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Plot to
attack MLAs hostel in February unearthed By Sanjeev Pargal JAMMU, Dec 23: The first-ever terrorist of Osama bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network has landed into the custody of Jammu Police. And, with his arrest, police have unearthed a conspiracy, hatched by Al-Qaeda in assistance with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to kill all legislators in a fidayeen attack on the MLAs hostel at Indira Chowk in February next year when budget session of the Assembly was scheduled to be in progress. Ayub Ahmed alias Ayubi, a 25-year old resident of Kotli in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) has become the first Al-Qaeda terrorist to be arrested here and second in the country—the first being Afroz Ahmed, who was arrested by Mumbai Police recently. Recovery of a huge quantity of weaponry and explosives including deadly black RDX at the instance of Al-Qaeda terrorist from Srinagar indicated that the MLAs hostel was not just one of the targets of Laden’s outfit but several other vital installations including the State Legislature, Civil Secretariat and Ragunath temple were on hit-list of the outfit. A stunning disclosure made by Ayubi, who was arrested from an official quarter in Poonch House, was that he was being assisted in his task (of killing top political leadership in one go in the MLAs hostel) by a VIP and a protected person of Lolab, Srinagar. This VIP had contested last Assembly election in Srinagar and had since then been provided with a security cover. Police officials were tight-lipped over the arrest of first Al-Qaeda terrorist in Jammu and Kashmir saying ‘his (Ayubi’s) interrogation had reached a very crucial stage and it wouldn’t be possible to share all disclosures as it could lead to escape of Ayubi’s associates in J&K as well as New Delhi’. The officials, however, admitted the arrest of Ayub, which was initially made by Jammu Police but later he was handed over to Special Operations Group (SOG) Jammu for interrogation and arrest of his associates. Sources in the SOG Jammu told EXCELSIOR that one of their high level team was camping in New Delhi since Friday to catch hold of two or three associates of Ayub from the Union capital. Ayub has disclosed that Al-Qaeda had already spread its network in J&K, New Delhi, Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh besides a couple of other Indian cities (whose names he couldn’t recall) much before the United States declared a war on Taliban and Al-Qaeda in the aftermath of attacks on World Trade Centre (WTC) and Pentagon. Arrests were expected to be made anytime, they said. According to sources, Ayub was picked up from an official quarter in Poonch House, Panjtirthi on basis of a ‘very specific information’ developed by Jammu Police about his infiltration into the City. Ayub had twice carried out a reconnaissance mission of the MLAs hostel where he alongwith his associates, who had to reach here a day before the strike, had to carry out a fidayeen attack in ending February to kill the legislators and their families. Ayub told his interrogators that Al-Qaeda had chosen the MLAs hostel for strike in ending February when almost all the legislators were scheduled to be present there (barring who had their own houses in Jammu) in view of budget session of the Assembly, which generally begins in mid-February. Sources said Ayub’s outfit was of the view that it might not be possible for the fidayeens (the suicide squad) to intrude into the Civil Secretariat for targeting the Assembly in view of a massive security ring thrown by police and para-military following October 1 attack on the Legislature in Srinagar. Keeping this in view, the terrorists had planned to attack the MLAs hostel and kill the legislators, staying there. The most stunning aspect in the entire conspiracy was involvement of a protected person Mushtaq Wani, a resident of Lolab, Srinagar. Wani had contested 1996 Assembly elections from Srinagar and since then he was enjoying a security cover from police. Wani was misusing his security cover to carry-out the anti-national activities and help Al-Qaeda network in executing the fidayeen attacks at vital installation. A PSO of Wani has reportedly been arrested but his identity couldn’t be ascertained immediately. He was being questioned by a team of the SOG. On clues given by Ayub, police parties from Jammu and SOG twice carried out raids in Srinagar and recovered a huge quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives including five AK-56 rifles and 14 kg RDX. Mushtaq Wani was also aware of the arms consignment, hidden by Al-Qaeda network, on outskirts of Srinagar City. Seized weaponry has since been brought here by the police teams. It was to be used by the terrorists in killing the political leadership of Jammu and Kashmir. Sources said Ayub had undergone arms training early this year in a camp run by Osama bin Laden’s network in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. Ayub said a number of Pakistani terrorists were undergoing training in Jalalabad then. At that time Afghanistan was ruled by the Taliban, who had since been ousted and replaced by Hamid Karzai’s interim Government. Ayub said a couple of senior ISI officers had visited the camp during his training, indicating a nexus between Al-Qaeda and the ISI, a spy agency of Pakistan. Ayub had later infiltrated into Kashmir valley from the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara sector. |
