PAKISTAN has reacted to international pressure to clamp down on terrorism by closing five training camps and arresting 71 terrorist suspects.
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In a televised news briefing, Rehman Malik, the interior ministry chief, said Pakistan had closed five training camps run by Lashkar-e-Taiba, the group blamed for the Mumbai attack, and arrested 124 of its leaders and those of a related charity.
However, his deputy, Kamal Shah, later clarified that the number arrested was actually 71, the BBC reported. Mr Shah said 124 others were under surveillance and had to register their every move with police.
Among those being held are Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, the head of the charity that helped establish the militant group, which was banned in 2002. Also in custody are Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Zarrar Shah, two men India alleges planned the Mumbai attacks.
"We have to prove to the world that India and Pakistan stand together against terrorists because they are the common enemies," Mr Malik said.
He announced the arrests on the eve of a visit by the British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, who has called on Pakistan to show "zero tolerance" to militant groups based in the country that have been blamed for the Mumbai attacks.
Mr Malik repeated Pakistani calls for a joint investigation into the attacks, pledging that that would "bring quick results". He urged India to hand over more information to help Pakistan's investigation.
Tension between the nuclear-armed neighbours has worsened since the November attacks that killed more than 160 people.
Mr Malik said the Pakistani Government had formed a high-level investigation committee to examine information provided by India.
Investigators in Pakistan would "have to inquire into this information to try to transform it to evidence - evidence which can stand the test of any court in the world," Mr Malik said.
But doubts remain among Western officials that the Government has the ability to end collusion between elements of the Pakistani establishment and militants.
Pakistani police have also arrested more than a dozen Islamist militants in Karachi. A police official said the detained men had links with the Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud.
Telegraph, London; The New York Times
