Karachi, 26 Jan. (AKI) - (by Syed Saleem Shahzad) - A former close aide of Osama bin Laden, who was also a former official with Pakistan's powerful secret service Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) during the 1980s, Khalid Khawaja was allegedly picked up by Pakistan's military intelligence early Friday morning, family sources told Adnkronos International (AKI). A retired Pakistan Air Force squadron leader, Khawaja is currently the chief coodinator of the Islamic Centre for Research and Defence of Human Rights, an organisation which campaigns on the behalf of relatives of terrorism suspects who have "disappeared".
I guess "irony" doesn't cover it by half....
"He went to say his morning prayers in his (Islamabad) neighbourhood mosque and did not come back," Khawajas son Osama Khalid told Adnkronos International (AKI) in a telephone interview. "I spoke to the prayer leader of the mosque but he maintained that Khawaja comes every day to say his prayers but this morning he did not show up," he said.
Khalid Khawaja was a senior official of ISI when it was fuelling jihadi resistance movements against the Soviets in Afghanistan. After being forced to retire from the Pakistan Air Force and the ISI on the instructions of former military dicatator General Zia ul-Haq, he went to Afghanistan and fought alongside with Osama bin Laden.
Why do I think his "retirement" from the ISI was on paper only?
His Islamic Center for Research and Defence of Human Rights in Islamabad has reportedly negotiated the release of some 20 suspects. "His disappearance is obviously a result of his role in the release of illegal detainees," said Osama Khalid. "Besides he was active in talks between the people who were protesting against the demolition of mosques and the Islamabad administration. Yesterday talks failed and this morning when my father went out to say his prayers in the nearby mosque, he was presumably picked up by Pakistani intelligence apparatus, Osama Khalid felt.
"Khalid! Long time, no see. Let's take a ride and talk about old times."
Even after Khawaja was forced into retirement, he was instrumental in many ISI operations especially those in Kashmir and also in forging national political alliances.
Like I said, you never "retire" from an intelligence service
He admitted in many interviews with Adnkronos International (AKI) that he allegedly secured funds from Osama bin Laden and even arranged many meetings between former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif and bin Laden in order to build a front against the secular Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by another former prime minister Benazir Bhutto.
Ahhhhh, perhaps he talked to one too many reporters
Khalid Khawajas name resurfaced when US reporter Daniel Pearl was abducted and subsequently killed. Pearl had come to Pakistan and met Khalid Khawaja in order to investigate the jihadi network of revered sufi, Syed Mubarak Ali Gailani.
So, we won't shed a tear over his hopefully painful demise
Last year in an interview with an American television channel, Pakistani president General Pervez Musharraf made remarks suggesting a possible link between former ISI officials and the Taliban suggesting that they were supporting the Afghan militant group. Khalid Khawaja was also named in the list of such former ISI officials, though Khawaja himslef denied any such involvement and said that he wished he could have supported Taliban.
So, as possibilities we have:
1. Skipped town on his own.
2. Skipped town with ISI help.
3. Picked up by ISI for a "talk"
4. Picked up by Pervez for a "talk" about the ISI
5. Wacked by ISI before he could talk
6. Wacked by parties unknown
7. Flying Space-A on CIA Ghost Jet to island resort
Posted by: Steve ||
01/26/2007 13:40 ||
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"even arranged many meetings between former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif and bin Laden in order to build a front against the secular Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by another former prime minister Benazir Bhutto."
For those seeking their daily dose of irony - Nawaz Sharif is the ex-husband of Benazir Bhutto.
Al
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
01/26/2007 14:14 Comments ||
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Shit. I glanced at the headline and thought it read, "Former Biden Aide 'picked Up' By Military Intelligence".
A brief moment of hope, dashed...
Posted by: Dave D. ||
01/26/2007 14:50 Comments ||
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A suicide bomber has killed himself and one other at a top hotel in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, officials say.
Police have sealed off the blast area in the car park of the Marriott hotel. "It was a suicide attack. The bomber and one security official of the hotel were killed," Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao told Reuters news agency.
The Marriott is located near government buildings and diplomatic missions. Police say at least five people hurt in the explosion were taken to hospital.
