Four Al Qaeda Suspects Arrested in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, May 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Several hundreds armed tribesmen Wednesday searched Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal area, bordering Afghanistan, and arrested four al-Qaeda-linked foreigners, official said.

The operation was launched after the foreign militants, hiding in the area, have refused government demands to formally register themselves, the local news agency News Network International quoted a local official as saying.

A "lashkar" (private tribal army) of several armed tribesmen started the latest hunt late Tuesday, going door to door in villages near the border and asking residents whether any "foreigners" were around, he said.

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid has confirmed the arrests and said that explosives, timer devices and computers were recovered from suspects.

Pakistani authorities have said that hundreds of foreign militants are hiding in the tribal area, who have fled Afghanistan since the fall of Taliban government.

More than 100 militants and troops were killed during a major operation against suspected al-Qaeda members in the same area in March.

Slightly different story of same event:

Al-Qaeda suspects, German national arrested

ISLAMABAD : Four al-Qaeda suspects and a German national man, claiming to be a Muslim, have been arrested in Pakistan tribal region, a minister and officials said on Wednesday.

The four suspects were arrested close to the Afghan border during an overnight raid.

Information minister Sheikh Rashid has confirmed the arrests and said that explosives, timer devices and computers were recovered from suspects

Pakistani officials say that hundreds of foreign militants are hiding in the tribal region, who have fled Afghanistan since the fall of Taliban government. According to reports say the arrested men posessed foreign passports. A lashkar (tribal army) is hunting foreign militants in South Waziristan, where more than 100 militants and troops were killed during a major operation against suspected al-Qaeda members in March.

An amnesty deal for foreign militants suffered a setback when they failed to begin a planned registration by April 30th. The deadline was extended two times. But the tribal lashkar searched some areas yesterday and on Wednesday.

Under the deal, the fighters would be able to stay if they halted activities against Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the authorities are grilling a German man who was arrested for entering a tribal region near Afghanistan without valid travel documents, an official said Wednesday.

The man, identified himself as Richard Cahoon, claimed to be a Muslim who said he wanted to meet Muslim colleagues in Kurram tribal agency, some 300 kilometers southeast of Peshawar, the official said.

I don't recognize the German's name...

"I don't recognize the German's name"

Did a little searching around and it looks like he's just some lonely yahoo with more time and money on his hands, than the good sense to stay out of a hot LZ.

BTW, contrary to what the article states, the Kurram agency where they arrested him, is not "300 kilometers southeast of Peshawar", it 100 km southwest of Peshwar. The Kurram agency is the Parrot's Beak area of the border, between Khowst and the Safed Koh mountains (where the "Tora Bora cave complex" was alleged to have been).

Here's a similar article with several very interesting comments.

German held for illegally entering Tribal Areas
From Our Correspondent
PESHAWAR – A German national while entering Kurram Agency of the tribal belt illegally was apprehended by the personnel of law enforcing agencies on Wednesday.
The German national identified as Richard Cahoon was arrested on the entrance to Kurram Agency and shifted to Para Chanar headquarter. He was later handed over to the Joint Interrogation Team (JIT) at Parachanar, where his formal interrogation is in progress.
The German national in his preliminary statement told the authorities that he is a new Muslim and his new name is Ramzan. The purpose of his visit to the region is to cement religious links with the Muslims, he added.
According to authorities concerned Richard was lacking proper permission for entering the tribal belt. He entered Pakistan a few months back.
It is pertinent to mention that on April 21 last, the personnel of law enforcing agencies have apprehended an American woman while allegedly making an attempt to enter into the tribal belt. She was later on, handed over to the American diplomats at Islamabad but her guide and driver are still locked in Miranshah.
Source: http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/may2004/20/main/top14.asp

Miranshah is a very hot area in North Wazirastan Agency (tribal area), just across the border from Khowst. There have been many serious cross-border raids by both sides in the area in and around Miranshah. What the heck was that lady doing there?

Oh, one last thing Coop. I noticed in the thread story at the top, you underlined and bolded the word "computer". That is probably how the al-Qa'ida were identified and located. When the idiots connected to the internet, U.S. intel inside Pakistan noted the activity, identified the user and location, passed the info on to Islamabad, which in turn, passed it on to the tribal Lashkar with a note saying, "Stop pretending like you don't know where they are. Here's a name and address. Go arrest them or else."

--Boot Hill

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