Saturday, November 05, 2011
U.S. refuses to back down on ISI-terror connections
From The Hindu
The toxic fallout is continuing in the spat between the United States and Pakistan over allegations that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence openly connives with terror groups such as the fearsome Haqqani network.
The latest public rebuff of this bitter saga was delivered to Pakistan on Friday in a statement by Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby, who said to media that “there has been a long-standing historical relationship between the ISI and extremist groups.”
Declining to get into the “specifics” of the intelligence that the U.S. possessed on the support that the Haqqani network enjoyed in Pakistan, Mr. Kirby however said: “All I can tell you is that we are confident that the ISI continues to support and even encourages the Haqqanis to launch these attacks.”
His comments came in the wake of sharp recriminations between top officials in the U.S. and Pakistan, which was set off by a statement by U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen on Thursday, who said that “the Haqqani network acts as a veritable arm of [the] ISI.”
Admiral Mullen also cited specific instances of alleged ISI-Haqqani network cooperation in terror attacks, noting that “With the ISI support, Haqqani operatives planned and conducted... [the September 10 Kabul] truck bombing, as well as the [September 14] assault on our embassy.”
In his testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee Admiral Mullen added that the U.S. was in possession of “credible evidence” that the ISI was behind these and other attacks earlier in the summer in Afghanistan.
Following this damning indictment, senior Pakistani officials, including Chief of Army Staff Ashfaq Kayani and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, reacted angrily and respectively warned that blaming Pakistani agencies for such attacks was “very unfortunate and not based on facts,” and that the U.S. could “lose an ally” in the fight against extremism.
Ms. Khar, who is in the U.S. for the United Nations General Assembly, said, “You cannot afford to alienate Pakistan. You cannot afford to alienate the Pakistani people,” adding that the U.S. had not shared any evidence with Pakistan about its evidence on the ISI-Haqqani network connections.
Yet it was obvious that the Pentagon was not backing down from Admiral Mullen's comments. “The chairman stands by what he testified before the U.S. Senate,” Mr. Kirby said, adding that the terror outfit's activity “has become more brazen, more aggressive, more lethal, and the information has become more available, that these attacks have been supported or even encouraged by the ISI.”
Labels: ISI, ISI-terror links, terrorism, US-Pak ties
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Pakistan arrests CIA informants
From The Hindu
The reported arrest of five men by Pakistan for collaborating with the CIA in its mission to track down Osama bin Laden, appears to have further shaken the deeply fraught relationship between the two countries' intelligence agencies, according to some experts here.
The reported detention of CIA informants comes at a time when Pakistan's intelligence agencies are facing unprecedented criticism following the events of May 2011 beginning with bin Laden being found in a cantonment area, the siege of naval airbase PNS Mehran and the killing of journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad.
With numerous intelligence specialists in Washington asking why Pakistan was focusing on alleged CIA informants instead of targeting al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters, concerns have also been expressed regarding the risks the growing chasm poses for continued drone strikes.
Even as these concerns mounted in Washington, Pakistan on Wednesday “strongly refuted” the report claiming that an Army Major was among the five Pakistani informants detained for spying on bin Laden in Abbottabad. “There is no army officer detained and the story is false and totally baseless,” said the Inter Services Public Relations in a statement.
Bruce Riedel, Senior Fellow at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, described U.S.-Pakistan relations as being “in a steep nose dive with the intelligence relationship leading the way.” Speaking to The Hindu he said that within the army there was a sense of deep humiliation owing to the U.S. strike against bin Laden, and “the officer corps is questioning its top leaders' competence and they face unprecedented public criticism”.
Mr. Riedel also alluded to heightened anti-Americanism in Pakistan, arguing that the Pakistani army shared “the anger and resentment the average Pakistani feels toward America, a sentiment stoked by every drone strike.”
Lisa Curtis of the Heritage Foundation, a former CIA officer like Mr. Riedel, said while “Pakistan's arrest of the CIA informants may add to ISI-CIA tensions, would not push the intelligence relationship to the breaking point.” In particular, Ms. Curtis told The Hindu the U.S. would be willing to accept “a high degree of tension in the relationship,” as it needed to track additional terrorists.
Ms. Curtis also raised the question of where the arrests of the informants would lead, saying, “If Pakistani authorities move to prosecute the individuals for espionage, this would put Pakistan in an awkward position of punishing individuals who helped track the world's most wanted terrorist.” A better course of action may be to quietly release the individuals and avoid further questions about loyalties, she added.
The drone programme in particular was said to have been at risk for several months, and continuing tensions might necessitate a shift in the location from which they were launched, from Pakistan to Afghanistan.
Labels: anti-Americanism, CIA informant, CIA-ISI ties, ISI, Osama killing, Pak Army Major, Pakistan intelligence agencies, terrorism
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
China blocked U.N. sanctions against terror group at Pakistan's behest
From The Hindu
Until the Mumbai terror attacks of November 2008, China, “at the behest of Pakistan,” blocked the United Nations Security Council from listing Jamaat-ud-Dawa, widely acknowledged as a front for the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, under the UNSC Resolution 1267. LeT has been held responsible for the Mumbai attacks.
The United States' frustration with China for impeding sanctions against JuD through the UN Committee on al-Qaeda- and Taliban-associated entities was made evident in a recent cable, classified as “Secret,” from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The cable also noted that while JuD chief Hafiz Muhammed Saeed served as the head of LeT too, the LeT's operational commander was Zaki ur-Rehman Lakvi, responsible for the group's military operations budget of approximately $5.2 million.
Issued to the U.S. embassies in Islamabad and elsewhere, the cable was dated August 10, 2009 and was published online by WikiLeaks, a whistleblower website, over the weekend.
Part of negotiation
China's actions on the UNSC prior to the Mumbai attacks were outlined as part of a broader process of negotiation in which the U.S. government sought to oppose a request by the JuD for “focal point de-listing,” under which a window of UN Secretariat could be approached by entities listed UNSC Resolution 1730 to petition for de-listing.
Commenting on the background of U.S. efforts to block the de-listing petition filed by lawyers representing JuD, the State Department cable noted that the UNSC Committee had added LeT to its Consolidated List in 2005, citing its affiliation with al-Qaeda.
The cable went on to note that while the addition of JuD and its leader, Muhammad Saeed, “followed closely on the heels of the LeT-perpetrated attacks in Mumbai,” the U.S.' request, preceding the attacks, “were placed on hold by China at the behest of Pakistan.”
