MAIMANA (PAN): Six militants, including a commander, were captured in the northern provinces of Baghlan and Faryab, an official said on Tuesday.
Four fighters were detained with weapons on Monday night during a raid on a house by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and quick reaction force in the Nahrain district of Baghlan, police officer Syed Zewaruddin told Pajhwok Afghan News.

Commander Sharif -- alias Afghani -- was arrested along with three associates, said a member of the provincial council from the district, Qudratullah, who accused Afghani of disruptive activities in the area.

Meanwhile, ISAF confirmed an Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban facilitator in the province. “He was personally responsible for assisting in the transfer of IEDs and conducting IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces,” a statement from the NATO-led force  said.

Separately, two more insurgents were captured by police in the Qaisar district of Faryab province late on Monday. A motorcycle and two weapons were recovered from them, said police spokesman, Syed Massoud Yaqubi.

from Pajhwok
By Habibur Rahman Sherzai & Qutbuddin Kohi Jan 8, 2013 - 16:08   

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Jan. 08., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – During a security operation in Washer district, Helmand province, yesterday, an Afghan and coalition force killed the Taliban leader, Mohammad Sayed, and one other insurgent.

Mohammad Sayed distributed weapons and ammunition to Taliban fighters. Prior to his death, Sayed was attempting to acquire rockets for attacks targeting Afghan government officials in the province.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

North

An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban facilitator in Pul-e Khumri district, Baghlan province, today. The facilitator belonged to a group of insurgents who carried out improvised explosive device and suicide attacks in the province. He was personally responsible for assisting in the transfer of IEDs and conducting IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

East

In Khugyani district, Nangarhar province, today, an Afghan and coalition security force killed two insurgents, including the Taliban leader, Khanjar. Khanjar, also known as Izat and Abu Khaled, directed attacks against Afghan government officials and Afghan and coalition forces in the district. During the operation, the security force also arrested a local Taliban leader who oversaw the transfer and delivery of weapons and ammunition to insurgent.

An Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, arrested two insurgents during a security operation in search of a Haqqani leader in Sabari district, Khost province, today. The Haqqani leader is responsible for directing and conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the district.

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Jan. 08., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces located one weapons cache and cleared one improvised explosive device during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Jan. 7.

Ghazni province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces discovered one weapons cache in Ghazni province. The cache contained homemade explosives, mortars and mines.

Logar province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED in Baraki Barak district.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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British Soldier Killed in Afghan 'Insider' Attack

British military officials say one of their soldiers has been killed in Afghanistan by a suspected member of the Afghan National Army.

Britain's Ministry of Defense said Tuesday the attacker turned his gun on international troops at a base in southern Helmand province and opened fire.  Local officials say several other British troops were wounded in the attack.

The NATO command in Afghanistan says the killing Monday is the latest suspected incidence of what officials call "insider attacks."

Insider attacks have been on the on the rise in Afghanistan, leaving more than 60 foreign troops dead in 2012.

Monday's attack also came as Afghan President Hamid Karzai was preparing for talks in Washington later this week with U.S. President Barack Obama on the long-term security agreement between the two nations.

read more from VOA NewsJanuary 08, 2013

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ISAF Joint Command

KABUL, Afghanistan – An individual wearing an Afghan National Army uniform turned his weapon against International Security Assistance Force service members in southern Afghanistan Jan. 7, killing one.

The incident is currently under investigation.

It is ISAF policy to defer casualty identification procedures to the relevant national authorities

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US drone attack kills 8 in North Waziristan

Several missiles fired from American drones slammed into a compound near the Afghan border in Pakistan early Tuesday, killing eight suspected militants, Pakistan officials said.

The compound was near the town of Mir Ali in the North Waziristan tribal area, said two intelligence officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

One of the officials says an al Qaeda operative was believed to have been killed in the strike.

North Waziristan, the area where the strike occurred, is considered a stronghold for insurgent groups operating in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

On Sunday nine Pakistani Taliban fighters were killed when American missiles fired from several drones flying overhead slammed into three militant hideouts in another tribal area, South Waziristan.

