In north-west Pakistan One of Taliban leaders has been arrested with four other militants, officials say.
Muslim Khan was articulate and skilled in handling the media
Mmuslim Khan was a key spokesman for the Taliban in the Swat valley as well as one of the most senior militant commanders in the region.
The army recently staged an offensive in Swat, which it declared a success.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says this is a milestone for the army's operation there.
One of the chief criticisms of the operation had been that it had failed to net the top Taliban leadership, our correspondent says. These are the first significant arrests.
The army recently staged an offensive in Swat, which it declared a success.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says this is a milestone for the army's operation there.
One of the chief criticisms of the operation had been that it had failed to net the top Taliban leadership, our correspondent says. These are the first significant arrests.
The whereabouts and fate of the Taliban leader in Swat, Maulana Fazlullah, are unknown.
After reports that Maulana Fazlullah was close to death earlier this year having being seriously wounded, it was Muslim Khan that contacted the BBC to say the Taliban chief was "alive and healthy".
Muslim Khan is one of the most recognised faces of the Taliban in the Swat valley.
He frequently spoke to journalists on behalf of Maulana Fazlullah. He was articulate and skilled in handling the media, our correspondent says.
The widely travelled Muslim Khan speaks English fairly well and also gave interviews in Arabic.
He spent two years as a seaman with a British shipping company in the 1970s and lived in the US in the late 1990s, where he worked as a house painter.
After reports that Maulana Fazlullah was close to death earlier this year having being seriously wounded, it was Muslim Khan that contacted the BBC to say the Taliban chief was "alive and healthy".
Muslim Khan is one of the most recognised faces of the Taliban in the Swat valley.
He frequently spoke to journalists on behalf of Maulana Fazlullah. He was articulate and skilled in handling the media, our correspondent says.
The widely travelled Muslim Khan speaks English fairly well and also gave interviews in Arabic.
He spent two years as a seaman with a British shipping company in the 1970s and lived in the US in the late 1990s, where he worked as a house painter.
The latest fighting in the Swat valley began in April when Pakistani Taliban forces expanded their operations into districts only 96km (60 miles) from the capital.
Under the terms of a peace deal, militants were expected to disarm in exchange for the implementation of Sharia law throughout the Malakand division, which includes Swat valley.
Under the terms of a peace deal, militants were expected to disarm in exchange for the implementation of Sharia law throughout the Malakand division, which includes Swat valley.
The army accused the Taliban of reneging on the deal. As the fighting intensified some two million people were displaced.
Although many have returned, there is still unrest and bloodshed in the troubled district. Fighting is still reportedly continuing in isolated pockets.
And in recent weeks, more than 200 corpses have been found across the valley.
The killings have been carried out execution-style and the bodies are believed to be of suspected Taliban militants.
Security forces have strenuously denied carrying out extrajudicial killings as part of their anti-Taliban offensive. They claim local residents are behind the attacks.
While this remains unconfirmed, local residents have formed tribal militias to take on militants in what correspondents say is a new development for the region.
In early September, members of a local tribal militia killed three suspected insurgents.
The army has been encouraging the voluntary tribal fighting forces, which exist in other parts of north-west Pakistan.
Although many have returned, there is still unrest and bloodshed in the troubled district. Fighting is still reportedly continuing in isolated pockets.
And in recent weeks, more than 200 corpses have been found across the valley.
The killings have been carried out execution-style and the bodies are believed to be of suspected Taliban militants.
Security forces have strenuously denied carrying out extrajudicial killings as part of their anti-Taliban offensive. They claim local residents are behind the attacks.
While this remains unconfirmed, local residents have formed tribal militias to take on militants in what correspondents say is a new development for the region.
In early September, members of a local tribal militia killed three suspected insurgents.
The army has been encouraging the voluntary tribal fighting forces, which exist in other parts of north-west Pakistan.
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