ISAF and Afghan forces continue to target the al Qaeda and Qods Force-linked cells in Farah and Nimroz provinces. Special operations forces captured another Taliban commander in the Afghan west associated with “foreign fighters,” or al Qaeda. From the ISAF press release:
Afghan and coalition forces detained a Taliban leader along with two suspected insurgents during a security operation in Khash Rod District, Nimroz province yesterday.
The Taliban leader operated out of Pashtu village in Gulistan District, Farah province, where he was responsible for directing improvised explosive devices attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in the area. He is associated with Taliban leaders and foreign fighters in the area.
As we’ve noted at LWJ numerous times, Farah province is a known haven and hub of activities for al Qaeda and allied terror groups in western Afghanistan, and serves as a main transit point for foreign fighters and Iranian aid flowing into Afghanistan. The presence of al Qaeda cells has been detected in the districts of Bakwah, Balu Barak, Farah, Gulistan, and Pusht-e Rod; or five of Farah’s 11 districts.
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