Maulvi Omar

{{distinguish|text=Mohammed Omar the commander of the Afghan Taliban}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}

{{Use Pakistani English|date=May 2023}}

Maulvi Said Muhammad,{{cite news

| last = Khan

| first = Ismail

| title = Spokesman for Taliban Is Captured, Pakistan Says

| work = New York Times

| date = 2009-08-18

| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/world/asia/19pstan.html

| accessdate = 2010-01-19}} better known as Maulvi Omar or Maulvi Umar, is a senior Taliban commander who was captured by the Pakistani security forces in August 2009. Omar, a spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), was a close associate of Baitullah Mehsud.{{cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/best-law-firms/profile-legal/article/senior-taleban-officials-captured-in-pakistan-nhcwrrshmtx | title=Taleban officials captured in Pakistan | newspaper=The Times | first=Zahid | last=Hussein | date = 19 August 2009 | access-date=22 May 2023}} His capture was seen as a major blow to the Taliban in Pakistan.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/08/18/pakistan.taliban.spokesman/|title=Two Pakistani Taliban leaders captured - CNN.com|website=www.cnn.com}}

Omar, a high-profile figure who often contacted journalists to claim responsibility for the various actions of the Taliban, was captured while travelling with two associates in the Mohmand Agency of Pakistan's tribal areas, near the border with Afghanistan.{{cite web |title=Pakistan Taliban spokesman 'seized': Security forces capture 'very important militant' in northwest, reports say |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/08/200981843442699306.html |website=Al Jazeera English |access-date=2021-03-17 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712025452/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/08/200981843442699306.html |archive-date=2012-07-12 |date=2009-08-18 |url-status=unfit}} In 2008 the Pakistan Government erroneously claimed he was killed in the bombing of Bajaur Agency.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121024115835/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-08-18/pakistan/28162130_1_bajaur-agency-maulvi-omar-baitullah-mehsud Pak arrests former Taliban spokesperson Maulvi Omer] Describing his arrest, Maj Fazal Ur Rehman of the Pakistan army said "A very, very important militant has been arrested".{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8206489.stm|title=Pakistan Taliban spokesman 'held'|date=18 August 2009|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}

The arrest of Omar, who was reportedly captured due to the help of local anti-Taliban militia, was seen as important in weakening the Taliban who were already in some disarray following the death of Baitullah Mehsud. Omar was also seen as a key source of information on the operation of militants in the border areas with Afghanistan.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125058169202439497|title=Pakistan Catches Taliban Operative|first=Zahid|last=Hussain|website=WSJ}}

Following his arrest, Omar confirmed the death of his former chief Baitullah Mehsud; prior to his capture he had claimed that Mehsud was still alive.{{Cite web|url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=8350275|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090819151948/http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=8350275|url-status=dead|title=Forces Capture Pakistani Taliban's Top Spokesman| website=ABC News |archivedate=19 August 2009}}