4 Aug 2009

NZ troops help catch Taliban leader

3:36 pm on 4 August 2009

New Zealand troops have been involved in the capture of a Taliban leader in Afghanistan.

The army says Mullah Borhan was seized after his group attacked the home of a local provincial administrator in Bamyan province.

He had been wanted for some time and had a price on his head of $US10,000.

After the attack, Afghan police and security forces pursued the Mullah and his group and seized them after a firefight.

New Zealand forces provided an outer security cordon during the incident.

The incident took place on Sunday, 2km south of the town of Ghandak.

Air Vice-Marshal Peter Stockwell says Mullah Borhan has been organising Taliban attacks in the region for several months.

He had weapons and bomb making equipment in his possession when he was arrested, and was thought to be preparing attacks to disrupt the elections on 20 August.