A close aide of Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud was arrested from the suburbs of Mianwali on Sunday. According to sources, the elite force and police conducted a joint operation in Bengi Khel area of Mianwali and arrested wanted Taliban Asmatullah. He was arrested on information given by Abdullah Ghazi who was arrested on May 26. In another search operation, police arrested 39 suspected Taliban including Afghan nationals.