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India-Pakistan

Taliban bringing their war to streets of Karachi

2012-08-11

Militants from Swat, South Wazoo and Mohmand have organized in Bloody Karachi, threatening and killing ANP leaders and raising funds through extortion and abductions for ransom Talibs have brought their war to the streets of Bloody Karachi ...formerly the capital of Pakistain, now merely its most important port and financial center. It may be the largest city in the world, with a population of 18 million, most of whom hate each other and many of whom are armed and dangerous... threatening key leaders of the Pashtun-dominated secular-leaning Awami National Party (ANP) and raising funds through extortions, killing those who refuse to pay. Leaders of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistain (TTP) have recently threatened to kill Pashtuns from the Mehsud tribe living in Bloody Karachi if they do not leave the ANP. The threats came from people linked with Waliur Rehman Mehsud, chief of TTP's South Waziristan chapter, party sources said. Bloody Karachi is Pakistain's largest city, and about 5 million of its estimated 18 million residents are Pashtuns from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... , FATA and Balochistan ...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it... . A large number of Pashtuns migrated to the city after unrest and violence in northern Pakistain since the war on terror began in 2001. After the killing of key Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders in drone attacks and military operations, a number of snuffies have also fled to Bloody Karachi in recent years, security experts and police officials say.   Although there are several Bloody Karachi-based bad boy outfits associated with Al Qaeda and Taliban consisting mainly of non-Pashtun members, snuffies from FATA and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa have recently been found involved in extortion and seeking protection money from Pashtun traders and transporters, and are believed to have killed a number of rival political figures. "In the beginning, the snuffies from the tribal areas did not get involved in subversive activities. This was in line with a TTP policy to use Bloody Karachi only for fundraising and rest and recuperation," said a tribal elder based in Sohrab Goth. "But now they seem to have changed their strategy." Taking advantage of the ongoing ethnic violence in the city, snuffies belonging to TTP's Swat ...a valley and an administrative district in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistain, located 99 mi from Islamabad. It is inhabited mostly by Pashto speakers. The place has gone steadily downhill since the days when Babe Ruth was the Sultan of Swat... chapter killed dozens of elders and political figures of Swat who were travelling to or living in Bloody Karachi. On June 18, Sher Ali Khan, head of the Swat Qaumi Ittehad and chairman of the Pakistain Seamen's Union, was killed in the Frontier Colony area. His relatives blamed his death on Swati snuffies hiding in the city. Some of his family members, especially his nephew, former councilor Malik Riaz, were killed by the Taliban when they controlled Swat. Taking advantage of the ongoing ethnic violence in the city, snuffies loyal to Maulana Fazlullah killed dozens of elders and political figures of Swat in Bloody Karachi On January 5, Saeed Ahmed Khan, district president of ANP, was killed in an attack on his house in the Metroville area of SITE Town. Belonging to Manja village of Swat's Kabal tehsil, he was an influential political figure in both Swat and Bloody Karachi. One of the attackers rubbed out by a police constable assigned to Saeed Khan's security was identified as Aminullah, a runaway TTP Swat bad boy. "A number of other Swati political and social figures have also been killed in the streets of Bloody Karachi by snuffies loyal to TTP Swat chief Maulana Fazlullah," said Sher Shah Khan, a parliamentarian elected from Swat. The bad boy group involved in the killings of pro-government elders of Swat in Bloody Karachi is mainly led by Ibn-e-Aqeel alias Khog, and Sher Muhammad alias Yaseen. Both are among the most wanted people in Swat. The task of these liquidations