Pakistan held, freed militant before girl's attack

By Anwarullah Khan

Associated Press

Published: Thursday, Oct. 18 2012 4:35 a.m. MDT

View 3 photos »

FILE - In this Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012 file photo, Pakistani students hold pictures of 14-year-old schoolgirl Malala Yousufzai, who was shot last Tuesday by the Taliban, during a protest condemning the attack, in Karachi, Pakistan. Despite widespread outrage over the Taliban shooting a female teenage activist, Pakistani leaders and opinion makers are divided over whether the government should respond by targeting the militants' last major sanctuary along the Afghan border.

Fareed Khan, File, Associated Press

Summary

Pakistani intelligence officials say one of the two Taliban militants suspected of attacking a teenage girl activist was detained by the military in 2009 but subsequently released.

KHAR, Pakistan — Pakistani intelligence officials say one of the two Taliban militants suspected of attacking a teenage girl activist was detained by the military in 2009 but subsequently released.

The officials say the military detained Attaullah during its offensive in the northwest Swat valley because of suspected ties with the Pakistani Taliban. Authorities released him because they could not link him with any specific attack. It's unclear how long he was held.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity on Thursday because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

Fourteen-year-old Malala Yousufzai was shot and critically wounded on Oct. 9 as she headed home from school in Swat. The Taliban said they targeted her because she promoted Western values and was critical of the militant group.

Comments