BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan (September 4, 2008) – Coalition forces have positively identified five Taliban subcommanders killed during operations over the past month in Kapisa province.

Qari Nejat, along with four additional anti-afghan forces, was killed during a Coalition forces’ operation in Nijrab District on Aug. 5.  Nejat was a Taliban commander in the Tag Ab valley region, with ties to senior insurgent figures.  He was implicated in the July 21 suicide bombing in the Tag Ab bazaar that injured six afghan nationals, as well as the July 16 kidnapping of three Afghan National Policemen in Jalokhel.  Nejat was also wanted in connection with the torturing and beheading of an Afghan national on June 30.

Khairullah Nezami and Qari Ezmarai, along with four additional anti-afghan forces, were killed in Tag Ab district on Aug. 23 by Coalition forces. 
 
Nezami was a known IED facilitator and also coordinated the movement of suicide bombers and foreign terrorists within the network.  Ezmarai was believed to help foreign terrorists move into and around Afghanistan to conduct attacks for the Taliban. Both militants were local Taliban commanders in the Tag Ab valley region of Kapisa.  During the operation, the force also discovered multiple AK-47s and machine guns. 

On August 30, Ahmad Shah and Mullah Rohoullah were killed as Coalition forces attempted to search a compound in Nijrab District.  As they approached the compound, they were met with small-arms and RPG-fire.  Coalition forces responded with precision airstrikes, killing both Taliban leaders.  Six other militants were also killed in the airstrike.

Both leaders were heavily involved in foreign terrorist facilitation and conducting numerous attacks against ISAF and Coalition forces, including a recent ambush on ISAF forces on Aug. 18. They were known to facilitate the movement of weapons and foreign fighters into Afghanistan.