was assigned to them two and half years ago by TTP commander Ibn-e-Amin, of the lower Shawar area of Swat. Ibn-e-Amin - among the most dangerous bad boy commanders in Swat and linked with Al Qaeda - was killed in a drone attack in Tirah valley of Khyber Agency in December 2010. Another bad boy group active in Bloody Karachi is loyal to TTP South Waziristan chief Waliur Rehman Mehsud, led in the city by Khan Zaman. In the beginning, they were believed to be involved in extortion from Mehsud rustics from South Waziristan who run transport and heavy machinery businesses in Bloody Karachi. The sum they asked for ranged from Rs1 million to Rs5 million. But recently, they have started threatening the people from the Mehsud tribe to leave the ANP. "Most of the party's offices in Sohrab Goth, Mingopir, Kunwari Colony, Pashtunabad and New Sultanabad have been closed down after the threats, and party members belonging to the Mehsud clan have gone underground," a provincial leader of the ANP said. He requested anonymity for security reasons. Mehsud rustics living in Bloody Karachi are seen as supporters of the ANP. Two of the party's elected members of Sindh Assembly also belong to the Mehsud tribe. Although the ANP was the main target of terrorism in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and FATA and had lost scores of party workers and politicians in attacks carried out by TTP because of their opposition to militancy and extremism, their Bloody Karachi leaders have never been threatened by Taliban groups before. The Mohmand ... Named for the Mohmand clan of the Sarban Pahstuns, a truculent, quarrelsome lot. In Pakistain, the Mohmands infest their eponymous Agency, metastasizing as far as the plains of Beautiful Downtown Peshawar, Charsadda, and Mardan. Mohmands are also scattered throughout Pakistan in urban areas including Karachi, Lahore, and Quetta. In Afghanistan they are mainly found in Nangarhar and Kunar... chapter of TTP has also formed a cell in Bloody Karachi for collecting protection money from the people belonging to Mohmand Agency. The network was developed by TTP Mohmand chief Omar Khalid and front man Ikramullah Mohmand to raise funds, said an elder from the Mohmand agency. Qari Shakeel, deputy to Omar Khalid, calls the traders himself, demanding money, he added. The network, led by TTP commander Yousaf Khan Mian in Bloody Karachi, has killed several traders who refused to pay, the elder said. Mohmand rustics based in Bloody Karachi usually sell timber and construction material. Talibs are also involved in the July 17 attack on a WHO doctor and a July 20 slaying of a local community activist working with Polio eradication campaign in Sohrab Goth area, police say. Mehsud rustics living in Bloody Karachi are seen as supporters of the ANP. Two of the party's elected members of Sindh Assembly belong to the tribe Mazshar Mashwani, a bigwig at the Crime Investigation Department (CID), said Talibs hiding in Bloody Karachi had been killing ANP leaders and CID personnel for the last few months. "A group of TTP consisting of 9 or 10 snuffies has become active in the remits of SITE, Pirabad and Mingophir cop shoppes, and killed several ANP and CID men," he said. The bad boys, he said, were also carrying out fundraising through kidnapping for ransom, extortion and other means. Several CID and Rangers personnel involved in a crackdown against Talibs were killed in Pashtun dominated areas of Bloody Karachi in the last few weeks. Experts and tribal elders say law-enforcement agencies should launch a "selective and surgical" operation in Bloody Karachi against snuffies who are hiding in the city. A number of Taliban suspects have been tossed in the slammer I ain't sayin' nuttin' widdout me mout'piece! for murder, extortion and abduction in the last three months, according to news reports. They include Nazeerullah Mehsud (July 25), Faisal Mehsud and Khan Mohammad alias Sajid (July 2), Jahangir Khan Akakhel (June 9) and Muhammad Yaseen Mehsud alias Naib-Commander (May 28). Police have also killed Omar Khitab, a key TTP leader, in a July 27 encounter. Khitab, belonging to South Waziristan, used to collect forced donations from Pashtun traders in Bloody Karachi, said Chaudhry Bashir, in charge of Mingophir cop shoppe.

