Pakistan confirms custody of Taliban
Source: Agencies |
February 18, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PAKISTAN yesterday confirmed for the first time that it has the Afghan Taliban's No. 2 leader in custody, and officials said he was providing useful intelligence that was being shared with the United States.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was arrested around 10 days ago in a joint operation by CIA and Pakistani security forces in the southern port city of Karachi, US and Pakistani officials said on condition of anonymity on Tuesday. The Pakistani army yesterday gave the first public confirmation of the arrest.
"At the conclusion of detailed identification procedures, it has been confirmed that one of the persons arrested happens to be Mullah Baradar," chief army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said in a written message to reporters.
"The place of arrest and operational details cannot be released due to security reasons."
Baradar was the second in command behind Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar and was said to be in charge of the day-to-day running of the organization's leadership council, which is believed based in Pakistan.
He was a founding member of the Taliban and is the most important figure of the hardline Islamist movement to be arrested since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
The White House has declined to confirm Baradar's capture. Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the fight against extremists involves sensitive intelligence matters and it's best to collect data without talking about it.
Baradar, who was the link between Mullah Omar and field commanders, has been in detention for more than 10 days and was talking to interrogators, two Pakistani officials said on Tuesday.
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was arrested around 10 days ago in a joint operation by CIA and Pakistani security forces in the southern port city of Karachi, US and Pakistani officials said on condition of anonymity on Tuesday. The Pakistani army yesterday gave the first public confirmation of the arrest.
"At the conclusion of detailed identification procedures, it has been confirmed that one of the persons arrested happens to be Mullah Baradar," chief army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said in a written message to reporters.
"The place of arrest and operational details cannot be released due to security reasons."
Baradar was the second in command behind Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar and was said to be in charge of the day-to-day running of the organization's leadership council, which is believed based in Pakistan.
He was a founding member of the Taliban and is the most important figure of the hardline Islamist movement to be arrested since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
The White House has declined to confirm Baradar's capture. Spokesman Robert Gibbs said the fight against extremists involves sensitive intelligence matters and it's best to collect data without talking about it.
Baradar, who was the link between Mullah Omar and field commanders, has been in detention for more than 10 days and was talking to interrogators, two Pakistani officials said on Tuesday.
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