DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 117/10
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Taliban Leader Captured in Afghan – led Special Operations Task
Group Operation
A Taliban insurgent commander suspected of being responsible for the Improvised
Explosive Device (IED) attacks that wounded four Australian soldiers last month has
been captured in a combined Afghan National Security Force and Special Operations
Task Group targeted operation.
The Special Operations Task Group and its Afghan partner unit, the Provincial Police
Reserve, detained insurgent leader Mullah Faqir and four other individuals during a
joint clearance operation in the Mirabad Valley region of Oruzgan Province on 12
April, 2010.
Commander Joint Task Force 633, Major General John Cantwell said Mullah Faqir
was a key tactical commander for the insurgency as it attempted to reconstitute itself
in Oruzgan at the beginning of the traditional summer fighting season.
“Mullah Faqir has been known to Coalition Forces in Afghanistan for a number of
years,” Major General Cantwell said.
“He commanded a significant number of insurgent fighters and coordinated the
construction and placement of Improvised Explosive Devices as well as directing
attacks against security forces in the region.
“His capture represents a significant blow to the Taliban’s ability to plan and
coordinate attacks against the Mirabad Valley population and against Australian,
Afghan and Coalition Forces working to bring security to that area.”
Mullah Faqir was transferred to the custody of Dutch Forces, before subsequently
being transferred to the Afghan security services after his identity was confirmed. He
will now be processed within the Afghan justice system. Three of the four others
detained with Mullah Faqir have also been transferred by Dutch forces to Afghan
authorities for prosecution. The fourth Afghan detained with Mullah Faqir was
released.
Major General Cantwell praised the work of the Special Operations Task Group in
disrupting the Taliban’s IED network in recent weeks.
“Australia’s Special Forces troops have done a magnificent job supporting their mates
in the 1st Mentoring Task Force by capturing the individual suspected of being
responsible for the attacks that wounded four Australian soldiers in March,” Major
General Cantwell said.
DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
“By disrupting the Taliban’s local leadership and networks in this way, the Afghan
Provincial Police Reserve and the SOTG are creating an environment in which the
Afghan Government can continue to improve security and develop the conditions
necessary for the future prosperity of Oruzgan locals.
Mullah Faqir and the other captured insurgents will now go before Afghanistan’s
justice system.
Last month the Special Operations Task Group, and their partnered Afghan Police
colleagues, captured key insurgent IED coordinator Mullah Janan Andewhal and a
number of other individuals involved in the construction and placement of IEDs.
The Special Operations Task Group is continuing its operations to disrupt the Taliban
command and control network in Southern Afghanistan. As these operations are
ongoing, no specific details concerning the tactics and techniques employed during
this operation will be released.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
