Pakistani security forces have captured one of the Taliban's top three leaders.
Former Defence Minister Mullah Obaidullah Akhund was arrested in the south-western city of Quetta.
He was allegedly in charge of the movement's military wing in its insurgency in Afghanistan.
However a Taliban spokesman in Afghanistan has denied the arrest, saying it was a 'false rumour'.
Mr Akhund is the most senior Taliban leader to have been captured since its government was forced out of power in Afghanistan in 2001.
Following soon after US Vice-President Dick Cheny's visit to Afghanistan, the arrest comes at a time when the Bush administration is facing a wave of scepticism over Pakistan's role as an ally in the so-called war on terror.
Mr Cheney had asked Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to do more to stop al-Qaeda operating from safe havens in Pakistan and step up efforts to thwart an offensive by the Taliban against Afghan and NATO troops.
A Pakistani military spokesperson insisted that the timing of Mr Akhund's arrest was coincidence, and not linked to Mr Cheney's visit.
Pakistani government and military spokesmen had initially said they had no knowledge of the incident.
