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| "Rogue" Pakistani intelligence agents 'involved in Times Square plot' |
| 2010-05-11 |
| American investigators believe rogue Pakistani intelligence agents may have been involved in the Times Square bomb plot, a potentially devastating blow to the country's shaky anti-terror credentials. They are probing a possible connection between Faisal Shahzad and Pakistan's powerful military and intelligence establishment. His background as the son of a senior Air Force officer may have brought him into contact with intelligence agents who helped build the Afghan Taliban and who have channelled cash and training to home-grown Jihadis, according to a source familiar with the investigation. "You don't know who he might have been introduced to in that sort of military environment," said the source. Such a connection would be desperately embarrassing to the government in Islamabad, which is under pressure to demonstrate its commitment to tackling terrorism. But it would help investigators make sense of how a boy raised in the secular, moderate environment of Pakistan's military schools could stand accused of terrorism. Investigation teams, which have been arriving from the US since the start of the week, are at work in Peshawar, close to Shahzad's family home, Karachi, where he spent time as an adult as well as in Rawalpindi, where the Army and intelligence agencies are based, according to the source. They believe he may have used colleagues of his father -- Air Vice Marshal Baharul Haq -- to make contact with the Pakistan Taliban. Pakistan has a history of using Jihadi groups as a tool of its foreign policy. Its Inter-Services Intelligence agency helped equip and train Afghan Mujahideen fighting Soviet occupation during the 1980s and then used the Taliban to fill the resulting vacuum. They have supported militant groups in Indian-controlled Kashmir. However, the government has become increasingly concerned in recent years about groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, blamed for the devastating attacks in Mumbai in December 2008, and has distanced itself from some former allies. American investigators are now examining what links might still exist "They kept the connection in case of what India might do," said the source. US investigators believe the Pakistan Taliban provided training and financing for the plot. Pakistan is already under pressure to do more to rid its tribal areas of militants. At the weekend, Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State, issued a stark warning. "We've made it very clear that if -- heaven-forbid -- an attack like this that we can trace back to Pakistan were to have been successful, there would be very severe consequences," she said. Fresh evidence emerged yesterday of Pakistan's problems with militants. Up to 40 camps housing terrorists are in operation along the Pakistan- Afghanistan border, according to the Russian ambassador to India. Alexandar Kadakin said the findings were based on Russian intelligence and satellite imagery. No one from the Pakistan government or military was available to comment. "Colleagues of his father" is it, shocking, abosolutely shocking! "No one in the Paki gov't or mil available to comment"....? Even more shocking I tell you. Where must this lead? |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #6 If it was ISI sponsored, you would think that the operative would have at least been able to connect the bomb components. Most Webelo bomb fires are better organized and executed. This can't be professionally sponsored. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2010-05-11 22:28 |
| #5 Ditto what #2 said. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2010-05-11 16:50 |
| #4 wasnt it rogue isi that trained/funded the Taliban until we found it went up to Perv. There is no such thing as rogue elements within the Pak Army/ISI.How many think the way of Hamid Gul? |
| Posted by: Paul D 2010-05-11 14:45 |
| #3 Time to add Rawalpindi to the predator hunting range? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2010-05-11 12:34 |
| #2 Rogue, huh? |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2010-05-11 11:38 |
| #1 an attack like this that we can trace back to Pakistan were to have been successful Brilliant HRC. Give 'em a goal to shoot for and do bu**er all about attempts. Not important enough to pursue, huh? Americans can sleep comfy cozy at night. HRC is a hindsight kinda gal. |
| Posted by: Swanimote 2010-05-11 10:09 |