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'Taleban leader held' in Pakistan 'Taleban leader held' in Pakistan
(about 3 hours later)
Security forces in Pakistan have arrested a former Taleban defence minister, intelligence officials say.Security forces in Pakistan have arrested a former Taleban defence minister, intelligence officials say.
Mullah Obaidullah Akhund, said to be a leader in the Taleban insurgency in Afghanistan, was reportedly seized in the south-western city of Quetta.Mullah Obaidullah Akhund, said to be a leader in the Taleban insurgency in Afghanistan, was reportedly seized in the south-western city of Quetta.
The raid coincided with a visit by US Vice-President Dick Cheney on Monday, officials said, during which he urged Pakistan to do more to fight terror. The raid coincided with a visit by the US vice-president on Monday, officials say. However, Pakistani officials have not formally confirmed the arrest.
But a Taleban spokesman in Afghanistan has denied the arrest. A Taleban spokesman denied Mullah Obaidullah had been captured.
Although Mr Akhund's arrest has not been confirmed by Pakistan's government, an intelligence official, speaking anonymously, said the raid had been a planned operation and had not been linked to Mr Cheney's visit. Although Mullah Obaidullah's arrest has not been confirmed by the Pakistani authorities, numerous reports quoting unnamed intelligence officials and Taleban sources say he was detained on Monday.
One Pakistani intelligence official said the raid had been a planned operation and had not been linked to US Vice-President Dick Cheney's visit to the region.
'Baseless''Baseless'
He would be the most senior Taleban leader to have been captured since its government was forced out of power in Afghanistan in 2001. Mullah Obaidullah would be the most senior Taleban leader to have been captured since Afghanistan's former hard-line rulers were forced out of power in 2001.
A number of other suspected Taleban figures have also been arrested in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, this week, the official said. A number of other suspected Taleban figures were also arrested in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, this week, officials said.
A Taleban spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yousuf, told the BBC that reports of Mullah Obaidullah's arrest from Quetta earlier in the week were baseless. The arrest has also been conformed by US intelligence officials quoted in the New York Times newspaper.
But Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao said he was "not aware" of the arrest.
A Taleban spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yousuf, told the BBC that reports of Mullah Obaidullah's arrest were baseless.
He said the Taleban leadership was based in Afghanistan.He said the Taleban leadership was based in Afghanistan.
The denial could not be verified independently. The denial could not be verified independently, and contradicted Taleban sources talking to the Reuters news agency by telephone from undisclosed locations.
Mr Cheney's visit to the region on Monday came amid increasing concern about insurgent activity in several areas of Afghanistan. They said Mr Akhund had indeed been caught at the home of a relative in the Balochistan capital.
Leadership role
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kabul says there is intense interest the fate of Mullah Obaidullah in Afghanistan.
Upsurge in suicide attacks Quick guide: AfghanistanUpsurge in suicide attacks Quick guide: Afghanistan
In talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Mr Cheney urged Pakistan to do more to combat the Taleban near the Afghan border, but also praised its role in the "war on terror". Our correspondent says he is well known because of his senior political and military leadership role in the Taleban.
Mullah Obaidullah was defence minister in the Taleban government before 2001 and the second of three top deputies of the Taleban's leader, Mullah Omar, who remains at large.
He is effectively the Taleban's number three, seen as the Taleban's military chief and the man to whom the other Taleban commanders answer, our correspondent says.
Mullah Obaidullah is also a religious scholar, educated in madrassas in two Pakistani cities.
Soon after the fall of the Taleban he actually surrendered to the Afghan government along with some colleagues. But he was soon released as part of an amnesty deal.
Mr Cheney asked Pakistan's President Musharraf to do more on terror
In the past, rumours of senior Taleban being arrested have proved wrong, our correspondent says, and now Afghans will be watching keenly to see if this time Mullah Obaidullah is indeed behind bars.
Mr Cheney's visit to the region on Monday came amid increasing concern about insurgent activity in several areas of Afghanistan.
In talks with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, he urged Pakistan to do more to combat the Taleban near the Afghan border, but also praised its role in the "war on terror".
US defence officials told Congress on Thursday that the threat from the Taleban is greater now than a year ago.US defence officials told Congress on Thursday that the threat from the Taleban is greater now than a year ago.
Some 27,000 US troops have been deployed in Afghanistan, the highest number since the invasion of 2001, amid fears of a spring offensive by the Taleban and its allies as the snows clear.Some 27,000 US troops have been deployed in Afghanistan, the highest number since the invasion of 2001, amid fears of a spring offensive by the Taleban and its allies as the snows clear.
Analysts say the US is seeking to send a tough message to Pakistan that aid to the country could be cut unless efforts to catch militants are stepped up.
Afghanistan and Pakistan share a 1,400-mile (2,250km) border, and many Taleban fighters operate from bases on the Pakistani side.