KABUL, Jan 29: Afghan security forces have arrested nine people, including would-be suicide bombers and two Pakistan nationals, for allegedly planning attacks, a provincial governor said on Sunday.

The nine were arrested in a series of search operations over the past few days in insurgency-hit southern Kandahar province, governor Asadullah Khalid said.

“They were arrested with explosives and vehicles which they planned to use for attacks,” Mr Khalid said. “Among the nine are people who were suicide bombers.”

The army said meanwhile that it had apprehended a senior military commander for the ousted Taliban regime and four alleged attackers in the province over the past two to three days.

Defence ministry spokesman General Mohammad Zahir Azimi identified the “important Taliban military commander” as Mullah Jalan.—AFP