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India-Pakistan

Key Taliban commander arrested in Swat

2012-02-19

SWAT: Police claim to have arrested the uncle of a key Taliban commander in the Chaparyal area of the valley on Saturday. Police said that number three commander Bakht Ravan, an uncle of key Taliban commander Ibn-e-Amin>Ibn-e-Amin, had been arrested after they received information from intelligence sources. Police raided a house in Chaparyal area and arrested Ravan who was wanted by the police for his involvement in several terror incidents. It was also claimed that the detained commander was wanted for the Gowalrai Mosque killings in which 14 people from the same family were killed.

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India-Pakistan

Six terrorists killed in clearance operation in Swat

2009-08-01

[Geo News] Backed by local Lashkars and people of the area, search and clearance operations are successfully being conducted by security forces in Swat and Malakand. According to ISPR, security forces conducted search operation at Charbagh and Allahabad and killed 6 terrorists and also recovered cache of arms and ammunition alongwith material for preparation of IEDs. Security forces apprehended Ibn-e-Aqil (younger brother of Ibn-e-Amin) during search operation at Khog Bacha. A number of local terrorists commanders have decided to voluntarily surrender and denounce terrorism. As a result two local terrorists commanders voluntarily surrendered at Shalpalam and 3 terrorists voluntarily surrendered before security forces at village Jheel near BB Ziarat. The notable of village Alamganj, Chinkulai, Janu and Bandai in Khawazakhela have expressed their commitment to support security forces and resolve not to allow any terrorist in their respective areas. Security forces alongwith 30 persons of Sultanwas Lashkar conducted area clearance operation from Pir Baba to Dukhada.

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India-Pakistan

4 terrorists including 2 terrorist commanders killed: ISPR

2009-07-08

[Associated Press of Pakistan] The security forces have killed four terrorists including two terrorist commanders identified as Muhammad Rasol, the brother of Ibn-e-Amin and Akram while 34 others were apprehended from Swat and Bunnu.According to an update issued by ISPR here on Tuesday, security forces carried out search and sweep operation in selected houses at Shukdara. On a tip off terrorist commander Muhammad Rasol brother of Ibn-e-Amin and Commander Akram were killed while 13 suspected terrorists were apprehended alongwith 8 small machine guns, 2 pistols, 4 seven MM rifles including 50 rounds. *ring, ring* Human Resources? Send us up four candidates, quickly! We'll need two who are capable of being trained for management. Yes, I know the learning curve is steep, but we'll need to get them up and running as fast as can be -- before we lose even more mentors. Criminy boss, do you know how long it takes to train a number three?

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India-Pakistan

Head money for Fazlullah increased to Rs 50 million

2009-05-30

The government on Friday increased the head money for Mullah Fazlullah, the commander of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Swat, from Rs 5 million to Rs 50 million. The government has also announced reward for those who would assist in the arrest of other Taliban leaders in Swat and Mingora. Head money of Rs 10 million was also announced for Muslim Khan, Fazalullah's spokesman. Bounty of Rs 10 million each has also been announced for Taliban leaders Shah Dauran, Mehmood Khan, Akbar Hussain, Sher Muhammad Qasab, Sirajud Din, Bakht Farzand, Mian Gul Ghafoor, Nisar Ahmed, Lal Din alias Baray Mian, Anwarullah alias Anwar, Bashir Ahmed, Sultan Hussain, Rashid Ahmad and Ibn-e-Amin target=_blank>Ibn-e-Amin. Meanwhile, NWFP Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain said it was not sure if Fazlullah was dead or not. He was commenting on media reports that said Fazlullah could already be dead. "There is no confirmation whether he is dead or not. It's only a rumor."

