Operation Zarb-e-Azb: Now or Never.

Way back in the 80s when the US CIA Chief William Casey passed away , the former Afghan War Veteran and Incharge of Afghan Desk Brigadier ® Yousuf (Author of Bear Trap and former Information Secretary of Farooq Laghari’s Millat Party) opined that loss of William Casey is a blow to Afghan Jihad. In any war indoctrination, books, pamphlet play a key role and during Afghan War the CIA-ISI Duo made effective use of Indoctrination , the backbone of Afghan Jihad were of those who followed Ikhwanul Muslimoon and their violent ideology and that ideology was tapped to get the desired results. “The CIA used Uzbek Exile to translate such material in Uzbek Language and also translated Quran in Uzbek language to push it into the then Central Asian States and that was in 1984. William Casey wanted USSR to bleed as much like the USA bled in Vietnam and after the breakup of USSR we witnessed the rise of Islamic Extremists in the Central Asia. Pakistan was a conduit for such indoctrination, and such indoctrination was excessively done with Afghan Refugees and Mujahideen as well , for example "quote" “Math teachers use bullets as props to teach lessons in subtraction. This isn't their idea. During decades of war, the classroom has been the best place to indoctrinate young people with their duty to fight. Government-sponsored textbooks in Afghanistan are filled with violence. For years, war was the only lesson that counted. The Mujahideen, Afghanistan's freedom fighters, used the classroom to prepare children to fight the Soviet empire. The Russians are long gone but the textbooks are not. The Mujahideen had wanted to prepare the next generation of Afghans to fight the enemy, so pupils learned the proper clips for a Kalashnikov rifle, the weight of bombs needed to flatten a house, and how to calculate the speed of bullets. Even the girls learn it.” "un-quote"

Martyrs, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Dogs and Afghan Jihadists

 

Martyrs, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Dogs & Afghan... by SalimJanMazari

 Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) was a semi criminal group using the name of Religion (earlier known as Adolat) to justify their existence because earlier they used to collect Extortion from Businessmen and Traders in Uzbekistan under the leadership of Juma Namangani (also served in USSR Army) with a firebrand Cleric Tahir Yuldashev, the organization was later banned in 1992 and Tahir Yuldashev & Jummah Khan Namangani both fled to Afghanistan where Jumma was killed in November 2001 after US Attack Afghanistan and Tahir joined the Warring resistance . Glasnost and Perestroika encouraged these Islamic Uzbeks and their movement even more after the dismemberment of USSR and the hasty withdrawal of USA and others after USSR defeat provided the Jingoist elements within Pakistan Army to use such elements in Kashmir and against rival Factions of Afghan Warlords during the Afghan Civil War after USSR withdrawal , using the rhetoric of Global Jihad proselytized by the Preachers like Dr Israr Ahmed , after the USSR withdrawal the Pro Jihadists elements within the army allegedly used these Uzbeks as Shock Troops against Ahmed Shah Masood or to be precise Northern Alliance and at some point they became associated with Osama Bin Laden and other Middle Eastern Financiers with Takfiri bent of minds and by 1999 they became allies of the Taliban. Islam Karimov ruthlessly wiped them out after they attacked him and his regime in the 90s after 911 it is well recorded as to how the Former Taliban and other Militants poured in Pakistan and became a menace for Pakistan rather an existential threat. Yuldashev became sole in commander In late 2001/early 2002 the IMU moved into South Waziristan, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. They appeared to have broken apart during these years, but the organization regrouped and periodically clashed with Pakistan’s armed forces.

How teenagers were lured by Taliban in Swat

 

How teenagers were lured by Taliban in Swat by SalimJanMazari

These clashes, in turn, caused a reaction from the local tribes in Waziristan, who had taken the IMU in as guests and bore the brunt of counterattacks from Pakistan’s armed forces. This may be kept in mind that many Central Asians and Arabs have married in the local Pashtun Tribes and borders between Afghanistan and Pakistan carry no meaning to them and we can also say that these Central Asian elements may have been used during Taliban War with Afghan Mujahideen Warlords and elsewhere e.g. Kashmir. Credible reports even suggest that even the Senior Leaders of Taliban, Al-Qaeda & other outfits were provided safe passage by the NATO/USA to conveniently settled in FATA, Pakistan with those tribes who were related with them by marriages. Uzbek are fierce fighters and fiercely loyal too they were in the inner sanctum of the Jihad Network of Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Al Zawahiri and also served as their personal bodyguards. In all this how these Outsiders became stakeholders in Pakistan and that is the question we should be aiming at , you see when Mullahs from Pulpit declare that Mulsims are one Ummah and Kufr is Millat-e-Wahida (means all Non-Muslims is one Nation) then its become tricky.

State Functions (even a Muslim State) in a very practical way out of the box, rules (even the harshest Islamic States like Saudi Arabia and Iran do this) are relaxed to pursuit the National Interest but the trouble in Pakistan is that certain lobbies in Pakistan (both in the Civil and Military Establishment and even Political Parties) always use the word “Ummah” and this very word is a music for Islamists from all over the world who then justify to settle in cosy Pakistan and declare their Global Jihad from Pakistan without even bothering to pay attention that Pakistan is a signatory of UN Charter (GOOD OR BAD) and such declarations are considered Declaration of War but here comes another trouble i.e. TV Evangelist who are Pakistanis and are provided ample time on TV Channels and space in national dailies and harp similar tunes without even bothering about the ground realities of the world.

Hakimullah Mehsud's Views on Pakistan Army, Pakistanis & Democracy

 

Hakimullah Mehsud's Views on Pakistan Army... by SalimJanMazari

The fact which is lost on Certain Belligerent Elements within Pakistani state is this that “Pakistan is a Nuclear State and repeated attacks on Strategic Assets by these Militants send wrong signals to the world” that Pakistan is an irresponsible state where the Religious Right can do whatever they like, e.g. defining Foreign Policy rather dictating it , often took out processions with the Models of Nuclear Bombs and Missile laced with Hate Placards and Banners against neighbuoring countries. This is not the end, these Militants are predominantly Sunnis with a Takfiri bent of mind particularly the Central Asians are hard-core Sunnis specifically the Uzbeks are historically rabidly Anti-Shia and in a diverse state like Pakistan such elements are recipe for the disaster when it is already riddled with Sectarian outfits at each others throats. The IMU was evicted in 2007 from South Waziristan to other parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) by Maulvi Nazir partly because Uzbek fighters offended local customs and acted like an “occupying” force in Pashtun territory . “quote” When the IMU joined Baitullah Mehsud’s faction of the Taliban, it had to accept Mehsud’s priorities, foremost of which was fighting the Pakistani state. It is a common knowledge that several mainstream parties and religious parties in Pakistan have their sympathies with these Jihadis and one doesn’t need the rocket science to calculate as to how the Uzbeks successfully operated and attacked Karachi Airport rather Pakistani Parliament was informed by its Federal Interior Minister in 2012 that Foreign Militants are in contact with Pakistani Militants and Banned Groups mostly concentrated in Punjab.

The State of Sectarianism in Pakistan 2005 Crisis Group http://www.scribd.com/doc/105102389/The-State-of-Sectarianism-in-Pakistan-2005-Crisis-Group

The State of Sectarianism in Pakistan 2005 Crisis Group by Aamir Mughal

After every Terrorist incident in Pakistan, the State shows it resolves on paper and in press statement that culprits would be tackled with Iron fist and Terror would be wiped-out and within a day or two the things become normal i.e. Ostrich State of Pakistan bury its head in the sand. The Rulers be it Civilians or Military are out of touch with reality , the Military is still stuck in Cold War Narratives and the Civilian Leadership cannot think beyond assembly proceedings, point of order and privileged motion and worse are the Urdu Language newspapers and TV Channels who cannot see what is about to hit them all. There are still people in Pakistan who support talks with the Militant after brazen Terrorist attack on Karachi Airport, no harm in engaging Militants in Dialogues but with whom and on what conditions and our leaders conveniently forget that these Militants have sympathizers in several Jihadi, sectarian, Religio political parties even in mainstream parties, and surrendering before these Militants means we are allowing them to extend their role in Pakistani Politics which (if happens) would be disastrous, they have already caused immense damage to the tranquility, peace & tolerance in Pakistani society. If anybody is interested in dialogue with these Militants then only on one condition “surrender arms, windup militia, accept Pakistani Constitution and that is it. Period. And Dialogue with whom? Dialogue with those who openly accept responsibility of carrying out attack on our Prime Intelligence Agency ISI and dialogue with those who don’t even hesitate to use innocent children as cannon fodder Dialogue with those who attack our Police Training centre Pakistan is not located on Mars, it is very much part of this world and nor we live in isolation and imagine those who from Pakistani Soil Threatens World Powers e.g. To Launch Attack on White House, USA and what we have here that daily after 1900 hours our TV Channels are stormed with Retired Army Officers and Ideologues carrying Anti India rhetoric without having the slightest knowledge about India strategic ties with Saudi Arabia & China who as per us are our Friends but one must do some research about India excellent diplomacy on both fronts . More embarrassing it becomes when some Nut Job appears on our TV channels and talk non-stop non-sense on such issues as if Foreign Office Spokesman. A Former Governor of NWFP now KPK even went to the extent of declaring TTP Militants and others in KPK as Indian Agents and conveniently forget the deal he himself signed with these Yahoos and even more embarrassing is the fact that these very Militants who later become pain in the neck for Pakistan were “conveniently declared “Soldier of Peace” and our mainstream parties particularly those who are allies of some religious parties and those who are sympathetic towards these Militants , conveniently forget that these Militant are basically predominantly Sunni with a heavy tilt towards Salafi Interpretation who consider other Interpretation as Innovation in Islam and their tolerance for Minorities can be calculated by reading their material on mainstream Muslims (those who differ with them) Pakistani Security apparatus lack the required finesse to tackle with these Militants with less collateral damage (and attack on Karachi Airport, Mehran Base and GHQ all are witnesses) , Government should have owned the Drone wholeheartedly & officially instead of double talk Until & unless Militants accept Pakistani State Writ and surrender before Law, there won’t be any success, these Militants will always be a threat to the State and Peaceful and Tolerant Pakistani Way of Life, the way it was before this Grand Afghan Mess and Jihadi Foreign Policy.

