US seeks Pakistan’s help in NY bomb probe

Islamabad, May 9, IRNA -- The United States has formally requested Pakistan to co-operate in the investigation of the failed car-bomb attack in New York Times Square, the country’s Interior Minister said Saturday.

The main suspect, Faisal Shahzad, who was born in Pakistan and became a US citizen last year, has been charged with terrorism, attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that the government has received a formal request from the US authorities to help into the investigation the failed attempt.

Local media reports that the authorities have taken Faisal Shehzad's father, father-in-law and at least one friend into custody. The government denies any arrest.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi says that Shahzad may have planned the attack as reaction to the US drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal regions.

Malik said that Pakistan will hold investigations and no foreign intelligence agency would be allowed to carry out any probe on Pakistani soil.

Reports suggested that a team of American investigators have arrived in Pakistan for investigation but the Interior Minister denied these reports.

“Only Pakistani intelligence agencies have the prerogative to carry out investigation within the country”. He said Pakistan would extend its full cooperation to the US.

The Minster said that all the allegations leveled on Shehzad including his visit to the South Waziristan tribal region and meeting with Taliban leaders Hakimullah Mehsud and Qari Hussain will be investigated.

He said the whole investigation process will be completed in a transparent manner and in accordance with the law of the land./end