Taleban chief hails raids on Nato

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A Taleban chief in north-west Pakistan has spoken of his success in looting wheat, weapons and even tanks in raids on goods bound for Nato in Afghanistan.

Haji Omar told the BBC Urdu service that the search by the US for alternative Afghan supply routes showed his strategy was a success.

The attacks on convoys through the Khyber Pass have intensified in the past few months.

This is the first time the Taleban has openly admitted the attacks.

Separately, the head of the district administration in Pakistan's troubled Swat valley, Kushal Khan, has been released by armed men who seized him on Sunday.

'Remote-control bombs'

Haji Omar is the brother of Nek Mohammad, the first major Taleban commander in South Waziristan, who was killed in a suspected US missile strike in the Wana region in 2004.

Haji Omar replaced Nek Mohammad but was driven out of the region by Mullah Nazir in 2006.

Haji Omar said the Taleban had given him the task of attacking the Nato and US convoys "some months back".

"We intensified the attacks in December and have since carried out about 10 major operations."

He said most supplies were destroyed but that some equipment had been captured and was in good condition.

This includes two tanks, two Humvee vehicles and nearly 1,200 assault rifles and pistols, he said.

In addition, he said the Taleban had looted several thousand bags of wheat being sent to Nato forces in Afghanistan.

"We have distributed most of the arms among our fighters, and some of the stuff we captured we have sold to buy more arms."

Asked if recent military operations by the government to secure safe passage for Nato supplies had had any effect on his operations, Haji Omar said they had caused difficulties and that some of the groups involved in the attacks on the supplies had left the area.

"However, we have now started using remote-control bombs and some of these attacks have been successful," he said.

Swat deal

Meanwhile, the Taleban in Swat said the administrator Kushal Khan had been released late on Sunday in return for two militants.

Taleban rebels have been taking part in negotiations with the government over a permanent ceasefire in Swat.

More than 1,000 people have been killed and many more have fled the valley since violence intensified in 2007.

Last week the government and the rebels announced a 10-day ceasefire in the area.

A Taleban spokesman in the region, Muslim Khan, said Kushal Khan had been held as a "guest" and some "issues" were discussed.