The cable further indicated the U.S.' frustration with the pace of Pakistani efforts to curb the activities of JuD in the aftermath of its listing, contrary to numerous official comments in Washington at the time.
“Raise funds freely'
According to the cable, “In spite of Pakistani acquiescence to the listings in December 2008, we continue to see reporting indicating that JuD is still operating in multiple locations in Pakistan, and that the group continues to openly raise funds.”
The State Department added that it was unclear what steps, if any, the government of Pakistan has taken to freeze JuD assets or otherwise implement UN 1267 sanctions, which included an asset freeze, a travel ban, and an arms embargo. Defending its decision to oppose the JuD petition for de-listing, U.S. officials said in the cable that the intelligence community assessed that LeT used the JuD name as an alias and JuD “provides cover and protection for LeT's militant activities in Pakistan.”
Same entity
The cable further noted that LeT and JuD shared many senior leaders and both organisations stemmed from the same original entity, Markaz-ud-Dawawal-Irshad, founded around 1986.
Until the Mumbai terror attacks of November 2008, China, “at the behest of Pakistan,” blocked the United Nations Security Council from listing Jamaat-ud-Dawa, widely acknowledged as a front for the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, under the UNSC Resolution 1267. LeT has been held responsible for the Mumbai attacks.
The United States' frustration with China for impeding sanctions against JuD through the UN Committee on al-Qaeda- and Taliban-associated entities was made evident in a recent cable, classified as “Secret,” from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The cable also noted that while JuD chief Hafiz Muhammed Saeed served as the head of LeT too, the LeT's operational commander was Zaki ur-Rehman Lakvi, responsible for the group's military operations budget of approximately $5.2 million.
Issued to the U.S. embassies in Islamabad and elsewhere, the cable was dated August 10, 2009 and was published online by WikiLeaks, a whistleblower website, over the weekend.
Part of negotiation
China's actions on the UNSC prior to the Mumbai attacks were outlined as part of a broader process of negotiation in which the U.S. government sought to oppose a request by the JuD for “focal point de-listing,” under which a window of UN Secretariat could be approached by entities listed UNSC Resolution 1730 to petition for de-listing.
Commenting on the background of U.S. efforts to block the de-listing petition filed by lawyers representing JuD, the State Department cable noted that the UNSC Committee had added LeT to its Consolidated List in 2005, citing its affiliation with al-Qaeda.
The cable went on to note that while the addition of JuD and its leader, Muhammad Saeed, “followed closely on the heels of the LeT-perpetrated attacks in Mumbai,” the U.S.' request, preceding the attacks, “were placed on hold by China at the behest of Pakistan.”
The cable further indicated the U.S.' frustration with the pace of Pakistani efforts to curb the activities of JuD in the aftermath of its listing, contrary to numerous official comments in Washington at the time.
“Raise funds freely'
According to the cable, “In spite of Pakistani acquiescence to the listings in December 2008, we continue to see reporting indicating that JuD is still operating in multiple locations in Pakistan, and that the group continues to openly raise funds.”
The State Department added that it was unclear what steps, if any, the government of Pakistan has taken to freeze JuD assets or otherwise implement UN 1267 sanctions, which included an asset freeze, a travel ban, and an arms embargo. Defending its decision to oppose the JuD petition for de-listing, U.S. officials said in the cable that the intelligence community assessed that LeT used the JuD name as an alias and JuD “provides cover and protection for LeT's militant activities in Pakistan.”
Same entity
The cable further noted that LeT and JuD shared many senior leaders and both organisations stemmed from the same original entity, Markaz-ud-Dawawal-Irshad, founded around 1986.
Labels: cablegate, China, terrorism, U.S. secret cables, UN sanctions, Wikileaks
Monday, December 06, 2010
Lashkar militants planned attack on Narendra Modi
From The Hindu
Lashkar-e-Taiba militants were planning “operations... involving a car,” against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, according to a recent secret diplomatic cable of the United States State Department released by WikiLeaks, a whistleblower website.
The cable, created on June 19 2009, was sent from the office of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to “Security Officer, Collective Priority,” and the U.S. embassies in Tripoli, Casablanca and Johannesburg. Some of the information in the cable had been redacted by WikiLeaks, yet it bore Ms. Clinton’s name at the end and was categorised as “Secret,” “No Foreign,” and it was “derived from multiple sources.”
Under the category of “key concerns,” the notes on LeT member Shafiq Khan, and alternatively a person identified only as “Hussein,” said that they continued operational planning on three tasks in early June of 2009.
These plans were associated with a “possible operation against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendar Modi, the establishment of a training camp, and unspecified work involving a car.”
The cable added that Hussein would coordinate his activities with an India-based colleague identified as Sameer.
Providing some geographic information for the operations, the cable further said that the Pakistan-based Shafiq Khafa had been seeking out information on possible training sites for the operations in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. It added that Khafa had an associate identified as “S.J.” with whom he was making these preparations in mid-June.
Quoting a “credible tearline,” or segment of an intelligence source, the cable went on to note that Khafa’s network was “striving to stand up two teams in southern India that rely on the support of LeT members based in India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Nepal.”
However it cautioned that although specific details of planned LeT attacks remained unknown, intelligence obtained in late May of that year indicated that “Khafa’s cells were engaged in surveillance activities of potential targets, likely in southern India.”
Reports in May further suggested a Sri Lanka link, explaining that the establishment of a facilitation team in that country might then lead to Kerala or Tamil Nadu being used as a base of operations.
“The estimated time of completion for setting up the facilitation route and camps to be two to three months,” the cable said.
Labels: cablegate, Gujarat Chief Minister, LeT, Narendra Modi, terrorism, U.S. secret cables, Wikileaks
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Two arrested on suspicion of terror "dry run"
From The Hindu
Two men on a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Amsterdam were arrested by Dutch authorities on Monday on suspicion of attempting a "dry run" for a terror attack. According to media reports, authorities identified the pair as Ahmed Mohamed Nasser al-Soofi and Hezam al-Murisi, both of Yemeni descent.
The men were reported to have carried a range of "suspicious but not illegal" items in their checked-in baggage, including a mobile phone taped to a bottle of Pepto-Bismol, three mobile phones taped together, several watches taped together, a box cutter and three large knives.
Further $7,000 in cash was said to have been discovered within the baggage of Mr. al-Soofi as he checked in for a prior flight from Birmingham, Alabama, to Chicago, on Sunday.