Witnesses say the bomber tried to enter the hotel through a back door that is used by staff. He was stopped by the security guard and detonated his explosives after a scuffle. The BBC's Barbara Plett at the scene says part of the hotel and a number of cars were also damaged.
Frightened hotel guests spoke of chaos after the explosion, which could be heard in other parts of the city. "I was taking lunch at the Royal Elephant Thai restaurant inside the Marriott when the entire restaurant was shaken by a bang," one guest, Mohammed Aamir, told the AFP news agency. "It literally shook us out of our seats. It was a huge bang. We rushed outside and there was chaos."
The city's Poly Clinic hospital said it was treating four of those injured in the explosion. "One is serious and three others have minor injuries," doctor Murtaza Nadeem told AFP.
The Marriott was due to host a reception later on Friday marking the 58th Republic Day of Pakistan's neighbour and rival, India. It is not clear if there is any link with the bombing.
Some observers say the bomber may have been trying to target a bar in the hotel's basement where Westerners and other foreigners gather. But they point out that if he had wanted to inflict maximum damage he would have entered by the front door.
Security at the Marriott is tight, with guests and vehicles subjected to checks. An explosion at the hotel in October 2004 injured five people.
Intelligence agencies have started collecting information about Maulana Masoodur Rehman Usmani, former leader of the proscribed Sipah-e-Sahabah Pakistan, to trace his alleged links with terrorist organisations following his threats to the government, sources told Daily Times. Usmani had warned the government in a rally on Wednesday that no church and imambargah would be safe if the government continued demolishing mosques built on encroached land.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/26/2007 00:00 ||
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A car bomb killed one man and injured six others on Thursday amidst preparations for Muharram 10 a day that witnessed carnage last year, said police. However, AFP reported that two men were killed in the attack and as many were injured. At the moment, it appears to be a suicide attack, Station House Officer of Hangu Police Saeed Khan told reporters.
Saeed said the dead man had been identified as Hayat, an Afghan refugee who was living in the Katakarni camp in Hangu.
Saeed said the dead man had been identified as Hayat, an Afghan refugee who was living in the Katakarni camp in Hangu. Deputy Inspector General of Kohat Police Salahuddin told reporters that police had arrested three men in connection with the attack on Thursday one in Kohat and the others in Peshawar. The motive for the blast was unknown. More than 40 mourners were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up on Muharram 10 in Hangu Bazaar last year. The blast on Thursday could serve as a warning for police to make foolproof security arrangements this year.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/26/2007 00:00 ||
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Dozens of men attacked the Jamaat-e-Islamis headquarters in Karachi, Idara-e-Noor-e-Haq following a clash between two student organisations in Islamia Government College across the road Thursday.
The first clash of the day erupted between some members of the Islami Jamiat Tulaba (IJT) and the Pakhtoonkhwa Students Federation (PSF) in Islamia Government College. IJT activists reportedly fled the college and took refuge in the JI headquarters on New MA Jinnah Road. The supporters of the other party followed them and allegedly attacked the building. The mob also damaged vehicles parked outside the JI office. They also pelted the office with stones and broke several windows in addition to damaging some furniture. At least four IJT supporters were reportedly injured in the clash.
The incident was the culmination of three days of building tension between the two groups. After the incident, IJT activists staged a sit-in on New M.A. Jinnah Road causing a problem for traffic. JI leader Nasrullah Shajjee reached the spot and persuaded them to disperse. Minor clashes were reported from three other colleges, including Federal Urdu University for Arts, Science and Technology, National Government College and Dawood Engineering College.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/26/2007 00:00 ||
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Talks between the district administration and caretakers of Jamia Hafsa (Lal Masjid) that followed last weeks demolition of two mosques broke down on Thursday.
The caretakers presented a set of demands to the administration at a meeting, which was convened by Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Sherpao. The demands put forward by the caretakers included the re-construction of one of the mosques and the formation of a committee of religious scholars to decide such matters. They also sought assurances against similar demolitions.
Following intelligence reports that Amir Hamza Mosque on Murree Road and another on Islamabad Highway could be used for terrorist activities, the Capital Development Authority and the town administration demolished both mosques. The Interior Ministry was told that the mosques, located along a route routinely used by VIPs, posed a real threat.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/26/2007 00:00 ||
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Seems to me the caretakers are holding, at best, half a pair, and not much chance of getting a good draw. And since their building they were 'taking care' of is now rubble, seems like they are pretty much out of a job.