Pakistans Failure to Tackle Extremism 2004 Crisis Group http://www.scribd.com/doc/105111553/Pakistans-Failure-to-Tackle-Extremism-2004-Crisis-Group

Pakistans Failure to Tackle Extremism 2004 Crisis Group by Aamir Mughal

The Militant Jihadi Challenge 2009 Crisis Group http://www.scribd.com/doc/105105022/The-Militant-Jihadi-Challenge-2009-Crisis-Group

The Militant Jihadi Challenge 2009 Crisis Group by Aamir Mughal

Media both Electronic and Print is laced with poisonous content not only against Minorities but also against those who peacefully differ with these Extremists who are hell bent to start a Civil War in Pakistan. Pakistani Journalists and Anchorpersons, the so-called Defence Analysts and particularly the Mullahs they invite in their TV Shows leave no stone unturned to turn Pakistan into a big “Manazra Chowk”, the worst example is this that those Mullahs whose books are full of apostasy Fatwa against Rival Sects are often invited as a guests after every Sectarian killing to unite the so-called Pakistani Nation in the name of Islam whereas these Mullahs don’t even offer prayers behind each others. The worst moment for Pakistani Media was when a whole Media group created a situation which culminated in the brutal, calculated and planned murder of Former Punjab Governor Mr. Salman Taseer and later Pakistan’s Minority Minister Mr Shahbaz Bhatti , Pakistani Media (both Electronic and Print cannot absolve itself from these Brutal Murders. One of the leading Media Group through its TV Show incited people to murder the member of Ahmadi Community and no remorse at all. Difference of opinion with Quadiyanis, Ahmadis, Shias, Barelvis, Sunnis, Salafis and Deobandis is one thing but permission cannot be granted to attack each other lives, property and honour. The Pakistani State must intervene and put such Mullahs in order. Terrorist attack in Pakistan started after the Afghan Mess in 1979 and increased after War on Terror but we must not and cannot exclude Sectarian Attacks from Terrorism. Much has to do with State appeasement of these Mullahs who are used for the so-called Strategic Depths and become strategic curse for Pakistan but failure of our political class is also one of the reason, these political elites have completely dissociated themselves from lower middle class and have left the field open for Mullahs to encroach and do whatever they like. Finish them once and for all or be doomed.

Jang Group & GEO TV Murdered Salman Taseer (Abbas Athar BBC)

 

Jang Group & GEO TV Murdered Salman Taseer... by SalimJanMazari

 UNHCR Report on Minorities in Pakistan 2012 http://www.scribd.com/doc/122953646/UNHCR-Report-on-Minorities-in-Pakistan-2012

UNHCR Report on Minorities in Pakistan 2012 by Aamir Mughal

References:

1 - Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 by Steve Coll

2 - Taliban claim responsibility http://archives.dailytimes.com.pk/main/09-Dec-2009/taliban-claim-responsibility

3 - Taliban turn children into live bombs http://archives.dailytimes.com.pk/national/23-Apr-2009/taliban-turn-children-into-live-bombs 

4 - Baitullah claims responsibility for Manawan attack Mar 31, 2009 http://www.dawn.com/news/453868/baitullah-claims-responsibility-for-manawan-attack 

5 - Analysis of Peace Agreements with Militants by Sohail Habib Tajik http://www.scribd.com/doc/173585821/Analysis-of-Peace-Agreements-with-Militants-by-Sohail-Habib-Tajik 

6 - Baitullah threatens attack on White House - Claims responsibility for Lahore and other attacks by Mushtaq Yusufzai Wednesday, April 01, 2009 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=21258&Cat=13&dt=4/1/2009 

7 - India-Saudi Arabia ties get a boost » EDITORIAL March 2, 2014 http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/indiasaudi-arabia-ties-get-a-boost/article5743659.ece 

8 - China sending special envoy to India By The Newspaper's Correspondent Published May 30, 2014 http://www.dawn.com/news/1109446 

9 - Orakzai sees Indian hand in NWFP violence - Insists peace accords best way to overcome conflict in tribal areas by Rahimullah Yusufzai Sunday, September 23, 2007 http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=10270&Cat=13&dt=9%2F23%2F2007 

10 - Waziristan Taliban sign peace deal with government http://archives.dailytimes.com.pk/main/06-Sep-2006/waziristan-taliban-sign-peace-deal-with-government 

11 - Mehsud described as soldier of peace By Bureau Report Aug 07, 2005 http://www.dawn.com/news/151243/mehsud-described-as-soldier-of-peace 

12 - Pakistani Comprehension of History & Ideological and Political Crisis by Hassan Jafer Zaidi (in Urdu) 2009 http://www.adab-e-latif.com/html/feb09/9.html 

13 - Pakistani leadership ‘okayed’ drone attacks: Wikileaks By Agencies Dec 01, 2010 http://www.dawn.com/news/587800/pakistani-leadership-okayed-drone-attacks-wikileaks 

14 - Use and Abuse of the Blasphemy Laws http://www.scribd.com/doc/130592503/Use-and-Abuse-of-the-Blasphemy-Laws 

15 - Tale of a love affair that never was: United States-Pakistan Defence Relations Columnist Hamid Hussain analyses an ON and OFF affair. http://www.defencejournal.com/2002/june/loveaffair.htm 

16 - Are We to Blame for Afghanistan? by Chalmers Johnson 21-11-2004 Mr. Johnson's latest books are Blowback (Metropolitan, 2000) and The Sorrows of Empire (Metropolitan, 2004), the first two volumes in a trilogy on American imperial policies. The final volume is now being written. From 1967 to 1973, Johnson served as a consultant to the CIA's Office of National Estimates. http://hnn.us/article/8438 

17 - War in Afghanistan and the Mujahideen 1979-2000 http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch33trof4.htm 

18 - INDEPTH: AFGHANISTAN Back to school in Afghanistan CBC News Online | January 27, 2004 The National | Airdate: May 6, 2002 Reporter: Carol Off | Producer: Heather Abbott | Editor: Catherine McIsaac http://www.cbc.ca/news2/background/afghanistan/schools.html 

19 - The Goals of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and Its Impact on Central Asia and the United States by Mr. Matthew Stein http://fmso.leavenworth.army.mil/documents/IMU-Goals.pdf 

20 - 42 Uzbeks among 58 dead: Fierce clashes in S. Waziristan Mar 21, 2007 http://www.dawn.com/news/238481/42-uzbeks-among-58-dead-fierce-clashes-in-s-waziristan 

21 - Uzbek militant leader killed in drone attack By Bureau Report Oct 02, 2009 http://www.dawn.com/news/493937/uzbek-militant-leader-killed-in-drone-attack%20. 

22 - The New Frontier By Owais Tohid 15 APRIL 2004 http://www.newslinemagazine.com/2004/04/the-new-frontier/ 

23 - The Warrior Tribes By Owais Tohid 15 APRIL 2004 http://www.newslinemagazine.com/2004/04/the-warrior-tribes/ 

24 - ANNALS OF NATIONAL SECURITY THE GETAWAY Questions surround a secret Pakistani airlift. BY SEYMOUR M. HERSH JANUARY 28, 2002 http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2002/01/28/020128fa_FACT 

25 - Al Qaeda's Uzbek bodyguards By Owais Tohid, SEPTEMBER 28, 2004 http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0928/p06s01-wosc.html 

26 - Punjab banned outfits in contact with Uzbek militants, NA told By Dawn News Dec 18, 2012 http://www.dawn.com/news/772230/punjab-banned-outfits-in-contact-with-uzbek-militants-na-told

27 - The Indigenization of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 10 Issue: 2January 26, 2012 01:01 PM Age: 2 yrs By: Jacob Zenn. 