A law enforcement officer was quoted by CNN as saying that the men who flew out of Chicago’s O’Hare airport may have been trying to test whether bottles of liquid attached to electronic devices could make it past airport security. Ever since a 2006 liquid explosives plot was foiled in the United Kingdom, both U.K. and U.S. authorities have banned passengers from carrying all but small quantities of liquids on board.
In a statement, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said, "The items were not deemed to be dangerous in and of themselves, and as we share information with our international partners, Dutch authorities were notified of the suspicious items... This matter continues to be under investigation."
The terror-dry-run hypothesis gained further currency given that Mr. al-Soofi obtained a ticket for a flight to Washington’s Dulles International Airport, with further stops in Dubai and Yemen — and yet both he and Mr. al-Murisi flew on an entirely different sector via the Chicago-to-Amsterdam flight.
Possible embarrassment
In a development that is likely to cause embarrassment to the Department of Homeland Security, Mr. al-Soofi’s luggage reportedly travelled from Chicago to Washington without him – a potentially serious violation of U.S. safety protocols.
A parallel but possibly unrelated incident concerning airline security occurred at Dulles International Airport on Monday night, when a nine-member delegation of Pakistani military officers travelling to U.S. Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida, was offloaded from its flight after one officer made "what a flight attendant considered to be an ‘inappropriate remark".
The New York Times reported that members of the delegation, led by a two-star general, were offended by their treatment and cancelled the Central Command meeting. Department of Defence officials were said to have apologised for the incident.
Labels: Hezam al-Murisi, Mohamed Nasser al-Soofi, terrorism
Saturday, August 07, 2010
U.S. designates terrorist group operating in India and Pakistan
From The Hindu
The State Department and the Treasury of the United States, along with the United Nations, have designated the Harakat-ul Jihad Islami (HUJI), an entity that they said was “operating in India and Pakistan”, a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO). Both wings of the U.S. government and the United Nations further designated HUJI commander Mohammad Ilyas Kashmiri as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
In a statement, the Treasury and State Department said Mr. Kashmiri was designated SDGT for “supporting acts of terrorism and for acting for or on behalf of HUJI” and the action against him was taken pursuant to Executive Order 13224, which froze any assets that Mr. Kashmiri had under U.S. jurisdiction. The SDGT designation also prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in any transactions with him.
The UN in a statement noted that the Security Council al-Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Committee "approved the addition of the two [entities – HUJI and Mr. Kashmiri] to its Consolidated List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo". As per the action taken by the UN, all its member states would be required to implement an asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo against this group and individual.
Daniel Benjamin, State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism, said, “The linkages between HUJI and al-Qaeda are clear, and today’s designations convey the operational relationship between these organisations.”
Operations in South Asia
Touching upon some of the key activities of HUJI that led to its FTO designation, the State Department said the organisation’s area of operation extended throughout South Asia, with its terrorist operations “focused primarily in India and Pakistan".
In particular, HUJI was held responsible for terrorist attacks in India including the May 2007 Hyderabad mosque attack, in which 16 were killed and the March 2007 Varanasi attack, in which 25 were killed. Mr. Kashmiri has also been linked to David Coleman Headley, currently in a jail in Chicago over charges that he had helped plan the Mumbai attack of November 2008.
Further the State Department noted that in January 2009, a federal grand jury had indicted Mr. Kashmiri for terrorism-related offenses in connection with a terrorist attack against the Jyllands-Posten newspaper in Denmark. It added that he had also been connected to the suicide bombing of the U.S. consulate in Karachi, which killed four people including U.S. diplomat David Foy.
The U.S. authorities underscored the fact that Mr. Kashmiri and HUJI had also attacked targets within Pakistan. The Treasury said that as commander of HUJI, Mr. Kashmiri provided support to al-Qaeda operations, supporting its attacks against Pakistani government personnel and facilities. The Treasury, in particular, cited the 2009 attack against the offices of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence and the Pakistani police in Lahore, in which 23 people were killed.
Mr. Kashmiri was also said to have directed the October 2008 assassination of the former commander of the Pakistani Special Services Group, General Amir Faisal Alvi, “in retaliation for his role in the fight against militants in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan".
Labels: Harkat-ul Jihad, terrorism
Thursday, June 10, 2010
India among the least peaceful places
From The Hindu
India is among the least peaceful of major countries in the world and is getting even less peaceful year on year.
This was the major finding of the Global Peace Index (GPI) Report an annual publication by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), a global think tank focused on researching the relationship between economics, business and peace.
According to the 2010 report, which considered a range of peace-related variables among 149 countries, India’s rank was 128, six ranks lower than its 2009 position.
Some of India’s key neighbours in South Asia ranked in the bottom 20 per cent along with India — Sri Lanka was ranked 133rd, Pakistan 145th, Afghanistan 147th. However, Nepal did much better, ranked in 82nd place and Bangladesh in 87th. Bhutan, ranked at 36th, narrowly missed being in the top 20 per cent of nations.
Commenting on the results, the IEP said, “South Asia saw the greatest decrease in peacefulness, as a result of increased involvement in conflicts, a rise in deaths from internal conflict and human rights abuses. It added, “The main countries experiencing decreases in peacefulness were India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.”
The report’s authors also observed that, overall, the world became “slightly less peaceful in the past year”, adding that in some nations, an intensification of conflicts and growing instability appears to be linked to the global economic downturn in late 2008 and early 2009.
Hinting at the possibility that rapid development might have brought more conflict in its wake the IEP also noted, “Three BRIC countries — Russia (143), India (128) and China (80) — saw substantial declines in peacefulness.” However Brazil’s score remained essentially stable (83) compared to the 2009 Index.
While most developed countries including those of Western Europe and Canada, ranked in the top 20 per cent of peaceful nations, the United States was an anomaly in this regard, ranking at 85th, outranked by countries such as Rwanda, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Ranked low in Asia-Pacific region
India also ranked 19th out of 25 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The leader in the region, New Zealand, was also the most peaceful nation globally. Close on its heels were Iceland and Japan. Iraq was estimated to be the least peaceful among all countries, accompanied at the bottom of the table by Somalia, Afghanistan and Sudan.
The identification and weighting of indicators in the GPI, which is compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit, was undertaken by an international panel of experts in the study of peace.
“How peaceful a country is depends on the internal structures, institutions, and attitudes that sustain and promote peace as well as on external factors,” said Clyde McConaghy, board director of the IEP.
He added, “This year’s top five countries, and more peaceful countries in general, have certain things in common: well functioning governments, stable business environments, respect for human rights, low levels of corruption, high rates of participation in education, and freedom of information.”
