Kin of Taliban Leader Mullah Omar Captured
Pakistan Times Foreign Desk

KABUL (Afghanistan): Afghan security forces captured a brother-in-law of fugitive Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar Tuesday after a shoot-out that killed one government soldier, officials said.

The man, Mullah Amanullah, was arrested during a pre-dawn raid in the central province of Uruzgan, Omar's home province, they said.

"He is in our custody," said the chief of police in Uruzgan, Roozi Khan, referring to Amanullah. One official said Amanullah's arrest might provide clues in the hunt for Omar.

Perspective

Omar had four wives and it was not immediately known how many brothers-in-law he had. He is among the militants most wanted by U.S. forces, and is believed to be actively involved in coordinating an insurgency against foreign and local troops in Afghanistan that has claimed hundreds of lives this year.

The 'Mullah' is a title for Muslim clerics which many senior members of the ousted Taliban use.

Omar has been on the run since the Taliban fled Kabul in November 2001 as U.S.-backed forces advanced on the city. His whereabouts remain a mystery.

"He can not hide himself forever. I am certain that this arrest is a step toward capturing him," said a spokesman, Jawed Ludin.

But Khan, who said a government soldier was killed during the raid in which Amanullah was seized, was not so optimistic about capturing Omar. "It is impossible to capture him," Khan said.

Amanullah was found with money that authorities believed he was planning to distribute to Taliban fighters, who have stepped attacks in the run-up to a presidential election on October-9.

Satellite Telephone

He also had a satellite telephone, a pistol and an automatic rifle. Amanullah would be handed over to central government authorities if that was ordered, Khan said.

Still Alive

The man contacted Omar by telephone in the presence of security forces, who said it was the first indication in months that Omar was still alive. When officers tried to call the telephone number again there was no reply.

Omar was supreme leader of the Taliban when the movement allowed the al Qaeda network of Osama bin Laden to establish training camps in Afghanistan.

Omar refused to hand over the Saudi-born dissident after the September-11, 2001, attacks on the United States by bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

The reclusive Omar, who was born in 1959, lost an eye battling Soviet invaders in the 1980s.

About 500 troops, backed by U.S.-led forces, have launched an operation to root out Taliban fighters in Zabul province, to the southeast of Uruzgan, state media said.

One suspected Taliban gunman was killed, three were wounded and five were captured in the latest clash, it said.●