28 - Who are the IMU? By Aamir Mughal http://www.dawn.com/news/1114008

29 - LAHORE: Qazi Hussain Ahmed, left, chief of Jamat-i-Islami, Pakistan's right-wing religious party, hands over a cheque for Rs 10 million (about $ 185,000) in Lahore, on Monday, from the party fund to Zelimkhan Yandarbiyev, former president of Chechnya, for the militants fighting against the Russian army. — AP/PTI Wednesday, February 16, 2000, Chandigarh, India http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000216/world.htm

Why Raza Rumi was Attacked?

LAHORE: An attack on noted columnist and TV anchor Raza Rumi led to the unfortunate death of his driver Mustafa on Friday evening. Raza Ahmed, popularly known as Raza Rumi, was injured in an attack along with his guard and driver near Raja Market. According to TV reports, Rumi escaped with a minor injury and managed to shift his guard and driver to the hospital in critical condition. However, his driver succumbed to his injuries. The guard’s condition is also said to be critical. Rumi said he was distraught over his driver's killing, whom he described as “innocent” and a breadwinner for 10 other family members. “God has saved me. I just heard the... bullets when we took a turn near Raja Market and put my head down,” he told AFP, adding his bodyguard leapt to save him. “Extremists want no counter narrative in the state that is why they are attacking alternative voices.” Amnesty International's Pakistan researcher Mustafa Qadri said: “Raza's case is a sad reminder of the threats faced by journalists like him who are promoting human rights and understanding in Pakistan. “Amnesty International has documented at least three cases of journalists killed this year as a direct result of their work, with scores of others, like Raza, narrowly escaping,” he told AFP. Earlier this month Pakistan announced it would set up a special commission to protect journalists and will include press freedom as part of peace talks with the Taliban. In a few updates on Twitter, Rumi shared the incident with his followers. His followers and peers condemned the incident and sent out tweets supporting him. This is the fifth attack on Express Media Group. Three staff members of the group lost their lives in an attack earlier this year. REFERENCE: Columnist, anchor Raza Rumi attacked, driver loses life 2014-03-29 07:48:33 https://www.dawn.com/news/1096198/columnist-anchor-raza-rumi-attacked-driver-loses-life

Attack on Pakistani Blogger, Journalist and Author Raza Rumi.

 
Attack on Pakistani Blogger, Journalist and... by SalimJanMazari 

Pastor Martin Niemöller had said First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-- Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me. REFERENCE: Martin Niemöller's famous quotation: "First they came for the Communists ... " What did Niemoeller himself say? Which groups did he name? In what order? http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty/marcuse/niem.htm

Since the start of Free Media Circus in Pakistan after 911 , the leading Media Houses particularly the Urdu Language newspapers, their editorials, their reporters, their columnists and later TV Anchors always emphasis on "Perfect Democracy" and ruthlessly castigate Politicians and no doubt Inept Pakistani politicians do need thrashing but matter is not that simple because these very journalists take a hike when there is some Mullah in question. The Urdu media (both electronic and print) in Pakistan adopt the narratives of Repressive Nationalism laced with Misogyny, Communal Hate, Ethnic Hate, Sectarian Hate, Lingual Hate, Religious Hate and laced with extreme religious literal-ism (predominantly Sunni) bordering Fascism and that too with Conspiracy Theory mindset when they question Non-Mullah Politicians of Pakistan whereas during any Martial Law all such Jingoist vanish in thin air. They often talk of Extremism and Sectarian Killings in the country and lament the state of affairs in Pakistan particularly when they are questioning Politicians but their Testosterone goes on backfoot when they have to question Mullahs, there is surely a tilt. Recently in Daily Jang, Hamid Mir and Dr Safdar Mehmood while linking Jinnah with Soft Deobandi Mullahs like Mufti M Shafi, Zafar Ahmed Usmani and their Head-pope Mullah Ashraf Ali Thanvi, conveniently forgot these Mullah's Rabid Hate for Barelvis, Shias, what to talk of Ahmadis . Hamid Mir, Dr Safdar and all such Pseudo Islamists coming out of woodwork are hell bent to prove Jinnah forged unity amongst Muslim sects whereas no such unity amongst rival Muslims sects ever existed in Islamic History. Each column on Jinnah by these two duffers further drown both of them more deeply in the Filth of lies i.e. Destiny of 180 Millions Pakistanis. Every Pro Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Islamist Journalist of Pakistan Media is responsible for the attack on Raza Rumi , driver & general attack on Media. I Puke when I see Jang Group GEO TV Journalists sympathize with Raza Rumi . This day has arrived because they justified brutal, cold-blooded and well planned murder of Salmaan Taseer. Express News & Pakistan Media should stop receiving sympathies from Jang Group on Raza Rumi or attack on Media. These Dimwit Pro Jamaat-e-Islami TTP, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ) Journalists should stop doing the drama of supporting Press Freedom, Democracy & Islamic Extremists at the same time, enough of this ride on two boats at the same time. Even more shame on Express News who invite Extremist Sympathizer like Absar Alam and Hamid Mir to support Raza Rumi Please invite Shahidullah Shahid instead or better still Ansar Abbasi. Its about time that Pakistani TV Channels should stop apeasing Mullahs who are hell bent to change Pakistan's Moderate way of Life. 

Witch-Hunting & Tragic Deaths of Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti

 
Witch-Hunting & Tragic Deaths of Salman Taseer... by SalimJanMazari

 Why Raza Rumi was a Target? 

The TTP has unequivocally stated that they want to impose their version of Sharia and undo the current structure of state almost at gunpoint. The allies of the TTP such as the Laskhar-e-Jhangvi make it clear that their worldview has no place for Shias, Ahmadis and other brands of ‘infidel’ belief systems. This is why the current government is stuck between the imperative of keeping Punjab (where militant organisations have a social base) stable and ending violence in the rest of the country. It has also been stated (later denied) that the Pakistani security apparatus does not have the capacity to effectively dismantle the militant infrastructure across the country. In recent weeks, I have met several middle-ranking and junior officials of the armed forces (ironically at the Karachi and Lahore literary festivals) who, on conditions of anonymity, expressed their outrage at the way the TTP were killing their colleagues. Most blamed the civilian leadership for not taking a clear stance on the militant networks. It would not be out of place to conclude that a similar sentiment prevails at the senior levels. With 4,000 lives lost and 13,000 personnel injured, the ‘enemy’ for the armed forces would be clear by now. What then prevents a decisive strategy? REFERENCE: Policy paralysis haunts our security By Raza RumiPublished: March 21, 2014 http://tribune.com.pk/story/685625/policy-paralysis-haunts-our-security/

Sufi Muhammad & Takfiri Ideology (Salim Safi 3 May 2009 GEO TV)

 
Sufi Muhammad & Takfiri Ideology (Salim Safi 3... by SalimJanMazari

The State of Sectarianism in Pakistan 2005 Crisis Group http://www.scribd.com/doc/105102389/The-State-of-Sectarianism-in-Pakistan-2005-Crisis-Group

The State of Sectarianism in Pakistan 2005 Crisis Group by Aamir Mughal

How teenagers were lured by Terrorists- Army captured an Artificial paradise for brainwashing in South Waziristan

 
How teenagers were lured by Terrorists- Army... by SalimJanMazari

Again Why Raza Rumi was a Target?

States choose their positions and set relationships based on what is perceived as ‘national interest’. In the case of post-1971 truncated Pakistan, national interest was set by the populist Zulfikar Ali Bhutto with a vision of unifying the Ummah and rhetorical anti-imperialism. With the ouster of Bhutto in 1977, the military adopted his policy architecture and added ‘jihad’ as a central pillar. Since then, we have had an uninterrupted penchant for jihad and to create demand for it, popular education and narratives were reset on why it was necessary to support or in the least, tolerate the semi-private jihadi infrastructure. The events of 9/11 came as a rupture to Pakistan’s policy environment and there were substantial reversals to the jihad policy as well. But in Afghanistan, the reliance on the Taliban as a just and friendly force continues to inform the way we look at the post-Nato region. Such has been the acceptability of jihad that the offshoots of the Afghan Taliban, i.e., their Pakistani counterparts, are now widely considered as legitimate stakeholders in the country. A new battleground — Syria — has emerged where Pakistan is considered a potential player in the old US-Saudi-Pak triumvirate. A recent story in the Gulf News, which was later denied, stated that Saudi Arabia was seeking anti-aircraft and anti-tank rockets to aid the Syrian rebels. Another statement from the head of the Syrian opposition announced that new arms would be arriving soon. It would be unfair to assume that this story is true unless there is official confirmation from our side. However, given our history and the foreign policy matrix, this may just fall into the realm of possibility. For decades, Pakistan’s foreign policy has ignored the imperatives of regional cooperation due to the ‘threat’ from India. The relationship with China is hardly economic in nature and suits the purposes of the national security apparatus. Energy deficiency has cost us losses in GDP and the need to buy expensive oil to run power plants has resulted in chronic stagflation. Yet, we have almost ended the Iran pipeline project that could have been a rational response to the energy crisis at home. REFERENCE: Our increasing reserves By Raza RumiPublished: March 14, 2014 http://tribune.com.pk/story/682906/our-increasing-reserves/

Saudi Arabia, Syria, Ghazwa-e-Hind and India.

