Terror plot foiled with arrest of Taliban commander: Pak

Bakht Farzand, a commander of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan from the restive Swat valley in the country`s northwest, was arrested in Islamabad on Saturday, security officials told the media.

His arrest had averted a plot to carry out an attack on Pakistan`s Independence Day, they said.

Farzand was wanted by law enforcement agencies in connection with several crimes and terror attacks.

He was arrested in Sector G-9 of the federal capital during an operation by law enforcement and intelligence agencies.

He led Taliban fighters in Matta area of the Swat valley and was a close aide of Maulana Fazlullah, who is currently believed to be in Afghanistan.

Fazlullah, also known as Mullah Radio for his fiery sermons on an illegal FM channel, fled Swat after the military launched an operation in 2009 to flush out Taliban fighters from the region located 160 km from Islamabad.

Farzand has been taken to an undisclosed location for interrogation.

Information provided led to the arrest of two suspected terrorists in Koral area of Islamabad.