Security forces have arrested renowned Taliban commander Mullah Mansoor from the seminary of Maulana Noor Khan located in area of Gawal Ismail Zai, alongwith six of his associates. Dadullah, the brother of Taliban’s slain military chief in Afghanistan, had been in charge of operations against Nato and US-led troops in the southern Afghan province of Helmand. The military spokesman and the Balochistan police chief gave different accounts of his arrest.An Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said Dadullah and his men were “trying to enter Pakistan” across the border. “He is in the custody of the security agencies along with five accomplices. They are all injured,” ISPR Director-General Maj-Gen Athar Abbas said.

“They were intercepted and chased by security forces at a Frontier Constabulary post near the Afghan border.” However, Balochistan police chief Saud Gohar said Dadullah

was hiding in a house in the village of Gowal Ismail Zai and wounded after he “resisted when our men launched an operation” early on Monday morning.

One of the Taliban commander’s guards was killed, he said. Confirming the arrest of Mullah Mansoor Dadullah, Interior Ministry spokesman Brig (retd) Javed Iqbal Cheema said the arrested Taliban commander was injured but out of danger.

Talking to PTV he said Dadullah and his four associates were arrested near Pak-Afghan border at Gaddal Post (Qilla Saifullah) in Balochistan by law-enforcement agencies after an exchange of fire. One of his companions was killed, he added.

He said Dadullah is being provided medical treatment and has been shifted to Quetta. To a question, Cheema said security forces received no casualties. To another question, the spokesman rejected some media reports about the presence of Taliban leader Mullah Umar in Pakistan and termed it propaganda against the country.

In Kabul, Afghan defence ministry spokesman Gen Mohammad Zahir Azimi welcomed the news of Dadullah’s capture but would not comment further. A senior Afghan official suggested the capture was linked to a dispute between Dadullah and the Taliban’s central command.

Dadullah had succeeded his elder brother — the Taliban’s overall military commander Mullah Dadullah — who was killed in a joint Afghan-Nato operation in southern Afghanistan in May 2007.

The Taliban said in late December that they had sacked Mansoor Dadullah because he disobeyed orders. But a spokesman for the commander denied that he was fired, leading to speculation about infighting among the militants.

There was no immediate confirmation of the arrest from the Taliban. Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesman, said Mansoor Dadullah was one of five Taliban who were freed in May last year in exchange for a kidnapped Italian journalist, Daniele Mastrogiacomo.

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