PESHAWAR: An Afghan national arrested during a joint security operation in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar has confessed to preparing a suicide bomber and receiving commando training in the Afghan army, officials said at a news conference.
The suspect, identified as Khareji Hikmatullah, also known as Hamza, was arrested during an intelligence-based operation involving security forces and police, according to Additional Inspector General of the Anti-Regional Disruption Committee (ARDC), Abbas Ahsan.
Abbas Ahsan said the suspect was from Afghanistan's Paktia province and had received commando training while serving in the Afghan army.
He also claimed that Hikmatullah had prepared a suicide bomber and previously worked as a security guard for Khareji commander Mansoor.
During the news conference, ARDC Information Department Adviser Mahmood Jan Babar said Afghan territory was being used to support terrorist activities.
He added that militants attempted to exploit darkness at night while security forces continued operations against them.
Authorities also released a video statement from the arrested suspect during the briefing. In the video, Hikmatullah said he was injured in Afghanistan during Taliban rule.
He added that he studied under a religious scholar for a year before starting to teach at a madrassa.
The suspect further said he later met a man named Akrama in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, and admitted to preparing him for a suicide attack. He also said he was being treated well while in Pakistani custody.