IT’S the season for our worst fears to bloom. As extremist discourse becomes more mainstream, it’s worth considering what price our future bailouts might come at. For a useful illustration, consider the recent visit to Pakistan by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, a country that has played a pivotal role in bailing Pakistan out after the nuclear detonations of May 1998, and bankrolled some amount of cash assistance in the wake of the Kashmir earthquake and the floods. But the communiqué issued after the last visit makes for puzzling reading, to say the least. There was fleeting mention of Palestine, which took up two whole paragraphs in the communiqué issued the last time a top Saudi royal visited a Pakistani head of state. This time we have two paragraphs on Syria, in which Pakistan has clearly been persuaded to take sides in that conflict, and commit itself to the shape of a post-Bashar al-Assad political order. “When contacted, a senior government official insisted that there was no change in Pakistan’s Syria policy. Sources, however, said that in return for supporting Saudi Arabia on Syria, Pakistan is expected to get defence contracts and other economic favours from the oil-rich kingdom,” said a report in a national daily — exactly the sort of language that you expect to see when your government is hiding something from you. A quid pro quo appears to have been worked out. It doesn’t take a close scrutiny of the text of the communiqué to get the point. The season of toppling governments is drawing near, and everybody has their hit list. Our establishment has its eyes on the government that Americans will be leaving behind in Afghanistan, and the Saudis have their eyes on the government of Bashar al-Assad. For Afghanistan, the statement speaks of “support for Afghan reconciliation” as well as the political process and the forthcoming elections. ‘Let Afghanistan be,’ the Saudis seem to be saying, ‘Let’s go get Bashar.’ REFERENCE: Welcome to Jihad Inc. KHURRAM HUSAIN 2014-02-20 http://www.dawn.com/news/1088257/welcome-to-jihad-inc

 Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Visits India To Boost Bilateral Defence Tie Ups

 
Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Visits India To Boost... by SalimJanMazari

March 2014 The visit by Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has imparted fresh momentum to ties between India and Saudi Arabia. The high-profile visit of the Saudi royal, who is also the Kingdom’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, has built on the foundations of two earlier game-changing outings — the visit by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz in 2006, which was followed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s trip to Riyadh four years later. Dr. Singh’s 2010 visit resulted in the signing of the Riyadh Declaration, which proclaimed that a “strategic partnership” between New Delhi and Riyadh had been established, spanning diverse fields including energy security, information technology and outer space. The document did not exclude a security element either, signalling that a standalone relationship between India and Saudi Arabia had been anchored, de-hyphenated from Riyadh’s long-standing ties with Islamabad. The signing of a defence pact during the Crown Prince’s visit implies that the focus imparted to military ties, during Defence Minister A.K. Antony’s visit to Saudi Arabia in 2012, has been emphatically retained. An acknowledgement that a new thrust on promoting investments is required augurs well for the evolution of a substantial, multifaceted relationship. Despite their promise, India-Saudi ties will have to be carefully nurtured. On the bilateral side, the welfare of millions of Indian workers in the Kingdom has to be ensured, especially at a time when authorities in Riyadh have embarked on a major undertaking to generate maximum employment for their own nationals, shrinking job opportunities for expatriates. The future of ties between New Delhi and Riyadh would also have to be insulated from the differing perceptions of the two countries of developments in West Asia. Besides, India has to stay clear of the crossfire between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which are at loggerheads on account of the situation in Syria, and whose hostility towards each other has acquired a dangerous sectarian dimension in the region. While it bonds with Riyadh, India has an abiding interest in the simultaneous development of its relationship with Iran, which not only is a major energy-supplier but — after the American withdrawal later this year — is bound to play a pivotal role in Afghanistan. Simultaneously, India has no basis to grudge Saudi Arabia’s “all weather” ties with Pakistan, so long as they do not harm New Delhi’s core interests. In fact, distancing itself from zero-sum expectations, India, if invited, can turn its proximity with Riyadh and Tehran to its advantage, by making its contribution in defusing tensions between the two regional heavyweights. REFERENCE : India-Saudi Arabia ties get a boost EDITORIAL March 2, 2014 Updated: March 3, 2014 00:38 IST http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/indiasaudi-arabia-ties-get-a-boost/article5743659.ece After defence MoU, Saudi Arabia and India eye diverse areas for tie-ups NEW DELHI, March 1, 2014 http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/after-defence-mou-saudi-arabia-and-india-eye-diverse-areas-for-tieups/article5737390.ece India, Saudi Arabia sign extradition treaty RIYADH, March 1, 2010 http://www.thehindu.com/news/india-saudi-arabia-sign-extradition-treaty/article123985.ece

India Saudi Economic Relations http://www.scribd.com/doc/212629126/India-Saudi-Economic-Relations

India Saudi Economic Relations by Aamir Mughal

India Wants Saudi Arabia to Pressure Pakistan on Anti-India Terrorism


 
India Wants Saudi Arabia to Pressure Pakistan... by SalimJanMazari

Saudi Arabia is the world's largest source of funds for Islamist militant groups such as the Afghan Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba – but the Saudi government is reluctant to stem the flow of money, according to Hillary Clinton. "More needs to be done since Saudi Arabia remains a critical financial support base for al-Qaida, the Taliban, LeT and other terrorist groups," says a secret December 2009 paper signed by the US secretary of state. Her memo urged US diplomats to redouble their efforts to stop Gulf money reaching extremists in Pakistan and Afghanistan. "Donors in Saudi Arabia constitute the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide," she said. Three other Arab countries are listed as sources of militant money: Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Reference: WikiLeaks cables portray Saudi Arabia as a cash machine for terrorists Hillary Clinton memo highlights Gulf states' failure to block funding for groups like al-Qaida, Taliban and Lashkar-e-Taiba by Declan Walsh in Islamabad The Guardian, Sunday 5 December 2010 15.30 GMT http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/05/wikileaks-cables-saudi-terrorist-funding

Roots and Trends of Saudi Terrorism Financing by Jean-Charles Brisard (For UNO) http://www.scribd.com/doc/212282629/Roots-and-Trends-of-Saudi-Terrorism-Financing-by-Jean-Charles-Brisard-For-UNO

Roots and Trends of Saudi Terrorism Financing by Jean-Charles Brisard (For UNO) by Aamir Mughal

“You go to Friday prayers. You could stand there and say, “Please Help”. And people will give you checks, money, et cetera”. Prince Bandar, Ambassador to the US, PBS Frontline, September 2001 

 “If beneficiaries had used assistance for evil acts, that is not our responsibility at all”. Prince Salman, Governor of the Riyadh Province, November 2002

WikiLeaks Saudi King urged US to attack Iran (Reuters)

 
WikiLeaks Saudi King urged US to attack Iran... by SalimJanMazari

Saudi Arabia urges US attack on Iran to stop nuclear programme • Embassy cables show Arab allies want strike against Tehran • Israel prepared to attack alone to avoid its own 9/11 • Iranian bomb risks 'Middle East proliferation, war or both' Ian Black and Simon Tisdall The Guardian, Sunday 28 November 2010 20.54 GMT http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/28/us-embassy-cables-saudis-iran?CMP=twt_gu

The revelation that Saudi Arabia is the ‘friendly Muslim country’ that deposited $1.5 billion into the Pakistan Development Fund isn’t a surprise. After all, it could hardly have been Yemen or Jordan; they’re not as well-heeled, and nowhere near as friendly. Why the Nawaz Sharif government has been the beneficiary of such largesse is also not a mystery. The connections between Sharif and the Saudis are well-established, from the period in exile, to Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal’s “our man in Pakistan” boast to the Wikileaks cables, alleging Saudi funding for Nawaz Sharif’s 2008 election campaign. The list goes on, detailing the history between the man who has a political party named after him and the family that has a country named after it. Compare the funding to how much the Saudis gave us during the previous government, you know, the one that made the IP pipeline deal with Iran which never materialised. It wasn't not much, I assure you. --- We have a right to know what that bargain is, but once more, this sale is shrouded in secrecy, and secrecy invites speculation. Some allege that the money is to hold off any operation against the Taliban, pointing to the timing of Saudi visits and the peace talks. Others say it is for Pakistan’s support in Syria, the diplomatic end of which we have already witnessed. Still others claim that that is only part of it and that Pakistan has agreed to provide training, arms and possibly even manpower to Saudi-backed rebels fighting in Syria. REFERENCE: From Saudi, with love ZARRAR KHUHRO 2014-03-14 http://www.dawn.com/news/1093122 Prince Alwaleed bin Talal: An Ally Frets About American Retreat Influential Saudi royal Prince Alwaleed bin Talal talks about the U.S. debacle in Syria, the Iranian threat, and 'this perception that America is going down.' By MATTHEW KAMINSKI http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304337404579211742820387758?tesla=y

