Maulvi Omar
Encyclopedia
Maulvi Said Muhammad, better known as Maulvi Omar or Maulvi Umar, is a senior Taliban commander who was captured by the Pakistani security forces in August 2009. Omar, a spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was a close associate of Baitullah Mehsud
. His capture was seen as a major blow to the Taliban in Pakistan.
Omar, a high profile figure who often contacted journalists to claim responsibility for the various actions of the Taliban, was captured while travelling with two associates in the Mohmand Agency
of Pakistan's tribal areas, near the border with Afghanistan
. In 2008 the Pakistan Government erroneously claimed he was killed in the bombing of Bajaur Agency. Describing his arrest, Maj Fazal Ur Rehman of the Pakistan army said "A very, very important militant has been arrested".
The arrest of Omar, who was reportedly captured due to the help of local anti-Taliban militia, is seen as important in weakening the Taliban who were already in some disarray following the death of Baitullah Mehsud. Omar is also now seen as a key source of information on the operation of militants in the border areas with Afghanistan.
Following his arrest, Omar confirmed the death of his former chief Baitullah Mehsud; prior to his capture he had claimed that Mehsud was still alive.
Baitullah Mehsud
Baitullah Mehsud was a leading militant in Waziristan, Pakistan, and the leader of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan . He formed the TTP from an alliance of about five militant groups in December 2007. He is thought by U.S...
. His capture was seen as a major blow to the Taliban in Pakistan.
Omar, a high profile figure who often contacted journalists to claim responsibility for the various actions of the Taliban, was captured while travelling with two associates in the Mohmand Agency
Mohmand Agency
The Mohmand Agency is a district in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan created in 1951. Before that, the Mohmand Tribes were administered by the Deputy Commissioner based in Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. However it was not until 1973 that the headquarters of...
of Pakistan's tribal areas, near the border with Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. In 2008 the Pakistan Government erroneously claimed he was killed in the bombing of Bajaur Agency. Describing his arrest, Maj Fazal Ur Rehman of the Pakistan army said "A very, very important militant has been arrested".
The arrest of Omar, who was reportedly captured due to the help of local anti-Taliban militia, is seen as important in weakening the Taliban who were already in some disarray following the death of Baitullah Mehsud. Omar is also now seen as a key source of information on the operation of militants in the border areas with Afghanistan.
Following his arrest, Omar confirmed the death of his former chief Baitullah Mehsud; prior to his capture he had claimed that Mehsud was still alive.