| War on Terror | |
| 15 Aug 2008, NewAgeIslam.Com | |
| Pak turmoil helps Al Qaeda tighten grip, train cadre | |
|
S Rajagopalan | Washington
Despite the loss of key operatives, Al Qaeda has capitalised on recent political turmoil in Pakistan to strengthen its ranks by training dozens of new recruits for potential terrorist strikes in the West, including the US. "We assess that Al Qaeda's intent to attack the US homeland remains undiminished," says senior intelligence official Ted Gistaro, suggesting a heightened risk of attack during the upcoming US election season.
Gistaro, the US's National Intelligence Officer for Transnational Threats, believes that Al Qaeda's success in deepening its alliance with Pakistani militant groups has strengthened the safe haven in the country's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) areas.
Apart from ethnic Pushtun elements, this alliance extends to Pakistani groups carrying out militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir, Gistaro said during an address to the Washington Institute of Near East Policy on Tuesday.
"There are probably dozens of operatives the organisation has identified for operations. They speak Western languages; they have Western travel documents and experienced living and acting in the West," he said. According to him, the recruits were taken to sanctuaries in the tribal tracts of northwest Pakistan for training and indoctrinating and, in some cases, redeploying them. He reckons that most of the recruits are probably still in Pakistan "or to some extent in Europe".
On the whole, Gistaro believes that the Al Qaeda now has many of the operational and organisational advantages it once enjoyed across the border in Afghanistan, albeit on a smaller and less secure scale.
As for the probability of an attack on the US homeland, he admitted that the intelligence agencies were not aware of any specific, credible al-Qaeda plot. "But we do receive a steady stream of threat reporting from sources of varying creditability, which the US intelligence community is investigating aggressively," he said.
As the US election season nears, Gistaro expects to see an uptick in such threat reporting of varying credibility regarding possible attacks. "We also expect to see an increase in Al Qaeda's propaganda efforts, especially around the anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001
View Source article: http://www.dailypioneer.com/indexn12.asp?main_variable=WORLD&file_name=wld3.txt&counter_img=3
*************
Taliban win a fight - and settle scores By Syed Saleem Shahzad Aug 14, 2008 KARACHI - When several hundred Pakistani troops backed by paramilitary forces on Friday launched an operation against militants in Bajaur Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan on the border with Afghanistan, they received a most unwelcome surprise.
News of the offensive, which proved to be the most bloody this year in Pakistan, had been leaked to the Pakistani Taliban and al-Qaeda militants by sympathizers in the security forces, and the army walked into a literal hail of bullets.
Contacts familiar with the militants told Asia Times Online that every hill had observers as the first military convoys entered Bajaur - the main corridor leading to the Afghan provinces of Kunar, Nooristan, Kapisa and the capital Kabul - and they were quickly under attack.
In just a few hours, 65 soldiers were killed, 25 were taken prisoner and scores more were wounded. Under air cover, the soldiers retreated, leaving behind five vehicles and a tank, which are now part of the arsenal of the Taliban and al-Qaeda.
On Tuesday, the Pakistan Air Force, whose air power played a central role in the Bajaur operation, was on the receiving end. Once again on the basis of precise information, eight airmen were killed in a suicide attack near Peshawar, the capital of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP).
Limited fighting continued on Wednesday. The government said that 200 militants had been killed, but a Taliban spokesman confirmed only seven dead. The remainder, he said, were civilians killed during aerial bombardments.
Unconfirmed reports said leading al-Qaeda military commander Abu Saeed al-Masri had been killed. He is said to be number three in the group behind Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden, and if indeed he is dead it would be a major setback for al-Qaeda.
The fierce militant response against the army, which is under heavy pressure from the United States to be more proactive, was under the unified command of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, whose base is in the South Waziristan tribal area. The hardline Baitullah does not believe in "limited war" - his goal is full-scale war across the country. Bajaur could be the beginning of this.
Pakistani Taliban spokesman Moulvi Omar issued a statement claiming responsibility for the Peshawar attack and warned of more across the country in reaction to the Bajaur offensive.
