Source: Pakistan Tribune
Latif Mehsud (front row, second from left)
Kabul: The United States special forces has snatched a senior Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commander Latif Mehsud in a similar operation that led to arrest of top Al-Qaeda operative Abu Anas Al-Libi from Tripoli few days back. Reportedly, militant leader has been picked out of the hands of Afghan intelligence which was in process to recruit him as peace broker.
US State Department has confirmed arrest of Mehsud without giving any details of the circumstances which led to his capture.
“I can confirm that US forces did capture … terrorist leader Latif Mehsud” Marie Harf, a State Department spokeswoman said on Friday.
Harf told reporters that Pakistan based militant group (TTP) is behind failed bombing attempt at Times Square, New York, in 2010. Group claimed responsibility for the attack and is also blamed for attacks on US diplomats in Pakistan.
A spokesperson for Afghan president confirmed the news and said that Mehsud was forcibly isolated by US forces as he drove in a government convoy in eastern Afghanistan.
“The Americans forcibly removed him and took him to Bagram,” spokesperson. Move is expected to further strain already strained tied between Kabul and Washington.
Afghan government is currently trying hard to seal a peace deal with Afghan Taliban and was trying to hire Latif Mehsud as an anchor between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
During his last visit to Islamabad, Hamid Karzai has asked Pakistan to play its role in initiating peace talks with Afghan Taliban. Pakistan has recently released few high profile detainees to facilitate the process.
Mehsud’s capture is expected to bring new wave of violence to Pakistan with special security to foreign delegates particularly US ambassadorial staff.
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