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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan confirms Taliban arrest | Pakistan confirms Taliban arrest |
| (19 minutes 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. |
| However Interior Minister Rehman Malik denied that any US agents had been involved in the operation in Karachi. | However Interior Minister Rehman Malik denied that any US agents had been involved in the operation in Karachi. |
| Mr Malik also said other suspects had been arrested in the swoop "seven to 10 days ago" and were being interrogated. | Mr Malik also said other suspects had been arrested in the swoop "seven to 10 days ago" and were being interrogated. |
| The Taliban say Mullah Baradar, thought to be their second-in-command, is still free and is in Afghanistan. | The Taliban say Mullah Baradar, thought to be their second-in-command, is still free and is in Afghanistan. |
| US officials had said on Tuesday that Mullah Baradar was seized by US and Pakistani agents in Karachi on 8 February. | US officials had said on Tuesday that Mullah Baradar was seized by US and Pakistani agents in Karachi on 8 February. |
| 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 delay class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/8519616.stm">Pakistan media muted | |
| But Mr Malik "categorically" denied US agents had taken part. | 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." | "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." | 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". | 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. | "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." | "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 | Getting tough |
| The interior minister said the operation showed "how sincere and serious we are on 'the war on terror'". | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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 attacks | Drone 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. | They are frequently targeted by drone attacks and there have been more than a dozen such strikes in 2010. |