Great news from Afghanistan: “Secret Joint Raid Captures Taliban’s Top Commander” putting aside for today the fact that the NYT leaked a secret again…something they do quite frequently.

The Taliban’s top military commander was captured several days ago in Karachi, Pakistan, in a secret joint operation by Pakistani and American intelligence forces, according to American government officials.

The commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, is an Afghan described by American officials as the most significant Taliban figure to be detained since the American-led war in Afghanistan started more than eight years ago. He ranks second in influence only to Mullah Muhammad Omar, the Taliban’s founder and a close associate of Osama bin Laden before the Sept. 11 attacks.

Mullah Baradar has been in Pakistani custody for several days, with American and Pakistani intelligence officials both taking part in interrogations, according to the officials.

I frankly find this news more exciting because Pakistan was in on it than I do that this animal was captured. He’ll be replaced soon enough, but here’s hoping he gets the kind of interrogation accommodations due him based on his resume. And, given it wasn’t US that took him, it’s a safe bet we won’t be seeing him in NY any time soon standing trial.