Five Peshawar school attack suspects held in Afghanistan

PESHAWAR/KABUL/WASHINGTON: The Afghan security forces have arrested five suspects allegedly involved in the terrorist attack on the Army Public School and College in Peshawar, following intelligence from the Pakistan authorities.

It should be mentioned that Pakistani intelligence agencies had provided information to the Afghan authorities regarding the presence of the Peshawar school attack suspects in an Afghan province.

Sources said the suspects were in contact with the Peshawar school attackers on December 16, 2014 through telephone, and their communication record led to their arrest.

Meanwhile, the United States Department of State has declared the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Mullah Fazlullah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and directed the seizing of all his bank accounts.It is worth mentioning that the US made the decision under an Executive Order, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.

A spokesperson for the US State Department said the consequences of these designations include a prohibition against US persons engaging in transactions with Fazlullah, and the freezing of all property and interests of Fazlullah that are inthe United States, or come within the US or the possession or control of US persons.

Fazlullah was elected commander of the TTP in November 2013, following the death of former TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud. The Department of State designated the TTP as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation on September 01, 2010.

Under the leadership of Fazlullah, the TTP claimed responsibility for the December 16, 2014 attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar that resulted in the death of at least 148 individuals, mostly students.

Prior to becoming the leader of TTP, Fazlullah claimed he was behind the killing of the Pakistan Army’s Major General Sanaullah Niazi in September 2013. Fazlullah was responsible for the beheading of 17 Pakistani soldiers after an attack in June 2012 and also ordered the targeted killings of elders who led peace committees against the Taliban. — INP

Saleh Zaafir adds from Islamabad: Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar has returned from Afghanistan after meeting with his counterpart in Kabul and Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani.

Highly-placed sources told The News that authorities concerned in Afghanistan have assured the Pakistani spymaster that the Afghan administration would act according to the satisfaction of Pakistan for nabbing those involved in recent heinous terror activities in Pakistan, including the one at the Army Public School and College in Peshawar. The Afghan authorities have expressed satisfaction over Pakistan’s sincere and determined efforts in eliminating terrorists.

It was the second visit of the ISI chief to Kabul in the last three weeks. It is likely that the DG ISI will submit a report pertaining to his visit to Afghanistan to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today (Wednesday).