Taliban leader arrested in Afghanistan

A top Taliban leader was seized during a military operation in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province Friday, officials said.

The operation was carried out jointly by Afghan and coalition security forces, Khaama Press reported.

The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, in a statement about the operation, said: "An Afghan and coalition security force arrested a senior Taliban leader during an operation in Baghlan-e Jadid district, Baghlan province, May 17. The senior leader oversees the operations of multiple insurgent cells in Baghlan-e Jadid district. He and his subordinates are responsible for numerous attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. He also collects illegal taxes from local civilians, facilitates the movement of weapons and military equipment for use in operations, and interfaces with senior insurgent leadership in order to pass operational information to his fighters. The security force also seized one pistol as a result of the operation."

The ISAF said the operation followed a successful operation on Thursday in Helmand province, during which security forces arrested one insurgent, seized a weapons cache and about 5,511 pounds of wet and dry opium. In another operation Thursday, nine insurgents were arrested, the ISAF said.