Taliban commander captured in Pakistan

Pakistani security forces on Saturday captured senior Pakistani Taliban commander, Ahmad Mehsud, in a remote mountainous region of North Waziristan, security officials said.

Ahmad Mehsud was considered an important commander of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan as he had been behind the attacks on the forces and the tribal elders in Waziristan region.

The commander was injured and was hiding in a house in Razmak area of North Waziristan, security officials said. The forces also recovered a big cache of arms and explosives from the hideout, Xinhua reported.

Security sources said Mehsud fled to Afghanistan after the security forces launched a major operation in the region in June 2014, adding that Mehsud was wanted by the authorities for his involvement in several terrorist attacks.

The forces conducted an operation on a tip-off about the presence of the Taliban commander in a house, an official said.

The authorities described the arrest of Mehsud as a major success as it can lead to the capture of other Taliban leaders who are hiding in the mountains.

The army was now carrying out the final phase of the major offensive codenamed "Zarb-e-Azb" in remote and rugged mountains. Officials believe that the militants have moved to the mountains after fleeing towns.

Security forces have taken control of nearly 95 percent of North Waziristan that was the last stronghold of the Taliban and other militant groups including foreigners.