QUETTA, Dec 14: US and Afghan forces have arrested Mullah Toor Naqibullah, the Protocol Officer and Chief Security Officer of Taliban supreme leader Mullah Omar in Kandahar.

"Yes, we have arrested Mullah Toor Naqibullah along with Mullah Qayyum Angar, another Taliban man, near Kandahar," a senior Afghan official based in Spin Boldak told reporters in the border town of Chaman by telephone.

He said they were arrested by the US and Afghan forces when they were going to Kandahar from Arghandab. A special operation has been in progress in southern Afghanistan against Taliban in which over 18000 US and Afghan troops are taking part.

The forces have recovered 210 kgs of high explosive material that was dumped in a house, he said and added that both the Taliban leaders were wanted in various cases. Us forces are also reported to have arrested Moulvi Gul Shah, the chief of the Sulemankhel tribe in the Paktika province, for his alleged involvement in various criminal cases.