ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: Authorities have recovered a huge cache of explosives and ammunition from an area near the Afghan border, an official said on Friday. "We have recovered 3,600kg of explosives, hundreds of 82mm mortar shells, 75mm rifle rounds, 18 shells of 107mm rockets and 40,000 rounds of bullets of different calibres," a local administration official told AFP.

Military officials in Peshawar confirmed the seizure, but gave no details. The weapons were recovered when security forces raided two compounds in the town of Kanigarram in South Waziristan on Thursday, he said.

The area is considered a stronghold of the Mehsud tribe. Two local tribesmen who owned the compounds were taken into custody, but were later released as they assured authorities that they had stored the explosives and ammunition to use it in case rival tribes attacked them, he said. -AFP