(Xinhua) -- The Pakistani army Monday confirmed that the security forces had arrested a top Taliban commander, Mulla Mansoor Dadullah. The army said in a statement that Mulla Mansoor Dadullah and his five accomplices were arrested in the southwestern Balochistan province while crossing into Pakistan. "Taliban Commander Mulla Mansoor Dadullah while trying to cross the border at Gaddal Post (Qilla Saifullah) was arrested after an exchange of fire with Frontier Corps (paramilitary force) Balochistan," the statement said. "Five of his accomplices have also been arrested. Initial information reveals that Mulla Mansoor Dadullah is injured and has been arrested while trying to enter into Pakistan," said the army statement.
Local TV channels reported that the captured Taliban leaders were flown to Islamabad in a helicopter for questioning.
Security forces conducted a secret operation early Monday morning on a tip and even the local authorities were not informed about the operation, TV channels said. A large number of security forces took part in the operation. When they conducted a raid, the Taliban leaders started firing at the Pakistani forces, according to reports. They also recovered weapons including rockets, grenades and machine guns from the compound. Mullah Bakht Mohammad, known as Mansoor Dadullah, was appointed Taliban commander after his brother Mullah Dadullah, top commander of Taliban, was killed in May last year in a battle with the U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan. Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar had appointed him to take the place of the Taliban top operational commander in the south after his brother's death.
A senior U.S. official said on Friday that Taliban leader Mulla Muhamamd Omar and members of Taliban Shura or council are living in the Pakistani city of Quetta and are coordinating attacks from there. However, Pakistan denied the allegation. |