Special report: Major UK air terror plot thwarted

    ISLAMABAD, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan said on Friday that the arrests made in Pakistan in connection with the alleged plot to blow British planes have Afghanistan-based al-Qaida links.

    "There are indications of Afghanistan based al-Qaida connection. The case has wider international dimensions," foreign office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said in a statement.

    The spokesperson said that a key person arrested is British national Rashid Rauf.

    "The uncovering and foiling of the terrorist plot in London has been the result of active cooperation among the intelligence agencies of Pakistan, United Kingdom and the United States," she said.

    She said that these coordinated arrests underscore the very important role that has been played by Pakistan in breaking this international terrorist network.

    She said that the cooperation in this case was spread over a period of time.

    "Acting on the information earlier received from the United Kingdom, arrests were made in Pakistan which triggered arrests on the nights between August 9 and 10, 2006 in the United Kingdom," Aslam said.

    The spokesperson said that the intelligence cooperation and coordination at the international level to get to the bottom this case are continuing.

    She said these efforts are in keeping with Pakistan's strong commitment to fight international terrorism. Enditem