At least 76 suspects suspected of terrorist activities, armed robberies, kidnapping and drug smuggling were arrested as a result of a series of targeted operations in 22 areas of Kabul, the National Directorate of Security (NDS) said in a statement on Thursday.

Five Taliban members accused of planting IEDs were among the suspects arrested in Deh Sabz district, the statement said.

“The terrorist network led by Samiullah son of Rozuddin and his four other colleagues carried out a series of IED attacks against civilian and military vehicles on the order of the Taliban’s commander Qari Yousuf who joined the group in Koh-e-Safi area of Parwan province,” the statement concluded.