Alleged kidnap mastermind arrested in Pakistan

Syed Mohammad Akbar Agha, head of Jaishul Muslimeen (Army of Muslims), was captured in a raid in the southern port city of Karachi, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid told AFP without giving details.

"Agha was arrested from a flat in central Karachi early last week," a senior security official said, adding that he "put up no resistance when the security forces raided his flat".

The official said efforts were under way to arrest some of Agha's accomplices. The minister said no decision had been taken on whether to hand Agha over to Kabul.

The Jaish claimed the abduction of Shqipe Hebibi from Kosovo, Annetta Flanigan of Northern Ireland and Filipino diplomat Angelito Nayan from a busy Kabul street on October 28.

The trio, who were overseeing Afghanistan's first presidential elections in October, were released unharmed on November 23 after prolonged negotiations with the Afghan government.