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Pakistan arrests 18 Taliban militants from border region
Chaman, Aug 30: Pakistan security authorities have arrested 18 Taliban militants in a raid on their hideout in southwestern Baluchistan province bordering Afghanistan, an official statement said today.
Chaman, Aug 30: Pakistan security authorities have arrested 18 Taliban militants in a raid on their hideout in southwestern Baluchistan province bordering Afghanistan, an official statement said today.
During the raid carried out overnight in the Chaman border district the security forces also seized a large number of weapons, ammunition and wireless sets, the provincial government statement said.
"It is believed those arrested belonged to a Taliban group involved in several attacks on the Pak-Afghan border recently and were planning some new attacks," it said.
Investigations were continuing and further disclosures were expected, the statement added.
Paramilitary Colonel Abdul Basit Rana said in Chaman that the suspects put up no resistance during the raid.
The arrest of the group follows a surge in violence against aid workers, soldiers and government targets, blamed largely on resurgent Taliban fighters.
Officials across Afghanistan charge that Taliban loyalists are regrouping on the Pakistani side of the porous 2,400-kilometer (1,488-mile) border and organising attacks inside Afghanistan.
An Afghan official on Friday said three afghan soldiers were killed Thursday night when Taliban launched attacks on three Afghan checkposts at Spin Boldak, a town adjacent to Chaman.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday said that militants had also attacked a checkpoint in Spin Boldak on Friday night, but there were no casualties.
Bureau Report
"It is believed those arrested belonged to a Taliban group involved in several attacks on the Pak-Afghan border recently and were planning some new attacks," it said.
Investigations were continuing and further disclosures were expected, the statement added.
Paramilitary Colonel Abdul Basit Rana said in Chaman that the suspects put up no resistance during the raid.
The arrest of the group follows a surge in violence against aid workers, soldiers and government targets, blamed largely on resurgent Taliban fighters.
Officials across Afghanistan charge that Taliban loyalists are regrouping on the Pakistani side of the porous 2,400-kilometer (1,488-mile) border and organising attacks inside Afghanistan.
An Afghan official on Friday said three afghan soldiers were killed Thursday night when Taliban launched attacks on three Afghan checkposts at Spin Boldak, a town adjacent to Chaman.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Saturday said that militants had also attacked a checkpoint in Spin Boldak on Friday night, but there were no casualties.
Bureau Report