statism watch

In a background piece on the arrest, the BBC reports “Some quarters here indicate that the arrest may have been “orchestrated” by elements within the Pakistani establishment to facilitate back-channel talks with “willing” Taliban commanders. This line of thinking presupposes a scenario in which the Pakistanis “brought in” Mullah Baradar under a pre-arranged pact with the CIA to pave the way for negotiations. If true, this may indicate a serious move towards a negotiated settlement of the Afghan imbroglio.”

Flashback: NATO, Afghan troops launch largest air assault of Afghan war | Afghanistan conference agrees on exit timetable, Taliban bailout | General McChrystal indicates talks with Taliban to be discussed

BBC News
Febuary 17, 2010

Rehman Malik denied US agents had been involved in the capture

The US has hailed the capture of the Afghan Taliban military commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, as a “big success” for US-Pakistani cooperation.

A White House spokesman confirmed the capture for the first time, saying it was a significant development.

Pakistan earlier confirmed the capture which was reported on Tuesday.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik added that other suspects had been arrested in the swoop “seven to 10 days ago” and were being interrogated.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is said to have overseen Taliban military operations in Afghanistan, run the group’s leadership council, and controlled its finances.

Denials

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the detention was a significant development for joint US-Pakistani efforts to combat Islamist extremists.

But he did not say if the detainee was providing any intelligence.

The Taliban say Mullah Baradar, thought to be their second-in-command, is still free and is in Afghanistan.

American officials had said on Tuesday that Mullah Baradar was seized by US and Pakistani agents in Karachi on 8 February.

But Mr Malik “categorically” denied US agents had taken part.

“Nothing of the sort has happened. The operation was carried out by Pakistani security agencies.”

He said only Pakistani agencies were involved in the interrogation, but added: “Yes, there is a sharing of intelligence because we are fighting the war together.”

‘Big catch’

Mr Malik described the capture of a man “very close to [Taliban leader] Mullah Omar” as “a big catch for Pakistan”.

“It’s a serious setback for them. He is a main military commander,” he said.

“Others were also arrested and are being interrogated. But it’s too early to say anything about them. We will disclose details when the time comes.”

The interior minister said the operation showed “how sincere and serious we are on the war on terror”.

A separate operation on the Afghan border had led to several further arrests and the seizure of a number of suicide bomb jackets and landmines, he said.

The news of Mullah Baradar’s arrest came as Nato forces and Afghan troops are conducting a major offensive against the Taliban in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province, an area he is believed to have been responsible for.

His influence within the Taliban is said to be second only to that of Mullah Omar, who has been hiding from Western agencies since the 9/11 terror attacks of 2001.

His capture was discussed at a meeting of Barack Obama’s war cabinet on Wednesday, at which the US president was briefed on the progress of Operation Moshtarak.

The arrest suggests Pakistan is getting tough with Afghan Taliban leaders sheltering there, says the BBC’s Orla Guerin in Islamabad, something that has long been a demand of the White House.

Drone attack

The arrest could also put pressure on other Taliban leaders to enter into talks with the Afghan government and coalition forces, something Mullah Baradar is believed to favour, our correspondent says.

Afghan and Nato leaders have said reconciliation talks with more moderate Taliban members could be pursued to end the insurgency.

Meanwhile, missiles fired by a suspected US drone aircraft have killed at least three militants in north-west Pakistan, security officials say.

The attack targeted a compound in Tapi Tolkhel village, 15km (9.3 miles) east of Miranshah, the main town in North Waziristan, by the Afghan border.

The regions of North and South Waziristan are known sanctuaries for al-Qaeda and Taliban militants who move easily across the mountainous border into Afghanistan.

They are frequently targeted by drone attacks and there have been more than a dozen such strikes in 2010.