WikiLeaks Saudi Arabia and UAE funding Terrorism in Pakistan

 
WikiLeaks Saudi Arabia and UAE funding... by SalimJanMazari

KARACHI: A US official in a cable sent to the State Department stated that “financial support estimated at nearly 100 million USD annually was making its way to Deobandi and Ahl-i-Hadith clerics in south Punjab from organisations in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates ostensibly with the direct support of those governments.” The cable sent in November 2008 by Bryan Hunt, the then Principal Officer at the US Consulate in Lahore, was based on information from discussions with local government and non-governmental sources during his trips to the cities of Multan and Bahawalpur. Quoting local interlocutors, Hunt attempts to explain how the “sophisticated jihadi recruitment network” operated in a region dominated by the Barelvi sect, which, according to the cable, made south Punjab “traditionally hostile” to Deobandi and Ahl-i-Hadith schools of thought. Hunt refers to a “network of Deobandi and Ahl-i-Hadith mosques and madrassahs” being strengthened through an influx of “charity” which originally reached organisations “such as Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Al-Khidmat foundation”. Portions of these funds would then be given away to clerics “in order to expand these sects’ presence” in a relatively inhospitable yet “potentially fruitful recruiting ground”. Outlining the process of recruitment for militancy, the cable describes how “families with multiple children” and “severe financial difficulties” were generally being exploited for recruitment purposes. Families first approached by “ostensibly ‘charitable’” organisations would later be introduced to a “local Deobandi or Ahl-i-Hadith maulana” who would offer to educate the children at his madrassah and “find them employment in the service of Islam”. “Martyrdom” was also “often discussed”, with a final cash payment to the parents. “Local sources claim that the current average rate is approximately Rs 500,000 (approximately USD 6,500) per son,” the cable states. Children recruited would be given age-specific indoctrination and would eventually be trained according to the madrassah teachers’ assessment of their inclination “to engage in violence and acceptance of jihadi culture” versus their value as promoters of Deobandi or Ahl-i-Hadith sects or recruiters, the cable states. Recruits “chosen for jihad” would then be taken to “more sophisticated indoctrination camps”. “Locals identified three centres reportedly used for this purpose”. Two of the centres were stated to be in the Bahawalpur district, whereas one was reported as situated “on the outskirts of Dera Ghazi Khan city”. These centres “were primarily used for indoctrination”, after which “youths were generally sent on to more established training camps in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and then on to jihad either in FATA, NWFP, or as suicide bombers in settled areas”. The cable goes on to quote local officials criticising the PML-N-led provincial and the PPP-led federal governments for their “failure to act” against “extremist madrassas, or known prominent leaders such as Jaish-i-Mohammad’s Masood Azhar”. The Bahawalpur district nazim at the time told Hunt that despite repeatedly highlighting the threat posed by extremist groups and indoctrination centres to the provincial and federal governments, he had received “no support” in dealing with the issue unless he was ready to change his political loyalties. The nazim, who at the time was with the PML-Q, “blamed politics, stating that unless he was willing to switch parties…neither the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz provincial nor the Pakistan People’s Party federal governments would take his requests seriously”. REFERENCE: Saudi Arabia, UAE financing extremism in south Punjab 2011-05-21 20:30:07 http://www.dawn.com/news/630599/saudi-arabia-uae-financing-extremism-in-south-punjab   Cable referenced: WikiLeaks # 178082 2008: Extremist recruitment on the rise in south Punjab madrassahs 2011-05-21 21:43:26 http://www.dawn.com/news/630656/2008-extremist-recruitment-on-the-rise-in-south-punjab-madrassahs

Irfan Siddiqui and TTP Jang Group.

ISLAMABAD: A four-member committee tasked to hold peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban and end years of bloodshed says it has been given an open mandate and complete authority to initiate the dialogue process. At the first meeting of the committee on Friday morning, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gave guidelines for holding negotiations, discussed in detail the framework and strategy for the talks, and instructed the team to immediately initiate the process. The four member committee formed by the prime minister comprises of his Special Assistant on National Affairs Irfan Siddiqui, veteran journalist Rahimullah Yusufzai, former ambassador and expert on Afghanistan affairs Rustam Shah Mohmand, and former ISI official Major (retd) Amir Shah. Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was also present at the committee meeting. According to sources, the meeting also touched upon topics in the committee's mandate and rules of negotiations with militants, which would be discussed in detail during the next meeting. Irfan Siddiqui was appointed as coordinator of the group, and he would inform the prime minister and interior minister of any progress made. Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Siddiqui said that the team has conveyed its message to the militants. He called on the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to announce its team of negotiators as soon as possible after a meeting of its Shura (council). He said that the Taliban should communicate and explain their stance on the peace talks as soon as possible so the dialogue process can be initiated. He said that the committee was waiting for a response from the Taliban, and was ready to hold negotiations wherever they wished. The committee wishes to enter the dialogue with open hearts and without any preconditions, he said. He added that the committee may involve the services of other individuals to facilitate talks if it feels the need to do so. Earlier, the Federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments were assigned with the responsibility to provide security and travel facilities to the members of the committee. Premier Sharif had only one precondition for talks, which he had explained in the National Assembly on Wednesday that there should be no terrorist attacks during negotiations. REFERENCE: PM directs committee to initiate peace talks immediately 2014-01-31 14:08:27 http://www.dawn.com/news/1083985/pm-directs-committee-to-initiate-peace-talks-immediately

Press Conference of PMs Advisor Irfan Siddiqui.

 
Press Conference of PMs Advisor Irfan Siddiqui. by SalimJanMazari

2006 Osama offered to buy votes for Nawaz: Qazi  ISLAMABAD, March 18: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed has revealed that Osama bin Laden had offered to buy loyalties of legislators to see Mian Nawaz Sharif as prime minister. In an interview appearing in the magazine of an Urdu newspaper on Sunday, Qazi Hussain Ahmed said that Osama had visited the JI headquarters Mansoora and wanted to strike an agreement with the Jamaat but the suggestion was declined by him. Excerpts of the interview were published by the newspaper on Saturday. Qazi said he had met Osama several times in the past. However, the JI on Saturday clarified that meetings between the JI amir and Osama in Peshawar and Lahore were held in days when the Al Qaeda leader was staying in Peshawar. Recalling political events that took place when Mr Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League and JI were components of the then Islami Jamhoori Ittehad, Qazi said Osama was a big supporter of IJI and Nawaz Sharif and wanted to see him Pakistan’s prime minister. “Bin Laden was prepared to pay for buying parliamentarians’ votes to achieve this objective,” said Qazi Hussain Ahmed, who also heads the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal. He said a delegation sent by Osama had visited him in Peshawar and conveyed that they wanted cooperation from JI but “we declined the request”. In a statement issued on Saturday, a JI spokesman said that excerpts from interview were published in the daily and presented on a private TV channel in such a manner that they were creating confusion in the minds of people.—PPI REFERENCE: Osama offered to buy votes for Nawaz: Qazi 2006-03-19 00:00:00 http://www.dawn.com/news/183849/osama-offered-to-buy-votes-for-nawaz-qazi

General (R) Khawaja Ziauddin with Azaz Syed in Dawn News (11 Dec 2011)

 
General (R) Khawaja Ziauddin with Azaz Syed in... by SalimJanMazari

Osama: CIA had trained Pakistani commandos DAWN WIRE SERVICE: Week Ending : 6 October 2001 Issue : 07/40 WASHINGTON, Oct 3: The US Central Intelligence Agency had trained some Pakistani commandos in 1999 to enter Afghanistan and capture Osama bin Laden, but the plan was shelved when the Nawaz Sharif government was displaced by the military. The revelation is made in a story published by The Washington Post under banner headlines. It says the operation was arranged by Nawaz Sharif and his chief of intelligence with the Clinton administration, which in turn had promised to lift sanctions on Pakistan and provide an economic package the precise steps that the Bush administration is now undertaking following Islamabad's pledge of support for the US-led campaign against terrorism. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage refused in a television interview on Wednesday morning to comment on the Post story, saying intelligence matters could not be discussed in public, but unnamed administration officials were quoted as confirming the report. The Post also said a proposal by Sudan in 1996 to arrest Osama, who was then in that country, and deport him to Saudi Arabia had fallen through after Riyadh refused to agree to accept Osama. Talking of a record of "missed opportunities" in the drive against Osama and Al Qaeda, the Post said the US-Pakistani intelligence plan was set in motion less than 12 months after American Tomahawk missiles were launched on Afghanistan. The Pakistani commando team trained by the CIA "was up and running and ready to strike by October 1999", according to one official, when the plan was aborted after the Oct 12 overthrow of the Sharif government by Gen Pervez Musharraf and the army. The Post says Gen Musharraf, who has now committed himself to back the US, had refused to continue with the operation despite attempts at persuasion by the Clinton administration. It adds: "The record of the CIA's aborted relationship with Pakistan two years ago illustrates the value - and the pitfalls - of such an alliance in targeting bin Laden." 

