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Pakistan confirms Taliban arrest Pakistan confirms Taliban arrest
(about 4 hours later)
Pakistan has confirmed that a Taliban suspect captured earlier this month is one of the organisation's top leaders, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.Pakistan has confirmed that a Taliban suspect captured earlier this month is one of the organisation's top leaders, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
A military spokesman said the delay in confirmation had been due to "detailed identification procedures". However Interior Minister Rehman Malik denied that any US agents had been involved in the operation in Karachi.
US and Pakistani agents had seized Mullah Baradar in Karachi on 8 February, US officials said on Tuesday. Mr Malik also said other suspects had been arrested in the swoop "seven to 10 days ago" and were being interrogated.
But a Taliban spokesman has said Mullah Baradar, thought to be their second-in-command, is free and in Afghanistan. The Taliban say Mullah Baradar, thought to be their second-in-command, is still free and is in Afghanistan.
Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, told the BBC that Mullah Baradar was being questioned. US officials had said on Tuesday that Mullah Baradar was seized by US and Pakistani agents in Karachi on 8 February.
He called it an "important arrest", but gave no other details.
A military statement said several people had been arrested in the same raid but revealed little else "due to security reasons".
There was no confirmation from Pakistani officials that it had been a joint US-Pakistani operation that netted the man thought to have been running the Taliban's military operations in Afghanistan.
Getting tough
Mullah Baradar is also believed to have run Taleban's leadership council and control their finances.
The news of his arrest came as Nato forces and Afghan troops are conducting a major offensive against the Taliban in southern Helmand province, an area Mullah Baradar is believed to have been responsible for.
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 deputy defence minister for the Taliban regime Source: Interpol, news agencies Profile: Mullah Baradar Is the arrest a breakthrough? NY Times explains news delayMULLAH 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 deputy defence minister for the Taliban regime Source: Interpol, news agencies Profile: Mullah Baradar Is the arrest a breakthrough? NY Times explains news delay
His influence is said to be second only to that of the Taliban's spiritual leader, Mullar Muhammad Omar, who has been hiding from Western agencies since the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001. But Mr Malik "categorically" denied US agents had taken part.
"Nothing of the sort has happened. The operation was carried out by Pakistani security agencies."
He said only Pakistani agencies were involved in the interrogation process, but added: "Yes, there is a sharing of intelligence because we are fighting the war together."
Mr Malik described the capture of a man "very close to [Taliban leader] Mullah Omar" as "a big catch for Pakistan".
"It's a serious setback for them. He is a main military commander," he said.
"Others were also arrested and are being interrogated. But it's too early to say anything about them. We will disclose details when the time comes."
Getting tough
The interior minister said the operation showed "how sincere and serious we are on 'the war on terror'".
A separate operation on the Afghan border had led to several further arrests and the seizure of a number of suicide bomb jackets and landmines, he said.
Mullah Baradar is believed to have run the Taliban's leadership council and controlled their finances.
Rehman Malik denied US agents had been involved in the capture
The news of his arrest came as Nato forces and Afghan troops are conducting a major offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province, an area Mullah Baradar is believed to have been responsible for.
His influence within the Taliban is said to be second only to that of Mullah Omar, who has been hiding from Western agencies since the 9/11 terror attacks in 2001.
The arrest suggests Pakistan is getting tough with Afghan Taliban leaders sheltering there, says the BBC's Orla Guerin in Islamabad, something that has long been a demand of the White House.The arrest suggests Pakistan is getting tough with Afghan Taliban leaders sheltering there, says the BBC's Orla Guerin in Islamabad, something that has long been a demand of the White House.
It could also put pressure on other Taliban leaders to enter into talks with the Afghan government and coalition forces, something Mullah Baradar is believed to favour, our correspondent says.It could also put pressure on other Taliban leaders to enter into talks with the Afghan government and coalition forces, something Mullah Baradar is believed to favour, our correspondent says.
Afghan and Nato leaders have said reconciliation talks with more moderate Taliban members could be pursued to end the insurgency.Afghan and Nato leaders have said reconciliation talks with more moderate Taliban members could be pursued to end the insurgency.
Drone attacksDrone attacks
Meanwhile, missiles fired by a suspected US drone aircraft have killed at least three militants in north-west Pakistan, security officials say.Meanwhile, missiles fired by a suspected US drone aircraft have killed at least three militants in north-west Pakistan, security officials say.
The attack targeted a compound in Tapi Tolkhel village, 15km (9.3 miles) east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, by the Afghan border.The attack targeted a compound in Tapi Tolkhel village, 15km (9.3 miles) east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, by the Afghan border.
The regions of North and South Waziristan are known sanctuaries for al-Qaeda and Taliban militants who move easily across the mountainous border into Afghanistan.The regions of North and South Waziristan are known sanctuaries for al-Qaeda and Taliban militants who move easily across the mountainous border into Afghanistan.
They are frequently targeted by drone attacks, and there have been more than a dozen such strikes in 2010 alone. They are frequently targeted by drone attacks and there have been more than a dozen such strikes in 2010.