Nato captures more Afghan militant leaders

Nato forces said today that they have detained two insurgent leaders in Afghanistan’s east and south.

They also said that more than 430 suspected militants have been rounded up over the last month.

Nato said today that Afghan and international forces captured a senior Taliban leader based in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province yesterday.

A military operation called “Dragon Strike” is under way in Kandahar, the heartland of the Taliban insurgency, to clear the area of militants.

Five Nato service members were killed yesterday in that area, where Nato says it expects hard fighting.

Three died when a home-made bomb exploded and two were killed separately – one following an insurgent attack and another in an explosion.