ISLAMABAD, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's security forces have arrested a member of al-Qaeda and 35 activists of banned extremist group during an operation in the country's northwest, the Interior Ministry said Friday.

    The arrest of Amjad, a key al-Qaeda member and other activists of outlawed groups was made in Hangu, a major city in the North West Frontier Province, Prime Minister's Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik said.

    The News Network International (NNI) news agency quoted Malik as saying that the arrested men were being questioned by the security agencies for their activities.

    The government earlier claimed the arrest of Rafiuddin, deputy commander of Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud but Taliban denied it.

    Malik said that suicide attacks had ended in the country's eastern Punjab and southern Sindh province, and suicide attacks decreased in the troubled northwest by 80 percent.

    The army said the forces ended operation against local Taliban militants in Hangu this week after "achieving all targets."

    Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas said that 20 local Taliban were killed and 60 others arrested during the week-long operation, launched after Taliban shot dead 17 soldiers.

    In another development, tribal elders have brokered a temporary ceasefire between the local Taliban and the government forces in Hangu.

    Taliban released as a goodwill gesture eight government workers among 50 kidnapped government employees and security personnel, a tribal elder said.

    A jirga or council of tribal elders held talks with local officials and local Taliban and announced a ceasefire after securing assurances from both sides, Maulana Hussain Asghar, a member of the jirga said.

    Asghar said the ceasefire would continue till a formal agreement was reached. He added that Taliban had stopped all activities after the ceasefire.

    The jirga and Taliban will formally launch negotiations very soon, he said.