ISLAMABAD—Pakistan has foiled a bid by Daesh to expand its network into this predominantly Muslim country, with the military arresting 309 suspects, including members from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, a military spokesman said Thursday. The remarks by Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa were a rare admission of Daesh presence in Pakistan, where officials have long insisted that the extremist group has no footprint. Earlier, Pakistani officials had insisted Daesh, also known as ISIS and ISIL, has no presence in the country. He did not provide details of when and where the arrests were made but he said they came during military operations. The suspects had planned attacks on diplomats in Pakistan as well as Pakistani officials, Bajwa said.

Source: thestar September 01, 2016 22:41 UTC