NATO forces capture senior Haqqani leader in eastern Afghanistan

NATO forces capture senior Haqqani leader in eastern Afghanistan

2011-10-01 23:46:06 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL (BNO NEWS) -- A senior leader of the Haqqani insurgent group was captured by coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said on Saturday.

The operation took place in the Jani Khel district of Paktia province, south of the capital of Kabul, on Tuesday. ISAF said the senior Haqqani network leader in Afghanistan, Haji Mali Khan, was detained along with a number of other suspected insurgents.

"Although he was heavily armed during the operation that led to his capture, Mali Khan submitted to the security force without incident or resistance," ISAF said in a statement, giving no other details about the operation itself.

Mali Khan was one of the highest ranking members of the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network which is considered one of the top terrorist organizations and threats to U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Mali Khan reportedly managed bases and had oversight of operations in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

According to ISAF, Mali Khan moved forces from Pakistan to Afghanistan to conduct terrorist activity while Jalaluddin Haqqani - the network's top leader - consistently placed him in positions of high importance.

"In the past year, Haji Mali Khan established a militant camp in Mangal tribal lands in Paktia province, coordinated the transfer of money for insurgents operations, and facilitated the acquisition of supplies," ISAF said in its statement, hailing his capture as a 'significant milestone' in the disruption of the Haqqani network.

Among the other suspected insurgents who were captured during the operation was Mali Khan's deputy and body guard. ISAF did not immediately disclose the total number of people who were detained.

"The Haqqani network and its safe havens remain a top priority for Afghan and coalition forces," ISAF said. "Security forces have conducted more than 500 operations so far in 2011 in an effort to disrupt the Haqqani network leadership, resulting in the death of 20 network facilitators and the capture of nearly 300 insurgent leaders and 1,300 suspected Haqqani insurgents."

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