'Important' al Qaeda leader captured on Pak-Iran border: Officials

Naamen Meziche is believed to have links with militant groups based in Europe.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani intelligence agencies  captured an "important" al Qaeda leader, Naamen Meziche, during an operation near the Pakistan-Iran border, officials said on Wednesday.

Meziche is believed to have links with militant groups based in Europe, and media reports say he may have played a role in the 9/11 attacks.

The French national of Algerian origin worked closely with another al Qaeda leader, Younis al-Mauritani, who was responsible for international operations, officials said.

Mauritani was captured by authorities in September last year.