Key Taliban commander, three others handed over to Pakistan: sources

E-Paper | March 03, 2026

PESHAWAR: Latif Mehsud, a close aide of former Pakistani Taliban chief Hakeemullah Mehsud, has been handed over to Pakistani authorities along with his two guards and a broker, sources said on Saturday night.

High placed official sources told Dawn.com that Latif Mehsud, the then number-two of Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Hakimullah Mehsud, was arrested along with his guards and a tribesman, Shah Jehan on Pak-Afghan border by the Afghan National Army.

Also read: Al Qaeda leader killed in North Waziristan drone strike

Latif was crossing the border allegedly to buy weapons at the time of the arrest. The militants were then snatched by the Nato troops from the Afghan National Army.

Read: Pakistani Taliban ‘No.2’ captured in Afghanistan

The former TTP commander was under the Afghan and Nato troops custody for some time and reportedly was handed over to Pakistani authorities after the recent visit of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to Pakistan.

Pakistani authorities had been demanding the return of the arrested TTP commanders. The other two militants handed over to Pakistan have been identified as Jafar and Aziz.

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Ali

Dec 07, 2014 12:51am

Great work by US, Nato keep it up.

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Sameena Hussain

Dec 07, 2014 01:04am

I guess its pakistan's turn to hand over Mullah Umar and the Quetta Shura allegedly sheltered by the establishment. Many thanks

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xafy

Dec 07, 2014 01:16am

May our worthy courts don't release em

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Pali

Dec 07, 2014 01:20am

The wheels are rolling for the better now

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Safar Shah

Dec 07, 2014 01:23am

Give his the Islamic punishment of rebellion against the state, one arm, one leg on opposite sides.

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F&F

Dec 07, 2014 01:38am

Good omen. It indicates that Afghanistan and Pakistan are now working in close tandem. Just make sure that these men are not produced in the court because we all know our justice system has soft corner for terrorists. That is the reason no terrorist has been charged and given punishment till date. And it does not also mean that they all were innocent.

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Zak

Dec 07, 2014 01:52am

Now pak, Afghan and NATO on one page. Close cooperation.

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Schabboo Khan

Dec 07, 2014 02:11am

That's the way it should be. Thank you Mr. Ghani.

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Nasser

Dec 07, 2014 02:16am

So?

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white noise

Dec 07, 2014 02:22am

I don't think NATO has done it right, turning them over, mistake, now they will have a good life again cause they are back where they started from.

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peace

Dec 07, 2014 02:34am

Good. This should break the back of TTP supported my our eastern bullies. Peace

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Irfan Baloch

Dec 07, 2014 02:42am

yet another setback for Indian operations in Afghanistan with the demise of Karzai regime , things have started to improve for both Afghanistan and Pakistan

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khalid

Dec 07, 2014 02:57am

whats next........

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Ash

Dec 07, 2014 04:50am

Good gesture by Afghans and NATO. I hope now Pakistan will reciprocate and stop harbouring and tarring militants.

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Paggri sanbhaal

Dec 07, 2014 06:38am

Congrats.Its great if Pakistan & Afghanistan cooperate each other in dealing these terrorists.Next target should be Fazalullah.

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Bilal

Dec 07, 2014 07:01am

Wow great news. Finally we are seeing the developing of confidence - b/w the three countries. No terrorist should find safe haven in any country.

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Unshackle Pakistan

Dec 07, 2014 07:23am

First goodwill gesture from Afghanistan. It's about time Pakistan started returning the favor. This fight on the left and fight on the right with neighbors isn't good for the people. All sides want to visit and mingle with others and work towards bettering their own lives, and in the process make this world a better place. Unshackle Pakistan Blog

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Yahya

Dec 07, 2014 08:32am

Good step but what Pakistan wants is Fazlullah and Afghanistan and the US need to stop harboring him over there. The Mehsud tribe already abandoned the TTP.

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Abbas Ali

Dec 07, 2014 09:47am

We will keep in jail , because EU doesn't want any hangings in Pakistan. They want to abolish it. After sometime we will trade him with kidnapped security officials.

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karachiwala

Dec 07, 2014 09:51am

Good news and bad news. Captured and handed over to us.

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Khan

Dec 07, 2014 10:22am

Before we move to Fazlullah, handover Mullah Omar to Afghan government.

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Rah

Dec 07, 2014 10:27am

Incomplete story. Latif was snatched by NATO from Afghan intelligence who were using him as a proxy.

