TTP leader captured in Afghanistan
The commander of a tribal militia, Maulvi Faqir Mohammed center, flanked by his bodyguards, speaks to journalists at Wana, the main town of Pakistan’s tribal region of South Waziristan, along the Afghan border. — File Photo by AP
PESHAWAR/KHAR: A senior commander of Pakistani Taliban has been captured by Afghan intelligence personnel in a border area.
Security officials said reports about Maulvi Faqir Mohammad’s arrest in Afghanistan appeared to be correct.
Reports from Afghanistan said Afghan intelligence agencies had captured Maulvi Faqir, who was deputy to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakeemullah Mehsud until 2011, and his four aides when they were trying to cross into Pakistan from Nangrahar.
A Pakistani security official said: “This is big news. We are reasonably sure that reports of his arrest are correct but unless the Afghans officially confirm it we would not like to say anything publicly on this.
“This has confirmed what we have been saying all along that Maulvi Faqir and others have fled and taken shelter in Afghanistan. We hope that others like him, who also are hiding there, would also be captured.”
Another security official said the reports of the capture of one of the most senior TTP figures in Afghanistan were true.
An administration official in Maulvi Faqir’s native Bajaur tribal region said the fugitive militant had been captured in Basawal, eastern Afghanistan, while trying to cross over into Khyber Agency’s Tirah valley. Local militants also said Maulvi Faqir had been captured along with his aides Maulana Hakim, Shahid Khan, Maulvi Turrabi and Fathi Khan.
This is a welcoming news I hope some more news of this type comes shortly. They want to create an Islamic state by killing innocent people.
Hopefully he will be tried in court and will not let go free as part of some deal.
This picture is of slain mullah nazir of south waziristan not molvi faqir of bajour
I think we can clearly understand the background to his capture. Maulvi Faqir was at odds with Hakeemullah Mehsud and very recently they mended their fences. Now the location of Maulvi Faqir suggest he was on way to meet Hakimullah Mehsud and hence Hakeemullah Mehsud was well aware of his plans. Therefore, i will not be surprised that he shared the information with the Afghan Intelligence aka his masters to capture him and hence neutraliez the only threat to Hakeemullah terrorism in the Pakistani region. Maulvi Faqeer and Hakeemullah had differences since Faqir was more reconciliatory and wanted to sign a peace deal with Pakistan government. So whenever, any one decide to sign a peace deal or is learning towards Pakistan, he is either killed by drone or caught by Afghan intelligence. Bear in mind the same Afghan intelligence has failed to nab Maulana Fazlullah which is operating with impunity from Afghanistan and attacking Pakistan. The day he decide to sign peace deal, he will be caught as well. I wonder how our security official is enjoying this new as it clearly shows whose is actually behind all the threats/attacks on Pakistan.