New Yoork/Islamabdad: Pakistan has confirmed that New York bomb suspect Faisal Shehzad did meet Taliban leaders in 2009 while US investigators reveal Faisal was expecting an arrest, when caught on a flight to Dubai. The US officials believe the Pakistan Taliban may have had a role in the Times Square car bomb plot, according to a report of the New York Times.
Meanwhile, Pakistani officials have confirmed that the alleged bomber did meet Taliban leaders during his visit to the country in July last year.
Faisal has already admitted to receiving bomb-making training in Pakistan. Infact, US investigators have revealed that Faisal, who was caught on an Emirates flight to Dubai, never expected to successfully escape the US. When caught, he told law enforcement officers he was was expecting them.
However, the Taliban has denied being associated with him. It says: "Faisal Shahzad's actions were very good. We appreciate Faisal but he has no link with the Tehrik-i Taliban. He might have received training from other militant groups. There are other groups that can provide that type of training too."
The Pakistani authorities have detained seven men for alleged links with Faisal even as the terror suspect's kin claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy. Faisal's friend and father-in-law among others have been detained in Pakistan for questioning.
A top police official in Punjab province said at least seven suspects were taken into custody in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Karachi and shifted to an undisclosed location for interrogation. He however, did not confirm whether the detained suspects had links to the Taliban or Al Qaida.
"I can only confirm the detentions at the moment. The intelligence agencies are in contact with US authorities about this matter," the officer said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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