Labels: civil unrest, global peace index, GPI, human rights abuse, terrorism
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Obama visit in early November
From The Hindu
President Barack Obama on Thursday announced that he would be visiting India in early November 2010.
Speaking to a packed reception hall at the State Department building in Foggy Bottom, Mr. Obama said, “During his state visit, the Prime Minister graciously invited me and my family to visit India this year, and I happily accepted. And as I confirmed to him when we spoke last week, I am delighted to announce tonight that I plan to visit India in early November.”
As it happened, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, speaking just before Mr. Obama, had reiterated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s, and indeed, all of India’s anticipation of the Obama family visit later this year.
The President said he looked forward to advancing the U.S.-India partnership, to experiencing all that India and its people and its incredible ancient culture had to offer, adding in a lighter vein, "And I intend to create an ‘Obama Platter'" after noting earlier that a restaurant in New Delhi was now serving a ‘Hillary Platter’.
PTI Adds
A senior Administration official later said the dates of President Obama's travel to India have been fixed from November 7 to 10. It is expected to be announced closer to the visit. The First Lady would also travel with Mr. Obama to India.
Looking forward to his visit to India, Mr. Obama quoted from an eminent European scholar who travelled to India more than a century ago: “Whatever sphere of the human mind you may select for your special study, whether it be language or religion or mythology or philosophy, whether it be law or customs, primitive art, or science, you have to go to India, because," he said, "some of the most valuable and instructive material of the history of man are treasured up in India, and India only".
Mr. Obama said: "So when it comes to the sphere of our work, building a future of greater prosperity, opportunity and security for our people, there is no doubt; I have to go India. But even more, I am proud to go to India, and I look forward to the history that we will make together, progress that will be treasured not just by this generation but by generations to come."
Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Krishna said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recalls very warmly his meeting with the U.S. President at the successful Nuclear Security Summit in April 2010. “He and over one billion citizens of India look forward to welcoming you and your family later this year,” the External Affairs Minister said. “A very warm and heartfelt welcome awaits you and the family,” he added.
Labels: civil nuclear deal, Indo-U.S. relations, Obama India visit, terrorism
Saturday, April 10, 2010
U.S. aid to NWFP police
From The Hindu
The State Department on Friday announced that it had donated communications equipment to the North West Frontier Province police, valued at $130,000. It added that in 2009 alone, United States civilian law enforcement assistance -- including equipment, training, and refurbishment of police facilities -- totalled $49,500,000.
In a press release the State Department said, “Following the attack on the United States Consulate General in Peshawar, Assistant Secretary Johnson and U.S. Embassy Islamabad Deputy Chief of Mission Gerald Feierstein visited Peshawar on Tuesday, April 6,” to make the donation.
The equipment includes 41 vehicle radio systems, 200 hand-held wireless radios, and two radio repeaters to NWFP Additional Inspector General of Police Abdul Majeed. “This latest instalment of equipment underscores our country's ongoing commitment to support Pakistan’s police,” the Assistant Secretary said. “We are standing by Pakistan in the face of terrorist attacks.”
The State Department also said that Assistant Secretary David Johnson for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs had visited Pakistan over the last two days, when he met with government officials from the Ministry of Interior, the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas to discuss U. S. government-funded police training, infrastructure, and border security programmes.
The State Department on Friday announced that it had donated communications equipment to the North West Frontier Province police, valued at $130,000. It added that in 2009 alone, United States civilian law enforcement assistance -- including equipment, training, and refurbishment of police facilities -- totalled $49,500,000.
In a press release the State Department said, “Following the attack on the United States Consulate General in Peshawar, Assistant Secretary Johnson and U.S. Embassy Islamabad Deputy Chief of Mission Gerald Feierstein visited Peshawar on Tuesday, April 6,” to make the donation.
The equipment includes 41 vehicle radio systems, 200 hand-held wireless radios, and two radio repeaters to NWFP Additional Inspector General of Police Abdul Majeed. “This latest instalment of equipment underscores our country's ongoing commitment to support Pakistan’s police,” the Assistant Secretary said. “We are standing by Pakistan in the face of terrorist attacks.”
The State Department also said that Assistant Secretary David Johnson for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs had visited Pakistan over the last two days, when he met with government officials from the Ministry of Interior, the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas to discuss U. S. government-funded police training, infrastructure, and border security programmes.
Labels: civil law enforcement, NWFP, Pakistan, security measures, terrorism, U.S.
U.S.-born cleric added to CIA “kill list”
From The Hindu
The Central Intelligence Agency today announced that it has added radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, suspected to be residing in Yemen, to its target list. This makes al-Awlaki only the second U.S. citizen since 2001 whom CIA agents have authorisation to kill or capture.
According to reports the decision to put Awlaki on the “kill list” was taken after U.S. intelligence officials confirmed that he had a key operational role in terrorist attacks.
Reports in January cited U.S. security sources saying that they had “concrete and independent confirmation that al-Awlaki had met with Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian accused in the botched Christmas day terror attack aboard an aircraft; and that al-Awlaki had contact with U.S. Army Major Nidal Hasan, accused of killing 13 people in last November in Fort Hood, Texas.
Sources in the security establishment here said that al-Awlaki has played a key role in the transformation of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Yemeni wing of the terrorist network, into the “most active affiliate outside Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
Media reports said Al-Awlaki was known for “delivering fiery sermons at U.S. mosques before moving to Yemen in 2004.” However until his ties to terror suspect Hasan became clear, he was not considered an operational planner.
Al-Awlaki’s addition to the target list came even as Dennis Blair, Director of U.S. National Intelligence said that the government would be willing to “take out” Americans abroad if they present a direct threat to U.S. security: “We take direct action against terrorists in the intelligence community… If… we think that direct action will involve killing an American, we get specific permission to do that,” Mr. Blair said.
Labels: spy agencies, terrorism
Monday, April 05, 2010
India access to Headley “down to logistics”
From The Hindu
The question of providing Indian authorities with access to terror suspect David Coleman Headley is now “down to logistics,” a spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Investigation said today.
Speaking to The Hindu, Special Agent Ross Rice of the Chicago FBI said, “As per his plea agreement Mr. Headley has agreed to cooperate with U.S. and other authorities. If he does not do so, it will be a violation of his plea agreement and his case will then go back to the courts for further review.”
Mr. Rice suggested that the plea agreement worked both ways: “The plea agreement requires Mr. Headley to do certain things, including cooperate with the authorities. It also requires U.S. authorities to do certain things.” He implied that Mr. Headley would need to continue sharing information if he wished to see the U.S. government hold up its end of the bargain.
