'Swat Taliban might be setting up base in Karachi'

Islamabad, Jan. 9 (ANI): In a bid to escape the Pakistani military's offensive in Malakand division, a large number of terrorists have fled to Karachi and South Waziristan, according to military commanders and militants' families.

"I think these militants have fled to Karachi and Waziristan," The Daily Times quoted Operation Commander Major General Ashfaq Nadeem, as saying.

Nadeem said intelligence agencies were on the hunt for these suspected terrorists in Karachi and some of them had already been arrested.

"It is because Karachi is a big city and it is not easy to find someone so easily. Secondly, you can find shelter among fellow Pashtuns who number in tens of thousands," said a man from Matta tehsil, whose militant relative was traced in Karachi.

According to military sources, the Swat Taliban might be setting up a command and control structure in Karachi to gain a foothold in the country's financial hub.

"Some signs of the Swat Taliban have already been seen in Karachi and the security personnel are working on these leads to arrest them," he said. (ANI)