Pakistani forces arrest three suspected militants

Pakistan's security forces arrested three suspected Islamic militants and seized assault rifles and grenades at a roadblock in a northwestern tribal region, an intelligence official said Thursday.

Photo: Pakistani forces arrest three suspected militants

Pakistani forces arrest three suspected militants

The Pakistani men were arrested late Wednesday as they drove a pickup truck on a road near Wana, the main town in South Waziristan tribal area bordering Afghanistan, the official said on condition of anonymity because of the secretive nature of his job.

Army troops manning a check point in Inzar Cheena, an area north of Wana, stopped the truck and found three AK-47 assault rifles and eight hand grenades, he said.

The men were arrested and taken to a military base in Wana for further investigation, and their weapons and truck were seized, he said.

Local tribal militants, backed by Arab, Central Asian and Afghan fighters who are believed to be hiding in the area, have battled security forces in recent months in South and neighboring North Waziristan, which also borders Afghanistan.

The militants clashed with troops in North Waziristan earlier this month in urban gun fights that left more than 100 rebels and eight soldiers dead, according to military officials, reports the AP.

I.L.