The paper says Pakistan and its intelligence services have valuable information about what is occurring inside Afghanistan. "But a former US official said joint operations with the Pakistani service are always dicey, because the Taliban militia that rules most of Afghanistan has penetrated Pakistani intelligence." According to the Post, president Clinton's national security adviser Samuel "Sandy" Berger says Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden were the number one security threat to America after 1998 (the year when, in August, 200 people were killed in bomb attacks at the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania). "It was the highest priority and a range of appropriate actions were taken". REFERENCE: Osama: CIA had trained Pakistani commandos DAWN WIRE SERVICE: Week Ending : 6 October 2001 Issue : 07/40 https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/spa/zohkohb0i282t94/Area%20Studies/public/SouthAsia/SAserials/Dawn/2001/oct0601.html#osam Irfan Siddiqui Column on the Death of Osama Bin Laden Daily Jang 4 May 2011 http://jang.com.pk/jang/may2011-daily/04-05-2011/col1.htm

Osama Bin Laden & Memory Loss of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan & Pervez Musharraf

 
Osama Bin Laden & Memory Loss of Chaudhry Nisar... by SalimJanMazari

In 1999, the CIA secretly trained and equipped approximately 60 commandos from the Pakistani intelligence agency to enter Afghanistan for the purpose of capturing or killing Osama bin Laden, according to people familiar with the operation. The operation was arranged by then-Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his chief of intelligence with the Clinton administration, which in turn promised to lift sanctions on Pakistan and provide an economic aid package. The plan was aborted later that year when Sharif was ousted in a military coup. The plan was set in motion less than 12 months after U.S. cruise missile strikes against bin Laden's training camps in Afghanistan that Clinton administration officials believe narrowly missed hitting the exiled Saudi militant. The clandestine operation was part of a more robust effort by the United States to get bin Laden than has been previously reported, including consideration of broader military action, such as massive bombing raids and Special Forces assaults. It is a record of missed opportunities that has provided President Bush and his administration with some valuable lessons as well as a framework for action as they draw up plans for their own war against bin Laden and his al Qaeda network in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington. The Pakistani commando team was up and running and ready to strike by October 1999, a former official said. "It was an enterprise," the official said. "It was proceeding." Still stung by their failure to get bin Laden the previous year, Clinton officials were delighted at the operation, which they believed provided a real opportunity to eliminate bin Laden. "It was like Christmas," a source said. The operation was aborted on Oct. 12, 1999, however, when Sharif was overthrown in a military coup led by Gen. Pervez Musharraf, who refused to continue the operation despite substantial efforts by the Clinton administration to revive it. Musharraf, now Pakistan's president, has emerged as a key ally in the Bush administration's efforts to track down bin Laden and destroy his terrorist network. The record of the CIA's aborted relationship with Pakistan two years ago illustrates the value -- and the pitfalls -- of such an alliance in targeting bin Laden. Pakistan and its intelligence service have valuable information about what is occurring inside Afghanistan, a country that remains closed to most of the world. But a former U.S. official said joint operations with the Pakistani service are always dicey, because the Taliban militia that rules most of Afghanistan has penetrated Pakistani intelligence. "You never know who you're dealing with," the former senior official said. "You're always dealing with shadows." 

 'We Were at War' :  In addition to the Pakistan operation, President Bill Clinton the year before had approved additional covert action for the CIA to work with groups inside Afghanistan and with other foreign intelligence services to capture or kill bin Laden. The most dramatic attempt to kill bin Laden occurred in August 1998, when Clinton ordered a Tomahawk cruise missile attack on bin Laden's suspected training camps in Afghanistan in response to the bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. At the time, the Pentagon informed the president that far more ambitious and riskier military actions could be undertaken, according to officials involved in the decision. The options included a clandestine helicopter-borne night assault with small U.S. special operations units; a massive bombing raid on the southeastern Afghan city of Kandahar, the spiritual home of the Taliban and a place frequently visited by bin Laden and his followers; and a larger air- and sea-launched missile and bombing raid on the bin Laden camps in eastern Afghanistan. Clinton approved the cruise missile attack recommended by his advisers, and on Aug. 20, 1998, 66 cruise missiles rained down on the training camps. An additional 13 missiles were fired at a pharmaceutical plant in Sudan that the Clinton administration believed was a chemical weapons factory associated with bin Laden. Clinton's decision to attack with unmanned Tomahawk cruise missiles meant that no American lives were put in jeopardy. The decision was supported by his top national security team, which included Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen and national security adviser Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger, officials said. In the aftermath of last month's attacks on the United States, which the Bush administration has tied to bin Laden, Clinton officials said their decision not to take stronger and riskier action has taken on added relevance. "I wish we'd recognized it then," that the United States was at war with bin Laden, said a senior Defense official, "and started the campaign then that we've started now. That's my main regret. In hindsight, we were at war." Outside experts are even more pointed. "I think that raid really helped elevate bin Laden's reputation in a big way, building him up in the Muslim world," said Harlan Ullman, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. "My sense is that because the attack was so limited and incompetent, we turned this guy into a folk hero." Senior officials involved in the decision to limit the attack to unmanned cruise missiles cite four concerns that in many ways are similar to those the Bush administration is confronting now. One was worry that the intelligence on bin Laden's whereabouts was sketchy. Reports at the time said he was supposed to be at a gathering of terrorists, perhaps 100 or more, but it was not clear how reliable that information was. "There was little doubt there was going to be a conference," a source said. "It was not certain that bin Laden would be there, but it was thought to be the case." The source added, "It was all driven by intelligence. . . . The intelligence turned out to be off." 

A second concern was about killing innocent people, especially in Kandahar, a city already devastated by the Soviet Union's 1979 invasion of Afghanistan. Large loss of civilian life, the thinking went, could have cost the United States the moral high ground in its efforts against terrorism, especially in the Muslim world. The risks of conducting a long-range helicopter assault, which would require aerial refueling at night, were another factor. The helicopters might have had to fly 900 miles, an official said. Administration officials especially wanted to avoid a repeat of the disastrous 1980 Desert One operation to rescue American hostages in Iran. During that operation, ordered by President Jimmy Carter, a refueling aircraft collided with a helicopter in the Iranian desert, killing eight soldiers. A final element was the lack of permission for bombers to cross the airspace of an adjoining nation, such as Pakistan, or for helicopters to land at a staging ground on foreign soil. Since Sept. 11, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have offered the United States use of bases and airspace for any new strike against bin Laden. Bin Laden, 44, a member of an extended wealthy Saudi family, was expelled from Saudi Arabia in 1991 and stripped of his citizenship three years later. In early 1996, the CIA set up a special bin Laden unit, largely because of evidence linking him to the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. At the time, he was living in Sudan, but he was expelled from that country in May 1996 after the CIA failed to persuade the Saudis to accept a Sudanese offer to turn him over. After his subsequent move to Afghanistan, bin Laden became a major focus of U.S. military and intelligence efforts in February 1998, when he issued a fatwa, or religious order, calling for the killing of Americans. "That really got us spun up," recalled retired Marine Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, who was then the chief of the Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East and Central Asia. When two truck bombs killed more than 200 people at the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in August of that year, and the U.S. government developed evidence that bin Laden was behind both attacks, the question was not whether the United States should counterattack, but how and when. And when depended on information about his whereabouts. Two weeks later, intelligence arrived in Washington indicating that bin Laden would be attending a meeting in eastern Afghanistan. 

Much turned on the quality of the intelligence provided by CIA Director George J. Tenet, recalled a senior official who had firsthand knowledge of the administration's debate on how to respond. "Some days George was good," the official said, "but some days he was not so good. One day he would be categorical and say this is the best we will get . . . and then two days later or a week later, he would say he was not so sure." 'It Was a Sustained Effort' The quality of the intelligence behooved restraint in planning the raid. Hitting bin Laden with a cruise missile "was a long shot, very iffy," recalled Zinni, the former Central Command chief. "The intelligence wasn't that solid." At the same time, new information surfaced suggesting that bin Laden might be planning another major attack. Top Clinton officials felt it was essential to act. 

At best, they calculated, bin Laden would be killed. And at a minimum, he might be knocked off balance and forced to devote more of his energy to hiding from U.S. forces. "He felt he was safe in Afghanistan, in the mountains, inside landlocked airspace," Zinni said. "So at least we could send the message that we could reach him." In all, 66 cruise missiles were launched from Navy ships in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Pakistan into the camps in Afghanistan. Pakistan had not been warned in advance, but Air Force Gen. Joseph Ralston, then the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Pakistani officials at the precise time of the launch to tell them of the operation. He also assured them that Pakistan was not under surprise attack from India, a potential misapprehension that could have led to war. At least one missile lost power and crashed in Pakistan, but the rest flew into Afghanistan and slammed into suspected terrorist training camps outside Khost, a small town near the Afghan-Pakistani border. Most of the cruise missiles were carrying loads of anti-personnel cluster bomblets, with the intention of killing as many people as possible. Reports from the scene were inconclusive. Most said that the raid killed about 30 people, but not bin Laden. Intelligence that reached top Clinton administration officials after the raid said that bin Laden had left the camp two or three hours before the missiles struck. Other reports said he might have left as many as 10 or 12 hours before they landed. Sources in the U.S. military said the launch time was adjusted some to coordinate it with the Sudan attack andto launch after sundown to minimize detection of the missiles. This had the effect of delaying the launch time by several hours. An earlier launch might have caught bin Laden, two sources said. Cohen came to suspect that bin Laden escaped because he was tipped off that the strike was coming. Four days before the operation, the State Department issued a public warning about a "very serious threat" and ordered hundreds of nonessential U.S. personnel and dependents out of Pakistan. 

