A terrorist group, planning to attack the Gul Bahar Trade Centre and the National Directorate of Security (NDS) office, has been arrested by intelligence operatives in Kabul, an official said on Saturday. With the arrest, a huge terrorist bid had been prevented in the capital city, the NDS spokesman, Lutfullah Mashal, told a news conference.

He identified the detainees as Sardar Wali and Shir Wali, residents of eastern Laghman province. The men had links to a terrorist network commanded by militant leader, Chapao, Mashal said. Two suicide vests were recovered from them, he said.

He also said that another two suspects had been arrested in the fifth police district.

Mashal identified the detainee as Mohammad Zahid, a forth grade student of economics faculty of Kabul University and Bakhtyar, who had graduated from a private engineering university, Roshan.

The two are residents of central Maidan Wardak province, Mashal said, alleging they wanted to launch an attack on the Sayedabad district chief.

The two had confessed to their intention, he said, adding they had joined a terrorist group six months ago with the help of Khalid, a forth grade student of nursing faculty at Kabul University.