Taliban key commander in Afghan northern Baghlan province detained

The key commander of Taliban militants in the northern Baghlan province with Pul-e-Khumri as its capital was captured on Sunday, provincial governor Abdul Satar Bariz said.

"The military chief of Taliban in Baghlan province, Qari Zahir , was on way to Kabul when police during routine checking of vehicles identified and arrested him," Bariz told reporters here.

Qari Zahir had led Taliban fighters in Dand-e-Ghori, Dand-e-Shahabudin, Chashma-e-Shir and Sarkh Kotal areas over the past several months and his capture is a major blow to the militants in Baghlan province, the official asserted.

Meantime, the Interior Ministry in a statement released here stated that Qari Zahir was injured in recent clash for the control of Chashma-e-Shir outside provincial capital Pul-e-Khumri and apparently was shifting to Kabul for medical treatment when police arrested him.

Taliban militants are yet to make comment on the report.

(APD)