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.
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6 Comments
The same guys who didn’t know that bin Laden was living under their noses for 10 years suddenly have detailed intel on everything that Kashmiri did in his “final” days. The Pakistanis are truly something else!
Given the the TTP is perceived by the Pakistan Government and military/intelligence establishments as being ‘bad Taliban’ could this be an effort to create a ‘new group’ that could continue to launch attacks inside Pakistan while allowing the TTP and HUJI to deny responsibility?
A strategy along these lines could be an effort to slowly rehabilitate the TTP and HUJI in the eyes of the military, ISI and civilian Government in order to be seen as a strategic asset in Afghanistan and India much as the Afghan Taliban and Kasmiri jihadist groups have been.
We have already seen a similar attempt to distance the HUJI from attacks as in the killing of former ISI officers Khalid Khawaja and Colonel Imam by the so called “Asian Tigers”
When the news first broke of the drone attack that (supposedly) killed Ilyas Kashmiri I was of two minds. Did an American network of informants locate him? Or did the Pakistanis sell him out? If this story is true it’s pretty clear in my mind, e.g. the Pakistanis sold him out.
Marlin, first i must thank you for your various contributions that help round out perspectives in trying to get to the bottom of things.
On Kashmiri, to me the PNS Meheran….Syed Saleem Shahzad….time-up for Kashmiri trail is still the most plausible.
@Charu – re: bin Laden, I interpret the quick turn around on Kashmiri as a tacit acknowledgement by the Pakistani’s and the ISI that their games are hopeless. Let’s make the not so far fetched assumption that they were actively trying to hide Osama. Given that, and given that we still got him anyway, what does that tell you?
They know that they cannot keep up a facade forever, even one that they tried extremely hard at. They need to shut down everything related to Osama ASAP. By doing that, they buy themselves time to cultivate other assets.
“Here, let us help you Americans and your quest to destroy al Qaeda. Pay no attention to these other guys over here… No, they are not even Jihadis. They are farmers. Yes, farmers who have nothing to do with al Qaeda, or our plans to influence Afghanistan long after you pale faces have left.”
Didn.t amjad farooqi died a few years back in a shoot out at nawab shah, sind pakistan?/