Arrests Force Taliban Flight

Afghan chiefs in Pakistan disperse to cities after the detentions of top militants, hindering the insurgency

KABUL—The Afghan Taliban's leadership has spread out to cities across Pakistan in an effort to evade capture that is also making it harder for them to organize.

The dispersion of Taliban leaders, a response to Pakistan's recent arrests of senior militants there, is slowing the group's process of replacing its operations chief and effective No. 2, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, say militants and tribal elders with ties to the insurgents.

Mullah Baradar was arrested in late January, and at least three other major Taliban figures have since been picked up, along with a handful of second-tier leaders, U.S. and Pakistani ...

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