Washington:
The US is investigating the circumstances into how and why five of its young citizens from Virginia landed up in Pakistan, as these men are accused of being in touch with radicals for taking part in 'jihad'.
Arrested in the Punjab province of Pakistan on Wednesday, Pakistani officials said these five American Muslims had contacted radical jihadist organisations in Pakistan.
Usman Anwar the Pakistani police chief whose officers interrogated the men, said that the detained Americans are proudly saying that they are there for jihad. However, the Obama Administration refrained from arriving any conclusion till the time it completes its own investigation in this regard.
When asked about possible jihadist links as news reports from Pakistan indicated, Assistant Secretary of State for public affairs P J Crowley said, "I think it's important to emphasise at this point we are in an information gathering phase, but we have met with them. We are working closely with Pakistani authorities on this case."
"State Department team with officials from both the Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulate in Lahore met with the five American citizens who are in custody in Pakistan and I would expect in the next 24 hours we'd have further visits with these individuals, and including a visit from consular officials who I expect will be on their way to see them tomorrow," Crowley added.