The Pakistani security forces arrested a prominent active member of the Yemeni branch of Al Qaeda in the city of Karachi in southern Iraq, the Army said Tuesday. The Army identified the man as Muhammad Qasim Ali, alias Abu Shoaib to Makki, and said he had been "working directly under the leadership of Al Qaeda along (the) border between Pakistan and Afghanistan." It is not clear how to actually Makki.
The U.S. embassy in Islamabad was not familiar with his name and does not appear on any list of Washington's rewards program. "The arrest of al Makki is a breakthrough to discover the network of Al Qaeda operating in the region," said the Pakistani army in a statement. The arrest was announced a day after U.S.
Sen. John Kerry, visiting Pakistan, local leaders warned that Congress was doing "hard questions" about aid to Islamabad after the leader of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden , was killed on Pakistani soil. The army gave no details about the range of the Makki Al Qaeda or when he was arrested. A senior security official in Islamabad said at Makki is between 35 and 40 years and "for some time" living with three children and his wife.
"He gave information on movements of some people," the official said, referring to militants. "We are evaluating this information and planning actions," he added. Military sources added that the Makki arrived in Pakistan in 2001 and operated on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. None of the information provided by the Army could be independently corroborated or confirmed.
"It was hidden in a house in the middle of the city," said a security official of high rank. "The arrest took shape after intelligence operations began in several cities after May 2. The intelligence operation still continues," he added. Makki's arrest came as Pakistan to face growing pressure to explain how apparently bin Laden spent years at home, in a place two hours away from the headquarters of intelligence.
U.S. special forces killed bin Laden in a secret raid on his complex on 2 May. 
The U.S. embassy in Islamabad was not familiar with his name and does not appear on any list of Washington's rewards program. "The arrest of al Makki is a breakthrough to discover the network of Al Qaeda operating in the region," said the Pakistani army in a statement. The arrest was announced a day after U.S.
Sen. John Kerry, visiting Pakistan, local leaders warned that Congress was doing "hard questions" about aid to Islamabad after the leader of Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden , was killed on Pakistani soil. The army gave no details about the range of the Makki Al Qaeda or when he was arrested. A senior security official in Islamabad said at Makki is between 35 and 40 years and "for some time" living with three children and his wife.
"He gave information on movements of some people," the official said, referring to militants. "We are evaluating this information and planning actions," he added. Military sources added that the Makki arrived in Pakistan in 2001 and operated on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. None of the information provided by the Army could be independently corroborated or confirmed.
"It was hidden in a house in the middle of the city," said a security official of high rank. "The arrest took shape after intelligence operations began in several cities after May 2. The intelligence operation still continues," he added. Makki's arrest came as Pakistan to face growing pressure to explain how apparently bin Laden spent years at home, in a place two hours away from the headquarters of intelligence.
U.S. special forces killed bin Laden in a secret raid on his complex on 2 May.
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