“Two Al Qaeda Bigs Among Many Caught in Pakistan”:

Pakistani authorities have arrested several suspected Al Qaeda militants, including two high-ranked terrorists sought by the United States, officials said Tuesday.

Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayyat told Pakistan’s Geo television that authorities had nabbed two “high-level Al Qaeda terrorists” who have U.S. bounties on their heads. He said the men were arrested in Punjab province in the past two days but did not identify them.

A high-ranking intelligence official told The Associated Press that three Al Qaeda suspects — two Pakistanis and a foreigner — were arrested on a road near Lahore, and five grenades and two AK-47 rifles were found in the sports utility vehicle they were driving.

The official also said that a policeman, Raja Waqar, assigned to the office of Punjab province’s top politician was arrested for allegedly giving Al Qaeda linked groups information on the whereabouts of top government officials.

Meanwhile, “Up to 70 Militants Killed Near Afghan Border”:

Afghan troops backed by American warplanes killed as many as 70 militants in a daylong battle near the Pakistani border, in one of the bloodiest clashes since the fall of the Taliban, military officials said Tuesday.

Only two Afghan soldiers were reported dead in the fighting, indicating the militants vulnerability to American air power while raising fresh suspicions that they are using Pakistan as a base for operations.

An Afghan commander claimed government forces heard militant radio messages in Arabic and the Chechen language, suggesting Al Qaeda fighters were involved.

“We could hear the enemy,” said Gen. Nawab, an Afghan commander who uses just one name. “I’m sure there were foreigners involved.”

There were foreigners involved.  Were.  I like that.