Missile kills Pakistan tribal head

CNN ^ | Friday, June 18 | Syed Mohsin Naqvi

[AdmSmith]

Talking about connecting the dots...


http://www.dawn.com/2006/06/09/top2.htm

to Iraq via Peshawar and Afghanistan

By Ismail Khan


PESHAWAR: Few in the small Arab community knew Ahmad Fadil Al Khalaileh, who later came to be known as Musab al-Zarqawi, when he arrived in Peshawar in 1989, towards the fag-end of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, to take part in the holy war against the Red Army.

Like other Arabs landing in Peshawar, the Jordanian stayed at Baitushuhada or the House of Martyrs in Peshawar's posh Hayatabad residential area. The "safe house", also known as midway house, was operated by fellow Jordanian scholar, Abdullah Azzam's Maktabal Khidamat.

According to one account, Zarqawi had little combat experience; the only time he took part in an action was in Khost, south-eastern Afghanistan, under the command of Abu Al Harith Al Salti. He spent much of his time writing for an Arabic magazine, Al Bonian Al-Marsoos, owned and run by Ittehad-i-Islami Afghanistan chief Professor Abdur Rab Rasul Sayyaf.

Prof Sayyaf had close ties with Saudis and Arab radicals. Later, he aligned himself with the Northern Alliance against the Taliban and is now a member of the Afghan parliament.

It was during his stay in Peshawar that Zarqawi came into contact with another radical scholar, also a Jordanian, Isam Al Barqawi alias Abu Muhamad Al Maqdassi.

Maqdassi is said to have had a profound impact in the making of Zarqawi's as a radical Salafi. Maqdassi himself had been influenced by the teachings of Abdullah Azzam, a fiery speaker, who had gained prominence in the Arab radical circle long before Osama bin Ladin emerged on the horizon. Azzam was assassinated in a car explosion outside a mosque in the University Town of Peshawar in November 1989.

In 1992, both Zarqawi and Maqdassi returned to Jordan where he set up "Baitul Imam" or the house of the leader to help returning Jordanian veterans of the Afghan war.

In March 1994, Zarqawi and Maqdassi were arrested and both of them were sentenced to 15 years in prison on charges of trying to overthrow the government.

Zarqawi was, however, released in 1999 under a general amnesty by King Abdullah and he immediately returned to Peshawar. He lived in a house in Hayatabad, opposite the beautiful Bagh-i-Naran, for about six months.

One account says that the Jordanian militant stayed with his sister who was married to another Jordanian, Saleh Al-Hami alias Abu Qadama. (Incidentally, Qadama was arrested by Jordanian police on Thursday, while he was giving an interview to Al Jazeera on the death of his brother-in-law).

There are conflicting reports about later events. One account says that Zarqawi was arrested and detained in Peshawar after his visa had expired, while according to another account, he was forced to flee to Afghanistan following a crackdown on Arabs in Peshawar.

In Afghanistan, Mr Zarqawi set up a training camp near Jalalabad in the eastern Nangrahar province. He moved and relocated to Herat in western Afghanistan to train between 80 and 100 Jordanians and Syrians.

It is interesting that all this while Zarqawi had declined to take baya't or oath of allegiance to Osama bin Laden and ran his own organisation under the banner of Tawheed Wal Jihad.

Zarqawi had his first brush with the Americans in Herat, when the invading troops raided a hospital. Zarqawi was wounded and he left Afghanistan along with scores of his comrades.

Investigators in Peshawar said that Zarqawi and some of his comrades moved to Shakai in South Waziristan and stayed in the house of two Spirkai Wazir tribesmen, Edda Khan and Dawar Khan. Both the tribesmen have been in the custody of military authorities since May, 2004.

During his stay in Shakai, an area that served as sanctuary for foreign militants till the army regained its control, Zarqawi befriended the late militant commander Nek Muhammad and his successor Maulavi Muhammad Omar.

