Missile kills Pakistan tribal head

CNN ^ | Friday, June 18 | Syed Mohsin Naqvi

[AdmSmith]

ISLAMABAD (CNN) -- A tribal leader accused of harboring Al Qaeda militants in Pakistan's western border region was killed Thursday night in a targeted missile strike, according to Pakistan intelligence sources. The Associated Press quoted an army spokesman Friday as identifying the tribal leader as Nek Mohammed, a former Taliban fighter.

He was killed late Thursday at the home of another tribal chief, the spokesman said.

"We were tracking him down and he was killed last night by our hand," Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan told The Associated Press.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

They need some dental help!

[AdmSmith]

All bark and no bite.

[AdmSmith]

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Plot to kill Mufti unveiled

SRINAGAR: The police investigating a Kashmiri politician's alleged ties to Islamic militants say the man has admitted to taking part in a plot to kill the former chief minister of held Kashmir.

Last week the police arrested Abdul Wahid Dar, a city councillor in Srinagar, the state's summer capital, after intelligence reports indicated that Dar was a supporter of Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, said police superintendent Anand Jain said. Dar was once an Islamic militant who turned to politics after spending a few years in jail in the early 1990s. It is not uncommon for Kashmir militants to be released from jail if the authorities no longer consider them a threat. Since the arrest, Jain said that Dar has admitted that he helped work out the logistics for a number of Lashkar suicide attacks. ap

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2006\01\19\story_19-1-2006_pg7_11

Comment: The Daily Times prints the well known fact.

[AdmSmith]

This is a theory as good as any other:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1386149.cms
War on terror: CIA may have retainers in Pak
Chidanand Rajghatta
[ Wednesday, January 25, 2006 12:30:30 amTIMES NEWS NETWORK]

WASHINGTON: More than a week after the US bombing of a Pakistani village killed 13 people, including possibly four Al-Qaida terrorists, it appears that the CIA undertook the mission with help from American loyalists and retainers within the Pakistani intelligence establishment.

While one wing of the establishment led by PM Shaukat Aziz insists that no terrorists were killed in the bombing, various Pakistani officials, including his own ministers, have confirmed terrorist deaths to the media.

It now transpires that the reason for this confusion is that one wing of the Pakistani establishment has no clue about the underhand working of the other.

According to the intelligence grapevine in Washington, the CIA now has its own assets in Pakistani intelligence comprising mostly former ISI operatives who report directly to their American bosses, who don't necessarily trust Islamabad.

In the case of the bombing of Damodala village in Bajaur Agency, it was one such US-sponsored intel group that tipped off the CIA about the presence of terrorists, including possibly Ayman al-Zawahiri, causing Washington to rain Hellfire missiles from Predator drones on the suspect compound.

Here is where it all gets murky. The intel may or may not have been correct, but in either case Pakistan has been left holding the can.

More than 10 days after the incident, there are still no bodies to account for the terrorists named as killed. Whether they were taken away by Al-Qaida, by US-sponsored ISI elements or the original ISI is still unclear

[nuconvert]

"have confirmed terrorist deaths to the media."

hmmm........that could be taken taken another way


"operatives who report directly to their American bosses, who don't necessarily trust Islamabad."

Gee, I wonder why?

[Dog]

It has taken us 4 years to build up a network inside Pakistan...and it seems to be paying off.

This was a good hit.

Ask yourself would we risk the blowback if we weren't SURE Zawahiri was there?

He was there and was killed.

[Dog]

there are still no bodies to account for the terrorists named as killed. Whether they were taken away by Al-Qaida, by US-sponsored ISI elements or the original ISI is still unclear

Again would we risk the fallout from announcing their deaths....then have them release a tape...a month later.

No someone had eyes on that compound before during and after....and pounced after the hit.

[nuconvert]

"Ask yourself would we risk the blowback if we weren't SURE Zawahiri was there?"

I know you're holding out for a dead Zawahiri on this hit. I think it's good we got the guys we did.

And Musharraf caused the " blowback". He could have come right out and defended our actions instead of feeding the flames.

[Saberwielder]

Good find. Thanks.

[Dog]

He has to play it down the middle..

I'm waiting for the next shoe to drop...I have a feeling we will be seeing another missile strike....soon....just a hunch.

[Saberwielder]

Good point. Even if it is not Zawahiri, it could be Hekmatyar or some other really high value person. Given the timing of the OBL tape release, it could have even been the man himself.

[Coop]

Good find, thanks. I'm gonna add that article to my ongoing Damadola thread.

[Coop]

Ask yourself would we risk the blowback if we weren't SURE Zawahiri was there?

The answer is "yes." There are no guarantees in war.

[Cap Huff]

Battles in Helmand, Afghanistan

Lookee here:

A Taliban spokesman denies their forces took heavy casualties; “speaking by satellite telephone from an undisclosed location, said only two Taliban were wounded.” If he spoke on a satellite phone, or any other phone for that matter, it is highly likely his U.S. intelligence was listening location is no longer undisclosed.

heh heh . . .

[AdmSmith]

...is this the HQ?: http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1616024,000500020000.htm

Osama calling shots from NWFP: Report

Press Trust of India

New Delhi, February 3, 2006|16:46 IST

Al-Qaeda leadership is headquartered in two districts of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province given the confluence of certain "unique ground conditions" in these tribal areas, a US-based strategic think tank has claimed.

"Both (Ayman) al Zawhiri and Osama bin Laden are in the rural western areas of the NWFP and frequently attend tribal gatherings there," the Strategic Forecasting Inc (Stratfor) claimed in its latest report.

"This indicates that they feel secure with - and have influence over - the local Pashtuns, whose support they need if they are to remain secure," the report added.

It said the Al-Qaeda leadership was headquartered in Dir and Swat districts, and possibly, the Malakand area of NWFP.

Observing that global attention had been focused on North and South Waziristan areas of the province due to the ongoing unrest there, it said Dir bordered the Bajaur agency of Pakistan, which in turn was close to Afghanistan's Kunar province, "a hotbed of Taliban and Al-Qaeda activity".

"Al Zawhiri's reference to 'four brothers' present in Damadola village during the January 13 US air strike includes Abu Obaidah al Masri, an Egyptian Al-Qaeda operative ... Al Masri's presence in Bajaur underscores the region's importance as an Al-Qaeda staging base for operations in Afghanistan".

The detailed Stratfor report said neither bin Laden nor al Zawhiri would risk staying close to Afghan border in FATA "as it would leave them vulnerable to a US air strike from Afghan territory.

On the contrary, they would want to remain as deep within Pakistani territory as possible", where the US might not venture into and described the region as "the best hiding place then can find in all of Pakistan".

[roaddog727]

Bang..... Splat Bump.

[showme_the_Glory]

in a late night rocket attack ......Need more, more often.

[Boot Hill]

LOL, good catch! I hope the President got a warrant first!!!

[AdmSmith]

According to Stratfor (mentioned above) Z might be in NWFP's Dir, Swat, or possibly in Malakand district. Damadola is in Bajaur. Time for a new map:

[Boot Hill]

"Z might be in...Swat"

Uhh, if I were a wanted man, I don't think I'd try hiding out in a place called SWAT, LOL!