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Pakistan arrests former Taliban spokesperson

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Pakistani officials Saturday announced the re-capture of high-level Taliban operative Ustad Mohammed Yasir in the northern city of Peshawar near the Afghan border. Yasir served as senior aide and spokesman to Taliban leader Mullah Omar. He was first arrested in 2005 by Pakistani officials and handed over to Afghanistan, but was released in a controversial hostage deal in April 2007 in which he and three other Taliban members were released in exchange for captured Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo. Some argue that the raid in Peshawar signals Pakistan's commitment to cooperate with Afghanistan, despite brewing tension with India over the Mumbai terror attack. Pakistan did not say when the arrest occurred. Pakistan recently diverted thousands of troops from the Afghan border, moving them closer to India as tension between Pakistan and India increased over the Mumbai terror attacks. Pakistani officials said in December that Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi would not hand over to India any Pakistani citizens arrested in connection with the attacks, insisting instead on a joint investigation with Indian officials. Last Friday, Pakistan reiterated its refusal to extradite Pakistani citizens accused in the terror attack, insisting that a bilateral extradition treaty is required for it to transfer suspects to India.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on January 05, 2009 (boomark / email).