As many as 18 people, including six Pakistanis, were arrested on the first day of the renewed operation against suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban men in Khost area of Afghanistan on Thursday. The joint operation was launched by the US and Afghan forces in Bangi Daar and Gurbaz areas of Khost to capture the suspected elements. The reports from Waziristan and Kurram agencies reveal
that the operation started in early hours of Thursday focused at Bangi Daar and Gurbaz areas. During the operation, the joint forces are going for identity search of the people with a view to arrest the suspected people and foreigners. Commander Ghaffar of the Afghan army also confirmed the launching of the operation but he was unable to provide details regarding its outcome. According to independent tribal sources, around 18 people have been arrested on the first day of the operation. Amongst them six are Pakistanis who were arrested on the charges of staying illegally in Afghanistan. The arrested Pakistanis are traders and they were present in the area for business purposes, sources added.
"What kinda business you in, Mahmoud?"
"We sell arms and ammunition!" |
The other 12 arrested people are stated to be the Afghan nationals and majority of them were arrested for possessing illegal arms.
| "What're arrestin' me for? That antiaircraft gun was my grampaw's!" |
Some of them were also charged of defying the disarming process, launched in October last in all over Afghanistan. However, no active al-Qaeda man was arrested during the operation. The reports from tribal areas reveal that the ground forces are also assisted by the US Apache helicopters in all over Khost and the border areas along Afghanistan. During this air operation, the US copters reportedly violated Pakistan’s air space in Sher Khel region.
Meanwhile, two US soldiers were reportedly killed in a bomb explosion in Khost on Thursday afternoon. The bomb explosion took place at around 1 pm. Further details in this respect are awaited. |