LAHORE: Pakistani security forces on Thursday arrested one of the alleged perpetrators of a car bombing the day before that killed three people and wounded 25 near the residence of a convicted militant leader linked to the Mumbai terrorist attacks, officials said.
The man behind Wednesday's attack in the eastern city of Lahore was arrested at the airport as he was trying to leave the country, said Suhail Ahmad, a security official familiar with the investigation. He identified the man as Pakistani national David Peter.
Ahmad refused to share further details, saying the government would issue a statement about a breakthrough in the case achieved by the Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department with the help of the country's intelligence agencies.
Hours earlier, Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said in a video message on Twitter that the Punjab police were close to arresting those responsible for the Lahore car bombing.
The powerful explosion in the Johar Town neighborhood was near the residence of anti-India militant leader Hafiz Saeed, designated a terrorist by the US Justice Department and has a $10 million bounty on his head.
Saeed is the founder of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba group, which was blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. He was unharmed in Wednesday's bombing, but the windows of his home were shattered.
Last year, Pakistan sentenced Saeed to 15 years in prison in a terror-financing case, but he was never charged in connection with the Mumbai attacks. He has been serving his term at home under a government order.
Saeed's Lashkar-e-Taiba was active for years mainly in Kashmir, which is split between Pakistan and India but claimed by both in its entirety.
Pakistan and India have a history of bitter relations and they have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir since gaining independence in 1947.
Pakistan arrests key suspect in Lahore bombing that killed 3
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Pakistan arrests key suspect in Lahore bombing that killed 3
- Security officials say the man behind Wednesday's attack was arrested at the airport as he was trying to leave the country
- Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said earlier in the day the police were close to arresting those responsible for the car bombing
Pakistan, Libya discuss defense and counterterrorism cooperation during army chief’s visit
- Military says Field Marshal Asim Munir met Libyan Commander-in-Chief Khalifa Belqasim Haftar during the visit
- Unlike several other states in the region, bilateral defense collaboration remains limited between the two countries
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Libya discussed enhancing defense cooperation, with a focus on training and counterterrorism partnership, during a visit by Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir to the North African country, the military said in a statement on Thursday.
Pakistan and Libya established diplomatic relations in 1951, with ties particularly close during the era of former Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, when Tripoli positioned itself as a supporter of Muslim causes and developing countries, including
Pakistan. Relations have been more restrained since Libya’s political upheaval in 2011.
According to the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Munir met Field Marshal Khalifa Belqasim Haftar, commander-in-chief of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, and Lt. Gen. Saddam Khalifa Haftar, deputy commander-in-chief, during the visit.
“Both sides underscored the importance of collaboration in training, capacity building and counterterrorism domains,” ISPR said in a statement.
“Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening defense ties with Libya, based on shared interests,” it added.
ISPR said Munir was accorded a guard of honor by a contingent of the Libyan Armed Forces on arrival and that the talks also covered matters of mutual interest, regional security dynamics and avenues for expanding military-to-military cooperation.
The Libyan military leadership appreciated the professionalism of the Pakistan armed forces and expressed a desire to expand defense cooperation between the two countries, the statement said.
Unlike Pakistan’s relations with some Gulf and Middle Eastern states, there is currently no significant defense or military cooperation between Islamabad and Tripoli, with engagement remaining limited amid Libya’s prolonged political instability.
