Sixteen Taliban have been arrested in southern Afghanistan in a sweep by 1,000 Afghan fighters and more than 300 U.S.-led coalition troops hunting for leaders of the former regime. Tanks and helicopters from the anti-terror coalition are also deployed in the search in the districts of Dai Chopan, Atghar, Shinkay and Arghandab, said Commander Habibullah Jan. There were no known casualties on either side, he said. The operation began six days ago, Jan said. The 16 captives were being held in Kandahar prison. Local officials have claimed that the same operation over the weekend also netted a senior Taliban commander, Mullah Janan, along with eight of his accomplices. However, the U.S. military has said Janan was captured near Deh Rawod in the central province of Uruzgan. "We are trying to capture other big Taliban figures," Jan said of the continuing operations.
| That would be a fine idea. We'll be looking forward to seeing Mullah Omar... |
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