Islamabad, Sep 21 - A senior commander of the banned militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has been apprehended in northwest Pakistan's Swat region, media reports said Monday.

According to sources, Nasim alias Abu Faraj, who masterminded many suicide attacks in the country, was arrested in an operation by Pakistani security forces, GEO News reported.

Abu Faraj is the son of a militants commander named Darvesh who voluntarily surrendered to the security forces a few days ago.

The arrested militant used to train children for carrying out suicide attacks. He was considered a close confidante of Maulana Fazlullah, the head of the Swat chapter of TTP.

About 1,700 militants have been killed in Pakistan's northwest since Pakistani security forces launched a military operation against Taliban militants in late April.