Senior leader of the al-Qaeda- and Taliban-allied Haqqani network active inside Afghanistan has been nabbed by NATO forces on Saturday. NATO termed it as a great achievement having far reached impact on its war against terrorism.

Haji Mali Khan was nabbed when NATO Forces were carrying out their operation in eastern Paktia province's Jani Khel district bordering Pakistan. Haji Mali Khan’s arrest may significant affect the group's ability to operate along the disturbed and lawless tribal area of Pakistan.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid, however, ruled out Khan’s arrest by NATO but he failed to tell the whereabouts of Khan who is an uncle of Siraj and Badruddin Haqqani, two of the son's of the network's aging leader Jalaludin Haqqani.

NATO said, "He was one of the highest ranking members of the Haqqani network and a revered elder of the Haqqani clan. He worked directly under Siraj Haqqani, and managed bases and had oversight of operations in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.”

Haqqani network, based in Pakistan and nurtured by its infamous intelligence agency ISI, is a major threat to Afghanistan. The US already locked horns with Pkistan on Haqqani issue and threatened serious action if the country fails to check its activities.