Islamabad: FBI officials are assisting the Pakistan intelligence agencies in tracking down the mastermind behind the recent assassination attempts on President Pervez Musharraf, media reports said.

Acting on a tip off, a joint team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the Special Services Group (SSG) and FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) have left for Bannu, bordering Afghanistan yesterday (May 30, 2004) in search of Amjad Farooqi, who is believed to have planned the attacks against Musharraf which involved jihadi groups as well as personnel of the Pakistan Army.

The FBI is helping the Pakistani intelligence agencies in the hunt for Farooqi who was identified as member of Pakistan's Islamic militant organisation, local daily 'Dawn' quoted officials as saying.

Recently Musharraf had said that investigators have almost busted the entire network behind the attempts, which also involved some low ranking personnel of the Pakistan Army and Air Force.

Without identifying Farooqi, Musharraf described him as a very intelligent person who managed to evade the dragnet spread against him. Farooqi has links with local militants and al-Qaeda.

Only one suspect had so far been arrested by agencies in connection with the two attacks, the daily said, but declined to disclose the name of the suspect for security reasons.

In a recent TV interview Musharraf said all the military personnel involved in the attack have been arrested and would be tried in a military court shortly.