It is not clear as to how long did he live in Waziristan but investigators say that he left Pakistan via Balochistan in 2002 and reached Iraq via Iran stopping over in Mashhad for a while.

In Iraq, he was believed to have teamed up with Kurdish Ansarul Islam led by Mullah Krekar. It was a coincidence that Zarqawi happened to be in Iraq when the US invaded the country in March 2003. He took no time in resurrecting his Tawheed Wal Jihad and teamed up with hundreds of Iraqi veterans of the Afghan jihad to take on the United States and shoot to prominence, overshadowing Osama bin Laden.

[AdmSmith]

Yes, it was two years ago, cheers!

Monday, June 19, 2006 Stability in tribal areas linked with army withdrawal WANA: Militant leader Haji Umar said on Sunday that stability in the tribal areas was linked to the withdrawal of the Pakistan Army. The statement came on the eve of the second death anniversary of Taliban commander Nek Muhammad in the Azam Warsak area of South Waziristan. "In our peace deal with the government, the withdrawal of the army was a key point," he said. He warned NATO forces against protecting "American interests" in Afghanistan and vowed that the jihad would continue "until the occupiers are forced out". "We cannot tolerate the presence of NATO in Afghanistan," Haji Umar told a gathering of around 4,000 people. Nek Muhammad, who had led fierce fighting against security forces in the region, was killed in a missile attack in Wana on June 17, 2004. "Down with Pakistan, America and Musharraf," charged supporters of Taliban chanted before offering prayers at Nek Muhammad's grave.http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\06\19\story_19-6-2006_pg1_4

[rake]

"We were tracking him down and he was killed last night by our hand," said Major General Shaukat Sultan.

Hand Whacks Head?

[Straight Vermonter]

It's a small jihadi world.

[nuconvert]

#1441
re: Zarqawi & Ansarul Islam (mullah Krekar)

[nuconvert]

Good find.
Yes, it certainly connects the dots.

[Eurotwit]

Thanks.

I wonder what is going to happen to Krekar. There was some tough talking from the government about finally expelling him a couple of months ago, but I haven't heard anything in a while.

They certainly don't mention him much during the World Cup broadcasts which seems to be the only thing I am watching these days :-)

[nuconvert]

"There was some tough talking from the government about finally expelling him a couple of months ago,"

Yeah. I remember that.

[AdmSmith]

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/1098

[nuconvert]

That's a good one

[AdmSmith]

A difficult situation in the tribal areas. The Pakistani government really need to come up with better ideas to restore law and order and remove the Islamists.

Attacks in NWA result of collateral damage

Tahir Ali

MIRANSHAH: Using gunship helicopters, long-range artillery and occasionally the US intelligence backup as well, the security forces appear determined to flush out militants, both local and foreign, from the precipitous region of North Waziristan Agency (NWA).

The relentless offensive in certain cases seriously hurt the non-partisan residents, provoking them to join the swelling ranks of Taliban-like militants in sheer rage. After spending two days in the NWA last weekend, this correspondent heard many anecdotes establishing that some tribesmen who suffered human or property losses due to incessant clashes between the security forces and militants feel motivated to walk over to militants' camp. Some are even willing to avenge their fury by striking as suicide bombers.

Talking to this correspondent, a frightening number of students of local schools and colleges sounded too willing to join militants for suicide missions than continuing their studies. The disgruntled lot considers it the best option to take revenge for human and physical losses their families have suffered so far as non-partisan victims of conflicts between the militants and security forces. Many locals claimed that several students from 'regular schools and colleges' were undergoing extensive training at undisclosed places in Waziristan as would-be 'Fidayeen (the suicide bombers).

Once picked up after proper verification of their identity as well as assessment of their suitability for suicide missions, these daredevils receive intense 'spiritual guidance' (read psychological manipulation) for 40 days from iconic 'religious scholars'. They spend most of their time in offering prayers and doing zikars (reciting aloud jihad related religious verses). Little food is offered to them during the training. Their trainers believe the lack of food prepare them for hardship and non-availability of meals and water during performing the missions assigned to them.

