Armed Individual, Local National Killed During Security Operation
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan 2011-05-S-037 For Immediate Release   KABUL, Afghanistan (May 12, 2011) – A combined Afghan and coalition security force killed one armed individual and one local national female adolescent during a security operation in Surkh Rod district, Nangarhar province yesterday.  The force was conducting the operation in this district to capture a Taliban leader. Recent reporting indicates he is involved in an imminent attack in the district. As a leader in the district he plans attacks, facilitates weapons and IED’s, and provides financing for Taliban operations.  When the combined security force arrived at the suspected compound of the Taliban leader, they called for all building occupants to exit peacefully. One man then threatened the security force with a pistol; the security force defended themselves, killing the man. After initial assessment, it was discovered that he was employed by the Afghan National Police.  After the engagement with the armed individual, the combined security force secured the building. At this point, an individual ran out the back of the compound toward the outer security perimeter and was killed when the security force mistakenly identified what they suspected was a weapon on the individual and engaged. Later, the force discovered the individual was an unarmed Afghan female adolescent.  After the incident the combined force turned the scene over to the Chief of Afghan National Police for the district and the district Sub-governor for proper coordination.  “We are deeply sorry for this tragedy and apologize to the members of the Afghan government, the people of Afghanistan and most importantly, the surviving family members of those killed by our actions,” said Rear Admiral Hal Pittman, ISAF Deputy Chief of Staff for Communication. “We go to great lengths in our operations to reduce civilian casualties to an absolute minimum. We understand any civilian loss of life is detrimental to our cause and to our efforts to secure the population. We are working with our Afghan security force counterparts to understand what happened and take steps to prevent this from happening in the future.”