Forces Capture Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin Leader in Nangarhar
ISAF Joint Command - Afghanistan 2011-02-D-127 For Immediate Release  KABUL, Afghanistan (Feb. 18, 2011) – Afghan and coalition forces captured a Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin, or HIG, leader for Khugyani district along with one suspected insurgent and killed a local who threatened the security force during a security operation Nangarhar province, yesterday.  The detained HIG insurgent led a group of HIG and Taliban insurgents involved in planning and conducting various types of attacks to include improvised explosive device attacks against Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and coalition forces in the province. He also provided food and shelter to five insurgent fighters who were traveling from Pakistan according to recent reporting.  Security forces followed leads to the targeted compound in Khugyani district, where Afghan forces called for all occupants to exit the buildings peacefully before conducting a search. The security force was told by civilians in the compound that everyone had exited the buildings.  While conducting a call out on one of the buildings to ensure all occupants had exited security forces saw the local inside the building through a window. The individual was unresponsive to multiple instructions given to him by Afghan forces, even after they entered the building. He then threatened the security force resulting in him being killed.  The security force spoke with the compound elder to inform him what occurred within the building.  After the compound was secure, the targeted insurgent and one suspected insurgent were detained after initial questioning at the scene. An improvised explosive device with 50-pounds of explosives, multiple AK-47s, three hand grenades, two pistols, two chest racks, ammunition and 25 pounds of narcotics were recovered by the security force.  Afghan and coalition forces conducted at least six joint operations since September 2010 in the district, resulting in several Taliban leaders and more than 10 armed insurgents being killed. The security force also captured several Taliban weapons facilitators and armed insurgents. Multiple automatic weapons, pistols, grenades, blasting caps and ammunition were recovered during the six operations.