Source | See also under Pakistan: Report: ‘US to expand military centers in Pakistan’ | Pakistani Taliban leader reportedly killed in U.S. strike | General McChrystal indicates talks with Taliban to be discussed | No new Taliban crackdowns for 6 months, Pakistan says | Killer of CIA agents in Afghanistan called for revenge for Baitullah Mehsud | Suspected US drone ‘kills 12′ in Pakistan | Mumbai terror attack suspect withdraws confession | Mumbai suspect is US double agent, India claims | U.S. prods Pakistan to expand offensive | Pakistan anti-Taliban offensive in South Waziristan ‘over’ | CIA admits Blackwater presence in Pakistan | U.S. Military Joins CIA’s Drone War in Pakistan | Bin Laden not in Pakistan, says prime minister | Pakistan charges 7 in Mumbai attacks | UK: Rights watchdog reveals Pakistani spies pressed by British to torture detainees | Taliban: Blackwater to blame for Pakistan attacks | Taliban Chief Blames Blackwater, ISI for Peshawar Blast | UN: Drone attacks may violate international law | Bomb kills dozens in Pakistan as Hillary Clinton arrives | Pakistani Army working with ‘Good Taliban’ | Refugee flood reveals human cost of South Waziristan’s invisible war | ‘Taliban’ resist Pakistan onslaught | Pakistani troops assault ‘Taliban’ stronghold | Militants attack Pakistani cities | Pakistan launches air strikes before offensive | Pakistan hit by another deadly bomb blast | Bloody siege in Pakistan ends with 20 dead | Pakistan to indict suspects in Mumbai attacks | Links to ‘Al-Qaeda’, Pakistani training camps linger after ‘Toronto 18′ member imprisoned | Pakistani militant leader dead: Taliban | Mumbai attack suspect shocks court and own defence lawyer by pleading guilty | Taliban flee new U.S. drive in Afghanistan | Pakistan remains silent as U.S. air attack kills 80 | Whistleblower Who Linked “Taliban” Leader To US Intelligence Is Assassinated | CIA: Bin Laden still in Pakistan | Pakistan army backs citizens fighting Taliban | The Main Result of the “War on Terror”: The Destabilization of Pakistan | Homing chips are CIA’s latest weapon against ‘al-Qaida’ targets hiding in Pakistan’s tribal belt | Pakistani troops battle Taliban in key Swat Valley city | Canada eyes arms sales to Pakistan | MacKay to discuss security concerns with Pakistan | Caught in the crossfire — the Swat valley’s fleeing families | CIA: Our Drones are Killing Terrorists. Promise. | 500,000 fleeing Pakistani airstrikes, fighting, UN reports | Pakistan is ‘abdicating to the Taliban,’ says Clinton | Mumbai attacks suspect alleges torture, retracts confession | US military may escalate ‘war on terror’ by striking deeper into Pakistan | Pakistan restores outspoken judge | Pakistani police attack opposition march for independent judiciary | Not very cricket: Witnesses report Pakistani security abandoned convoy prior to attack | Pakistani officers helped plan Mumbai attacks, says India | Report: CIA runs secret bases in Pakistan | Indian Mumbai dossier details gunmen’s calls with handlers | India to create national spy agency in wake of Mumbai attacks | Former ISI Chief: Mumbai And 9/11 Both “Inside Jobs” | Indian Intelligence Provided SIM Cards to Mumbai Gunmen | Mumbai Attacks Politicize Long-Isolated Elite | Mumbai terror attacks: Rice calls for ‘total transparency’ from Pakistan | CIA Foreknowledge of the Mumbai Attacks | “Fair-skinned, blonde” assailants began attack in Mumbai | Mumbai Attacks Blamed On Al-Qaeda As Pretext For U.S. Military Response | Terror strikes Mumbai | Don’t-ask-don’t-tell Policy: Pakistan and U.S. Have Tacit Deal On Airstrikes | Death toll climbs after U.S. air strike in Pakistan | US Incursion Turned Back by Pakistan Army | Bush secret order to send special forces into Pakistan | Pakistan fury over ‘US assault’ | Musharraf resigns as Pakistan president | Key Benazir Bhutto assassination witness shot dead | CIA, Pakistani ISI have long, complicated relationship | U.S. Intel Officer: Al Qaeda Leadership Allowed To Operate Freely in Pakistan | Afghanistan suggests Pakistan responsible for embassy bombing | Bhutto report: Musharraf planned to fix elections | Video: ‘The most conclusive evidence’ Bhutto was shot | Police abandoned security posts before Bhutto assassination | Bhutto assassinated | Benazir Bhutto: Bin Laden Murdered | Terror accused refuses to discuss links to Pakistan secret service, family threatened | London terror plotter was ‘hardened’ in ISI camp | US Allowed Taliban, Al-Qaeda Airlift Evacuation

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