The Taliban's top military commander has been captured in the Pakistani city of Karachi, senior US officials have confirmed.

Abdul Ghani Barader, the most significant Taliban figure captured since the start of the Afghanistan war, was seized in a secret raid by Pakistani and US intelligence forces earlier this month, according to the New York Times. He has been in Pakistani custody for several days, with US and Pakistani intelligence officials both taking part in interrogation.

But a Taliban spokesman denied the reports, saying Mullah Baradar was still in Afghanistan actively organising the group's military activities.

"He has not been captured. They want to spread this rumour just to divert the attention of people from their defeats in Marjah and confuse the public," Zabihullah Mujahid said.

The detention of Mullah Barader, who is deputy to Taliban supreme commander Mullah Omar, comes as Nato forces continue their offensive against militants in southern Afghanistan.

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