Some U.S. officials believe word could have been passed to bin Laden by the Taliban on a tip from Pakistani intelligence services. Several other former officials disputed the notion of a security breach, saying bin Laden had plenty of notice that the United States intended to retaliate. There also is dispute about the follow-up to the 1998 raid, specifically about whether the Clinton administration, having tried and failed to kill bin Laden, stopped paying attention. There were attempts. Special Forces troops and helicopter gunships were kept on alert in the region, ready to launch a raid if solid intelligence pinpointed bin Laden's whereabouts. Also, twice in 1999, information arrived indicating that bin Laden might possibly be in a certain village in Afghanistan at a certain time, officials recalled. There was discussion of destroying the village, but the intelligence was not deemed credible enough to warrant the potential slaughter of civilians. In addition, the CIA that year launched its clandestine operation with Pakistani intelligence to train Pakistani commandos for operations against bin Laden. "It was a sustained effort," Cohen said recently. "There was not a week that went by when the issue wasn't seriously addressed by the national security team." Berger said, "Al Qaeda and bin Laden were the number one security threat to America after 1998. It was the highest priority, and a range of appropriate actions were taken." But never again did definitive information arrive that might have permitted another attempt to get bin Laden, officials said. "I can't tell you how many times we got a call saying, 'We have information, and we have to hold a secret meeting about whether to launch a military action,' " said Walter Slocombe, the former undersecretary of defense for policy. "Maybe we were too cautious. I don't think so." REFERENCES:  CIA Trained Pakistanis to Nab Terrorist But Military Coup Put an End to 1999 Plot BY By Bob Woodward and Thomas E. Ricks Washington Post Staff Writers Wednesday, October 3, 2001; 12:18 AM Researcher Jeff Himmelman contributed to this report. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/18/AR2007111800629.html Irfan Siddiqui on War on Terror Daily Jang 5 March 2009 http://jang.com.pk/jang/apr2009-daily/05-04-2009/col3.htm 2  http://jang.com.pk/jang/apr2009-daily/06-04-2009/col1.htm  Irfan Siddiqui on Swat Peac Treat 13 April 2009 Daily Jang http://jang.com.pk/jang/apr2009-daily/13-04-2009/col1.htm

Jasmeen Manzoor on Khalid Khawaja & Osama Bin Laden - 1 (ARY NEWS)

 
Jasmeen Manzoor on Khalid Khawaja & Osama Bin... by SalimJanMazari

 KK: The story starts in 1986-87, when out of emotion I wrote a letter to General Zia ul-Haq saying that he was a hypocrite and he was only interested in ruling Pakistan, rather than imposing Islamic law in the country. General Zia immediately ordered my dismissal from my basic services in the Pakistan air force, where I was a squadron leader, and from the ISI, where I was deputed at the Afghan desk. I went to Afghanistan and fought side-by-side with the Afghan mujahideen against Soviet troops. There I developed a friendship with Dr Abdullah Azzam [a mentor of bin Laden], Osama bin Laden and Sheikh Abdul Majeed Zindani [another mentor of bin Laden's]. At the same time, I was still in touch with my former organization, the ISI, and its then DG [director general], retired Lieutenant General Hamid Gul. After General Zia's death in a plane crash [1988], elections were announced and there was a possibility that the Pakistan People's Party [PPP] led by Benazir Bhutto would win, which would be a great setback for the cause of jihad. We discussed this situation, and all the mujahideen thought that they should play a role in blocking the PPP from winning the elections. I joined my former DG Hamid Gul and played a role in forming the then Islamic Democratic Alliance comprising the Pakistan Muslim League and the Jamaat-i-Islami. The PPP won the elections by a thin margin and faced a strong opposition. Osama bin Laden provided me with funds, which I handed over to Nawaz Sharif, then the chief minister of Punjab [and later premier], to dislodge Benazir Bhutto. Nawaz Sharif insisted that I arrange a direct meeting with the "Sheikh", which I did in Saudi Arabia. Nawaz met thrice with Osama in Saudi Arabia. The most historic was the meeting in the Green Palace Hotel in Medina between Nawaz Sharif, Osama and myself. Osama asked Nawaz to devote himself to "jihad in Kashmir". Nawaz immediately said, "I love jihad." Osama smiled, and then stood up from his chair and went to a nearby pillar and said. "Yes, you may love jihad, but your love for jihad is this much."

He then pointed to a small portion of the pillar. "Your love for children is this much," he said, pointing to a larger portion of the pillar. "And your love for your parents is this much," he continued, pointing towards the largest portion. "I agree that you love jihad, but this love is the smallest in proportion to your other affections in life." These sorts of arguments were beyond Nawaz Sharif's comprehension and he kept asking me. "Manya key nai manya?" [Agreed or not?] He was looking for a Rs500 million [US$8.4 million at today's rate] grant from Osama. Though Osama gave a comparatively smaller amount, the landmark thing he secured for Nawaz Sharif was a meeting with the [Saudi] royal family, which gave Nawaz Sharif a lot of political support, and it remained till he was dislodged [as premier] by General Pervez Musharraf [in a coup in 1999]. Saudi Arabia arranged for his release and his safe exit to Saudi Arabia. That was a typical situation, when Osama was famed for his generosity, and even politicians like Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, who was president of the National People's Party and president of the Islamic Democratic Alliance, and then interim prime minister, were also after me to arrange meetings with the "Sheikh". Then Nawaz Sharif introduced me to Sheikh Rashid, and he took me to his Freedom House camp near Fateh Jang Road near Rawalpindi. He asked me to get support from Arabs. I took several of my Arab friends to his training camp, and they provided him with some money, though they were not satisfied with the environment. The youths were mostly trained to fire AK-47 rifles, but there was no arrangement for the ideological training of youths. That was the point on which the Arabs objected, that it is ideological training that makes a difference between a mercenary and a mujahid. Rashid was the least bothered about ideological training, he was interested in money - Rs50,000 per person. Some money was provided to Rashid, and he claimed that he procured AK-47 guns with that money. How many, I do not remember. REFERENCE: The pawns who pay as powers play By Syed Saleem Shahzad South Asia Jun 22, 2005 http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GF22Df04.html Irfan Siddiqui on GHQ and Parade Lane Mosuqe Daily Jang 6 Dec 2009 http://jang.com.pk/jang/dec2009-daily/06-12-2009/col2.htm

 Jasmeen Manzoor on Khalid Khawaja & Osama Bin Laden - 2 (ARY NEWS)

 
Jasmeen Manzoor on Khalid Khawaja & Osama Bin... by SalimJanMazari

 The momentum for finding a strategy that will allow for an honorable exit is becoming irresistible. Enter Mansoor Ijaz, a US citizen of Pakistani origin with close ties to the right wing of the Republican Party. In London, with the help of British authorities, he began the peace process. Mansoor's point man in Pakistan is Khalid Khawaja, a former Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) official who was a close friend of Osama bin Laden. Khawaja's associates included Paracha, a former member of the provincial assembly in North West Frontier Province and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz group). His claim to fame is his advocacy for the families of al-Qaeda operators detained by Pakistani authorities. One of the inducements put on the table for the Taliban leadership was their inclusion in the government of President Hamid Karzai, but Mullah Omar rejected this, saying there could not be any form of a deal until all foreign forces were pulled out of Afghanistan. Thus there was no possibility of the Taliban laying down their weapons. "Actually, the media have jeopardized the peace initiative when it is still in its initial stages, though part of the news is correct, that yes, there is a discourse between the Taliban and the US, but it is wrong that any US officials met Javed Ibrahim Paracha," Khalid Khawaja told Asia Times Online. Asia Times Online sources in the Afghan resistance across the border from Pakistan confirm that there has been recent contact between Karzai and the Taliban leadership. This took place through a go-between. Karzai, according to the contacts, sought support for himself and agreed that any cooperation with the Taliban would hinge on one single point - the evacuation of foreign troops. The contact was confirmed at a time the Afghan parliamentary results confirmed that members of the former Taliban regime and former mujahideen leaders had won seats in parliament with heavy mandates. 

