Pak would help US to trace Shahzad’s background: Haqqani

WASHINGTON - Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani has said that Islamabad would work extensively to establish and trace the background of Faisal Shahzad, the American citizen of Pakistan’s origin accused of plotting the failed Times Square bombing plot.

In an interview to the CNN, Haqqani said investigations are already on in Pakistan, and that it would do all it can to help the US agencies in their probe.

“We will retrace all his (Shehzad’s) steps. There is a major effort underway right now as we speak and there are teams working in Pakistan, which are trying to put together all kinds of evidence,” Haqqani said.

Earlier, Haqqani had described Shahzad as a “misguided individual.”

“An overwhelming majority of Pakistani Americans share the aspirations of civilized people everywhere for a terror-free world and should be seen as allies against the misguided individuals who undertake or plan acts of terror,” Haqqani had said.

Shahzad, 30, was arrested on Tuesday while trying to board a plane to Dubai. Soon after his arrest, media reports said eight to ten people had also been arrested in Pakistan in connection with the failed bombing plot. However, Interior Minister Rehman Malik has denied any arrests being made in Pakistan in the case.

US officials said Shahzad has admitted to his role in the bombing plot, and added that he had received bomb-making training in Pakistan’s restive tribal region along the country’s border with Afghanistan. (ANI)