According to The Express Tribune, Ilyas Kashmiri met recently with several Pakistani jihadists to create the “Lashkar-e-Osama,” or the Army of Osama, a group assigned to hit targets throughout Pakistan. While it isn’t explicitly stated in the article, the Lashkar-e-Osama is named after slain al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. The group is tasked with hitting foreign embassies and personnel, as well as critical Pakistani officials and military infrastructure, including the weapons complex at Wah (which has been hit in the past). Also, a strange plot to poison NATO troops in Afghanistan was discussed at the recent meeting, according to The Express Tribune.
An excerpt from the article:
Ilyas Kashmiri, one of the most active al Qaeda leaders in Pakistan, had convened a special meeting in the Data Khel area of North Waziristan Agency a week ago to constitute a special squad that would be tasked with avenging the death of Osama bin Laden.
According to intelligence reports seen by The Express Tribune, the head of the fearsome 313 Brigade of the Harkatul Jihad al Islami called a meeting of several Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commanders to create the “Laskhar-e-Osama” which would be tasked with carrying out suicide bombings throughout Pakistan, including some high-profile targets. Kashmiri was reportedly killed in a US drone strike in South Waziristan on Friday.
Besides Kashmiri, TTP commanders Asmatullah Maavia, Amjad Farooqui, and Badar Mansoor, among others, attended the meeting. The three commanders were assigned territories to conduct bombings in. Mansoor was tasked with targeting Lahore and southern Punjab, while Farooq was told to carry out attacks in Islamabad and Azad Kashmir.
Intelligence agencies were able to collect information about the secret meeting, according to sources familiar with the matter, adding that they were also told that Kashmiri had moved his location away from Data Khel. Information about possible attacks has been forwarded to law-enforcement agencies throughout the country. Security officials have been told to beef up protective arrangements at the possible target sites.
