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Al-Qaeda member among 35 activists of banned extremist groups arrested: official

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, July 25, IRNA
Pakistan-Arrests
Pakistani security forces have arrested a member of al-Qaeda and 35 activists of banned extremist group during an operation in the country's northwest, the Interior Ministry said Friday.

The arrest of Amjad, a key al-Qaeda member and other activists of outlawed groups was made in Hangu, a major city in the North West Frontier Province, Interior Advisor Rehman Malik said.

The army said this week that the forces ended operation against local Taliban in Hangu after 'achieving all targets'.

Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said that 20 local Taliban were killed and 60 others arrested during the week-long operation, launched after Taliban shot dead 17 soldiers.

Malik told reporters that the arrested men are being questioned by the security agencies for their activities.

The government had earlier claimed the arrest of Rafiuddin, the deputy commander of Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsod but Taliban denied the claim.

The Interior Advisor said that suicide attacks have ended in the country's eastern Punjab and southern Sindh province and suicide attacks decreased in the troubled northwest by 80 per cent.

In another development, tribal elders have brokered a temporary ceasefire between the local Taliban and the government forces in Hangu.

Taliban released as a goodwill gesture eight government workers of 50 kidnapped government employees and security personnel, a tribal elder said.

A jirga or council of elders held talks with local officials and local Taliban and announced a ceasefire after securing assurances from both side, Maulana Hussain Asghar, a member of the jirga said.

Taliban handed over eight abductees to the jirga members as goodwill gesture, Asghar said and said that the ceasefire will continue till a formal agreement is reached. He added that Taliban have stopped all activities after the ceasefire.

The jirga and Taliban will formally launch negotiations on Monday, he said.

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