After completing the 40-day session, the sole objective of these trained suicide-bombers 'is to bring comfort to the l fellow Muslims'; no problems, if they lose their lives in the process.' What the trained 'Fidayeen' enthusiastically want is 'the eternal happiness promised to martyred Muslims by Almighty Allah in Holy Quran.' The number of Taliban is increasing very rapidly in North Waziristan Agency and there are around 45 commanders representing various sections and factions. Gul Bahadar is acknowledged as the most powerful amongst them. He belongs to Maddahkhel tribe of Waziris and is considered to be the supreme commander of Taliban in the region. Originally from Lwara, a faraway hilly area in the north of Miranshah, Gul Bahadar had his religious education from a Deobandi madressah of Multan. A local tribesman told The Post that before the launch of clean-up operations by the security forces, he had been a virtual non-entity, but now he is almost a household name in the whole agency.

Sangeen Khan Zadran is another much talked about 'commander'. He is a nephew of Jalaluddin Haqqani, a prominent figure in the Taliban regime of Mullah Omar. He is nearly 50 years old and had played a crucial role in cleansing the area from the hold of a gang of terror-inducing criminals. Associated with a hardened criminal, Hakim Khan, this group had virtually been ruling the area for many months. The administration never dared to act against this group that blatantly indulged in organised kidnappings for ransom and regular extraction of "protection money" from local businesspersons.

Zardan is given credit for finishing off by the said gang by inspiring and managing public hangings of some of its lead operators.

Most locals this correspondent talked to often ended up hesitantly admitting that 'some foreign militants might still be living in Waziristan,' but they also insisted to have never seen them. These locals were also vehement in refuting claims that most 'foreign militants' were killed in security operations.

In Miranshah, this correspondent also came to know that all the sixteen members of a delegation from NWA that met President Gen Pervez Musharraf of late were on the hit list of Taliban and most locals believed 'their days are numbered; for the Taliban are just waiting for the right moment to get them.'

Some Taliban have also conveyed to some members of the delegation that met General Musharraf that they can buy security for them by paying Rs 1.7 million to them. This is the amount, Taliban believe, was given to each member of the said delegation by the government for 'agreeing to have a meeting with President of Pakistan.'

Bomb explosions are almost taken as 'everyday activity' by the locals, these days. Shopkeepers in bazaars of Miranshah and Mir Ali instantly pull shutters down immediately after hearing the sound of an explosion in the vicinity.

On Saturday, this correspondent personally witnessed the same thing happening while passing through the bazaar of Mir Ali, a town near Miranshah. Bannu-Miranshah Road was also blocked by the security after the same explosion.

Of late, Taliban have developed the tactics of planting remote control bombs on routes security forces frequently patrol. The security forces instantly open fire after hearing the sound of a blast. The stray bullets sometime hit non-partisan residents and that enrage many eyewitnesses, besides the near and dears ones of victims.

Last Thursday, a convoy of security forces was passing through Muhammadkhel village, 18 kilometres from Miranshah on Dattakhel Road. Suddenly, a bomb planted on its route, went off and in retaliation, the security forces opened indiscriminate fire. The stray bullets hit some young boys playing cricket in nearby Muhammadkhel ground. Four young kids, Din Muhammad, Shahiden, Akhtar Jola and Chaudhry died on the spot while Fahimullah, Munawar and Janat Wali were wounded seriously. The injured were brought to Miranshah Central Hospital but later they were to be shifted to Peshawar due to their serious conditions.

