KARACHI, Pakistan, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Pakistani authorities announced the arrest of a top Taliban commander suspected of killing several security officials.

Authorities said they apprehended Ahmed Jan in Karachi based on information gleaned from intelligence reports, the Press Trust of India reports.

A Pakistani police official said Jan originated from the volatile Swat valley along the border with Afghanistan. He is believed to be linked to the Pakistani Taliban and was a former member of the outlawed militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad.

Authorities said he was in Karachi to train and recruit people for terrorist activities.

The arrest comes as the Pakistani military prepares for a major operation in the tribal regions along the Afghan border targeting Taliban insurgents and their associates.

Islamabad prepared for an earlier military operation in the region, but pulled back following the death of Baitullah Mehsud, the head of the Taliban, in an August airstrike by the United States.

Taliban leaders vowed revenge for his death following the release of a video on Pakistani television showing the body of Taliban leader.

Pakistan has been hit with a steady stream of terrorist attacks in recent weeks. In the latest, four gunmen attacked police buildings in Lahore, killing at least 26 people. A separate car bomb set off in Kohat resulted in more than 10 deaths while other bombings ripped through Peshawar on Thursday.

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