ISLAMABAD — Dozens of Afghan nationals from different parts of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) were arrested yesterday in connection with Dargai suicide bombing that killed 42 Pakistan Army troops.
Arrests were made in Shamshatu, Azakhail and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FTA). A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from ISI, MI and Intelligence Bureau have arrived in the Malakand area and are examining the explosives used during the suicide bombing.
They are also questioning residents of Dargai bazaar and other villages of Malakand.
The JIT was constituted by the government to make a complete inquiry into the bombing at Punjab Regiment’s base.
Six other people were arrested in Baluchistan in the rocket firing case. Some miscreants Friday night fired a rocket at the Baluchistan’s provincial assembly in Quetta that caused damage to one block of the assembly. No one was hurt.
The 107mm rocket is yet another daring activity that caused panic in the Baluchistan’s metropolis.
Police said the attack on the assembly was an act of outlawed Baluchistan Liberation Army.
Officials said the Quetta incident had no link to the incidents of Bajaur and Dargai.
Meanwhile, a high alert across Pakistan has been sounded by the government following intelligence reports that “five terrorists” are out to strike “somewhere” in the country like the suicide killing in Dargai.
Quoting official source, the Dawn newspaper yesterday said that all provincial governments and the Islamabad capital territory administration have been directed to place security forces on high alert.
“We are taking no chances. The tightened security will ensure that an intending attacker finds it difficult to carry out such an attack,” a senior police official said.
About 150 personnel of Pakistan Rangers and a large number of the Frontier Constabulary troopers were deployed along the Margalla Road and at embassies of Norway, Denmark and China on Thursday night.
The green area was thoroughly combed by the Rangers, a security source said. Earlier, 300 personnel of Pakistan Rangers and additional contingents of police were deployed at sensitive places in Islamabad.
“Even those who hang about on roads are being told to move on by the security personnel,” an official said. The localities of Afghan nationals, particularly Karachi Company, have also been combed by the security agencies.
Security personnel in civvies have also been deputed to keep a vigil on passengers and other suspicious looking people.
In another development, a Taleban spokesperson denied yesterday that the Islamist movement was behind the recent attacks on military camps in Pakistan’s tribal regions, media reports said.
Aaj and Geo television channels said a caller introducing himself as Abdullah Farhad said the Taleban respected the peace deal the Pakistani tribals have signed with Islamabad pledging not to assist the Taleban insurgency in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the NWFP Gov. Gen. (retd) Ali Mohammad Jan Orakzai said it was too early to link the attack on Dargai army camp to the airstrike on an Islamic school in Bajaur.
Orakzai had commanded the anti-Taleban military campaign in the Taleban-friendly tribal region some two years ago. But he initiated peace talks with the restive tribes after becoming governor.
President Pervez Musharraf reiterated yesterday his government’s policy of hunting down terrorists and extremists while keeping doors open for political negotiations.