Mr. Rice confirmed that discussions for providing Indian authorities with access to Mr. Headley were underway and U.S. authorities were hopeful that this would happen in due course. He added, “It is simply down to deciding when, and where, who from the Indian side would be present, whether it would be with Mr. Headley’s attorneys present, whether U.S. authorities would be present and so forth.”
When the logistics for any interviews with Mr. Headley were finalised it would not be announced to the public in any case, due to security concerns, Mr. Rice said.
Labels: 26/11 attacks, David Headley, India, mumbai terror, terrorism, U.S.
Friday, March 26, 2010
U.S. fund for Pakistani energy initiative
From The Hindu
According to a statement by the State Department Rajiv Shah, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will sign three implementation letters committing $51 million to “rehabilitate, refurbish and upgrade three energy projects in Pakistan.”
The announcement came towards the end of the U.S.' Strategic Dialogue with Pakistan, including discussions between Pakistani Foreign Secretary Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Touching on the background to the initiative Ms. Clinton said, “We are working together to ensure that Pakistanis have access to affordable and reliable power, which is essential to funding economic development. When I was in Islamabad in October, we announced a signature energy program.” She said the three thermal power station rehabilitation projects would lead to more electricity in Pakistan.
The State Department said the USAID's investment in the Pakistani energy sector would target the Guddu Thermal Power Station, Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Station and the Jamshoro Thermal Plant. This investment would be “a major step in its partnership with the people and Government of Pakistan towards creating a stable, prosperous and peaceful Pakistan,” the statement said.
Road projects
America and Pakistan also announced plans for the U.S. to spend $40 million to reconstruct and develop two roads in Pakistan of strategic importance. The announcement of the project came on Thursday, towards the end of the ongoing Strategic Dialogue between the two countries.
In a press statement Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew and Pakistan's Finance Secretary Salman Siddique said a letter of intent was signed regarding the “construction of priority roads in Pakistan to aid in Malakand Reconstruction.” The two roads that will be upgraded using investments from the U.S. are the Peshawar Ring Road and the road from Kanju to Madyan in Swat, North West Frontier Province.Providing justification for the project the Secretaries said, “Better roads improve security by enhancing access by law enforcement officials, lower the cost of marketing farm output, enhance trade and transportation, and generate jobs.” They added that the projects would be executed through the NWFP Government and will be awarded to Pakistani companies using established, competitive procedures.The first stretch of road under this project, the 43-kilometre-long Kanju-Madyan road in Swat, NWFP is strategically important road to the devastated Swat area as it would facilitate the movements of security forces, help maintain public safety, and address post conflict infrastructure rehabilitation. The Swat area was the site of a major military offensive during the summer of 2009 when the Pakistani military pushed forward into erstwhile militant strongholds.The statement said that the second project would focus on reconstructing the Peshawar Ring Road “which passes through rural areas, by adding a third truck lane, constructing a four kilometer bypass of the Hayatabad residential area, and linking the road to the Matani bypass road that the United States is currently supporting.”The Secretaries noted that the Peshawar Ring Road is now the main route for “heavy trucks and trailers traveling through the Torkam Pass, the major trade route to and from Afghanistan.” The important problem that the road improvement project would help resolve is the vulnerability of vehicles to criminal elements along the way due to the severe damage to the road, which slows traffic.
Broader context of U.S. aid to Pakistan
Underscoring Pakistan's importance to the United States and the need to support it with financial aid, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “In Pakistan, our efforts are vital to success in Afghanistan, but also to our own American security. We've made it a strategic priority to strengthen our partnership with the Pakistani people.”
Speaking at the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, Ms. Clinton added that based on the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, she was requesting $370 million for assistance and operations to “allow us to expand civilian cooperation at a critical moment.”
However she said she was “under no illusion that success in this arena will come quickly or easily.” Yet there were signs of improvement, including the Pakistani Government's “important offenses in Swat, South Waziristan, and throughout the country,” she explained.
Calling for more humanitarian assistance to avoid the further spread of extremism in these regions, she said success would depend on “rapidly and sustainably scaling up our efforts,” particularly in high-impact projects that visibly demonstrated U.S. long-term commitment to helping the Pakistanis build capacity while ensuring accountability.
According to a statement by the State Department Rajiv Shah, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will sign three implementation letters committing $51 million to “rehabilitate, refurbish and upgrade three energy projects in Pakistan.”
The announcement came towards the end of the U.S.' Strategic Dialogue with Pakistan, including discussions between Pakistani Foreign Secretary Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Touching on the background to the initiative Ms. Clinton said, “We are working together to ensure that Pakistanis have access to affordable and reliable power, which is essential to funding economic development. When I was in Islamabad in October, we announced a signature energy program.” She said the three thermal power station rehabilitation projects would lead to more electricity in Pakistan.
The State Department said the USAID's investment in the Pakistani energy sector would target the Guddu Thermal Power Station, Muzaffargarh Thermal Power Station and the Jamshoro Thermal Plant. This investment would be “a major step in its partnership with the people and Government of Pakistan towards creating a stable, prosperous and peaceful Pakistan,” the statement said.
Road projects
America and Pakistan also announced plans for the U.S. to spend $40 million to reconstruct and develop two roads in Pakistan of strategic importance. The announcement of the project came on Thursday, towards the end of the ongoing Strategic Dialogue between the two countries.
In a press statement Deputy Secretary of State Jacob Lew and Pakistan's Finance Secretary Salman Siddique said a letter of intent was signed regarding the “construction of priority roads in Pakistan to aid in Malakand Reconstruction.” The two roads that will be upgraded using investments from the U.S. are the Peshawar Ring Road and the road from Kanju to Madyan in Swat, North West Frontier Province.Providing justification for the project the Secretaries said, “Better roads improve security by enhancing access by law enforcement officials, lower the cost of marketing farm output, enhance trade and transportation, and generate jobs.” They added that the projects would be executed through the NWFP Government and will be awarded to Pakistani companies using established, competitive procedures.The first stretch of road under this project, the 43-kilometre-long Kanju-Madyan road in Swat, NWFP is strategically important road to the devastated Swat area as it would facilitate the movements of security forces, help maintain public safety, and address post conflict infrastructure rehabilitation. The Swat area was the site of a major military offensive during the summer of 2009 when the Pakistani military pushed forward into erstwhile militant strongholds.The statement said that the second project would focus on reconstructing the Peshawar Ring Road “which passes through rural areas, by adding a third truck lane, constructing a four kilometer bypass of the Hayatabad residential area, and linking the road to the Matani bypass road that the United States is currently supporting.”The Secretaries noted that the Peshawar Ring Road is now the main route for “heavy trucks and trailers traveling through the Torkam Pass, the major trade route to and from Afghanistan.” The important problem that the road improvement project would help resolve is the vulnerability of vehicles to criminal elements along the way due to the severe damage to the road, which slows traffic.
