Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Pakistan arrests two high value targets

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Jan 24,IRNA --Pakistan has arrested two high value targets in a tribal region near the northwestern city of Peshawar, the country's interior chief said Friday.

Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik added that the security forces arrested seven militants including two high value targets during an operation in the town of Bara near Peshawar.

Talking to reporters in Islamabad, Malik said another high value target has also been killed in Mohmand agency tribal region.

He did not identify the high value target but local media reported that Zabi ul Taifi, a Saudi national, was among the seven detained al-Qaeda suspects.

Taifi is believed to be linked to the 2005 London transit bombings. Reports said that US intelligence agents were in a vehicle near the place of the raid and another report said that helicopters were also flying when the operation had been underway.

Malik said the military offensive has helped stabilize situation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, known as FATA and restore peace in the tribal agencies.

The Interior advisor urged the extremists in Swat to lay down their arms and adopt the course of dialogue for bringing peace there. He said the government does not want collateral damage and want to resolve all the matters through peaceful means.

An army statement said that the security Forces on a tip off carried out a cordon and search operation in Bara near Peshawar on January 21 and apprehended seven suspected militants including foreigners.

Investigations are underway to ascertain the nationality of those arrested, it said.

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EndNews / IRNA / News Code 316443