Hit the road, Abdul....
DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Militants fired rockets at a security post in Shakai, but nobody was injured, AP quoted an intelligence official as saying on Thursday. According to the AP report, the attack took place on Wednesday in Shakai, South Waziristan. Militants fired 15 rockets at the post of the paramilitary Frontier Constabulary, but all landed in nearby fields, said the intelligence official. He said troops retaliated by firing rifles and machine guns, but it was not known whether the assailants had suffered any casualties.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/26/2007 00:00 ||
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(KUNA) -- At least two people were killed and five injured in three separate explosions Thursday in Assam, a state in Northeast India. One person was killed and five injured in a blast in Assam's Rangiya town today, news agency Indo-Asian News Service reported. There were two more explosions, one in Guwahati city and another in the Tinsukia district of Assam today, the news agency said.
No one was injured in the blast in Guwahati. In Tinsukia district, guerrilla from the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was killed when the explosive he was carrying went off, the news agency said. ULFA aims to create "sovereign Assam" carved out of India and waging an insurgency in the state since 1979. The group has incurred public wrath for the mindless killings in the recent years.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/26/2007 00:00 ||
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A suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militant, planning to carry out attacks in the capital, was arrested on Thursday with 2.5 kg of deadly RDX here on the eve of the Republic Day. Iftikhar Alam, hailing from Nalanda district of Bihar, was nabbed by Special Cell sleuths from the metro station in Seelampur in North-East Delhi at around 15.45 pm, a senior police official said. Around 2.5 kg of RDX, two detonators and a timer has been recovered from his possession.
The arrest comes at a time when the capital is on a high alert in the wake of intelligence inputs warning of possible suicide attacks around Republic Day. It is not immediately clear whether the arrested militant was here to disrupt the Republic Day parade on Friday to be attended by President APJ Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Police had earlier this month arrested two militants of Harkatul-Jihadi-i-Islami in the capital and seized around 1.5 kg of explosives from them.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/26/2007 00:00 ||
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DAVOS: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday urged the international community to address the root causes of terrorism and extremism through joint efforts and cooperation for a more effective fight against this menace. I think that's a great idea. We really should start hunting down and killing a certain class of holy men.
Addressing the plenary session on The Comprehensive Response to Terrorism at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum here, the prime minister said Pakistan has been taking a number of steps to fight terrorism and is extending full cooperation to the world community in this regard. Yasss... We've often been impressed on these pages by Pak's enthusiasm for slaughtering terrs... WARNING: The following paragraph significantly exceeds the recommended maximum daily allowance of bullshit!
He said the world has to understand the real issue behind terrorism. It is not related to any religion, culture or areas. It is related to poverty, suffering, removing sense of deprivation and injustice in the world. Economic disadvantage and even injustice can give rise to sullenness and a tendency toward aggression. Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica, for instance, have been traditionally impoverished. It has at times been dangerous to visit each of them, for fear of being kidnapped for ransom or, much less often, murdered for one's possessions. Banditry was common, yet they never turned to Catholic terrorism. Following the Second World War, much of Europe was devastated, especially Germany. Aside from a few werewolves, there was no German terrorism. There is no Lao terrorism, despite the fact that Laos is one of the world's poorest countries. Today's Islamic terrorism isn't rooted in poverty - otherwise we'd be looking at an African, not a Muslim, phenomenon. Only in the Muslim world are there weekly exhortations to the faithful to send their children on jihad, to kill the infidel, to despoil him of his goods, to enslave his women.
The prime minister said the fight against terrorism requires strong coordination between local and international law-enforcement agencies and intelligence networks, besides improving the economic conditions of the people. The people's economic conditions would improve were they not required to finance an army of jihadi drones, the swarms of holy men behind them, and the mosques and madrassahs to house them all. Think of all the resources that would be freed up. And if women were permitted to indulge their talents on the same basis as men, society would be twice as productive. And two-income families would be twice as prosperous.
He said terrorism should not be linked to Islam as due to deprivation and lack of basic facilities there could be reaction among people anywhere in the world. Why, just look at the levels of terrorism in Guatamala and Malawi and Mongolia.
