Pakistani forces arrest al-Qaida suspects

US and Pakistani officials say Pakistani forces have arrested a handful of al-Qaida suspects at the CIA’s request and allowed the US access to the detainees.

That could mark a turning point in US-Pakistani relations, which have soured in recent months.

The officials also say that for now Pakistan has stopped demanding the CIA suspend the covert drone strikes that have damaged al-Qaida’s militant ranks in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

Only one of the arrested al-Qaida figures is considered senior, but US and Pakistani officials call the combined moves a trend in the right direction.

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Friday that the Pakistanis are “doing things to co-operate and be helpful”.