Monday, June 27, 2005
Two Pakistanis held for filming Taliban attacks
ANI
Peshawar, June 27, 2005
Afghanistan authorities have arrested two Pakistani nationals on charges of entering the country illegally to film Taliban attacks against US troops and government installations in Kunar province. With this, the number of Pakistanis arrested in Afghanistan over the past week has risen to five.
The duo belongs to Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province (NWFP). Most of the 50,000 Pakistanis hailing from the province are employed in Afghanistan, particularly the construction industry.
Giving details of the arrests, Kunar Governor Asadullah Wafa said that the two men had come with Taliban commander Mulla Ismail to make movies of attacks against US-led coalition troops.
He, however, didn't provide names of the arrested men. Nor did he provide any details about the cameras or other equipment seized from them.
Wafa alleged that an Arabic language TV channel had paid Rs 500,000 to the duo to film the Taliban military operations.
The News reported that Ismail claimed responsibility for a number of rocket attacks and roadside explosions in Kunar in recent days. He reportedly set up his own band of followers named Bira'a ibne Malik Front that operates under its own name and owes allegiance to Taliban leader Mulla Mohammad Omar.
Ismail revealed that his men fired rockets at the US military base at Manegai near Kunar's capital Asadabad.
© HT Media Ltd. 2005.