WASHINGTON, Aug 21: US Attorney General John Aschcroft said on Thursday that Uzair Paracha was arrested because he tried to facilitate the arrival of an Al Qaeda operative in the United States.

FBI agents arrested Paracha, a 23-year old Pakistani, from his New York apartment in March.

Mr Ashcroft said that Paracha allegedly met the operative overseas and agreed to procure US immigration documents for him. He also agreed to deposit money in a US bank account and set up a post office box, all allegedly to facilitate the operative’s clandestine arrival in this country, said Mr Ashcroft.

Although arrested in March, Paracha was charged on Aug 8 with conspiracy to provide material support and resources to Al Qaeda terrorists. A US court has denied him bail on the grounds that he may pose danger to the society if the charges against him were proved true.

Mr Ashcroft, who was projecting the achievements of the US law enforcement agencies since 9/11, said another major catch was Hemant Lakhani, a British national of Indian origin. Lakhani, he said, was an alleged arms dealer from Britain who was trying to sell shoulder-fired missiles to terrorists for use against American targets.