US envoy praises Taliban arrests despite criticism

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WASHINGTON, Mar 20 (AFP): US envoy Richard Holbrooke praised Friday the arrests of Taliban leaders, despite a former UN envoy's claim that they disrupt reconciliation efforts with the group.
A slew of senior Taliban chiefs have reportedly been captured in Pakistan in recent weeks. Among them was Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, captured last month in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi in what US media said was a joint operation with American spies.
Holbrooke told reporters he had been aware of the channel, although Obama administration officials had not been involved.