KARACHI, Pakistan, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- The arrest of a top leader of the Afghan Taliban in Pakistan is a major blow for the militants, a U.S. analyst told CNN.
The arrest of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a close associate of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and known as being next after Taliban chief Mullah Mohammad Omar, was first reported earlier this week by The New York Times.
Calling it a "major success" for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and "a major blow for the Taliban," M.J. Gohel, head of the Asia-Pacific Foundation told CNN: "If anyone would know where the senior leaders are of al-Qaida and the Taliban, then Baradar is someone who would be privy to that kind of information."
A U.S. official told CNN Baradar has been a U.S. target for years.
The Times of London said Baradar, 42, a brilliant military commander, is believed to be the brain behind the use of roadside bombs, the biggest threat to U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
Pakistan's Dawn reported Baradar was arrested a week ago outside Karachi in what is described as joint U.S.-Pakistani intelligence operation. The Dawn report said the Pakistani government had yet to confirm the report.
It quoted other sources that Baradar was picked up as he and four others came out of a seminary on the outskirts of Karachi. The identities of the others were not available.
Separately, CNN reported Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said he could not verify the arrest report and also said the CIA does not conduct raids on Pakistani soil.
Robin Wright, a fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace, told CNN the critical issue is how much information Baradar will provide including on the Taliban in Pakistan and bin Laden.
