ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army said on Friday Taleban spokesman Muslim Khan and another top commander — Mahmood Khan — were arrested by the security forces. Other commanders of the Tehrik-e-Taleban Pakistan arrested in the army operation were Abdul Rehman, Fazle Ghaffar and Sartaj, an army spokesman said.
Announcing the arrests of the two key Taleban insurgents, the army spokesman said the feared militia was on the verge of defeat after two years of carnage in the Swat Valley.
“Muslim Khan and Mahmood Khan with head money of 10 million rupees ($120,482) have been arrested by the security forces in a successful operation in Swat,” Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said.
“The arrested terrorist leaders are being interrogated by law enforcement agencies,” he said, without saying when the men were detained but denying media reports that negotiations took place.
The northwest valley slipped out of government control after radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah rose up in July 2007, commanding thousands of followers who beheaded opponents, burned schools and fought the army.
The country posted a reward of 50 million rupees (more than $600,000) for Fazlullah and offered rewards for 15 of his top lieutenants last May but Friday marked the first announcement of any arrest from the list. “The security forces are conducting operations on the information obtained from the arrested terrorist leaders,” the military added.
Muslim Khan was second on the most-wanted list after Maulana Fazlullah. He is around 50 years old and earned notoriety as a prolific Taleban spokesman. He was quick on the telephone to claim Taleban responsibility for almost all bomb attacks and the destruction of schools in Swat, issuing statements on Fazlullah’s behalf and representing him in negotiations, Taleban members say.
Mahmood Khan was No. 4 on the most-wanted list and like Fazlullah’s other top aides came from northern Swat. Pakistan’s civilian government on Friday paid tribute to the country’s military over Muslim Khan’s arrest.
— With input from agencies
