(6)ISAF captures senior Taliban commander in Helmand
In a raid earlier this month, International Security Assistance Force personnel captured a senior Taliban military commander who directed operations against NATO and Afghan forces in northern Helmand province.
Mullah Abdul Bari was captured by ISAF and Afghan special operations forces during a raid in Helmand's Kajaki district on Jan. 9, according to a report in Khaama Press and other Afghan news outlets. US military intelligence officials confirmed Bari's capture to The Long War Journal. ISAF and ISAF Joint Command (IJC) would neither confirm nor deny Bari's capture, however, and referred all inquiries to the Afghan government.
Bari served as the Taliban's shadow governor for the districts of Nad Ali, Musa Qala, Baghran, and Kajaki in northern Helmand province. According to Afghan Islamic Press, he was appointed to lead operations in the four districts by the Quetta Shura, the Taliban's top leadership council.
Prior to his capture, Bari served directly under Mullah Adbul Zakir, who is the overall military commander for the Taliban and also the leader of the Gerdi Jangal Regional Military Shura, which directs Taliban operations in Helmand and Nimroz provinces. Zakir was a detainee at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility before he was released to the Afghan government, which quickly set him free in early 2008. Zakir soon returned to the Taliban, taking control of the Mullah Dadullah Mahaz, which is closely tied to al Qaeda.
Bari is considered to be an important Taliban leader who was assigned to fight US Marines battling the Taliban in Kajaki as part of Operation Eastern Storm. Kajaki is one of the few remaining Taliban strongholds in Helmand province.
"His seniority and importance cannot be understated, especially in terms of his leadership over some of the most effective and dangerous IED cells in northern Helmand," a US official who closely tracks the Taliban told The Long War Journal.
"Although his network was strongest in Musa Qala, he increasingly focused his efforts on Kajaki and Baghran to help reshape and rebuild the insurgency following the blows received during Operation Eastern Storm, an operation targeting the Taliban military infrastructure in Kajaki and Baghran districts," the official continued.
READER COMMENTS: "ISAF captures senior Taliban commander in Helmand"
Posted by Arvadadan at January 26, 2012 10:12 AM ET:
Amazing how the leaders get captured but they tell their followers to seek martyrdom...
Posted by Dick Scott at January 26, 2012 1:02 PM ET:
Is this the same Mullah Abdul Bari that was governor of Helmand Province in 1998 under the Taliban?
Posted by Devin Leonard at January 26, 2012 2:18 PM ET:
Good capture, now lets pry the info out of him and get the rest of the upper and lower food chain!
Posted by gerry at January 26, 2012 8:53 PM ET:
This has got to be a big intel coup for those in the fight. I'm sure he will have much to tell about who is where and what they are involved with.
The media is no longer interested in Afganistan nor Iraq as long as the troops have been given a timeline for leaving by the current administration.
For the troops remaining its another matter.
Posted by Steve at January 26, 2012 10:45 PM ET:
No doubt we will be reading the story of his escape by next week...
Posted by David Vebryke at January 28, 2012 2:01 PM ET:
Dear Dick Scott,
It is one in the same and this man has very valuable intelligence I am sure. I am glad that he is in custody and facing justice. Now we can hunt down these evil barbarians.
Sincerely,
David Verbryke
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