NATO says Afghan and coalition troops have captured an al-Qaida facilitator who was a former associate of terror leader Osama bin Laden.

In a statement Thursday, NATO said the man was captured in the Nahr-e Shahi area of northern Balkh province, but did not give his name.

It said the Pakistan-based man planned attacks and was a close associate of senior al-Qaida insurgents. He is also suspected of being with bin Laden in Afghanistan in 2001.

NATO says he is one of several senior al-Qaida and Taliban insurgents captured in Balkh province this year.