However, the militants' current tactics are different from those of previous years when they reacted within a few hours or days. Now, the militants spend more time waiting for information on their "daunting foe", the Pakistani security forces and the government, so they can decide on their targets and cause maximum damage. Much of this information comes from informants in the security forces.
In the broader picture, al-Qaeda decides when to switch on the attacks or switch them off in their own version of war and peace. This is the new face of the neo-Taliban - more radical and more strategic - raised on al-Qaeda ideology.
These neo-Taliban don't forget, either.
On Wednesday morning, Haji Namdar, the chief of the "Vice and Virtue" organization in Khyber Agency, a tribal region on the Afghan border, was gunned down in his office by Baitullah's men.
Although Namdar supported the Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan, he was a strategic asset for the Pakistani security agencies trying to wipe out al-Qaeda-influenced radicals and the neo-Taliban.
In April, he sold out the Taliban after initially agreeing to help them target the North Atlantic Treaty Organization supply lines passing through Khyber Agency. (See Taliban bitten by a snake in the grass Asia Times Online, April 26, 2008.) Namdar had survived an earlier suicide attack in which about 30 people died.
Namdar's death leaves the Pakistani security agencies and the government with only one "precious asset" - Haji Nazeer in South Waziristan. Other than him, they have no choice but to deal with Baitullah's radical face.
Economic and political chaos Apart from the Peshawar Valley, the whole Pashtun-dominated region of NWFP is effectively under the control of the Taliban and their al-Qaeda allies. The chaotic state of the economy plays into their hands as people become increasing disgruntled.
Inflation is running at 25% a year, the Karachi stock exchange has lost 35% of its value since April, there are frequent electricity shutdowns and foreign exchange reserves have fallen from US$17 billion last year to $9 billion, barely enough to cover imports for three months.
These economic woes are compounded by an ongoing political crisis which al-Qaeda is already exploiting.
Zawahiri has issued an audio message critical of President Pervez Musharraf, who is under pressure to resign or else face impeachment. A leading militant from the Swat area, Muslim Khan, has issued a statement that anyone who supports Musharraf during an impeachment process would become the Taliban's enemy. Musharraf is the United States' point man in the South Asian theater of the "war on terror".
In a similar manner, when a military junta recently ousted Mauritania's president Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi, al-Qaeda immediately called for a jihad in the North African country to establish Islamic rule. As with Pakistan, this is a bid by al-Qaeda to pitch itself as the only viable choice in Muslim countries.
The Bajaur showdown plays into this scenario. The Pakistani military, as it has every time in other operations in the tribal areas over the past few years, will pull back. Prisoners will be swapped and a hollow ceasefire will be agreed on, backed by cash inducements for the militants and more military aid for Pakistan from the United States.
Battle will break out again. In the meanwhile, the Taliban will increase their strength and boundaries, and al-Qaeda's ideology will draw in new recruits.
Syed Saleem Shahzad is Asia Times Online's Pakistan Bureau Chief. He can be reached at saleem_shahzad2002@yahoo.com
(Copyright 2008 Asia Times Online (Holdings) Ltd. All rights reserved. Please contact us about sales, syndication and republishing.)
View Source article: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/JH14Df01.html
******************
Al Qaeda exploiting political turmoil: US By Anwar Iqbal
WASHINGTON, Aug 13: In a rare, on-the-record briefing, a senior terrorism analyst for the US government has claimed that Al Qaeda is exploiting recent political turmoil in Pakistan to strengthen its foothold along the country's border with Afghanistan.
In a speech at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Ted Gistaro, the US national intelligence officer for trans-national threats, also warned of a heightened risk of attack during the upcoming US election season.
"Al Qaeda remains the most serious terrorist threat to the United States," he said. "As the election nears, we expect to see an uptick in threat reporting — of varying credibility — regarding possible attacks."
His speech, however, focussed on the situation along the Afghan border, claiming that while Al Qaeda took advantage of a 2006 ceasefire to establish itself in Fata, the group continued to grow after the ceasefire as well.
