ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: Indonesian officials on Thursday opened talks with Pakistani officials on the possible repatriation of six Indonesian students detained on suspicion of having links with the Jemaah Islamiyah network, officials said.

The younger brother of alleged terrorist Hambali is among the six.

The four-member Indonesian team, comprising police, foreign ministry and intelligence agency officials, met Pakistani interior ministry officials. They arrived here after interrogating detainees in Karachi.

A Pakistani investigation official in Karachi maintained that the Indonesian team’s discussions in Islamabad would focus on the “possible deportation” of the suspects.

Pakistani Interior Ministry spokesman Iftikhar Ahmed said that so far no decision had been taken regarding their deportation, adding that investigations were on-going.

Pakistan has said the students will be repatriated once the investigation is over.

The Indonesian delegation’s meeting with the students on Wednesday lasted longer than an hour, the Pakistani official said. They questioned them at a secret location in Karachi.

“The team can meet the students again if they want to. It’s all up to them as we have no objection and they are free to meet if required,” the official said on condition of anonymity.

An official of the Indonesian embassy said the team would also meet foreign ministry officials.

Hambali’s brother Rusman Gunawan was arrested on Sept 1, and provided information that led to raids on Sept 20 and Sept 22, which netted 18 other students.

The Indonesians put “many” questions to Gunawan, the Pakistani investigating official said.

Pakistani intelligence officials believe the 19 students are a sleeper cell of Jemaah Islamiyah, the Al Qaeda-linked Southeast Asian terror network.

They are hoping their Indonesian counterparts will shed light on the extent of the Jemaah Islamiyah’s presence in Pakistan and Gunawan’s activities.—AFP