Why Taliban Leader's Arrest Matters
Haroun Mir, a leading expert on the Afghan Taliban movement, tells CBS News the arrest of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar is "the most important event in the war against the Taliban and the war on terrorism in years."
"This is a significant blow to the Taliban. In the past they have been able to replace leaders, and no doubt they will replace him, but there are not many members of the Quetta Shura who can step into his role," Mir told CBS News producer Ben Plesser in Kabul, referring to the Afghan Taliban by its traditional name.
But the implications of Baradar's arrest for America and its allies in the war against Islamic fundamentalism may be far greater than the tactical victory of nabbing the purported No. 2 commander of the group.
"The real significance is the change in the Pakistani policy," explains Mir.
U.S. and Afghan leaders, "have been criticizing Pakistan for years for allowing the Taliban to move freely between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and now, by arresting Mullah Baradar, they have demonstrated in the strongest way a change in policy."
"Until now the Pakistanis treated the Afghan Taliban as an asset. They have gone after members of the Pakistani Taliban, but they have never — in eight years — arrested any significant member of the Afghan Taliban. Until now."
That apparent shift in policy, says Mr. Mir, is a direct result of "huge pressure" applied by Washington — where officials likely recognized the Pakistani Army's desperate need for funding as a means of leveraging action on the ground.
"They had no choice but to finally start going after the Taliban," says Mir.
If Baradar's arrest does herald a broader crackdown on Taliban militants in the Afghan border region by Pakistani security officials, and a willingness to work more closely in covert operations with American intelligence operatives, that will dramatically affect the militant group's ability to wage attacks.
"The command and control of the Afghan Taliban is destroyed in Pakistan, which is going to make it very difficult for them to operate because they will not be able to go back and forth into Pakistan to receive orders," says Mir.
"The most important thing is that Pakistan is no longer a safe haven for them, so they have to run and hide for their safety, which will make it much harder for them to keep up the fight."
© 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "This is a significant blow to the Taliban. In the past they have been able to replace leaders, and no doubt they will replace him, but there are not many members of the Quetta Shura who can step into his role," Mir told CBS News producer Ben Plesser in Kabul, referring to the Afghan Taliban by its traditional name.
But the implications of Baradar's arrest for America and its allies in the war against Islamic fundamentalism may be far greater than the tactical victory of nabbing the purported No. 2 commander of the group.
"The real significance is the change in the Pakistani policy," explains Mir.
U.S. and Afghan leaders, "have been criticizing Pakistan for years for allowing the Taliban to move freely between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and now, by arresting Mullah Baradar, they have demonstrated in the strongest way a change in policy."
"Until now the Pakistanis treated the Afghan Taliban as an asset. They have gone after members of the Pakistani Taliban, but they have never — in eight years — arrested any significant member of the Afghan Taliban. Until now."
That apparent shift in policy, says Mr. Mir, is a direct result of "huge pressure" applied by Washington — where officials likely recognized the Pakistani Army's desperate need for funding as a means of leveraging action on the ground.
"They had no choice but to finally start going after the Taliban," says Mir.
If Baradar's arrest does herald a broader crackdown on Taliban militants in the Afghan border region by Pakistani security officials, and a willingness to work more closely in covert operations with American intelligence operatives, that will dramatically affect the militant group's ability to wage attacks.
"The command and control of the Afghan Taliban is destroyed in Pakistan, which is going to make it very difficult for them to operate because they will not be able to go back and forth into Pakistan to receive orders," says Mir.
"The most important thing is that Pakistan is no longer a safe haven for them, so they have to run and hide for their safety, which will make it much harder for them to keep up the fight."
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Yes, progress is FINALLY being made. New policy IS making a difference.
This idiot now can count on eric holder to effort him a worldwide audience and the attention that he needs to continue his quest.....can't really do that from a cave.
eric holder will used our tax dollards to give this idiot the best defense available.....can't think of anything better to waste our tax money on?
eric holder will also used our tax dollards to provide security for this idiot, give him comfortable accomodation and culturally appropriate cuisine......homeless people should be this lucky.
This will show we are better than them right eric? You attack us and we will protect you with our constitution.
There is absolutely no downside for attacking America eric, you are their hero.
We being had.
Son, he was arrested in Pakistan, not Pittsburgh. We don't have jurisdiction in Pakistan. That is another country. On the other side of the world. He was arrested in the largest city in Pakistan, not a cave. They have TV stations, satellites, hotels and five star accomodations there.
Eric Holder is the Attorney General for the United States of America. That is not the same as Pakistan. These are all important facts you cannot get from right-wing rant radio. Please, get an education for yourself. It may not be too late.
If you don't think the U.S. won't eventually push Pakistan to hand over ghani, then you're in for an education.
So I say finally; these are the fools that hit America. This is where we have world-wide support to root out the fools that did it. Allies are with us, NATO I'm glad that it is our Marines are there to lead the demise of the Taliban and do so with professionalism and high regard for the lives of the civilian population.
As far as the Taliban are concerned they picked their battle when they involved themselves in the crashing of planes against American soil. See, we can't have the best armies in the world if we don't know how to pick our battles. I don't know why the Cheney neo-con Republican warmongers decided to march us into Iraq at the cost of 2 trillion American taxpayer dollars, but at least Obama has shifted the priority to those who deserve to have their doors kicked down.
We can not have a war on terrorism even though our soldiers may die. There is no honor in carpet bombing and military organizations must believe in a universal rule of law to honor the innocent. We must be principled warriors. Taliban and their associated organizations who have committed crimes against us deserve this fight, but not the people who the Taliban cowardly hide behind.
Down with the Taliban...and enough with Dick Cheney and his daughter.