Earlier on the same day, another convoy was passing near Miranshah Tablighee Markaz and a planted bomb blasted on its way. The security forces opened fire in retaliation. Some women came out of their homes in panic to take their kids to safe places and two of these women were hit with stray bullets. One died on the spot and the other was rushed to Peshawar due to severe injuries. The consequential rage of such incidents is surely swelling the ranks of Taliban. The security forces need to devise a new set of tactics to prevent it.

http://www.thepost.com.pk/Fb_ShortNews.aspx?fbshortid=913&fcatid=14&fstatus=Current&bcatid=14&b

[Saberwielder]

You are assuming that the Pakistanis actually want to do something about these Taliban thugs. Most of the available evidence says that the Paks do something about the Taliban only when we force them to but back off when we lose attention. We have a better focus on Al Qaeda HVTs where we are able to keep the Paks honest. With the Taliban - most of those guys were trained by the Pakistani military not too long ago and it is to be expected that the Pakistani troops forced to fight them stop fighting when the heat dies down.

[AdmSmith]

I agree with you, and that might as well explain the foolish way they use to target these Talibans. The effect is more support for the Islamists, but a subset (the majority?) of the ISI is perhaps happy with this outcome?

[Saberwielder]

I believe so. The ISI and the Pak Army drive Pakistan's policy towards Afghanistan. They both have a lot invested in their Taliban proteges and have been working to shield the Taliban from us while providing help on Al Qaeda. They want to preserve the Taliban for the day we lose interest in Afghanistan and the tribal areas is their bullpen. Unless we use the same diplomatic force we use on Pakistan to hunt Al Qaeda to force them to hunt the Taliban, they ain't doing nothing.

[Eurotwit]

Krekar is back in the newspaper headlines today.

He hails Zarqawi as a great martyr, and also states that he is willing to sacrifice all for Osama bin Laden.

About his own situation he states:

"- Unfortunately, I cannot travel back and participate in the jihad. Now, I am sitting at home, and I am not free. This is the fifth year that I am stuck between the courts, the prison and my home. They have removed all my rights, and here it is the law that rules"

A bit of Jihadist whining and lying there...

Cheers.

[nuconvert]

Statements like that should land him in prison. He's dangerous.

[Saberwielder]

See. What did I tell you. The Pakistanis are not going to take on the Taliban people who are basically a Pakistan army creation. They have had a half a dozen "truce" pacts, all of which were failures and enabled the terrorists to reestablish themselves. Only when our forces take casualties, get impatient and bomb their rears, the Paks try to take "action" which for the most part means indiscriminate killing of anyone with a beard passed off as "foreign militants." We are never going to learn.

Click this

Forces, militants heading for truce

By Ismail Khan

PESHAWAR, June 22: Government security forces and militants are heading for a tenuous ceasefire in the Waziristan tribal area, credible sources told Dawn on Thursday.

These sources said that militants had agreed last week to hold fire in the South Waziristan but it had not yet been extended to the neighbouring North Waziristan.

“I think the militants want to keep one pot boiling”, remarked one source.

Fragile peace deals had also been signed with militants in South Waziristan in April 2004 and February 2005.

Tribal sources confirmed the existence of back-channel contacts between the government and militants, but said that any agreement between the two sides was still stymied by a lack of trust.

It was against this background, the sources said, that Taliban commander Sirajuddin Haqqani issued a circular on Wednesday informing militants that while the ‘jihad’ against the United States and the Karzai government would continue “till the last drop of blood”, fighting Pakistan did not conform with the Taliban policy.

“It is not our policy. Those who agree with us are our friends and those who do not agree and (continue to wage) an undeclared war against Pakistan are neither our friends nor shall we allow them in our ranks,” the letter issued from the office of Maulavi Jalaluddin Haqqani said.

Jalaluddin Haqqani is a veteran mujahideen commander who had later aligned himself with the Taliban and remained a key commander and later held a cabinet post in the Taliban regime until it collapsed in 2001.

Belonging to the Zadran tribe, Maulvi Haqqani continues to lead the fight against the US and allied forces in Khost and Paktia in Afghanistan and carries a bounty on his head. He evaded capture despite several raids by Pakistani security forces on his house and seminary in Miramshah in North Waziristan.