Broader context of U.S. aid to Pakistan
Underscoring Pakistan's importance to the United States and the need to support it with financial aid, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “In Pakistan, our efforts are vital to success in Afghanistan, but also to our own American security. We've made it a strategic priority to strengthen our partnership with the Pakistani people.”
Speaking at the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, Ms. Clinton added that based on the U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, she was requesting $370 million for assistance and operations to “allow us to expand civilian cooperation at a critical moment.”
However she said she was “under no illusion that success in this arena will come quickly or easily.” Yet there were signs of improvement, including the Pakistani Government's “important offenses in Swat, South Waziristan, and throughout the country,” she explained.
Calling for more humanitarian assistance to avoid the further spread of extremism in these regions, she said success would depend on “rapidly and sustainably scaling up our efforts,” particularly in high-impact projects that visibly demonstrated U.S. long-term commitment to helping the Pakistanis build capacity while ensuring accountability.
Labels: Swat, terrorism, U.S. aid
Saturday, March 20, 2010
U.S. "extremely gratified" by Pak arrest of Baradar: Holbrooke
From The Hindu
At a press briefing on the upcoming Strategic Dialogue between the Untied States and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, said the U.S. was “extremely gratified that the Pakistani Government has apprehended the number-two person in the Taliban.”
His reaction comes shortly on the back of revelations by former UN staff that secret negotiations with the Taliban for greater peace in Afghanistan might have slowed down due to the arrest of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Afghan Taliban’s number two commander.
Mr. Holbrooke said many other militants and groups have been picked up or eliminated, and this is increasing the pressure on the Taliban; he added that this was “a good thing for the simplest of reasons: It is good for the military efforts that are underway in Afghanistan.”
Mr. Holbrooke was asked about the revelation by former UN Representative in Afghanistan Kai Eide that he was in talks with senior Taliban leaders since last spring and that those talks were shut down after the Pakistani authorities began arresting senior Afghan Taliban leaders like Baradar.
Reacting to the question about revelations by former UN Representative in Afghanistan Kai Eide that he was in talks with senior Taliban leaders since last spring and that those talks were shut down after the Pakistan arrested Baradar, he said, the arrest “is not related to the issue that you’re addressing.” President Karzai has said he wanted a reconciliation program with all Afghans, including people fighting with the Taliban and President Obama has said we support Afghan-led reconciliation, Mr. Holbrooke said.
On the importance of the talks to U.S.-Pakistan relationships Mr. Holbrooke said, “It marks a major intensification of our partnership, and we welcome the extremely high caliber delegation which Pakistan is sending. It will be lead, of course, by Foreign Minister Qureshi..” He added that President Obama and Secretary Clinton have long stressed the breadth and depth of the U.S.-Pakistan relationship: “This is a partnership that goes far beyond security, but security’s an important part of it,” he said.
Clarifying the intention behind the Strategic Dialogue Mr. Holbrooke said “This strategic dialogue with Pakistan is not at the expense of any other country in the region.” Also there would be no question of telling Pakistan what to do militarily in North Waziristan: “”The Pakistani army, since May of last year, has gone into Swat, where two divisions remain. They have gone into South Waziristan, where an additional number of troops are deployed. They have taken remarkable steps to push back people who threaten their security. What they do in North Waziristan is a decision for them to make.”
However a few days ago Mark Toner, Deputy Spokesman at the State Department said in press interaction, “Obviously, we’re talking about… Afghanistan, the situation there, the spill-over into the FATA [Federally Administered Tribal Areas] and how to really better engage. And in fact, we’ve seen some successes on that front in recent weeks on terrorism,” he added.
In terms of substantively content of the dialogue, Mr. Holbrooke explained that the two countries would “talk about our basic core objectives, [including] defeating, destroying al-Qaida; helping the Afghans become self-reliant so they can take care of their own security; strengthening Pakistan’s ability to – with its own security; development; strengthening democratic institutions.”
Mr. Holbrooke expressed hope that the next round of Strategic Dialogue would be held in Islamabad “within the next six months.”
Labels: al Qaeda, Holbrooke, ISI, Kayani, Mumbai attacks, terrorism, U.S Special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Zardari
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Rao emphasises India's role in Afghanistan
From The Hindu
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao has concluded her visit to Washington, during which she impressed upon U.S. officials the importance of India’s continued commitment to its developmental work in Afghanistan. Her trip also saw a sharp focus on high-tech trade and the Strategic Dialogue that was initiated last July when Secretary Clinton visited India.
In a brief to U.S. interlocutors earlier this week Ms. Rao drew attention to several key regional issues according to Rahul Chhabra of the Indian Embassy, including her talks with the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan in February. She also touched upon the recent developments in Afghanistan and stressed “that Afghanistan presented the foremost security related challenge in the region,” Mr. Chhabra said. In that context, Ms. Rao emphasised the need “for the international community to stay the present course in Afghanistan for as long as it is necessary.” U.S. officials reportedly conveyed their appreciation of the important developmental work being done by India in Afghanistan.
Further Ms. Rao also co-chaired the 7th meeting of the India-United States High Technology Cooperation Group. Addressing the officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce, she used the platform to push for a favourable review of U.S. export controls applicable to India, to bring them in line with “the changed political realities that contextualise India-U.S. strategic partnership today.”
Two days of deliberations — between the industry representatives of both countries followed by the government-to-government meetings to consider the recommendations of the industry — led to a consolidation of the progress made in the last five years and identified the next steps for further expanding high technology trade. The dialogue particularly focused on the areas of defence and strategic trade, biotechnology, and nanotechnology, with agreement on the need to create new groups on health, IT and civil aviation.
India-U.S. Strategic Dialogue
Ms. Rao also met with a number of senior administration officials to further the India-U.S. Strategic Dialogue, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, William Burns, National Security Advisor, James Jones, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Robert Hormats, and Under Secretary of State for Democracy Global Affairs, Maria Otero. Further, she interacted with Congressman Gary Ackerman — who headed up the recent Congressional hearing on Lashkar-e-Taiba — and Senator Joseph Lieberman.