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Civilian’s killing
turns Kupwara tense Excelsior Special Correspondent SRINAGAR, Dec 23: Even as the Lashkar-e-Toiba’s top wanted "district commander" Saifullah was among the four militants and two civilians killed in Kashmir valley since last evening, a civilian’s death at the hands of security forces has created tension in Kralpora area of Kupwara district today. Informed sources told EXCELSIOR that, on the basis of a specific information, troops of Rashtriya Rifles 15th Bn and SOG Bandipore launched a combing operation in Lawaypora village of Bandipore, in north Kashmir, last evening. According to the tip-off, Lashkar’s most wanted "district commander" Saifullah Askari alias Owais was present in the area alongwith his body-guard, Mirza alias Abu Ali. During the search operation, troops spotted the duo at Waterna, in Kaloosa area, and engaged them in a gunbattle. Both the Pakistani militants got killed. Two AK-56 rifles, four hand grenades and one UBGL were recovered from the site of encounter. While as Police sources maintained that Saifullah was Lashkar’s "district commander" for Bandipore, a Defence spokesman claimed that he was the organisation’s "deputy chief of operations" in Kashmir valley. Saifullah was in limelight early this month when security forces and SOG Bandipore had lifted and interrogated nine girls from three Bandipore villages with the allegation that they had active links with the Lashkar commander. Two girls were later booked under law as Saifullah’s wireless set was recovered from one of them. However, last week Lashkar-e-Toiba issued a Press statement, saying that Saifullah was being demobilised and sent back to the base camp as he had exceeded his brief by establishing contact with girls. Sources said that, on another tip-off, troops of RR 13th Bn and SOG Ganderbal conducted a search operation at Asham village, in Sumbal, and eliminated two local militants of Hizbul Mujahideen today. Both of them remained unidentified till late tonight. Two AK-56 rifles are said to have been recovered from the site of encounter. This evening, unidentified gunmen appeared at Shirgam, Pattan, and fired upon one Bashir Ahmed Tantray. With critical injuries, he was rushed to hospital where he succumbed. Reports described him as a counter-insurgent source of Army. Reports from Kupwara said that unidentified gunmen shot dead a former Sarpanch and NC activist, Abdul Karim Dar S/o Abdur Rahim Dar of Chandigam during last night. Reports from Kupwara added that during last night, the newly inducted troops of RR 42 Bn picked up a civilian, namely Abdul Gani Ganai S/o Mukhtar Ahmed Ganai at Kralpora village. He allegedly collapsed and died during sustained interrogation. Troops, however, reported at the local Police Station that Ganai was gunned down when he fired pistol shots on a search party. They claimed to have recovered a pistol from his possession. However, Ganai’s relatives and fellow villagers put up a strong demonstration while alleging that he had been killed during interrogation. They even refused to accept the dead body and demanded that Ganai’s killers be also punished under law. Consequently, the dead body was put in the police mortuary. Members of the bereaved family also went to complain the matter to the DGP at a nearby village where relief was being distributed among the destitute. Reports said that Ganai’s daughter took it as an injury to the insult when officials gave her a set of blankets as compensation. She threw away the blankets and returned only to stoke a fire of resentment in the area. As the population raised slogans against security forces and demanded punishment to Ganai’s killers, SOG created barriers and did not allow any civilian movement in the area. On one occasion, there was even an altercation between the SOG and mediapersons who were going to report the DGP’s function. |
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Govt won't hesitate