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M.M.Sherazi

Dec 07, 2014 11:10am

Now the issues are being resolved with the direct interaction of the Pak-Afghan governments, the mediators so far have been causing confusions and broadening the gulf between two nations. Pakistan carries the significance importance in the ensuring the regional stability and peace and capable of churning out favourable results by crushing the terrorism of any sort...

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Hope

Dec 07, 2014 11:10am

The real gesture turn ib Mullah FazalUllah so he can be prosecuted in Pakistan.

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Sunil

Dec 07, 2014 11:24am

They will be released by the Pakistan courts, due to lack of evidence. Period.

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Zia

Dec 07, 2014 12:00pm

Courts will release them for not having sufficient proof

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Ridwan

Dec 07, 2014 12:02pm

Finally, we are cooperating. This new government in Kabul really is interested in good relations instead of Karzai-style confrontation.

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Ridwan

Dec 07, 2014 12:04pm

@Sunil Oh Sunil, you Indians frequently comment on a way which makes clear that anything good for pakistan upsets you to the core. Granted most Indians are actually friendly, but the Indians that troll political sites and pakistani papers tend to be the hateful Indians. Thank goodness most of your countrymen aren't like you.

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F&F

Dec 07, 2014 12:31pm

Good omen. It means the two gov are working in tandem with each other which will usher new era of peace in the region. BTW don't produce the commanders in the court. We all know why.

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NaveeD

Dec 07, 2014 12:35pm

A noble gesture from Afghan force and Nato, Pakistan must continue its efforts for the same. Let's hope it makes a very good start of relation with Afghan. Good luck.

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Vic

Dec 07, 2014 01:14pm

@Zak you would think so!

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Haider Rehman

Dec 07, 2014 01:15pm

No! Just kill them. SC will release them for "lack of evidence".

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ishrat salim

Dec 07, 2014 01:25pm

good work....keep it up ! but what about Moula Fazlullah ? he is the main culprit.....

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Parvez

Dec 07, 2014 02:02pm

I don't understand.......why hand them over to the Pakistanis ? These are criminals and should be dealt with swiftly.

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Naxalite

Dec 07, 2014 02:30pm

So much developments in so less time? Unbelievable.

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Rahber Rind

Dec 07, 2014 04:06pm

After interrogation - these TTP starlets should be punished according to their sharia nizam - 'behead' that's what they offered to others - and reportedly played 'football' with severed head - according to some statement of General R. Shareef . Will they meet their fate soon -?

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Afghan Boy

Dec 07, 2014 04:09pm

@ishrat salim What about Mullah Omar? Or you like to just ask and don't like to give back ?

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Mr Chadee

Dec 07, 2014 04:22pm

@Sunil worry about your courts, they released Modi and col rohit

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Mr Chadee

Dec 07, 2014 04:24pm

@Irfan Baloch anywhere India is, there is death and destruction,it's the land of Kali.

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Independent

Dec 07, 2014 04:38pm

@Mr Chadee : There is so much of death in Pakistan.....what are you trying to say ?

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Rashid

Dec 07, 2014 04:50pm

What are we going to do with him ? The article did not say why we were demanding him back. Are we going to let him go free.

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Faraz

Dec 07, 2014 05:30pm

when was latif mehsud arrested? the story doesnt say

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John

Dec 07, 2014 05:31pm

Why is he a terrorist? What proof do we have against him that we do not have against Hafiz Sayeed. The difference is one is a good terrorist and other is a bad terrorist in "national interest".

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Moiz Omar

Dec 07, 2014 06:41pm

They deserve significant punishment.

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asgher

Dec 08, 2014 11:09am

There is a clear shift in Russian and American Policy towards India. Both are openly helping Pakistan and this news shows that their influence is also pulling Afghanistan along.

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Seedoo

Dec 08, 2014 07:21pm

Pakistani authorities will havehim sign a paper in whic he will pledge not to engage in terrorist activites again. He will then be let go to resume his operations again. Remember the burqa clad mullah caught trying to escape from the Lal Masjid?

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msm

Dec 09, 2014 12:07am

@F&F What you are saying is correct, but whatever the fact of the matter is, due course of law must be followed. As we are witnessing these changes, so should our judicial system has to change. Justice must prevail in any case.

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Mustafa

Dec 09, 2014 01:11am

Looks like the general Sahib took his swagger with him on his recent trip to America.

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