Pakistan seeks clues on jailed Americans
Source: Agencies |
December 15, 2009, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PAKISTANI police yesterday raided a hotel where some of the Americans held on possible links to terrorism stayed, in a case that has highlighted how easily anyone can use the Internet to pursue dreams of waging holy war.
The detention of five young Americans from Virginia in a town that is home to a major Pakistani air base suggests there is little the United States ally can do to prevent people from surfing the Web and hooking up with militants.
The case has again focused attention on Pakistan's performance in fighting militants as Washington presses Islamabad to root out Islamist fighters crossing the border to attack US-led troops in Afghanistan.
US Central Command chief General David Petraeus, in Islamabad for talks, was expected to reiterate a US call for Pakistan to expand its battle through its lawless northwest, a global hub for al-Qaida and allied groups, as President Barack Obama's administration struggles to stabilise Afghanistan.
He held talks with Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, officials said.
Police in Karachi raided the hotel where three of the five men stayed upon arrival in Pakistan two weeks ago. But it appears there were few clues.
Senior Karachi police official Ghulam Nabi Memon said a mobile telephone and five bags had been recovered, although nothing significant was found in the bags.
Police said investigators were trying to track down a man named "Saifullah" who contacted one of the Americans, Ahmed Minni, through the YouTube Website.
FBI agents and their Pakistani colleagues have been interrogating the American Muslims, according to Pakistani officials.
The detention of five young Americans from Virginia in a town that is home to a major Pakistani air base suggests there is little the United States ally can do to prevent people from surfing the Web and hooking up with militants.
The case has again focused attention on Pakistan's performance in fighting militants as Washington presses Islamabad to root out Islamist fighters crossing the border to attack US-led troops in Afghanistan.
US Central Command chief General David Petraeus, in Islamabad for talks, was expected to reiterate a US call for Pakistan to expand its battle through its lawless northwest, a global hub for al-Qaida and allied groups, as President Barack Obama's administration struggles to stabilise Afghanistan.
He held talks with Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, officials said.
Police in Karachi raided the hotel where three of the five men stayed upon arrival in Pakistan two weeks ago. But it appears there were few clues.
Senior Karachi police official Ghulam Nabi Memon said a mobile telephone and five bags had been recovered, although nothing significant was found in the bags.
Police said investigators were trying to track down a man named "Saifullah" who contacted one of the Americans, Ahmed Minni, through the YouTube Website.
FBI agents and their Pakistani colleagues have been interrogating the American Muslims, according to Pakistani officials.
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