Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar : We are blogging on the latest news about America’s war in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Email us at AfPak [in] huffingtonpost.com. Nico follow on Twitter; follow Nicholas on Twitter. See the archives of ‘war’ here.

Senior Taliban commander captured in the raid are classified. Taliban military commander said a senior has been arrested in Pakistan in a joint operation by Pakistani forces and U.S. intelligence, The New York Times.

AFP reports:

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, described as behind the number (2) the founder of the Taliban and Osama bin Laden associate, Mullah Mohammad Omar, has been in custody in Pakistan for several days …

Baradar arrested in Karachi, Pakistan, in a raid in Pakistan between the Directorate of Intelligence, with CIA operatives associated with the Pakistanis, according to The New York Times. Pakistan may result in questioning Baradar, but the Americans were also involved, he said.

Baradar headed the military junta of the Taliban movement and was high in the body after the death in 2006 and said the military commander Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Osmani. Baradar is known to coordinate the movement of military operations throughout the south and south-west of Afghanistan. This region extended from the direct responsibility of the Kandahar, Helmand, Nimroz, Zabul and Uruzgan.

If confirmed, would be arrested Baradar a major setback for the Taliban.

It can also obtain information on the whereabouts of Mullah Omar and Osama bin Laden.

CNN analyst Peter Bergen: This is “a huge deal … this man … is the number two political figures in the Taliban.”

Taliban Claims Baradar is still at large. “A spokesman for the Taliban in Afghanistan, told AFP that Baradar was still free, although it did not provide any evidence ‘. We categorically denied the rumors. But it had not been arrested, ‘llah Mujahid told Reuters by telephone.’s Report said the arrest of Western propaganda aimed at undermining the fight against the Taliban attack on a town in southernAfghanistan , lawn, a safe haven for the Taliban.’ And the Taliban after success with our partners in the jihad, which in an attempt to demoralize the Taliban, who are on the jihad in the lawn and all ofAfghanistan, ‘he said. ”

The New York Times delayed publication of his arrest. Of the report of the New York Times:

New York Times learned of the operation on Thursday, but delayed reporting at the request of White House officials, who contended that makes the public would end the hugely successful intelligence collection effort. Officials said the group’s leaders was not aware of the arrest of MullahBaradar and that if it became public, which may blur the evidence of the crime, and became more cautious in communicating with each other.

The New York Times publish the story now because the White House officials acknowledged that the arrest of Mullah Baradar became known widely in the region.

What will be the impact of Baradar arrest? Initial consensus: Who knows? It seems that analysts agree that development is Baradar major news, but it is too early to say whether it would be a major turning point in Afghanistan.

Joshua Faust in Rgistan effectively summarizes the various possibilities:

Baradar supposed to manage the Quetta Shura, which is largely responsible for the insurgent activity in the south – including areas around lea. This means being arrested for the day to day and strategic activities of the Taliban is not clear, although it can change the rules of the game.

On the other hand, the Taliban has survived the death of the VIP, effective and efficient than before, such as the former Taliban, “a seniormilitary commander” until his death, by an American in 2007. The Taliban, most notably regrouped and kept on fighting.

At least in the short term, this could be a large wedge of the United States to exercise against the local forces. In the long run, it may be in fact means a lot because it is not really that much of the wedge. [...]

Baradar manuals of conduct, which was supposed to be some moderate Taliban excesses more evil. Much like the assassination of Nek Mohammad, is what gave us five years of Baitullah Mehsud, there is a chance thatBaradar successor will be much worse
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar