This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8517375.stm
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Taliban 'military chief arrested' | Taliban 'military chief arrested' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A man described as the top Taliban military commander and named as Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar has been captured in Pakistan, US officials say. | A man described as the top Taliban military commander and named as Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar has been captured in Pakistan, US officials say. |
| Said to be the Taliban's overall number two, he was seized in a secret US-Pakistani raid in Karachi several days ago, The New York Times reported. | Said to be the Taliban's overall number two, he was seized in a secret US-Pakistani raid in Karachi several days ago, The New York Times reported. |
| Pakistan has not confirmed the report, and a Taliban spokesman has denied it. | Pakistan has not confirmed the report, and a Taliban spokesman has denied it. |
| His capture comes amid a major Nato-led offensive against against Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan. | His capture comes amid a major Nato-led offensive against against Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan. |
| Correspondents say Mullah Baradar is reported to be in charge of all long-term strategic military planning for the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, and if confirmed his arrest will have a very big effect on the Taliban's ability to conduct the insurgency there. | Correspondents say Mullah Baradar is reported to be in charge of all long-term strategic military planning for the Taliban in southern Afghanistan, and if confirmed his arrest will have a very big effect on the Taliban's ability to conduct the insurgency there. |
| ANALYSIS Orla Guerin, BBC News, Islamabad | ANALYSIS Orla Guerin, BBC News, Islamabad |
| If they have got him, he is a very big catch. | If they have got him, he is a very big catch. |
| He is the man said to be in control of the battlefields, said to be passing orders down to Taliban commanders currently fighting coalition forces. | He is the man said to be in control of the battlefields, said to be passing orders down to Taliban commanders currently fighting coalition forces. |
| The speculation here is focusing on the timing of the operation. One of the interesting things about this commander is that he is believed to favour the holding of talks in Afghanistan, which is a key aim for the coalition. | The speculation here is focusing on the timing of the operation. One of the interesting things about this commander is that he is believed to favour the holding of talks in Afghanistan, which is a key aim for the coalition. |
| Some are saying that if he has been arrested, that leaves the chances of talks very limited indeed. Others are saying that, if confirmed, this detention could be an attempt to facilitate some sort of back-channel communications. | Some are saying that if he has been arrested, that leaves the chances of talks very limited indeed. Others are saying that, if confirmed, this detention could be an attempt to facilitate some sort of back-channel communications. |
| There is a lot of speculation and a lot of confusion but very little concrete information. | There is a lot of speculation and a lot of confusion but very little concrete information. |
| Senior US officials said Mullah Baradar was "providing intelligence". | Senior US officials said Mullah Baradar was "providing intelligence". |
| "This operation was an enormous success," one official told ABC News. | "This operation was an enormous success," one official told ABC News. |
| "It is a very big deal," the official said. | "It is a very big deal," the official said. |
| The New York Times, citing US government sources, said the prisoner was the most significant Taliban figure to be detained since the US-led war in Afghanistan began in 2001. | The New York Times, citing US government sources, said the prisoner was the most significant Taliban figure to be detained since the US-led war in Afghanistan began in 2001. |
| But a Taliban spokesman denied the reports, saying Mullah Baradar was still in Afghanistan actively organising the group's military and political activities. | But a Taliban spokesman denied the reports, saying Mullah Baradar was still in Afghanistan actively organising the group's military and political activities. |
| "He has not been captured. They want to spread this rumour just to divert the attention of people from their defeats in Marjah and confuse the public," Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters news agency, referring to the US-led Nato offensive in the Marjah area of Helmand province. | "He has not been captured. They want to spread this rumour just to divert the attention of people from their defeats in Marjah and confuse the public," Zabihullah Mujahid told Reuters news agency, referring to the US-led Nato offensive in the Marjah area of Helmand province. |
| Guerrilla tactics | Guerrilla tactics |
| Little is known about Mullah Baradar, but he is said to rank second only in influence to the Taliban's spiritual leader, Mullar Muhammad Omar, who has been hiding from Western agencies since the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. | Little is known about Mullah Baradar, but he is said to rank second only in influence to the Taliban's spiritual leader, Mullar Muhammad Omar, who has been hiding from Western agencies since the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. |
| Senior intelligence officials voiced hope he would provide the location of Mullah Omar. | Senior intelligence officials voiced hope he would provide the location of Mullah Omar. |
| The BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell, in Washington, says Mullah Baradar is a "big fish" who runs the Taliban's day-to-day operations, both military and financial. | The BBC's North America editor Mark Mardell, in Washington, says Mullah Baradar is a "big fish" who runs the Taliban's day-to-day operations, both military and financial. |
| He allocates Taliban funds, appoints military commanders and designs military tactics, our correspondent says. | He allocates Taliban funds, appoints military commanders and designs military tactics, our correspondent says. |
| Mullah Baradar was quoted last year as telling his troops not to confront US soldiers with their superior firepower, but to operate using guerrilla tactics. | Mullah Baradar was quoted last year as telling his troops not to confront US soldiers with their superior firepower, but to operate using guerrilla tactics. |
| MULLAH BARADAR Second-in-charge behind Taliban founder Mullah OmarIn charge of Taliban's military operations and financial affairsBorn in Dehrawood District, Uruzgan Province, in 1968Former defence minister for the Taliban regime Source: Interpol, news agencies | |
| He is said to be responsible for the Taliban tactic of planting "flowers" - improvised explosive devices (IEDs) - along roadsides. | He is said to be responsible for the Taliban tactic of planting "flowers" - improvised explosive devices (IEDs) - along roadsides. |
| The New York Times said the Karachi raid was conducted by Pakistan's Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and CIA operatives, citing officials. | The New York Times said the Karachi raid was conducted by Pakistan's Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and CIA operatives, citing officials. |
| The newspaper said it had learned of the operation on Thursday, but delayed reporting it after a request by White House officials. They said disclosing it would end a very successful intelligence drive. | |
| US officials later acknowledged the news, saying it was becoming broadly known in the region. | US officials later acknowledged the news, saying it was becoming broadly known in the region. |
| According to Interpol Mullah Baradar was born in 1968, and served as deputy minister of defence for the Taliban regime in Afghanistan before it was toppled in 2001. | According to Interpol Mullah Baradar was born in 1968, and served as deputy minister of defence for the Taliban regime in Afghanistan before it was toppled in 2001. |
| He has been subject to UN sanctions including a travel ban, an arms embargo and the freezing of assets. | He has been subject to UN sanctions including a travel ban, an arms embargo and the freezing of assets. |
| Although little is known for certain about Mullah Baradar, he was reported to have engaged in an e-mail exchange with Newsweek magazine in July 2009, in which he vowed to "inflict maximum losses" on US forces in Afghanistan. | Although little is known for certain about Mullah Baradar, he was reported to have engaged in an e-mail exchange with Newsweek magazine in July 2009, in which he vowed to "inflict maximum losses" on US forces in Afghanistan. |
| "In every nook and corner of the country, a spirit for jihad is raging," the magazine quoted him as saying. | "In every nook and corner of the country, a spirit for jihad is raging," the magazine quoted him as saying. |