American detained in Peshawar

February 26, 2011 04:02 IST

Pakistani security and intelligence operatives detained a US national in Peshawar for not possessing valid travel documents and took him to an undisclosed location for interrogation, officials said.

The American, identified as Aaron deHaven, was detained in the posh University Town area of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. A First Information Report was registered against him in a police station under the Foreigners Act, officials said.

TV news channels reported that the American was detained as he was acting in a suspicious manner. The American worked as a security guard for foreigners in Peshawar, Geo News channel reported.

The American's visa had expired in October last year, Express 24/7 channel reported.

Dehaven

was married to a Pakistani woman and owned a house that he had transferred to her. He had also applied for Pakistani nationality, the channel reported.

The development came at a time when US-Pakistan relations have plunged to a new low over the arrest of CIA contractor Raymond Davis after he shot and killed two armed men in Lahore last month.

In a brief statement, the US Embassy said late tonight that it had seen media reports about an American named Aaron
Mark DeHaven being detained by police in Peshawar. "We are arranging consular access through the government of Pakistan. Until a US government representative meets with him, we cannot confirm additional details," said Embassy spokesperson Courtney Beale.

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A Muhammad in Peshawar