Afghan and coalition forces killed an insurgent leader linked to al Qaeda in eastern Afghanistan, NATO officials said. The man was identified as Sabar Lal Melma, described as responsible for organizing attacks and financing operations in Kunar province. A man by the same name from the same province was released from Gitmo in 2007 after being held for nearly five years.| Justice delayed in this case is not justice denied. Well done, all! |
Capt. Justin Brockhoff, a spokesman for the NATO-led troops said, "It is fair to say he was clearly linked to al Qaeda. He was responsible for many attacks and finance in the Pech Valley, Kunar province. He was in contact with senior al Qaeda figures in Kunar and Pakistan."
Afghan and NATO troops were given a tip on Melma's whereabouts and tracked him to a building in a compound in Jalalabad District in Nangarhar province. When troops attempted to arrest him, he came out of the building with an AK-47 and was killed.
Several suspected insurgents were nabbed at the compound, according to the NATO statement.