from taking firm action HISAR, Dec 23: Union Home Minister L K Advani today cautioned the countrymen to stand against terrorism as, he said, the fight against the menace would now be not limited to the security forces. Referring to the situation prevailing after the terrorist attack on Parliament, the Union Home Minister said that the Government would not hesitate from taking any firm decision to combat such terrorist violence. Addressing the 21st convocation of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU) here, Mr Advani gave a clarion call to all countrymen to be prepared for a sure victory over the forces involved in spreading terror and cautioned the people against the new weapons used by terrorists. The Union Minister Mr L K Advani today made it clear that India would not let those succeed in their ill designs who were spreading terror and gave a clarion call to all countrymen to be prepared for a sure victory against such forces. The Union Minister was addressing the 21st convocation of the CCSHAU at Hisar where on his arrival he paid floral tributes to Ch Charan Singh by garlanding his statue on the occasionof his 99th birthday. The Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala and Chancellor of the University Babu Parmanand, who is also the Governor of Haryana also paid floral tributes to Ch Charan Singh. Mr Advani made it clear that all countrymen would have to stand against those spreading terror as such a fight would not be limited to security forces. While referring to the situation prevailing after the attack on Parliament on December 13, he said that the Central Government had neither even hesitated from taking any firm decision nor had its decisions been influenced by anyone. He said that there had not been any attack on the United States during the two world wars in the 20th century but after the attack on World Trade Centre, the US President had to say "it is declaration of war". He reminded that Prime Minister Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee had cautioned the United States while addressing the Congress there that its distance from other countries did not mean that that country was safe from terrorism. He said the Prime Minister had been trying to control the problem of terrorism during last few years and now we were fully concentrating on the issue. He reiterated that the Government had been drawing the attention of the world leaders towards the growing menance of terrorism. Mr Advani said that the decision to conduct nuclear tests at Pokharan was justified and it was conducted after giving serious thought to the fact that some countries might get annoyed following the tests. "The world understood it later on as a number of countries who initially imposed sanctions against India gradually withdrew the same on one pretext or the other," he said. He said all countries were dependent on each other and no nation could survive independently today. He said that national security was of utmost importance and its concept had been widened by including security of energy, food and information. Now the slogan was not only "Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan, but Jai Vigyan too had been added to it, he said. He said the Central Government was committed to free the nation from hunger, fear and corruption. Expressing his concern over the escalating population in the country he said that the drive to control population had succeeded in Kerala because there the rate of literacy was high. Paying rich tributes to former Prime Minister Ch Charan Singh, he described the departed leader as the true son of soil who always remained in touch with the common man. Mr Advani said that the authorities of the CCSHAU had conveyed him their decision to confer the honorary degree of D.Lit upon him during the convocation, but he declined it by saying that persons in power should not accept such honours. The University’s Vice Chancellor Prof Vinay Kumar read out the annual report of the university and said that top priority was being given to develop technology for resource conservation, bio-control, cropping system based techniques and quality seed production besides encouraging farmers’ participatory approach in research. (UNI) |
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'We won't be
first to use nuclear weapons' NEW DELHI, Dec 23: Indian forces are in a state of "very high alert" in the wake of Pakistani build-up along the border after last week’s terror attack on Parliament but New Delhi still does not feel that the situation might spill over into a conflict or a nuclear flashpoint. India hopes that better sense would prevail on Pakistan and that it would take action against those who have been behind the terrorist acts and punish the guilty. Maintaining that the forces have always been on the alert on the western frontiers, Defence Minister George Fernandes today said "September 11 (terrorist attack on the US) itself made us take more precautions because after all terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has its roots in Pakistan and Afghanistan. And December 13 made it imperative to get the defence forces into a state of very high alert." Immediately after the December 13 incident, Pakistani reserve divisions and other strike forces were moved to the frontlines "but they have not taken up any battle position", he told PTI in a wide-ranging interview. "It now came to a point that India had to take notice. This is when India had to bring its forces closer to the border both in Punjab and Rajasthan. These include movement of some formations of strike forces," he said. Tanks and artillery form part of the strike forces. "Our preparedness to meet any eventuality is there. And this holds good for the Army, Navy and Air Force," he added. Fernandes also pointed out that some of Pakistani Army units from armoured