Former Taliban Ambassador To Pakistan Mullah Zaif Arrested In Islamabad

Former Taliban ambassador to Pakistan mullah Abdul Salam Zaif has been arrested in Islamabad and transferred to Peshawar for interrogation. The News paper reported Friday that the ambassador's illegal stay in Pakistan served as a formal cause for his detention, since he was offered earlier "to leave the country's territory." So far the arrest has not been officially confirmed. However, according to News, Zaif was arrested Thursday, January 3rd, at his splendid residence in one of Islamabad's prestigious districts. The newspaper pays special attention to the fact that before the arrest the diplomat asked the Pervez Musharraf government to grant him a political shelter in Pakistan. Local observers do not rule out that Zaif will be extradited after interrogation either to the new interim Afghan administration or to the Americans.