Mr Gistaro noted that in the past several days, militants had forced Pakistani troops to beat a hasty retreat from a Taliban stronghold in Fata. Pakistani forces' effort to regain its strategic supremacy in Bajaur had not been very successful either.
He also claimed that since early 2006, Pakistani militant groups had increased their collaboration with Al Qaeda.
Mr Gistaro — the principal author of the "National Intelligence Estimate", which is sent to the US president as an official document — said that Al Qaeda was also getting support from other ethnic and religious groups in its war against the United States.
These include ethnic Pashtun groups native to Fata and groups from eastern Pakistan that focussed on occupied Kashmir before Al Qaeda resurgence.
He said that while a major focus of these groups was conducting attacks against the US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, they also provided safe haven to Al Qaeda fighters and collaborated on attacks inside Pakistan.
Mr Gistaro's presentation focussed on the four following points:
First, Al Qaeda has strengthened its safe haven in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas by deepening its alliances with Pakistani militants and pushing many elements of Pakistani government authority from the area. It now has many of the operational and organisational advantages it once enjoyed across the border in Afghanistan, albeit on a smaller and less secure scale.
Second, despite some significant losses, Al Qaeda has replenished its bench of skilled mid-level lieutenants capable of directing its global operations. These losses collectively represent the most serious blow to Al Qaeda's leadership since 2005.
While it sometimes can take several months to replace these individuals, Al Qaeda has developed succession plans, can reshuffle leadership responsibilities, and promote younger commanders with years of battlefield experience to senior positions. The leaders' collocation in the Fata allows them to manage the organisation collaboratively, helping facilitate the replacement of key figures.
Third, Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman Al Zawahiri continue to maintain Al Qaeda's unity and its focus on their strategic vision and operational priorities, although security concerns likely preclude them from running the organisation day-to-day. Bin Laden remains Al Qaeda's authoritative source for strategic and tactical guidance. Subordinates continue to see him as the group's most inspirational force.
Fourth, Al Qaeda is identifying, training, and positioning operatives for attacks in the West, likely including in the United States. These operatives include North American and European citizens and legal residents with passports that allow them to travel to the United States without a US visa.
*******************
Al-Qaida trained terrorists for attacks on West: US 14 Aug 2008,PTI
WASHINGTON: A top US intelligence officer has claimed that the al-Qaida has succeeded in "recruiting, training and positioning" terrorists for attacks against the West, including America, from its sanctuary in Pakistan and has formed groups which were previously focused on Kashmir.
The new assessment is seen as an update from a National Intelligence Estimate issued a year ago, which said al-Qaida was seeking to deploy agents trained to carry out operations in the West.
"...al-Qaida is identifying, training and positioning operatives for attacks in the West, including in the US. These operatives include North American and European citizens and legal residents with passports that allow them to travel to the United States without an American visa," said Ted Gistaro, National Intelligence Officer for Transnational Threats in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
"Al-Qaida's ability to establish and manage links to other affiliated terrorist groups and facilitation networks is a key indicator of its organisational health. These links help bolster its operational and propaganda reach," Gistaro said.
"...Since early 2006, Pakistani militant groups have increased their collaboration with al-Qaida. This includes ethnic Pashtun groups native to the tribal areas and groups from eastern Pakistan, most of whom previously focused on attacking Kashmir in India.