corps, which had been earlier carrying out exercises in their parts of Thar desert, had stayed on there even after the war games were over. To a question whether he subscribed to the theory that the sub-continent was a nuclear flash-point, Fernandes said India’s nuclear doctrine was very clear and categoric that it would not be the first to fire a nuclear weapon. "And one would like to believe that every country knows the implications of using such a weapon," he said. Asked if Islamabad could attempt any adventurism in this regard, the Defence Minister said "there is no reason for us to believe that such a step would be taken by Pakistan". On whether there was a danger of a conventional war, he said "I want to hope that better sense will prevail with Pakistan and the demand that we have made for handing over those who have been behind the terrorist acts will be acted upon so that the guilty can be punished". Asked how optimistic was he on this score, Fernandes said "I would like to remain optimistic till distinctly negative signals come". Terming the terrorist strike on Parliament as a "consciously deliberated and well-planned" attempt to strike at the very roots of Indian democracy, he said it was not just one more act of terrorism but aimed at eliminating the entire political leadership of the country. Observing that India has been fighting terrorism in J and K and earlier in the North East and in Punjab, Fernandes said "we are still in that fight and one cannot see any respite in it in the near future". Stating that September 11 and December 13 had put the whole world on alert, he said these two dates have made everyone realise that national security was not the responsibility of the Army or the defence forces alone but there was a lot more to it than that. To a question if scheduled training exercises by the Army in Rajasthan and Punjab in the first half of January could be advanced, Fernandes said there has been no talk of change in schedule. He said Government has announced a housing policy worth Rs. 16,000 crore to provide every officer and soldier with a house in a period of three to four years. Under the scheme, three lakh houses would be constructed and would include married accommodation. "Besides possessing the best in weaponry and other requisite items needed in battle only add to the morale of the troops," he said, adding that in the last three budgets, the outlay earmarked for the defence has enabled the country to procure better weaponry and equipment including clothes, gloves and snow mobiles for troops at Siachen Glacier, known as the world’s highest battlefield. (PTI) |
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Two civilians gunned down Excelsior Correspondent RAJOURI/POONCH, Dec 23: Terrorists shot at and injured two Ayurvedic doctors and gunned down two other civilians in Surankot and Mendhar tehsils of Poonch district over-night. Father of one of the victims was mercilessly beaten-up by the terrorists and rendered unconscious. Official sources said a group of terrorists, who had laid an ambush in Dundak area , opened firing on a Maruti car and a truck, which were heading towards Surankot from Poonch at 1915 hours last night. Two Ayurvedic doctors travelling in their Maruti car No. 4482 GDQ were injured in the firing while conductor of a truck No. 9635 JKQ was killed on spot. After firing, the terrorists fled away to an adjoining forest area. Injured doctors identified as Kulbushan Sharma of Jammu and M L Sharma of Mendhar were shifted to Army hospital in Surankot. They had sustained bullet injuries. While Dr Kulbushan Sharma was posted in Mandi, Dr M L Sharma was posted in Balakot. Duo were going to meet their relatives in Surankot when their car came under the terrorists’ firing. Deceased conductor of the truck has been identified as Imtiyaz Ahmed Khan son of Mohd Rashid Khan, a resident of village Dassal in Rajouri. He was shifted to Surankot hospital but was declared dead. Soon after the incident, army and police rushed to the spot, cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to track down the terrorists involved in the killings. However, they remained untraced. According to sources, the terrorists involved in the attack were stated to be six in number and majority of them were the foreign mercenaries, affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit. Body of deceased truck conductor was handed over to his family this morning. In another incident, three terrorists entered into the house of Zahid Hussain Shah at village Salwa in Mendhar tehsil of Poonch district last mid-night. The ultras started mercilessly beating-up Zahid and his son Sajjad Hussain Shah. Later, they shot dead Sajjad Hussain and fled away. Zahid Hussain had sustained multiple fractures all over his person and rendered unconscious by the terrorists. He was shifted to the sub district hospital of Mendhar in serious condition. Body of Sajjad Hussain Shah was laid to rest in his village Salwa this evening. Police have started investigations in the killing of a youth and injuries to his father. |
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Important documents