Mr. Chhabra said at these bilateral meetings, the Foreign Secretary had the opportunity to review the progress “on various pillars of India-U.S. Strategic Dialogue agenda including cooperation in defence, nuclear energy, counter-terrorism, agriculture, education, energy, space and cyber-security.”
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao has concluded her visit to Washington, during which she impressed upon U.S. officials the importance of India’s continued commitment to its developmental work in Afghanistan. Her trip also saw a sharp focus on high-tech trade and the Strategic Dialogue that was initiated last July when Secretary Clinton visited India.
In a brief to U.S. interlocutors earlier this week Ms. Rao drew attention to several key regional issues according to Rahul Chhabra of the Indian Embassy, including her talks with the Foreign Secretary of Pakistan in February. She also touched upon the recent developments in Afghanistan and stressed “that Afghanistan presented the foremost security related challenge in the region,” Mr. Chhabra said. In that context, Ms. Rao emphasised the need “for the international community to stay the present course in Afghanistan for as long as it is necessary.” U.S. officials reportedly conveyed their appreciation of the important developmental work being done by India in Afghanistan.
Further Ms. Rao also co-chaired the 7th meeting of the India-United States High Technology Cooperation Group. Addressing the officials from the U.S. Department of Commerce, she used the platform to push for a favourable review of U.S. export controls applicable to India, to bring them in line with “the changed political realities that contextualise India-U.S. strategic partnership today.”
Two days of deliberations — between the industry representatives of both countries followed by the government-to-government meetings to consider the recommendations of the industry — led to a consolidation of the progress made in the last five years and identified the next steps for further expanding high technology trade. The dialogue particularly focused on the areas of defence and strategic trade, biotechnology, and nanotechnology, with agreement on the need to create new groups on health, IT and civil aviation.
India-U.S. Strategic Dialogue
Ms. Rao also met with a number of senior administration officials to further the India-U.S. Strategic Dialogue, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, William Burns, National Security Advisor, James Jones, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Robert Hormats, and Under Secretary of State for Democracy Global Affairs, Maria Otero. Further, she interacted with Congressman Gary Ackerman — who headed up the recent Congressional hearing on Lashkar-e-Taiba — and Senator Joseph Lieberman.
Mr. Chhabra said at these bilateral meetings, the Foreign Secretary had the opportunity to review the progress “on various pillars of India-U.S. Strategic Dialogue agenda including cooperation in defence, nuclear energy, counter-terrorism, agriculture, education, energy, space and cyber-security.”
Labels: Foreign Secretary, Hillary Clinton, India, Indo-Pak talks, Nirupama Rao, Pakistan, Secretary of State, Strategic Dialogue, terrorism, U.S. officials
Friday, March 12, 2010
Rove: proud of waterboarding use
From The Hindu
Karl Rove, senior adviser to the former President, George W. Bush, said he was “proud” of the fact that the U.S. had used waterboarding, an “enhanced interrogation” technique, as it “broke the will of these terrorists and gave us valuable information” about various terror plots.
Speaking to the BBC about his recently published memoir, Courage And Consequence, Mr. Rove said, “I'm proud that we kept the world safer than it was, by the use of these techniques. They're appropriate, they're in conformity with our international requirements and with U.S. law.”
Waterboarding is method using water to cut off oxygen and to create a sensation of drowning, enhancing the subject's fear of death considerably. A notable case in the use of the technique was Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, charged with masterminding the 9/11 attacks.
In the aftermath of being waterboarded, Mohammed confessed to 31 terror-related crimes — from 9/11 and the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center to assassination attempts on the Pope. Last year, President Obama banned the use waterboarding in interrogation.
Mr. Rove argued that the information derived from prisoners had allowed the U.S. to “foil plots such as flying aeroplanes into Heathrow and into London, bringing down aircraft over the Pacific [and] flying an aeroplane into the tallest building in Los Angeles”.
Mr. Rove denied that waterboarding was torture, saying “People need to read the memos that outline what was permissible and not permissible before they make a judgment about these things because the purpose of the memos was to delineate what met our legal obligations and what was appropriate.”
Every person who was waterboarded had a doctor present to ascertain that there would be no long-lasting physical or mental damage to them and they were told, “You are not going to drown.”
Karl Rove, senior adviser to the former President, George W. Bush, said he was “proud” of the fact that the U.S. had used waterboarding, an “enhanced interrogation” technique, as it “broke the will of these terrorists and gave us valuable information” about various terror plots.
Speaking to the BBC about his recently published memoir, Courage And Consequence, Mr. Rove said, “I'm proud that we kept the world safer than it was, by the use of these techniques. They're appropriate, they're in conformity with our international requirements and with U.S. law.”
Waterboarding is method using water to cut off oxygen and to create a sensation of drowning, enhancing the subject's fear of death considerably. A notable case in the use of the technique was Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, charged with masterminding the 9/11 attacks.
In the aftermath of being waterboarded, Mohammed confessed to 31 terror-related crimes — from 9/11 and the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center to assassination attempts on the Pope. Last year, President Obama banned the use waterboarding in interrogation.
Mr. Rove argued that the information derived from prisoners had allowed the U.S. to “foil plots such as flying aeroplanes into Heathrow and into London, bringing down aircraft over the Pacific [and] flying an aeroplane into the tallest building in Los Angeles”.
Mr. Rove denied that waterboarding was torture, saying “People need to read the memos that outline what was permissible and not permissible before they make a judgment about these things because the purpose of the memos was to delineate what met our legal obligations and what was appropriate.”
Every person who was waterboarded had a doctor present to ascertain that there would be no long-lasting physical or mental damage to them and they were told, “You are not going to drown.”
Labels: George W. Bush, Karl Rove, senior adviser, terrorism, waterboarding use
U.S. should take LeT threat 'very very seriously': Ackerman
From The Hindu
In an unmistakable sign of rising concern in the United States over the expansive reach of the militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a Congressional hearing on Thursday emphasised the urgent need to “crush” the group.
Gary Ackerman, Chairman of the hearing, “Bad Company: Lashkar e-Taiba and the Growing Ambition of Islamist Militancy in Pakistan”, said that in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks in 2008, investigation of computer records and email accounts revealed 320 locations worldwide deemed to be possible targets of LeT attacks, of which only 20 targets were located in India.
Highlighting the relationship between the LeT and the Pakistani military, Mr. Ackerman said the LeT was a deadly group of “fanatics” and the U.S. ought to take this threat “very, very seriously.”