Terrorism is not the solution to any dispute, he said and emphasised that there was a need to find solutions to the root causes of terrorism on a fast track. Hunter-killer teams, targeting holy men? I like it.
He said Pakistan has tackled terrorism very effectively and continues to take many steps to ensure peace in the region and is extending cooperation to the world in this regard. Referring to Afghan situation, the prime minister said there is over 1,700 miles of porous border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. He said the solution to the problem in Afghanistan lies inside that country and there should be improvement of the economic conditions there. Referring to a nexus between narcotics production and terrorism, the prime minister said it is very dangerous and should be tackled by the world community with joint efforts. "Not our problem. And do go crossing our 1700 mile border to kill the people who cross it going the other direction."
The prime minister, while replying to a question about the whereabouts of al-Qaeda leaders, said nobody knows where they are. The government of Pakistan cannot respond and act on general statements, (without) tangible evidence. Our position is that none of these people are in Pakistan, Mullah Omar and bin Laden etc, he said. If there is tangible evidence then that should be shared. "Until we get it, we're not lifting a finger. See? I'm sitting on my hands, here!"
He said Pakistan has been taking steps to arrest such elements whenever they are found anywhere on its soil. "Just the cannon fodder, though. That way we look like we're doing something, but we're not interrupting any projects of our retired generals."
He said Pakistan wants a vibrant, prosperous, stable and safe Afghanistan. "But not secular. We couldn't stand for that. And Pashtuns have to be in charge."
Pakistan is fully determined to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, he added. Referring to introduction of modern technology to stop illegal movement of people across the border, the prime minister said Pakistan has introduced the bio metric system to check the movement of the people across the frontier.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/26/2007 00:00 ||
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Oh Pakistan. A failing country living on the ransoms. The time is past for the countries like Pakistan who could use terrorism for their foreign policy. I hope, Pakistanies will learn soon that it is the economy stupid not the nuclear bombs.
(Xinhua) -- Nepal imposed curfew on four districts in the south while the situation across Nepal's south plains worsened on Thursday. Local government of Siraha, Dhahusa, Parsa and Morang districts issued the curfew orders Thursday.
Madhesi People's Rights Forum's (MPRF, also called the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum) in a statement issued Thursday welcomed Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's appeal for talks, but insisted on "non-violence and peaceful protests." However, MPRF activists continued to vandalize public properties, hence the local administrations imposed the curfews.
In Lahan, Siraha district, some 150 kilometers southeast of thecapital city of Kathmandu, the curfew was from 7 a.m. (0215 GMT) to 6 p.m. (1215 GMT). In Birgunj, Parsa district, 95 kilometers south of Kathmandu, local government clamped a curfew from 1:30 p.m. (0745 GMT) to 10 p.m. (1615 GMT). In Biratnagar, Morang district, around 240 kilometers southeast of Kathmandu, the district administration imposed curfew from 4 p.m. (1015 GMT to 10 p.m. (1615 GMT). In Janakpur, Dhahusa, some 130 kilometers to Kathmandu, the district administration set the curfew from 10 a.m. (0415 GMT) till 5 p.m. (1115 GMT).
The violent demonstrations led by MPRF began on last Friday. The Forum claimed that one of its members was shot dead by a cadre of the Communist Party of Nepal (formerly known as guerrilla). Clashes later broke out between MPRF members and policemen, claiming the lives of four people. Madhesi people are people in Nepal with Indian origin.
Posted by: Fred ||
01/26/2007 00:00 ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Karachi, 26 Jan. (AKI) - (by Syed Saleem Shahzad) - A former close aide of Osama bin Laden, who was also a former official with Pakistan's powerful secret service Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) during the 1980s, 
A car bomb killed one man and injured six others on Thursday amidst preparations for Muharram 10 a day that witnessed carnage last year, said police. However, AFP reported that two men were killed in the attack and as many were injured. At the moment, it appears to be a suicide attack, Station House Officer of Hangu Police Saeed Khan told reporters. 
Dozens of men attacked the Jamaat-e-Islamis headquarters in Karachi, Idara-e-Noor-e-Haq following a clash between two student organisations in Islamia Government College across the road Thursday. 
A suspected 
DAVOS: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Thursday urged the international community to address the root causes of terrorism and extremism through joint efforts and cooperation for a more effective fight against this menace.
