GARDEZ (PAN): Six militants were arrested by a joint Afghan-international security force during an operation in the Zurmat district of southeastern Paktia province, the alliance said on Friday.
The joint offensive was conducted on Thursday night, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement. The detainees included a Haqqani terror network commander, it added.
District chief Gul Shah said the operation was carried out in the Kothi Khel area. However, he had not details about the arrested men.
Resident Sharifullah, however, claimed the detainees were innocent civilians, as no arms or ammunitions were recovered from their possession.
A Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he had no information about those arrested, but one of them was a prayer leader who had no affiliation with the movement.
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