recovered NEW DELHI, Dec 23: Amidst a new low in Indo-Pakistan ties, Delhi Police arrested an official of Parliament secretariat for allegedly supplying to a Pakistan High Commission staffer certain "sensitive" information on National Security and is probing if officials of Pakistan High Commission were involved in the Dec 13 terrorist strike on Parliament. Senior Executive Assistant in Parliament secretariat’s question cell Ajay Kumar was caught yesterday supplying a bag containing documents relating to defence, atomic energy, nuclear research, Railway security, ship-designing, and technology upgradation to Pakistan High Commission staffer Mohammed Sharief Khan, a Delhi Police press release said. Kumar’s interrogation revealed that Khan had several times in the past asked him about the security arrangements around Parliament House and arrange a pass for him to watch Parliament proceedings, the release said. It said Kumar had informed Khan that Parliamentary security staff, when on duty, remain unarmed. "It is being probed if there is involvement of Pakistan High Commission-based information officers in the recent (Dec 13) attack on Parliament," the release said. During interrogation, Kumar told the police that he had been working for Pakistan-based intelligence operatives for the last couple of years in return for payment, according to the press release. It said Kumar used to provide information about locations of the securitymen and their movements on the basis of his personal observation and pass on "sensitive" documents which he had access to because of his official position. Khan, 38, was caught at the time of receiving the documents at a restuarant in West Delhi, questioned and then handed over to Pakistan High Commission through an official of the External Affairs Ministry, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) L N Rao said. Detailing the sequence of events leading to 48-year-old Kumar’s arrest, the release said a trap was laid near the restaurant following specific intelligence that a Pakistan-based intelligence operative would be meeting an Indian at around 2000 hours. A team of special cell of Delhi Police laid the trap near the restaurant and spotted two suspicious-looking persons and apprehended them. (PTI) |
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People desert five
villages Deputy Commissioner, Jammu Rohit Kansal and MLA Samba Som Nath had a narrow escape in Pakistan firing in Benglard in Samba sector this evening, where they had gone to review the situation following attack on a BSF patrol and migration from five forward villages. Som Nath’s Gypsy was hit by a bullet fired from across the border. Immediately thereafter, the Deputy Commissioner and the MLA were escorted to a safer area by the security personnel. Meanwhile, all families in five villages in Benglard area left their houses this afternoon and took shelter in the safer areas. Migration took place from Sorrhi, Chak Fakeera, Gunjgal, Shirki and Benglard villages. Exact number of the migrant families was being ascertained by the authorities. Two forward villages in Suchetgarh area of RS Pura sector were also vacated by the people. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: Pakistan army today went on an offensive in Samba sector by attacking a BSF patrol party killing three jawans and wounding six others including four soldiers and two civilians. Killings aggravated the already tense situation on the International Border with the BSF jawans retaliating effectively using heavy fire arms. Meanwhile, a virtual war like situation prevailed in Poonch sector where machine guns, rocket launchers and mortars were being used by both sides in Khari Karmara and Digwar areas, resulting into panic in Poonch town. Pakistan army opened heavy firing using heavy weaponry and fired grenades on a BSF patrol party in Galard area of Samba sector at 0920 hours today killing two jawans and wounding four others. Firing was ‘directly aimed’ at the patrol party, BSF sources said. Security personnel immediately swung into action and evacuated the victims to hospital. One of the injured jawan too succumbed to his wounds in Military Hospital, Satwari taking the death toll to three. Deceased jawans have been identified as C K Jai Parkash, head constable from Kerala, K B Bhai, constable and K C Dass, constable from Orissa. While Parkash and Bhai had died on spot, Dass died in the hospital. Injured constable Bhaskar and constable Chander Parkash has been admitted in the hospital . Identity of one of the injured couldn't be ascertained. All dead and injured were part of 153 battalion of the BSF, deployed in forward Bein and Glard areas of Samba sector. Sources said Pakistan army might have been watching the movement of BSF team, which used to patrol the forward area daily to check infiltration of the terrorists. "Firing was not indiscriminate but directly aimed at the patrol party", they added, describing it as a ‘very serious matter’. Soon after evacuating the victim from forward area, the BSF jawans started effective retaliatory firing. Heavy