ISAF continues to pursue the leaders of the al Qaeda-linked Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan in the northern Afghan province of Takhar:

In Takhar province, Afghan and coalition forces detained two insurgents and killed several armed combatants during their search for a high-ranking Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan senior leader.

The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan leader specializes in improvised explosive device attacks against Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan officials. He also coordinates the district Taliban leader's movements, distributes funds, facilitates ammunition deliveries and is involved in a drug trafficking network between Badakhshan province and Tajikistan. He maintains close connections with the Taliban shadow governor for Takhar province, al-Qaida facilitators and other Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan insurgents in the area.

One day prior to this raid, ISAF and Afghan special operations teams killed a Taliban commander in Takhar who had close links to al Qaeda. For more information on al Qaeda and the IMU in Takhar, see LWJ report, Al Qaeda-linked Taliban commander killed in Afghan north.