'Al-Qaeda' arrests in Afghanistan

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6337431.stm

Version 0 of 1.

US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan say they have arrested two suspected al-Qaeda militants in the eastern part of the country.

The militants were picked up during an operation near Hakimabad town in Nangarhar province, officials said.

Two Afghan men were also taken into custody on suspicion of being associated with the terror network.

The arrests of the two men come ahead of a predicted surge in Taleban activity for the spring.

Last year saw a record number of insurgent attacks.

A coalition military statement said that the operation on Wednesday morning was conducted "based on information provided about an al-Qaeda member known to pass correspondence for al-Qaeda senior leaders".

National Intelligence Director John Negroponte recently said al-Qaeda was strengthening its ties across the Middle East, North Africa and Europe from a secure hideout in Pakistan. Pakistan rejected the comments.

Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 2,250km (1,400 miles) mountainous border which is extremely difficult to patrol.

Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters are thought to be operating on both sides.

The two countries regularly exchange charge and counter-charge over who is to blame for the violence.