DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946
MSPA 325/08
Sunday, 5 October 2008
TALIBAN EXTREMIST COMMANDER CAPTURED IN JOINT
SOTG OPERATION
The Taliban mastermind behind a string of road-side and suicide bombings as well as
kidnappings in Oruzgan Province has been captured in a deliberate operation led by the
Special Operations Task Group (SOTG).
The SOTG and the Afghan National Army (ANA) detained Mullah Saqi Dad during a joint
clearance operation in Oruzgan Province on Wednesday (01 October 2008). He is the fourth
mid-level to senior Taliban leader captured or killed in the province in recent SOTG and
ANA operations.
Defence spokesperson Brigadier Brian Dawson said the Taliban commander was responsible
for ordering and coordinating suicide bombers throughout the province. He is also known to
have ordered the kidnapping of several local Afghan civilians.
Brigadier Dawson said the captured commander had links to senior Taliban leaders.
“He has been connected to Mullah Berader Akhund, the second in command to the leader of
the Taliban movement, Mullah Omar.”
Mullah Saqi Dad was the supplier of bombs and parts crucial for the manufacture and
deployment of road-side and suicide bomb attacks in Oruzgan.
He was known to have distributed land-mines, gunpowder and IED components through the
province.
“Targeting the Taliban extremist leadership and removing their ability to coordinate actions is
key to creating an environment in which the Afghan National Security Forces can establish
themselves and provide security for the Oruzgan locals.”
Under an agreement between the Dutch and Afghan Governments, Mullah Saqi Dad is now
being detained by Afghan authorities.
Media Note:
In accordance with International protocols regarding the detention of personnel in operational
areas, Defence will not release any imagery of Mullah Saqi Dad following his capture.
The SOTG is continuing its operations to disrupt the Taliban extremist command and control
network in Oruzgan province. As these operations are ongoing, no specific details of the
operation to capture the Mullah Saqi Dad will be released.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
