Posted on 07/25/2008 10:43:12 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Islamabad, July 24: Pakistan's security and intelligence agencies have been put on high alert following reports that local Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud has prepared a hit list of 300 high-profile figures, including top political leaders.
Among those that could be targeted are the leadership of the ruling Pakistan People's Party, Awami National Party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement and anti-Taliban Shia and Sunni clerics, said source close to an intelligence agency.
Personnel from intelligence and law enforcement agencies, officials from the federal interior and provincial ministries and journalists could also be targeted by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan of Mehsud, who was blamed for the December 27 assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.
The families of the political leadership and law enforcement personnel are also believed to be at risk, the sources told the Daily Times newspaper.
"Of course this type of information is received from time to time," said CID chief Saud Mirza, adding that Pakistan is still under threat. "We are in coordination with all the intelligence agencies," he said.
The MQM's leadership was alerted by law enforcement agencies when members of the Jundullah militant groups were arrested on charges of attacking the former Corps Commander of Karachi, Lt Gen Ahsan Hayat.
During interrogations, the arrested men confessed that they targeted the MQM's leadership as its members were perceived as "American agents".
Meanwhile, the restive north western Mohmand Agency has come under the "complete control" of the Pakistani Taliban after its cadres eliminated the leadership of another Jihadi organisation operating in the semi-autonomous tribal area.
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan commander Umar Khalid took control of the Mohmand region following a bloody campaign against the "Shah group", whose chief and deputy chief were among eight persons killed on Friday.
This has made Khalid one of the strongest and most influential Taliban leaders after Baitullah Mehsud, local residents said.
Mehsud has set up a team to "probe" the killings of the leaders of the Shah group, which was close to former Lashker-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Mohammed Saeed.
But local residents have said there is little likelihood that the team sent by Mehsud would penalise Khalid for his actions against the Shah group.
"Any group not showing allegiance to the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan will not be tolerated in Mohmand Agency," Khalid told reporters after taking over the headquarters of the Shah group.
Khalid, a former journalist, worked for pro-jihad publications Zarb-e-Momin and the daily Islam in the 1990s before he joined the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.
His affiliation with the two publications also earned him membership of Ghalanai Press Club in Mohmand Agency. The membership was revoked after he became involved in
militancy. Khalid was the Harkatul Mujahideen chief in Mohmand Agency before becoming a Taliban commander. Khalid's fighters usually target US forces in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar.
He closely coordinates with Maulvi Faqir, the Taliban commander on the nearby Bajaur Agency, officials said.
fyi
You have mail.
Kelly
Tuesday was the expiration of the Taliban ultimatum. Watch for events in and about Pakistan.
I think it would behoove Pakistani Intelligence to pay less attention to those on the hit list, and more attention to big-name Pakistani politicians, military leaders, industry leaders, and others whose names are NOT on the hit list.
Key Benazir Bhutto assassination witness shot dead
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as the former Pakistan prime minister's security chief at the time of her assassination,
The main witness in the Benazir Bhutto killing was killed today. So,,, it’s already started.
Recent columns in Atimes point out the fighting between ISI sponsored jihadis and guys like this.
The PakISI wants to preserve jihadis to fight in Kashmir, while maintaining control over when and how they attack in Afghanistan and go after Americans, has to be done carefully, plausible deniability is the Holy Grail, and if Americans buy it (not the soldiers in the warzones), all the better to keep the flow of USD flowing.
Sometimes, of course, even ISI jihadis run off the reservation in their enthusiasm for killing infidels.
Spaghetti is straightforward compared to the dynamics of Pakistani jihadi support or non support.
You think these Pakistani politicians who have been preaching appeasement and negotiation for all this time will finally read the handwriting on the wall?
He was expected to be called to give evidence at a United Nations probe into her death.Oh dear, we've missed another opportunity for the United Nations to establish world peace.
I think my Plan B of massive ordnance saturation would be deemed mean-spirited.
Obama's going to use some stuff he learned on an affirmative action day trip to Harvard.
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