Islamabad  - Pakistan's military said Friday it has arrested a Taliban spokesman in the Swat valley, where troops have spent five months fighting Islamist insurgents.

Muslim Khan was captured with four colleagues including key militant commander Mehmood Khan, Geo news channel reported, citing army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas.

Muslim Khan had a bounty of 10 million rupees (122,000 US dollars) on his head for involvement in terrorist activities. Mehmood Khan also had a bounty of 10 million rupees on his head.

Further details of the arrests were not immediately disclosed.

Muslim Khan's capture is considered a major success in the five-month offensive against militants in Swat. However Taliban leader, Maulana Fazlullah, remains at large.

The government says its troops have killed nearly 2,000 rebels and regained control over much of the Swat valley, which is around 140 kilometres north-west of Islamabad. (dpa)