PESHAWAR, June 6: A young Russian, who had been arrested at the Iesha checkpoint in North Wazirsitan while trying to enter the agency on Friday, has been given in the custody of Joint Interrogation Team for questioning.

Officials confirmed that Marat, a 23-year-old Russian national whose Islamic name is Ayaz, has been shifted to Miramshah, the headquarters of North Waziristan Agency, where the personnel of secret agencies were interrogating him.

The capture of the Russian in the troubled region has added a new dimension to the war on terror as the Pakistan government has launched an operation against Uzbeks, Chechens, Arabs and other foreign elements residing there illegally.

Secretary Fata (Security) Brig Mahmood Shah told Dawn here on Sunday that the young Russian had been shifted to Miramshah jail. He confirmed that a Pakistan National Identity Card had also been recovered from his possession.

According to Mr Shah, the detained foreigner told investigators that he belonged to Khrushchev town near Moscow and had come to the area two years ago. Security forces arrested the Russian national at Iesha checkpoint when he was trying to enter the South Waziristan region from North Waziristan.

Earlier, a German national had also been arrested at the Chappari checkpoint on May 19, while he was making an attempt to enter the Kurram tribal region bordering Afghanistan.