TORKHAM (PAN): Pakistani intelligence agents arrested the leader of an armed group operating in eastern Afghanistan late Friday night in Peshawar, capital of the NWFP.

Anwarul Haq Mujahid, head of the Tora Bora outfit, is the son of the late jihadi commander Maulvi Mohammad Younis Khalis. He was arrested from Gulbahar area of Peshawar.

A source in the Hizb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA), led by Gulbadin Hekmatyar, told Pajhwok Afghan News Mujahid formed Tora Bora and declared a jihad against US troops after the ouster of the Taliban regime.

His group has since been active in eastern Afghanistan near the border with Pakistan. Intelligence officials arrested Mujahid along with two cousins Shumsul Islam and Dr. Qalandar.

He had gone to Peshawar for treatment. Rehmanullah, an Afghan refugee living in Gulbahar, also confirmed the detention of Mujahid and his relatives.

A police officer in the Gulbahar, seeking anonymity, told this scribe that several Afghans were rounded Friday night. But he would not say if Mujahid was among them.

ma/mud