 Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao said on Wednesday that Al Qaeda had established a strong nexus with outlawed extremist groups in Pakistan.
| Gee golly gosh. Who'da ever thunkit? |
"There is a nexus of Al Qaeda and extremist elements in Pakistan. Whenever they feel hurt, they react. But it will not decrease our resolve against terrorism," he told Daily Times in an exclusive interview on Thursday. Without naming any organisation, the interior minister said the banned groups were facilitating Al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan. Pakistan has banned religious groups including Jaish e-Muhammad, Harkatul Mujahideen, Jamiatul Ansar, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Khuddamul Furqan and Harkatul Jihad-e-Islami.
| Even though "banned," the groups seem to be quite as active as they've ever been, to include publishing their monthlies and collecting funds... |
Sherpao also refuted a recent Los Angeles Times report on the presence of scattered training camps countrywide, saying there were no such training facilities in Pakistan. "Terrorists don't have to train a suicide bomber. They have people indoctrinated for such a type of job. So there are no training camps," he added.
| On the other hand, recruiters of suicide boomers do need a certain amount of highly specialized training, even given a willing pool of rubes who're willing to become meat puzzles... |
However, he did not deny the involvement of extremist groups in training people at secret locations. "There are no such reports, but they can do so. There are several proclaimed offenders who have not been caught. So they may be doing these activities," he said. President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and other senior government officials were on Al Qaeda's hit list, he said, adding, "One has to be very careful and security for all government officials has to be on alert in that sense."
| One has to be real careful if one's a Shiite or a Christian, too. And if one's a Western reporter. And if one works in a Western diplomatic mission... Thankfully, it also looks like one has to be careful if one's a big turban at Jamia Binori, too. |
He claimed that the government had a fair idea about the people involved in the bomb blast at the Bari Imam Shrine and terrorist incidents in Karachi.
| Omar Saeed Sheikh isn't dead yet, though... |
He denied allegations about the failure of intelligence and law enforcement agencies to ensure security of citizens.
| Well, then, where precisely are you falling down in ensuring the security of your citizens? |
Sherpao also claimed Osama Bin Laden and Mulla Omar could be in southern or southeastern Afghanistan. "US and Afghan forces haven't operated extensively in the border areas with the southern and southeastern Afghan provinces. There is a likelihood of their presence in those areas in Afghanistan," he added. Osama remained in Afghanistan for a long time and there were still several areas that were considered Taliban-friendly, he said. Sherpao denied claims of former US ambassador to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad about the presence of Osama and Mulla Omar in Pakistan. "I just don't know how the ambassador made this statement. If he had certain information he should have shared it with us," he added.
| Maybe it was intel on you? |
He refused to comment on Dr AQ Khan's health and the status of the investigation into his actions. |