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India-Pakistan

Taliban Exploit Class Rifts to Gain Ground in Pakistan

2009-04-17

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — The Taliban have advanced deeper into Pakistan by engineering a class revolt that exploits profound fissures between a small group of wealthy landlords and their landless tenants, according to government officials and analysts here. The strategy cleared a path to power for the Taliban in the Swat Valley, where the government allowed Islamic law to be imposed this week, and it carries broad dangers for the rest of Pakistan, particularly the militants’ main goal, the populous heartland of Punjab Province. In Swat, accounts from those who have fled now make clear that the Taliban seized control by pushing out about four dozen landlords who held the most power. To do so, the militants organized peasants into armed gangs that became their shock troops, the residents, government officials and analysts said. The approach allowed the Taliban to offer economic spoils to people frustrated with lax and corrupt government even as the militants imposed a strict form of Islam through terror and intimidation. “This was a bloody revolution in Swat,” said a senior Pakistani official who oversees Swat, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation by the Taliban. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it sweeps the established order of Pakistan.” The Taliban’s ability to exploit class divisions adds a new dimension to the insurgency and is raising alarm about the risks to Pakistan, which remains largely feudal. Unlike India after independence in 1947, Pakistan maintained a narrow landed upper class that kept its vast holdings while its workers remained subservient, the officials and analysts said. Successive Pakistani governments have since failed to provide land reform and even the most basic forms of education and health care. Avenues to advancement for the vast majority of rural poor do not exist. Analysts and other government officials warn that the strategy executed in Swat is easily transferable to Punjab, saying that the province, where militant groups are already showing strength, is ripe for the same social upheavals that have convulsed Swat and the tribal areas. Mahboob Mahmood, a Pakistani-American lawyer and former classmate of President Obama’s, said, “The people of Pakistan are psychologically ready for a revolution.” Sunni militancy is taking advantage of deep class divisions that have long festered in Pakistan, he said. “The militants, for their part, are promising more than just proscriptions on music and schooling,” he said. “They are also promising Islamic justice, effective government and economic redistribution.” The Taliban strategy in Swat, an area of 1.3 million people with fertile orchards, vast plots of timber and valuable emerald mines, unfolded in stages over five years, analysts said. The momentum of the insurgency built in the past two years, when the Taliban, reinforced by seasoned fighters from the tribal areas with links to Al Qaeda, fought the Pakistani Army to a standstill, said a Pakistani intelligence agent who works in the Swat region. The insurgents struck at any competing point of power: landlords and elected leaders — who were usually the same people — and an underpaid and unmotivated police force, said Khadim Hussain, a linguistics and communications professor at Bahria University in Islamabad, the capital. At the same time, the Taliban exploited the resentments of the landless tenants, particularly the fact that they had many unresolved cases against their bosses in a slow-moving and corrupt justice system, Mr. Hussain and residents who fled the area said. Their grievances were stoked by a young militant, Maulana Fazlullah, who set up an FM radio station in 2004 to appeal to the disenfranchised. The broadcasts featured easy-to-understand examples using goats, cows, milk and grass. By 2006, Mr. Fazlullah had formed a ragtag force of landless peasants armed by the Taliban, said Mr. Hussain and former residents of Swat. At first, the pressure on the landlords was subtle. One landowner was pressed to take his son out of an English-speaking school offensive to the Taliban. Others were forced to make donations to the Taliban. Then, in late 2007, Shujaat Ali Khan, the richest of the landowners, his brothers and his son, Jamal Nasir, the mayor of Swat, became targets. After Shujaat Ali Khan, a senior politician in the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, narrowly missed being killed by a roadside bomb, he fled to London. A brother, Fateh Ali Mohammed, a former senator, left, too, and now lives in Islamabad. Mr. Nasir also fled. Later, the Taliban published a “most wanted” list of 43 prominent names, said Muhammad Sher Khan, a landlord who is a politician with the Pakistan Peoples Party, and whose name was on the list. All those named were ordered to present themselves to the Taliban courts or risk being killed, he said. “When you know that they will hang and kill you, how will you dare go back there?” Mr. Khan, hiding in Punjab, said in a telephone interview. “Being on the list meant ‘Don’t come back to Swat.’ ” One of the main enforcers of the new order was Ibn-e-Amin, a Taliban commander from the same area as the landowners, called Matta. The fact that Mr. Amin came from Matta, and knew who was who there, put even more pressure on the landowners, Mr. Hussain said. According to Pakistani news reports, Mr. Amin was arrested in August 2004 on suspicion of having links to Al Qaeda and was released in November 2006. Another Pakistani intelligence agent said Mr. Amin often visited a madrasa in North Waziristan, the stronghold of Al Qaeda in the tribal areas, where he apparently received guidance. Each time the landlords fled, their tenants were rewarded. They were encouraged to cut down the orchard trees and sell the wood for their own profit, the former residents said. Or they were told to pay the rent to the Taliban instead of their now absentee bosses. Two dormant emerald mines have reopened under Taliban control. The militants have announced that they will receive one-third of the revenues. Since the Taliban fought the military to a truce in Swat in February, the militants have deepened their approach and made clear who is in charge. When provincial bureaucrats visit Mingora, Swat’s capital, they must now follow the Taliban’s orders and sit on the floor, surrounded by Taliban bearing weapons, and in some cases wearing suicide bomber vests, the senior provincial official said. In many areas of Swat the Taliban have demanded that each family give up one son for training as a Taliban fighter, said Mohammad Amad, executive director of a nongovernmental group, the Initiative for Development and Empowerment Axis. A landlord who fled with his family last year said he received a chilling message last week. His tenants called him in Peshawar, the capital of North-West Frontier Province, which includes Swat, to tell him his huge house was being demolished, he said in an interview here. The most crushing news was about his finances. He had sold his fruit crop in advance, though at a quarter of last year’s price. But even that smaller yield would not be his, his tenants said, relaying the Taliban message. The buyer had been ordered to give the money to the Taliban instead.

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