|
Afghan Taliban chiefs arrested in Pakistani sweeps
Pakistani authorities, aided by U.S. intelligence, have apprehended more Afghan Taliban chiefs following the capture of the movement's No. 2 figure arrests that together represent the biggest blow to the insurgents since the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.The arrests of more than a dozen Taliban leaders, including known associates of Osama bin Laden, came as militants fought to keep a grip on their southern stronghold of Marjah. Hundreds of militants were holding out against a six-day-old assault by 15,000 U.S., NATO and Afghan troops. Among those arrested were Ameer Muawiya, a bin Laden associate who was in charge of foreign al-Qaida militants in Pakistan's border areas, and Akhunzada Popalzai, also known as Mohammad Younis, a one-time Taliban shadow governor in Zabul province and former police chief in Kabul, according to Mullah Mamamood, a tribal leader in Ghazni province. Others captured in Karachi included Hamza, a former Afghan army commander in Helmand province during Taliban rule, and Abu Riyad al Zarqawi, a liaison with Chechen and Tajik militants in Pakistan's border area, Pakistani officials said. Taliban shadow governors Mullah Abdul Salam of Kunduz province and Mullah Mohammad in Baghlan province were arrested separately in Pakistan about 10 to 12 days ago, according to the Kunduz governor, Mohammad Omar. Posted by: ed 2010-02-19 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=290895 |