Pakistani
police say they have arrested 13 militants with links to al-Qaida or the
Taliban during raids in southern and eastern Pakistan.
Police said Monday they seized seven men with suicide vests and explosives in
the southern city of Karachi. Authorities said the men belong to the banned
al-Qaida-linked group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi.
The Sunni extremist group has been suspected of plotting to assassinate
government officials, as well as masterminding last year's bombing of the
Marriott Hotel in Islamabad and the bombing of a Shi'ite mosque in 2003.
Police say they recovered about two kilograms of heroin from the suspects. The
police say it is the first time they have arrested terror suspects with drugs
in their possession.
Officials believe the drug trade from neighboring Afghanistan helps fund
militant groups fighting the Afghan and Pakistani governments.
Meanwhile in Punjab province, police say they captured six suspected Taliban
militants. Senior police officer Usman Anwar says the suspects were planning to
attack politicians, foreigners and worship places for Pakistan's Shi'ite
minority.