 KABUL: Afghan forces arrested five suspected militants including three Pakistanis in the eastern province of Nangahar, as authorities stepped up security to prevent rebel attacks ahead of landmark elections over the weekend, officials said on Wednesday. The army and police gave conflicting accounts of Tuesday's arrests at a checkpoint as the suspects were travelling by car through the Khogyani district of Nangahar. Defence Ministry spokesman Gen Mohammed Saher Azimi said the men were posing as journalists and had remote-controlled explosives hidden inside cameras.
| We've seen that trick before... |
However, Nangahar Police chief Khalil Ziay said the men - two Afghans and three Pakistanis - had claimed to be businessmen selling chewing gum.
"Honey! It's the chewing gum men! Do we need any gum today?"
"We're almost out of Teaberry, sweety!" |
He said the men had three cameras, but denied explosives were found inside. There was no comment on the discrepancy in the officials' accounts. The suspects are under investigation. |