Top Taliban leader captured in Karachi

Pakistan police have nabbed a high- profile Taliban leader, considered close to Tehreek-e-Taliban chief Mullah Omar and believed to have masterminded a number of assaults on US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Abdul Haji Salik was arrested alongwith an associate from the Sohrab Goth area on the outskirts of Karachi, CID official Umar Khateeb said.

Salik, a former governor of Afghanistan's Oruzgan province and a close companion of Mullah Omar, the Taliban chief in Afghanistan, was arrested with an Egyptian man, sources said.

Salik masterminded a number of assaults on US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, sources said.

A source said that after the death of Commander Naik Mohammad in a drone attack, Salik was also allegedly involved in attacks on Pakistani forces. 

Zaki Izzat Mohammad, arrested with Salik, is a rich man from Egypt, sources said and was involved in financing al-Qaeda activities.

The arrest is the latest in a series of major catches in Pakistan as the police here cracks down on extremist elements. 

Police in Karachi on March 4 had arrested Agha Jan, who was once incharge of Taliban's political affairs wing. 

Intelligence agencies had also arrested top Taliban commander Mullah Baradar in the port city last month bringing the total number of key Taliban leaders arrested from Karachi in last two months to eight.

The arrests of the Taliban leaders is seen as a major crackdown by Pakistan's intelligence agencies on the "Quetta Shura" or a council of the militants led by Mullah Muhammad Omar, many of whom escaped from Afghanistan into Pakistan.