American detained in Peshawar

A Muhammad

Peshawar, Feb 26 (PTI) As the tense US-Pak standoff overthe arrest of an American for double murder continues,Pakistani security and intelligence operatives have detainedyet another US national -- this time on charges of notpossessing valid travel documents.

The American, identified as Aaron deHaven, wasdetained in the posh University Town area of Peshawar, thecapital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, yesterday, officialssaid.

They said he was detained for not possessing valid traveldocuments.

After he was detained, the American was taken to anundisclosed location for interrogation.

A First Information Report was registered against him ina police station under the Foreigners Act, the officials said.

TV news channels reported that the American was detainedas he was acting in a suspicious manner.

Geo News said he worked as a security guard forforeigners in Peshawar.

The American''s visa had expired in October last year,Express 24/7 channel reported.

DeHaven was married to a Pakistani woman and owned ahouse that he had transferred to her. He had also applied forPakistani nationality, the channel reported.

His detention came at a time when US-Pakistan relationshave plunged to a new low over the arrest of Raymond Davis, analleged CIA contractor, after he shot and killed two armedmen in Lahore last month.

In a brief statement, the US embassy in Islamabad saidlate last night that it had seen media reports about anAmerican named Aaron Mark DeHaven being detained by police inPeshawar.

"We are arranging consular access through thegovernment of Pakistan. Until a US government representativemeets with him, we cannot confirm additional details," saidembassy spokesperson Courtney Beale.