Updated on
Summary NATO forces claim killing or capturing 200 insurgents in eastern Afghanistan during two operations.
The operations targeted the lethal Haqqani network, which has links to al-Qaida and the Taliban, the U.S.-led coalition said Monday.At least 20 insurgents with ties to the Haqqani group were among those killed or captured in the operations conducted during the past week by Afghan security forces with the support of coalition troops, said German Brig. Gen. Carsten Jacobson, a coalition spokesman in Afghanistan.About half of the Haqqani fighters were identified as leaders and the other half were bomb makers or individuals who help militants in various ways, such as distributing weapons and supplies, running safe houses or preparing areas for attack.Removal of the midlevel cell leaders with their expertise and leadership has significantly disrupted insurgent operations and degrades the Haqqani networks ability to coordinate and execute future attacks against combined team forces and the people of Afghanistan, Jacobson said.The joint force also seized more than 400 kilograms of explosives, weapons, munitions and computers.The two operations have ended, but the coalition is continuing its work to disrupt the Haqqani network, he said.On Sunday, NATO reported that a heavily armed group of Haqqani fighters was the target of an airstrike in Wuza Jadran district of Paktia province. The coalition said several insurgents were killed in the attack, but did not specify how many.At the same time as coalition and Afghan forces have stepped up their operations in areas along the Pakistani border in eastern Afghanistan, the U.S. and Afghanistan have urged Pakistan to act against the militants on its side of the border. U.S. officials recently visited Islamabad and Kabul to pressure Pakistan to do more to eliminate militant sanctuaries on its territory.
Featured
