Mullah Omar's spokesman, top Pak-Taliban operative arrested in Karachi

Karachi, Mar. 1 (ANI): A spokesman of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar and a former aide of slain Pak Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud have reportedly been arrested in Karachi during a raid carried out by Pakistani intelligence agencies.

They were identified as Mullah Tayyab Agha alias Popalzai and Hakeemuddin Mehsud. A huge amount of weapons was also recovered from their possession.

The arrested militants have been taken to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

According to The Nation, Popalzai, Pakistani national, was a close associate and spokesman of Mullah Omar when they were in power in Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001.

Sources said Hakeemuddin Mehsud was hiding in Karachi after Baitullah's death because he had reservations about the leadership following the latter's death.

Earlier, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the second-in-command of the Afghan Taliban, was nabbed in Karachi.

The arrest of Taliban operatives in Karachi points towards their presence in large numbers in the port city. (ANI)