"While a major focus of these groups is conducting attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan, they provide safe haven to al-Qaida fighters, collaborate on attacks inside Pakistan, and support al-Qaida's external operations, including against the West," the intelligence officer said at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
View Source article:
******************
Al-Qaeda's gift on Pakistan's Independence Day —5 cops killed in Lahore suicide attack Bureau Report
LAHORE—Al-Qaed style of suicide blast hit in the mega city of Punjab province wherein five police officials were reportedly dead while 20 people are feared wounded as a suicide bomber exploded himself at Allama Iqbal town near Dubai roundabout in Lahore amid Independence Day celebrations, police sources said Bomb disposable squad and rescue teams have arrived on the spot meanwhile the injured people have been shifted to the nearby hospitals. Suicide bomber was riding motorcycle who having reached near a police station beside Dubai roundabout blew himself up as the independence day celebrations were on progress, eyewitnesses said. Police and rangers troops have cordoned off the area while the security has beefed up in and around Iqbal Town. Emergency has been imposed and police and law enforcement agencies have been put on high alert in Lahore. A bomb exploded outside a police station in the city of Lahore on Wednesday, killing five people, police said. The blast was apparently caused by a suicide bomber but it was not clear if the bomber was among the dead. About 24 people were wounded, said police spokesman Nayyab Haider. Two police personnel were killed and 20 others were injured in the bomb blast outside the police station here on Wednesday night Aaj TV reported. According to sources bomb blasted outside the Allama Iqbal police station where police was on high alert on account of Independence Day. All injured people were shifted to the hospitals which includes both civilians and police personnel. Security has been beefed up in the country and all police stations are on red alert.
Copyright © 2008 The Daily Mail. All rights reserved
http://dailymailnews.com/200808/14/news/dmtopstory01.html
*******************************
'Pak militants are backing al-Qaida ops worldwide' 14 Aug 2008,PTI
WASHINGTON: Pakistani militant groups, most of whom previously focused on attacking Kashmir, have increased their collaboration with al-Qaida, providing safe haven to its fighters and supporting its operations against the west, a top US intelligence official has warned.
"...Since early 2006, Pakistani militant groups have increased their collaboration with al-Qaida. This includes ethnic Pashtun groups native to the tribal areas and groups from eastern Pakistan, most of whom previously focused on attacking Kashmir in India," said Ted Gistaro, national intelligence officer for transnational threats in the office of the director of national intelligence.
"While a major focus of these groups is conducting attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan, they provide safe haven to al-Qaida fighters, collaborate on attacks inside Pakistan, and support al-Qaida's external operations, including against the west," the officer said.
The new assessment is seen as an update from a National Intelligence Estimate issued a year ago, which said al-Qaida was seeking to deploy agents trained to carry out operations in the west. View Source article:
**************************************
'Qaeda has full support of Pak militants' Press Trust Of India Posted online: Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 0055 hrs Print Email
Washington, August 13: Pakistani militant groups, most of whom previously focused on attacking Kashmir, have increased their collaboration with al-Qaeda, providing safe haven to its fighters and supporting its operations against the West, a top US intelligence official has warned.
Foreign Service Diplomacy Foreign Policy Guide
"...Since early 2006, Pakistani militant groups have increased their collaboration with al-Qaeda. This includes ethnic Pashtun groups native to the tribal areas and groups from eastern Pakistan, most of whom previously focused on attacking Kashmir in India," said Ted Gistaro, National Intelligence Officer for Transnational Threats in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
"While a major focus of these groups is conducting attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan, they provide safe haven to al-Qaeda fighters, collaborate on attacks inside Pakistan, and support al-Qaeda's external operations, including against the West," the officer said at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
"The al-Qaeda is identifying, training and positioning operatives for attacks in the West, including in the US," Gistaro added.
Al-Qaeda has now has strengthened its safe haven in Pakistan's tribal areas by deepening its alliances with local militants and pushing many elements of Pakistani Government authority from the area, Gistaro said.
It now has many of the operational and organisational advantages it once enjoyed across the border in Afghanistan, albeit on a smaller and less secure scale, the officer said.
"Al-Qaeda's ability to establish and manage links to other affiliated terrorist groups and facilitation networks is a key indicator of its organisational health. These links help bolster its operational and propaganda reach," Gistaro said.
The officer pointed out that in spite of some significant losses, al-Qaeda has replenished its bench of skilled mid-level lieutenants capable of directing its global operations.
"...al-Qaeda has developed succession plans, can reshuffle leadership responsibilities, and promote younger commanders with years of battlefield experience to senior positions.
The leaders' collocation in the FATA allows them to manage the organisation collaboratively, helping facilitate the replacement of key figures," the officer maintained. |
9:04 AM
Sultan Shahin
0 comments:
Post a Comment