US captures Taliban military chief in Pakistan

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Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the insurgents' top military commander who is responsible for operations in southern Afghanistan, was seized between seven and 10 days ago in the Pakistani port city of Karachi.

A Pakistani officer said he was "talking" to his interrogators, raising the possibility that his capture may be part of a plan for a negotiated settlement with the Taliban.

The joint raid is also significant as it suggests Pakistan is more prepared to cede to US demands to take a hard-line approach to terrorists using it as a safe haven.

Baradar is second in command to the Taliban's spiritual leader Mullah Omar, who has been in hiding since the September 11 attacks in 2001. He is the most senior Taliban leader held since the collapse of the Taliban regime in 2001.

Progress of Operation Moshtarak, the Nato offensive to seize control of remaining Taliban strongholds in Helmand, such as Marjah, was said to be slowing on the fourth day of the offensive as they encountered huge numbers of roadside bombs and sniper fire from Taliban fighters.

The civilian death toll was said to have reached 20, with Nato forces opening fire on three men who ignored shouts to stop.

Baradar heads the Taliban military council and is known to co-ordinate military operations in south and south-west Afghanistan, including the British area of responsibility in central Helmand. The New York Times reported that the arrest was made by Pakistan's spy agency, the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence, or ISI, and involved the CIA.

US-based global intelligence firm Stratfor said his arrest was a "major development". Kamran Bokhari, of Stratfor, said: "I suspect the Taliban gave up this guy to the Pakistanis who then gave him to the Americans in exchange for some concessions on Afghanistan and India."

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid denied Baradar had been captured, saying it was a rumour to "divert attention from the Marjah offensive".