SKARDU: The suspected mastermind of the Nanga Parbat attack that killed nine foreign mountaineers and their guide in the Himalayas was arrested from Chilas on Thursday.

Qareebullah alias Hasan, a former leader of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Chilas, was arrested by Diamer Police along with his henchman Mohammad Nabi alias Qari Hasnain, DawnNews reported.

The men were arrested from Thak, which lies in the suburbs of Chilas. Both were accused of killing high ranking police and army officials.

The suspects were accused of killing SSP Diamer Mohammad Hilal, Colonel Ghulam Mohammad Mustafa and Captain Ashfaq Aziz in August when they attacked their security convoy in the Chilas area.

Moreover, three officers were also severely wounded in the same attack.

The two militants were also involved in killing nine tourists and their guide in the Himalayas of the Nanga Parbat area, alongside carrying out terrorist activities in Lalusar and surrounding areas.

The overnight raid which killed five Ukrainians, three Chinese and a Russian was one of the worst attacks on foreigners in Pakistan in a decade.

The incident, which resulted in the government taking steps to increase security in the area for tourists, was the cause of international uproar and much grief for the country.

Meanwhile, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Secretary Younus Dhaga immediately informed the federal government about the groundbreaking arrests.