Key Taliban commander, three others handed over to Pakistan: sources
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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Comments (48) Closed
Dec 07, 2014 12:51am
Great work by US, Nato keep it up.
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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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Dec 07, 2014 01:16am
May our worthy courts don't release em
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Dec 07, 2014 01:20am
The wheels are rolling for the better now
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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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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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Dec 07, 2014 01:52am
Now pak, Afghan and NATO on one page. Close cooperation.
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Dec 07, 2014 02:11am
That's the way it should be. Thank you Mr. Ghani.
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Dec 07, 2014 02:16am
So?
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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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Dec 07, 2014 02:34am
Good. This should break the back of TTP supported my our eastern bullies.
Peace
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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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Dec 07, 2014 02:57am
whats next........
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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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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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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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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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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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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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Dec 07, 2014 09:51am
Good news and bad news. Captured and handed over to us.
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Dec 07, 2014 10:22am
Before we move to Fazlullah, handover Mullah Omar to Afghan government.
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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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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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Dec 07, 2014 11:10am
The real gesture turn ib Mullah FazalUllah so he can be prosecuted in Pakistan.
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Dec 07, 2014 11:24am
They will be released by the Pakistan courts, due to lack of evidence. Period.
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Dec 07, 2014 12:00pm
Courts will release them for not having sufficient proof
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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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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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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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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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Dec 07, 2014 01:14pm
@Zak you would think so!
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Dec 07, 2014 01:15pm
No! Just kill them. SC will release them for "lack of evidence".
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Dec 07, 2014 01:25pm
good work....keep it up ! but what about Moula Fazlullah ? he is the main culprit.....
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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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Dec 07, 2014 02:30pm
So much developments in so less time? Unbelievable.
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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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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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Dec 07, 2014 04:22pm
@Sunil worry about your courts, they released Modi and col rohit
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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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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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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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Dec 07, 2014 05:30pm
when was latif mehsud arrested? the story doesnt say
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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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Dec 07, 2014 06:41pm
They deserve significant punishment.
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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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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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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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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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