KOHAT, Dec 17: Three brothers, suspected to be linked with Al Qaeda, were picked up in an operation carried out in Darra Adam Khel on Saturday, credible sources told Dawn on Sunday.

Personnel of the khasadar force raided Dalil Khel village of Akhorwal area in Kohat and arrested Dil Aram, Fazal Rehman and Ahmed Nawaz, all sons of Yaqoob, said the sources, adding that their leader escaped.

Believed to be involved in the Dargai suicide blast that claimed the lives of over 40 soldiers, the three brothers -- residents of Dir -- were shifted to Peshawar for interrogation, they said.