Islamabad: Amid reports that the son of Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant has been captured by its forces, Pakistan today (Feb 25, 2004) said it was questioning about 25 suspects who were arrested from the tribal region of South Waziristan in an operation to flush out al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters.

Quoting diplomatic sources, Urdu daily 'Jang' said Khalid al-Zhawari, the son of bin Laden's top lieutenant Ayman al-Zhawahiri, was handed over to US custody soon after his arrest yesterday (Feb 24) and flown out of Pakistan.

However, Pakistan Defence spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan as well as Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan declined to confirm reports that its forces have detained al-Zhawari's son and two wives.

Sultan said several foreigners were among those detained and process of identification was an arduous one. Islamabad reports said the women detainees were of Arab origin.

Both Sultan and Khan said about 25 people, including three women who were taken into custody during yesterday's operations were still being questioned.

Asked whether he was denying the report of Khalid's arrest, Khan said, "We have no information and (we are) not making any confirmation. The identities of the detainees have not been revealed."

Khan also strongly rejected President Pervez Musharraf's criticism by al-Zawahari, issued through an audiotape, for the General's cooperation with the US in its war against terrorism.

"We reject it of course. We have gone after terrorists and we want to interdict them, locate them and neutralise them," he said, adding, "they have used very offensive language".