Ms. Lisa Curtis, Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation and expert witness testifying at the hearing, said, “It has been a failure of U.S. policy to not insist Pakistan shut down the LeT long ago. U.S. officials have shied away from pressuring Pakistan on the LeT in the interest of garnering Pakistani cooperation against targets the U.S. believed were more critical to immediate U.S. objectives, i.e., al-Qaeda shortly after 9/11 and the Afghan Taliban more recently.”
However, overlooking the activities of LeT in Pakistan is the equivalent of standing next to a ticking time bomb waiting for it to explode, Ms. Curtis warned. Furthermore, given that the LeT has cooperated with Al-Qaeda and shares a similar anti-west Islamist ideology, Al-Qaeda cannot be dismantled without also shutting down the operations of the LeT, she said.
'Delicate dance with a Frankenstein’s monster'
Mr. Ackerman pointed out that today LeT were well-financed, ambitious, and, most disturbingly, both tolerated by and connected to, the Pakistani military. This is the same Pakistani military to which we are selling advanced arms, Mr. Ackerman added. There was agreement at the Committee that “Pakistan was in a delicate dance with a Frankenstein’s monster of its own making... which was now going global.”
Mr. Ashley Tellis, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, concurred on LeT’s deep links to the establishment in Pakistan. He said, “LeT… uses Pakistani territory as its main base of operation, and continues to be supported extensively by the Pakistani state, especially the Army and Inter-Services Intelligence. [However] it does not need constant operational support from the ISI for its effectiveness today.”
'Not just India's problem'
The Chairman’s report at the hearing described the LeT’s substantial global network, stating that it stretched from the Philippines to the United Kingdom. His comments further emphasised that the LeT was not just India’s problem and while it was historically been in the Kashmir valley and the Jammu region, it has also undertaken repeated and numerous mass casualty attacks throughout India, directed at the Indian government.
Touching upon LeT’s broader global agenda Mr. Tellis said, “The organisation’s close ties with al-Qaeda in Pakistan and its support for the Afghan Taliban’s military operations pose a direct threat to U.S. citizens, soldiers, and interests.”
The Chairman categorically stated, “The idea that this group can be appeased on the subject of Kashmir is dangerous nonsense.” He further added that the LeT has not been shy about announcing its intention to establish an Islamic state in all of South Asia, and has been attacking U.S. forces in Afghanistan almost from day one.
During his testimony Mr. Tellis called for greater candidness by the U.S., saying it should stop pretending that LeT is an independent actor. “A candid recognition that the organisation receives protection and support from the Pakistani state would go a long way toward solving the problem”, Mr. Tellis said. He further exhorted the U.S. to be prepared to take action if Pakistan did not move decisively against the LeT.
In his final remarks Mr. Ackerman made a strong statement calling for action, saying, “This group of savages needs to be crushed. Not in a month. Not in a year. Not when the situation stabilises in Afghanistan. Not when things are under control in Pakistan. Now.” If the U.S. did not effectively lead a global effort to do so, Mr. Ackerman added, they would regret it bitterly.
Gary Ackerman, Chairman of the hearing, “Bad Company: Lashkar e-Taiba and the Growing Ambition of Islamist Militancy in Pakistan”, said that in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks in 2008, investigation of computer records and email accounts revealed 320 locations worldwide deemed to be possible targets of LeT attacks, of which only 20 targets were located in India.
Highlighting the relationship between the LeT and the Pakistani military, Mr. Ackerman said the LeT was a deadly group of “fanatics” and the U.S. ought to take this threat “very, very seriously.”
Ms. Lisa Curtis, Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation and expert witness testifying at the hearing, said, “It has been a failure of U.S. policy to not insist Pakistan shut down the LeT long ago. U.S. officials have shied away from pressuring Pakistan on the LeT in the interest of garnering Pakistani cooperation against targets the U.S. believed were more critical to immediate U.S. objectives, i.e., al-Qaeda shortly after 9/11 and the Afghan Taliban more recently.”
However, overlooking the activities of LeT in Pakistan is the equivalent of standing next to a ticking time bomb waiting for it to explode, Ms. Curtis warned. Furthermore, given that the LeT has cooperated with Al-Qaeda and shares a similar anti-west Islamist ideology, Al-Qaeda cannot be dismantled without also shutting down the operations of the LeT, she said.
'Delicate dance with a Frankenstein’s monster'
Mr. Ackerman pointed out that today LeT were well-financed, ambitious, and, most disturbingly, both tolerated by and connected to, the Pakistani military. This is the same Pakistani military to which we are selling advanced arms, Mr. Ackerman added. There was agreement at the Committee that “Pakistan was in a delicate dance with a Frankenstein’s monster of its own making... which was now going global.”
Mr. Ashley Tellis, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, concurred on LeT’s deep links to the establishment in Pakistan. He said, “LeT… uses Pakistani territory as its main base of operation, and continues to be supported extensively by the Pakistani state, especially the Army and Inter-Services Intelligence. [However] it does not need constant operational support from the ISI for its effectiveness today.”
'Not just India's problem'
The Chairman’s report at the hearing described the LeT’s substantial global network, stating that it stretched from the Philippines to the United Kingdom. His comments further emphasised that the LeT was not just India’s problem and while it was historically been in the Kashmir valley and the Jammu region, it has also undertaken repeated and numerous mass casualty attacks throughout India, directed at the Indian government.
Touching upon LeT’s broader global agenda Mr. Tellis said, “The organisation’s close ties with al-Qaeda in Pakistan and its support for the Afghan Taliban’s military operations pose a direct threat to U.S. citizens, soldiers, and interests.”
The Chairman categorically stated, “The idea that this group can be appeased on the subject of Kashmir is dangerous nonsense.” He further added that the LeT has not been shy about announcing its intention to establish an Islamic state in all of South Asia, and has been attacking U.S. forces in Afghanistan almost from day one.
During his testimony Mr. Tellis called for greater candidness by the U.S., saying it should stop pretending that LeT is an independent actor. “A candid recognition that the organisation receives protection and support from the Pakistani state would go a long way toward solving the problem”, Mr. Tellis said. He further exhorted the U.S. to be prepared to take action if Pakistan did not move decisively against the LeT.
In his final remarks Mr. Ackerman made a strong statement calling for action, saying, “This group of savages needs to be crushed. Not in a month. Not in a year. Not when the situation stabilises in Afghanistan. Not when things are under control in Pakistan. Now.” If the U.S. did not effectively lead a global effort to do so, Mr. Ackerman added, they would regret it bitterly.
Labels: al Qaeda, HuJI, LeT, mumbai terror, Pakistan, terrorism
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