The general perception is that these new parliamentarians are split into small political groups, and will therefore not be able to make much of an impression. However, most of the Taliban warlords who won in the elections are still in contact with the Taliban leadership, and so are the members of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's Hizb-i-Islami, whose leadership sits quietly in Peshawar, Pakistan. Veteran warlord Hekmatyar is still active in the Afghan resistance. Far from being splintered, these new parliamentarians are believed to be in a decisive position, and they are taking guidance from their Taliban or Hizb leaders. For instance, once Mullah Omar received Karzai's communication agreeing that the withdrawal of foreign troops was the minimum starting point for any negotiations, Mullah Omar called a shora (council) and then sent messages to all former Taliban members in parliament to support Karzai. REFERENCE: Time to talk: US engages the Taliban By Syed Saleem Shahzad Central Asia Nov 22, 2005 http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/GK22Ag02.html 

Irfan Siddiqui on Suicide Bombing Daily Jang 9 Dec 2009 http://jang.com.pk/jang/dec2009-daily/09-12-2009/col3.htm

 Jasmeen Manzoor on Khalid Khawaja & Osama Bin Laden - 3 (ARY NEWS)

 
Jasmeen Manzoor on Khalid Khawaja & Osama Bin... by SalimJanMazari

 KARACHI - There was a day when former premier Nawaz Sharif was part of Pakistan's ruling military oligarchy. He tried to be independent and a strongman, and consequently was removed from power in a bloodless coup by now President General Pervez Musharraf on October 12, 1999. However, after serving a year in jail and then going into exile in Saudi Arabia to avoid charges of treason and hijacking, he has once again dealt with the military and finalized a deal with the director general of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant General Nadeem Taj, in Saudi Arabia. As a result, they both returned to Pakistan - on flights half an hour apart - on Sunday. Sharif returned to the country two months ago, but was hustled straight back onto a plane to Saudi Arabia. This time there was no such drama as the circumstances have changed. According to Asia Times Online contacts, a retired military brigadier and the publisher of a large media group were involved in backroom negotiations between the military, Sharif and Saudi Arabia which resulted in him being given the go-ahead to return to Pakistan provided "he did not make trouble". Musharraf is expected to be sworn in as a civilian president this week, which means he will step down as chief of the army staff in preparation for national elections in January. According to the contacts, following the elections, Shabaz Sharif, the younger brother of Nawaz, has been earmarked to lead a unity government comprising liberal democratic forces, but under the umbrella of the military. Initially, former premier Benazir Bhutto had been chosen for this job and she, too, returned from exile, only to fall out with the United States-inspired plan and Musharraf himself. It is not yet clear what part Nawaz Sharif, considered a conservative and traditionalist and an acceptable face for Pakistan's religious forces, will play in this new political dispensation. Just a day before his return, two devastating suicide attacks killed at least 16 people in the garrison town of Rawalpindi adjoining Islamabad. One attacker targeted a vehicle carrying ISI personnel, the other a gate at the military's general headquarters (GHQ). 

The attacks serve as a strong hint to the Pakistani army to reverse its intervention in the Taliban's fight against foreign forces in Afghanistan. The attacks, impeccable sources at GHQ reveal, were based on precise intelligence. However, the sources refused to name the victims or their ranks. Mounting US pressure has forced Pakistan this year to do more in the fight against Taliban and al-Qaeda forces in the country, leading to head-on confrontation. As a result, Pakistan's channels of communication with militants have been choked and the situation is reaching a point of no return in the battle between the Pakistani Taliban and the Pakistani army. The deal with Sharif has both internal and external aspects. The Pakistani military is concerned that the "war on terror" is spilling far too much into the country. The Pakistani Taliban already have a strong presence in the tribal areas and in North-West Frontier Province. Pakistan's leading security think-tank, the National Defense University, has floated the idea that Afghanistan and Pakistan could be prevented from falling into the clutches of extremism by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces withdrawing from Afghanistan and being replaced by troops from the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC). Ironically, four Muslim countries with the strongest armies in the OIC are non-Arab - Pakistan, Turkey, Indonesia and Bangladesh. If a decision is taken to send in the OIC, these four countries would be at the helm. With the insurgency in Afghanistan spiraling out of control with every passing day, Washington is giving an ear to this suggestion. But the biggest problem would be for Muslim countries to find leaders to speak to the insurgents in a spirit of mutual trust. Otherwise, OIC forces could be just as much of a problem as NATO's. For instance, if the militants declare the troops infidels, it would only add to the hopelessness of the situation. Apparently, the deal brokered by Saudi Arabia to allow Nawaz Sharif back into Pakistan aims to bring his brother Shabaz into the spotlight. Nawaz Sharif had personal interactions with Osama bin Laden (The pawns who pay as powers play, Asia Times Online, June 22, 2005) many times when both were planning to dislodge Bhutto's government in the late 1980s. In Pakistan's charged environment, anything is worth a try, including this old wine in a new bottle - it's worked before. REFERENCE: Strings attached to Sharif's return By Syed Saleem Shahzad South Asia Nov 27, 2007 http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/IK27Df02.html Irfan Siddiqui on Suicide Bombing Daily Jang 10 Dec 2009 http://jang.com.pk/jang/dec2009-daily/10-12-2009/col2.htm

Jang Group on the Life of Osama Bin Laden - 1 (Capital Talk 5 May 2011)

 
Jang Group on the Life of Osama Bin Laden - 1... by SalimJanMazari

 Saudi Fatwa on Usaamah Ibn Laadin Al Khaarijee http://www.scribd.com/doc/98399399/Saudi-Fatwa-on-Usaamah-Ibn-Laadin-Al-Khaarijee

Saudi Fatwa on Usaamah Ibn Laadin Al Khaarijee by Aamir Mughal

Jang Group on the Life of Osama Bin Laden - 2 (Capital Talk 5 May 2011)
Jang Group on the Life of Osama Bin Laden - 2... by SalimJanMazari

2009 Even children not spared . General among 40 dead: Carnage in Pindi army mosque as Taliban breach security 2009-12-05 RAWALPINDI, Dec 4 Armed militants stormed a mosque during Friday prayers in Rawalpindi`s supposedly secure military residential area and killed at least 40 people, almost half of them children and five senior military officers, and wounded over eighty others before being gunned down by security forces. In what appeared to be one of the worst incidents of terrorism in recent years, militants opposed to Pakistan army`s operation against Al Qaeda and the Taliban touched a new low in their activities when they violated the sanctity of a mosque to kill and maim worshippers in cold blood. Besides 16 children, an army major general, a brigadier, two lieutenant colonels, a major and a number of soldiers were among those killed in a multi-pronged attack at the Parade Land Askari mosque that involved grenade throwing, firing from automatic guns and deadly explosions. The siege ended after two suicide bombers blew themselves up. Although mosques and imambargaghs have in the past been targeted by sectarian terrorists, this was the first time that such a such large number of children were gunned down by any militant group even though the apparent target were military officers offering Friday prayers in the community mosque. Most of the children were at the mosque along with their fathers or other relatives and belonged to military families, officials said. “Like every Friday my son had accompanied me to the mosque. Now he is dead and I am standing here in front of you,” said a highly disturbed elderly man, his clothes soaked in blood. As word spread about the terrorist attack in the city, scores of people gathered outside the Westridge area, but were prevented by military police and security personnel from going near the mosque as for many hours the situation in the area had remained volatile. It was late in the evening when authorities cleared the area and allowed the people to go in. A military spokesman said the dead included Major General Bilal Umer, Brigadier Abdul Rauf, Lt-Col Mansoor Saeed, Lt-Col Fakhr and Major Zahid. Several senior serving and retired military officers were also among the injured. They included a former vice chief of the army staff, Gen Muhammad Yousuf (retd) (also known as Gen Joe), a brigadier, a colonel and a couple of majors. As anger and sadness gripped Rawalpindi and rest of the country, a top leader of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the brazen attack. The head of TTP`s South Waziristan operations, Waliur Rehman, told the BBC that militants loyal to his organisation had carried out the attack on the mosque. The chief military spokesman, Major General Athar Abbas, condemned the incident and described it as a work of anti-state terrorists whose sanctuaries have been destroyed by the military in the tribal areas. He said the same group was now using their remaining assets in cities to terrorise the nation. The ISPR chief told DawnNews that authorities would investigate if there was any serious breach. Security in areas housing military installations or residences had been beefed up manifold in recent weeks, particularly after the audacious attack on the General Headquarters in October. Resident told Dawn nearly 150 people, including women and children, were offering their prayers when a group of four militants scaled a high brick wall of the mosque by using a small ladder, landing among the worshippers. An injured man said one of the attackers first threw hand grenades into the worshipers. A deafening boom followed. Later there were two more explosions, followed by machinegun fire. Gunfire, mayhem Ali, a witness, said another attacker started firing randomly into the mosque, creating mayhem among worshippers. He said he saw wounded people lying in the courtyard of the mosque. A large number of shoes dripped with blood were scattered all around in the mosque premises. Security sources said that the group of militants who attacked the mosque had come on a car bearing Islamabad`s registration, defying all security checks and they were spotted scaling the mosque`s wall by some children playing in a nearby ground. At least seven handgrenades, two national identity cards, two sports bags and some documents were found from the boot of the grey colour car the militants had used to come there. Officials later said the dark grey colour Toyota car that militants used to travel to the Parade Lane had a fake registration plate of Islamabad, which in fact was that of a white colour car. REFERENCE: Even children not spared . General among 40 dead: Carnage in Pindi army mosque as Taliban breach security 2009-12-05 00:00:00 http://www.dawn.com/news/854742/even-children-not-spared-general-among-40-dead-carnage-in-pindi-army-mosque-as-taliban-breach-security Swat Taliban welcome Osama bin Laden 2009-04-21 http://www.dawn.com/news/955474/swat-taliban-welcome-osama-bin-laden