The elder Haqqani, because of his old age, is said to have ‘abdicated’ much of the legwork and field planning to his thirty-something son, Sirajuddin Haqqani, who has considerable influence over militants in South and North Waziristan tribal areas.

The sources said that Siraj Haqqani, an Afghan by nationality, is the overall commander of militants in Waziristan tribal regions and could play a decisive role in effecting a possible ceasefire.

There are 25 militant groups operating in South and North Waziristan with a total fighting force of roughly 4,000, tribal sources said.

The sources said that the Taliban seemed to be trying to wriggle out of what they perceived was a waste of time, energy and resources in Pakistan and focus instead on what they believed was real jihad in Afghanistan.

But as one source pointed out the Haqqanis had been smart enough to circulate the message in South Waziristan only and not in North Waziristan.

“They are probably keeping their options open and trying to exert pressure on the government to give in to their demands,” he said.

A key demand has been the release of militants captured during military operations.

Tribal sources said that while most of the militant groups in South Waziristan had agreed to hold fire, a couple of others who were pressing for the release of their men were sticking to their guns.

A militant commander told Dawn that groups opposed to the ceasefire were behind incidents of violence in recent weeks but hoped that they too would fall in line.

In North Waziristan, the Taliban shura met twice to discuss the proposition but despite having made some positive statements fell short of announcing a similar ceasefire.

Sources said that in line with their new strategy, the Taliban have made key changes in their hierarchy in Waziristan.

They said a senior Taliban figure visited the region and in consultation with militant groups nominated Maulavi Nazir Ahmad as the head of the militants from the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe.

Baitullah Mehsud has been chosen to continue to be the head of militants from Mehsud tribe, with wanted militant Abdullah Mehsud as the head of the mujahideen shura that comprises three members each from the two groups in addition to three members from a conglomerate of two other groups.

In the North Waziristan, Sirajuddin Haqqani will continue to head militants waging “Jihad’ across the border.

But sceptics say that such a ceasefire, if reached, wouldn’t last long.

[AdmSmith]

Fighter jets roar near Afghan border



CHITRAL 27 June 06: The thunder of fighter jets believed to be of the American and allied forces undertaking an operation in the Nooristan province of Afghanistan were herd in the border area of Chitral Arandu and Mirkhani Monday. Some people talking to this scribe said they were reminded of the early eighties when Russian jets would be soaring over the area and neighborhood driving the people into trenches now and then. According to unconfirmed reports operation is underway in Nooristan after signs of fresh resistance to the US presence there.(GH Farooqi)

http://www.chitralnews.com/LN316.htm

last time they not only roared they delivered, what about this time? ;-)

[nuconvert]

Let's hope we hear some good news

[Saberwielder]

Source

Reliable sources told The Nation that serious differences have erupted between Pakistan and the United States over Islamabad’s latest shift in its policy towards Waziristan where a ceasefire was announced. Soon after the announcement of this policy, Rice made an unscheduled visit to Islamabad on Tuesday to press Musharraf revise the policy.

It was learnt, however, that the two sides failed to overcome the differences as Islamabad insisted to resolve the Waziristan crisis through dialogue.

Sources privy to the situation claimed that the Bush administration is not supportive of Pakistan’s initiative to hold talks with the militants through “Grand Tribal Jirga.”

During the two-hour long discussion with Rice, Musharraf explained in detail the prevailing situation in the tribal areas and how the recently launched dialogue process to resolve Waziristan issue. The process was a part of Pakistan’s three-pronged strategy to tackle the problem of extremism by dialogue, development and the use of force wherever it is necessary, the source said adding that General Musharraf also made it clear that the military operations were not stopped completely.

The sources said, the top US and Pakistani officials do not see eye to eye on this vital issue. Rice argued with Pakistani leadership that militancy should be curbed by the use of force.