US praises Pakistan for capture of ‘big fish’

THE White House yesterday praised Pakistan for the capture of alleged September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, calling the arrest of such a “big fish” a major blow to Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network.

US officials said privately the raid that netted Mohammed proved wrong critics who warned that Washington cannot simultaneously fight the 18-month war on terrorism and prepare military action against Iraq.

US President George W Bush was elated on being told of Mohammed’s arrest on Saturday, one of the biggest coups against al-Qaida since the network carried out attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, aides said.