Mastermind of attack on foreign tourists arrested in Pakistan

The mastermind behind the killings of 10 foreign tourists including two Chinese in northern area of Pakistan was arrested by the law enforcement agencies and police, local media reported on Thursday. Local media Geo TV, quoting the Chief secretary of Gilgit- Baltistan, reported that the terrorist and the mastermind of the attack Qareebullah alias Hasan who was the former regional commander of the banned outfit Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan was arrested along with his henchman in a raid launched by security forces and police in Thak area of Chilas district. There were no reports about the time of the arrest. On June 23, some unknown gunmen wearing security forces' uniform shot dead 10 foreign tourists and their local guide at the Nanga Parbat base camp in Gilgit-Baltistan region. The attack was claimed by both the Pakistani Taliban and Jundullah, a sectarian extremist group. Pakistani government condemned the attack and security forces launched a search operation in the region to arrest the culprits. A few days later, terrorists also killed two Pakistani army officers and a high ranked police official who were investigating the massacre. The overnight attack by the terrorists, which caused international uproar and much grief for the country, was one of the worst attacks on foreigners in Pakistan during last decade. The incident made the Pakistani government take steps to strengthen security for foreign tourists.