fire arms were used by the security personnel in retaliatory firing. Details of casualties or damage on Pakistan side were not available immediately. In the afternoon, two civilians were injured in Pakistani firing in Galard area. They have been identified as Rekha Devi, Dwarka Nath son of Punnu Ram, both residents of Galard. Both the injured have been hospitalised. Meanwhile, on the Line of Control (LoC) front, a serious situation has developed in Poonch sector with a virtual war like situation. Indian side retaliated Pakistan firing at 0900 hours today and by 1700 hours today, there was no end in sight to heavy firing from both the sides. Firing was, however, limited to Khari Karmara, Digwar and Nakerkot areas. Machine guns, mortars, rockets launched and other heavy arms weaponry was being used in the firing. No casualties had been reported on Indian side till late this evening while the reports indicated that three to four Pakistani pickets were damaged in the retaliatory firing. Sound of heavy fire arms was heard across Poonch town, which sent a wave of panic among the people. While some people were seen standing on their roof-tops to have a glimpse of the firing, others locked them inside their houses. Reasons behind the intensified firing couldn’t be ascertained but, the sources here said, the firing was started by Pakistan army. Possibility of Pakistan attempting to push trained terrorists into Indian side under the cover of firing was not ruled out. However, the effective retaliatory firing brought down by Indian army has thwarted the enemy designs. |
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Trucker goes on rampage; kills one, injure two Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: A truck driver went on a rampage tonight breaking three police nakas from Sidhra to Vikram Chowk and in the process killing one civilian and wounded two others including a constable. The truck operator finally landed into police custody outside New University Campus and police said they were booking driver not under an ordinary accident case but under Section 304 RPC (culpable homicide). Truck No. 5929 JK02G was first spotted at 2130 hours at Sidhra police naka on Jammu-Nagrota road and signalled to stop by the cops on duty. The driver ignored the signal and broke the naka causing serious injuries to a police constable, police said. Flying Squad No. 7 chased the truck and alert Radio Station police naka ahead as the driver had taken route of Circular road. Loaded with some garments, the truck was being driven at an extra ordinary speed and it again managed to break Radio Station naka. Flying Squad No. 6, stationed at Radio Station, also joined the hunt for truck, which moved towards Ambphalla and BC Road and then shifted towards Fly Over. In the meantime, Flying Squad No. 2, which had been sounded on the wireless set, laid a powerful naka at Vikram Chowk. Sensing trouble, the truck operator turned towards New University Campus lane after crossing Tawi bridge. By then, the truck had been surrounded by three Flying Squads. The driver went on wrong side to escape from the Flying Squads and, in the process, hit a scooter outside the Campus. Two persons, riding on the scooter No. 8547 JK02C were seriously injured and one of them, whose identity hadn’t been established so far, succumbed to his wounds. Another person was seriously injured. He has been identified as Om Parkash son of Chatru Ram of Subash Nagar. He has been admitted in Medical College hospital. Immediately after the accident, police succeeded in over-powering the truck driver and seized his vehicle. Erring truck operator has been identified as Maqbool Ahmed son of Shukar Din, a resident of Jagti. Police said the truck was being subjected to searches and Maqbool was being interrogated to ascertain the reasons behind his breaking police nakas. All angles are under investigations, they added. Moreover, police have decided to book the truck operator under Section 304 RPC instead of a normal crime. |
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Excelsior Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 23: A teen-aged boy was injured in a blast at village Kathar in Chowki Chowra area, about 48 kms from Akhnoor this afternoon. Injured Sawtantar Singh son of Faqir Singh, a resident of Kathar, has been hospitalised in Akhnoor. He lost his two finger and an eye in the blast. Police said a shining object was brought by Ravi Kumar, a 9th class student to his house from a field. While Ravi Kumar and Sawtantar Singh were playing with the device, it went off, wounding Sawtantar. Ravi Kumar survived. Since it was not the border area, police was investigating nature of the explosive device. |
