BREAKING: Ilyas Kashmiri ‘killed’ in US drone attack [Osama bin Laden's replacement]

Dawn ^ | June 4, 2011 | Dawn

[James C. Bennett]

PESHAWAR: According to a BBCUrdu report, Ilyas Kashmiri, a Pakistani terrorist leader with ties to al Qaeda, was among those killed in the latest drone strikes in South Waziristan.

The report quoted locals as saying that Kashmiri was killed in the strike that killed at least nine militants.

Kashmiri was the chief of the Harkatul Jihad al-Islami (HJI), an organisation affiliated with al Qaeda.

He is widely believed to have masterminded the attack on the PNS Mehran naval base in Karachi.

A government official in Peshawar told BBCUrdu that although he had been receiving information regarding the death of Kashmiri in the drone strike, he could not confirm the information.

Moreover, an official in South Waziristan told BBCUrdu that a US drone attack targeted a group of armed militants 20 kilometres from Wana bazaar.

The official said the attack killed nine people and injured three others.

Moreover, the official said that those killed in the attack were believed to be militants from Punjab.

Locals and witnesses told BBCUrdu that Kashmiri had also died in the drone attack.

Witnesses said Kashmiri had arrived in South Waziristan from the Khyber tribal region.

[James C. Bennett]

Ilyas Kashmiri killed in drone attack: Report

http://english.samaylive.com/world-news/676488068/ilyas-kashmiri-killed-in-drone-attack-report.html

Islamic militant and key mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai attack, Ilyas Kashmiri was killed in the latest US drone strike in South Waziristan. BBC Urdu and Pakistani media have confirmed the report, citing locals. However, no official announcement has been made so far.

According to the media reports, Ilyas Kashmiri was killed in the air strike along with nine other militants.

Kashmiri was chief of the al Qaeda associated organization Harkatul Jihad al-Islami (HJI) and was one of the most wanted militant in India.

Kashmiri was also the front-runner for the Al Qaeda chief post after killing of Osama bin Laden.

In his latest operation, he masterminded the PNS Mehran naval base in Karachi, an attack to revenge Laden's death. An official in South Waziristan told BBC Urdu services that US drone targeted a group of armed militants near Wana bazaar. On August 6, 2010 the United States labeled Kashmiri a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" while the United Nations added him and his group HuJI to its blacklist established under UN Security Council Resolution 1267.

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Capture Ilyas Kashmiri and Mullah Omar by July: US to Pakistan NDTV Correspondent, Updated: June 02, 2011 08:49 IST

http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/capture-ilyas-kashmiri-and-mullah-omar-by-july-us-to-pakistan-109631

Washington: The United States has given Pakistan time till July to capture Al Qaeda leader Ilyas Kashmiri and Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Omar. It has also warned of a military offensive in North Waziristan if they are not captured. The July deadline coincides with NATO and allied forces withdrawing from Afghanistan.

Last week, the US had handed over to Pakistan a list of five terrorists, seeking immediate intelligence information on them. It reportedly also wanted Pakistan to possibly target these terrorists in joint operations.

Besides Ilyas Kashmiri and Mullah Omar, the list included Al Qaeda's second-in-command Ayman al Zawahiri, the operating chief of Haqqani network Sirajuddin Haqqani and the Libyan operations chief of Al Qaeda Atiya Abdel Rahman. Abdel Rahman had emerged as a key intermediary between Osama bin Laden and Qaeda's affiliate networks across the world.

The list was discussed during two meetings between Pakistani and US officials in the past two weeks, and also during US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's talks with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad on Friday, ABC News quoted a US official as saying.

The US views the list as a test of whether Pakistan is "serious about fighting terrorists who have long enjoyed safe havens within its borders", the ABC report said.

An American source also confirmed the existence of the list to Dawn newspaper and said the US softening its position on unilateral action against terrorists found in Pakistan was conditional.

"The message given to Pakistani leaders was loud and clear: you either cooperate with us on these terrorists or we'll take care of them by ourselves," the source was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

[Lazlo in PA]

[Niuhuru]

I wonder who is next on the list to take over and become the main target in the bullseye.

[Berlin_Freeper]

Can we be happy?

[PA Engineer]

Thanks for the info. Virgins are not celebrating tonight. BTTT.

[James C. Bennett]

I guess. But the ultimate party can only be after Mecca and Islamabad are entombed in radioactive glass.

[South40]

Next.

[AU72]

It sucked to be him.

[Clink]

Can we be happy?

Yes, after B.O. completes another "spike the football" tour.

[4rcane]

no, because it be unchristian of you, but celebrate if a conservative is harmed or killed

[Jonty30]

It will be the guy, that when the organization calls for somebody to step forward, who is slowest to step back.

[The Cajun]

Bet the lenses on his cool looking shades are all scratched up now..........Pity.

[luvbach1]

We have no alternative to killing as many of them as we can as fast as we can into an indefinite future. Also, glad we are making this clear to at least some of our “allies.”

[Puckster]

Seriously......I liked the beard and the gold rimmed glasses....he was all set to become quite the image for Al Qaeda. This just in, intel has just learned that Al Qaeda has directed all members to purchase and wear Groucho Glasses so as to protect the next new leader of Al Qaeda.......sounds like a target rich environment.

[Lazlo in PA]

Hilarious. Nice. Whats the secret word? Islama Fascist.

[DeaconRed]

I love good news. . . . . .

[John W]

Obama has now scheduled one of these monthly, right after the labor statistics are reported.

[Puckster]

This just in, Taliban says they won’t be complying with Al Qaeda’s “Leader Camoflage” plan!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Squantos]

scratch this one off the list....

[Puckster]

This just in, Al Qaeda has announced Ilyas Kashmiri's replacement ."Al Groucho Mohammed".