News - Afghanistan

Three Taliban leaders were captured in joint Afghan and coalition security troops operations on Thursday in Afghanistan, Isaf said.

The three leaders were captured in three separate operations across three provinces: Baghlan, Kandahar, and Helmand.

"An Afghan and coalition security force captured a Taliban leader and detained an additional suspect during an operation in Baghlan-e Jadid district of Baghlan province today, "Isaf said in a statement on its website.

The leader has directed roadside bombings and suicide attacks against Afghan and coalition troops throughout the district, it said.

During the operation the security forces also found and destroyed a motorcycle with 55 pounds of homemade explosives and multiple weapons.

The second Taliban leader was captured in the Maiwand district of Kandahar on Thursday.

The leader provided weapons and ammunition to insurgents throughout Kandahar province and he also directed attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the Maiwand district, according to Isaf.

The third leader was captured in the Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand province. He directed roadside bombings and other attacks against Afghan and coalition forces throughout the province, Isaf said.

Parallel to these operations, as many as 11 insurgents were killed and 12 others were wounded in Afghan police operations in Nangarhar, Uruzgan, Logar, Paktika and Herat provinces, the Afghan Ministry of Interior (MOI) said in a statement Thursday.

The MOI statement said the operations were launched to clear areas of insurgents, and that all took place in the last 24 hours.

No further details were given.