Tuesday morning’s strike is the fifth of its kind launched by U. S. drones in Pakistan in 2013. So far at least 38 people have been killed in such strikes. They include some important Taliban commanders like Wali Muhammad, chief of Pakistan Taliban’s suiciders wing.

from KHAAMA
By Sadaf Shinwari - January 8 2013, 9:18 am

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Jan. 07., 2013. - ISAF Joint Command Operational Update

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban leader, and detained one suspected insurgent, in Andar district, Ghazni province, today.

The leader commanded a group who organized and executed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces, along with overseeing the placement of improvised explosive devices.

In other International Security Assistance Force news throughout Afghanistan:

South

A Taliban senior leader was arrested by an Afghan and coalition security force in Nahr-e Saraj district, Helmand province, today. The senior leader played a major role in narcotics trafficking to fund Taliban operations within the district. He commanded insurgent fighters who were directly responsible for conducting attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. During the operation, the security force also detained one suspected insurgent.

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Jan. 07., 2013. - RC-East operational update

BAGRAM, Afghanistan - Afghan and coalition forces detained one insurgent, located one weapons cache and cleared four improvised explosive devices during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours, Jan. 6.

Ghazni province
Afghan Local Police and coalition forces discovered a weapons cache in Muqer district. The cache contained several mines and IED making materials.

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

Nangarhar province
Afghan Uniformed Police and coalition forces found and safely cleared one IED in Mohmand Darah district.

Paktika province
Afghan National Security Forces and coalition forces found and safely cleared three IEDs in Jani Khel district.

Operations in RC-East are ongoing.

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2 soldiers dead in Kandahar blast

KANDAHAR CITY (PAN): Two Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers were killed and two others, including a police and a civilian, injured in separate explosions in the capital of southern Kandahar province, officials said on Monday.

The first blast took place in the Tirinkot bus stand on outskirts of 9th municipality district on Sunday night, when a police vehicle was passing the area, the governor's spokesman, Jawed Faisal, told Pajhwok Afghan News. One civilian was injured in the blast.

He said the second blast occurred on Monday morning when a team of the Afghan National Army (ANA) engineering corps was trying to defuse a bomb, injuring one army soldier.

But an ANA commander, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two soldiers were killed and a policeman injured in the explosion. A statement from the ministry of defence said two soldiers were injured in the blast.

from Pajhwok
By Bashir Ahmad Naadem Jan 7, 2013 - 13:25

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Somalia: Ugandan Rebel Group Has Links With Somali Militants, a Report Says

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)

Kampala — A UN report alleges that there is a link between Somalia's Al Qaida inspired group of Al Shabab and the Ugandan rebel group of Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) and that the two group's connection is spreading through east Africa.

According to the report, ADF has established a link with Somalia's militant group of Al Shabab which is now weaker after Somali government forces backed by African union thrashed the group in many battlefields in south Somalia.

Uganda has contributed the bulk of the AU forces in Somalia and Al Shabab carried out a deadly bombing attack in Uganda in 2010, clearly in retaliation to Uganda's deployment to Somalia.

Despite the hatred of Al Shabab on the presence of African union forces in Somalia, the Somali public fully accepts their presence and rejoices their sacrifices in restoring peace in Somalia.

Ugandan police force issued an alert last Monday on possible terror attacks by ADF during the celebration of the new year but luckily nothing bad happened.

from allAfrica/Shabelle

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6 Afghan police officers missing in Farah province

According to local authorities in western Farah province of Afghanistan, at least 6 Afghan police officers are missing from a security check post in Pusht-e-Rud district.

The Afghan police officers disappeared from the check post on Sunday evening.

Deputy provincial governor Mohammad Younis Rassouli confirmed the report however he did not disclose further information regarding the incident.

In a separate incident and Afghan security service member was killed following attack by unknown gunmen in Farah province.

Provincial governor spokesman Abdul Rahman Zhwandai said the attack took place on Monday morning, killing an Afghan security service member and injuring another one.

In the meantime local officials are saying Afghan security forces have launched a search operation to find the missing Afghan police officers.

A spokesman for the Taliban group said the police officers have joined Taliban group but the report has not been confirmed by officials in Farah yet.

from KHAAMA
By Mirwais Adeel - January 7 2013, 1:29 pm

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