A key suspect being held in Pakistan in connection with the alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic flights from the UK has given interrogators “vital clues,” a Pakistani government minister said today.

Pakistan has told the US military that an Arab al-Qaida operative who masterminded the London jetliner terror plot is hiding in mountainous terrain in north-eastern Afghanistan, an intelligence official said today.

POLICE investigating the alleged airliner bomb plot have found a suitcase containing components needed to make an explosive device, it was reported last night.

A British man identified by Pakistan as a key suspect in the alleged plane terror plot has links with outlawed Pakistani militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed and is related by marriage to its leader, an intelligence official and a relative said.

The US military resumed relief flights in northern Pakistan today but would stay a “safe distance” from where one of its choppers allegedly came under attack as it ferried supplies to victims of the massive earthquake in divided Kashmir, a spokesman said.

POLICE in Pakistan said yesterday they were holding seven Islamic militants with possible links to the suspects in the London suicide bombings, as a probe into the suspected ties focused on the city of Lahore.

Police in Lahore today said they were holding some Islamic militants who may have had links with the suspects in the London suicide bombings, as investigators try to assess whether extremists in Pakistan were involved in the July 7 attacks.

BRITISH police have given Pakistan a list of terror suspects with possible links to the London attacks, officials said, as two religious schools denied ever hosting one of the bombers.

Pakistani intelligence agents believe one of the London suicide bombers visited a religious school run by an al Qaida-linked terror group, two senior officials said today.

Authorities in Pakistan are looking into a connection between one of the London suicide bombers and two al-Qaida-linked militant groups there, including a man arrested for a 2002 attack on a church near the US Embassy, two senior intelligence officials said today.

Six people were killed when a KFC restaurant was set on fire by a mob angry about a suicide attack on a Shiite mosque in Karachi, bringing the overall death toll to 11, police said today.

A Pakistan-based militant group today threatened to disrupt a historic new bus service across the military line that divides Kashmir if it led to more “atrocities” by Indian forces in the disputed Himalayan region.

POLICE arrested nine people with suspected ties to the planners of an assassination attempt last month against Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf, a security official said in Islamabad yesterday.

Islamic militants fighting Indian control over Kashmir vowed today they would not halt their insurgency despite an agreement between India and Pakistan to start peace talks that will include their bitter dispute over the divided Himalayan territory.

India and Pakistan took a giant leap to put more than a half-century of bloodshed behind them, agreeing today to start talks next month on core disputes of nationalism and religion that have taken the nuclear-armed nations into three wars.

The leaders of India and Pakistan discussed ways to resolve the poisonous dispute over Kashmir during their historic meeting on the sidelines of a South Asian summit, Pakistani officials said today, predicting a breakthrough in relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

WEEKEND actions by authorities against terrorists prevented a “spectacular” attack by a Pakistan-based militant group in India’s capital, police said yesterday.

Anti-terrorist measures by security forces prevented a “spectacular” attack by a Pakistan-based militant group in India’s capital, police said today.

MOURNERS buried three girls killed in a Christmas grenade attack on a tiny church in eastern Pakistan, and police detained an Islamic cleric who allegedly called on followers to kill Christians days before the bombing.

Four militants armed with grenades who were allegedly planning suicide attacks have been arrested in Karachi, Pakistani police said.

THREE men were yesterday sentenced to hang for helping the suicide attackers who stormed India’s parliament a year ago, almost triggering a war with nuclear rival Pakistan.

Less than a day after police foiled a plot to kill American diplomats in Pakistan, US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca arrived in the capital to discuss the war on terror.

THREE Pakistani militants who led police to the body of Daniel Pearl claim the Wall Street Journal journalist was murdered by an Arab two days after he tried to escape from kidnappers, investigators said yesterday.

Several hundred United Nations international staff in Pakistan have been ordered to send their families home because of increasing fears of a conflict between India and Pakistan, a diplomatic source said today.

Dozens of suspected members of outlawed Islamic militant groups have been arrested following the bomb attack on a bus in Pakistan.

Pakistani police today ringed the colonial-era courthouse in Karachi where a Briton was appearing for the kidnap-killing of American journalist Daniel Pearl, in a massive show of force before the hearing.

The British Islamic militant suspected of kidnapping American reporter Daniel Pearl could soon be extradited to face trial in the United States.

The British-born chief suspect in the kidnapping of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl may be extradited to America, it emerged tonight.

Pakistan authorities have been snubbed by the leader of a banned militant group when they asked for his help in tracking down the Briton suspected of kidnapping an American reporter.

Security forces lifted a siege on a mosque in northern India following a gun battle that left two suspected Islamic militants and a civilian dead, police said.

Police have arrested three men suspected of sending emails that contained photographs of missing US reporter, Daniel Pearl.

The pregnant wife of kidnapped American reporter Daniel Pearl has pleaded for his release.

Indian police have blamed Islamic militants for the murder of 12 Muslims, including eight children, in the disputed Himalayan province of Kashmir today.

Islamic groups in Pakistan are vowing to defy a government crackdown on their activities.

President Pervez Musharraf says he will not permit terrorism on Pakistani territory and announced a crackdown on Islamic extremism.

Pakistan’s security forces have arrested a further 42 suspected Islamic militants as part of a terrorist crackdown designed to prevent another war with India.

The Indian Prime Minister says war with Pakistan can be avoided if the nuclear-armed rivals can solve their differences through diplomacy.

Two Indian soldiers were killed in a suspected Islamic militant attack on a border post in the disputed province of Kashmir last night.

Pakistan said today it had arrested the outspoken former leader of a militant Islamic group accused by India of helping orchestrate an attack on its Parliament that has taken the two countries to the brink of hostilities.

Pakistan’s President Gen Pervez Musharraf met his top politicians today, assuring them that the armed forces are capable of countering any Indian aggression.

Pakistan said today it would not escalate a war of words with India that has worsened relations between the nuclear neighbours, and urged New Delhi to act responsibly to avoid outright conflict.

Pakistan-based Islamic rebel group Jaish-e-Mohammad has threatened to carry out terrorist attacks in major Indian cities.

The five men who attacked India’s parliament last week meant to wipe out the country’s top politicians, home minister Lal K Advani said today.

India put its army on high alert today as it decided how to respond to the terrorist attack on parliament, which it blames on Islamic militant groups backed by Pakistan.