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CIA tracked Laden through agents WASHINGTON, Dec 23: Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, US President George W Bush has authorised a sweeping and lethal CIA programme against Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda network costing more than one billion dollars. Well-placed sources said Washington’s attention to bin Laden was not new as the Central Intelligence Agency tracked the Saudi dissident for four years prior to the September 11 attacks through a team of about 15 recruited Afghan agents. The team had mixed results, ranging from excellent to total failure. Once every month or so, the team pinpointed bin Laden’s presence in a specific building, compound or training camp, and that location was then confirmed by the CIA through communications intelligence or satellite overhead photography. On two occasions, the team reported firing on bin Laden’s caravan, though the agency could not independently validate this. On some days, the team provided a specific location, and the CIA was able to obtain three or four verifications from other intelligence sources, confirming bin Laden’s whereabouts. For other periods, the team would lose track of him. There would be a week or two when bin Laden would be "out of pocket" said one person with first hand knowledge of the team’s work. However, the US never launched an attack on bin Laden based on information provided by the tracking team. (PTI) |
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KABUL, Dec 23: Stepping up the hunt for terror mastermind Osama bin Laden, the United States is rushing ten new bunker-smashing bombs that turns caves and tunnels into inferno as the row between Washington and Afghanistan’s new interim Government over the bombing of an Afghan convoy grew today. As whereabouts of bin Laden remained a matter of speculation, the Pentagon said in Washington that it was sending THC" bombs, a high-temperature explosives that can take out oxygen out of the caves and tunnels to help the US bombers pounding suspected hideouts of bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda network. The laser-guided weapons were to be shipped to the region after a successful test last week in Nevada, officials said. Pentagon has said US forces searching the area would be reinforced. Forces in the region include about 2,000 US marines in Afghanistan along with a number of US and British special operations forces. More than 1,000 US army troops from the 10th Mountain Division trained in cold-weather operations are in neighboring Uzbekistan. Pakistan has reinforced troops guarding that country’s border with Afghanistan and US and allied naval forces are patrolling offshore to prevent escape by sea. Meanwhile, the dispute over American airstrike on a convoy in southern Afghanistan soon after the swearing in of Hamid Karzai-led interim administration on Saturday deepened with US jutifying that the convoy contained elements of fallen Taliban militia or its ally Al-Qaeda men. Afghan Interior Minister Younous Qanooni was quoted by CNN as saying that the convoy struck by US warplanes had delegates travelling to Kabul for the installation of the interim Government and attributed the incident to a "misunderstanding." General Tommy Franks, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, insisted US warplanes were fired on before launching an attack on a convoy. "We believe it was a bad convoy. We have reason to believe it was a good target," he said. The attack on the convoy drew sharp reaction from Gulab Din, a tribal leader in eastern Afghanistan, who threatened to launch a war against Karzai if US jets launched another attack on his area, Afghan Islamic Press reported. (PTI) |
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India to appoint Ambassador to Afghanistan NEW DELHI, Dec 23: India today decided to appoint a full-fledged ambassador to Afghanistan by the month end. This was announced by External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh after a two-hour meeting of the Cabinet Committee on security. Singh told reporters that the meeting also decided to set up Indian consulates in Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif. (PTI) |
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Delhi Police to take Afzal to Kashmir NEW DELHI, Dec 23: In an effort to trackdown the main conspirator of the Parliament attack, Ghazi Baba, and his close aide Tarique, Delhi Police will take Mohammed Afzal, the pointman of Jaish-e-Mohammad in Delhi, to Kashmir. Afzal, who had disclosed during interrogation that JeM supreme commander in India Ghazi Baba is based in Pahalgam in south Kashmir, is expected to lead a Delhi Police team to militant hideouts there, police sources said here today. Ghazi Baba is said to be the mastermind behind the December 13 attack on Parliament. Delhi Police expect Afzal to show them the places where training camps are being run by terrorists in Kashmir. Afzal had told interrogators that several training camps are being run by terrorists in the Valley. The sources said Afzal is also expected to help police in tracking down Tariq, who arranged members of the suicide squad besides arms and ammunition used in Parliament attack. Afzal, who was arrested along with Shaukat Hussain in Srinagar following their escape from Delhi soon after the Parliament attack, was yesterday remanded to seven days’ police custody by a city court here. (PTI) |
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