MULTAN, Pakistan – Two Pakistani counterterrorism officials say authorities have detained 13 local militants who were trying to set up an Islamic State affiliate.
The officials said Tuesday the men were captured this week during a raid in the eastern Punjab province.
The officials say authorities seized weapons and CDs from the detained men, who allegedly pledged allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief reporters.
They say 9 of the 13 men were brought before a court Tuesday, which allowed them to be held for up to 10 days for questioning.
Local authorities insist the Syria and Iraq-based IS group has no footprint in Pakistan, which has long battled the Taliban and other homegrown militants.
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