Author: Deepak Sharma/New Delhi
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: October 3, 2001
Even as the US gears up to launch
an offensive against the Taliban militia, Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence
is making a last ditch effort to rescue the top Jehadi leaders operating
from Afghanistan. The decision to shift the key leaders to safer places
was reportedly taken in a meeting presided over by the ISI DG Lt Gen Mehmud
Ahmed and attended by two important core comanders of the Pakistan Army.
Indian Intelligence agencies have
informed the US authorities that top Jehadi leaders operating from Afghanistan
are being relocated by the ISI to safer places in Pakistan.
Top sources revealed to The Pioneer
that Jehadi leaders including Mualana Farid Khan, Mohammed Mansoor, Mullah
Syed Afghani and Saudi born Junaid Al Tarar were brought into Pakistan
under ISI cover from Kabul recently.
Atleast 27 such prominent Jehadi
leaders linked with ISI-Taliban nexus are still in Afganistan, Intelligence
reports say.
Providing vital clues on fund raising
of the Jehadi groups, the Indian agencies have named two Pakistani American
bankers based in San Fransisco and New York, who run investment companies
in the US.
Both are said to be involved in
funding Taliban militia and are close to a social and culture group of
Pakistani expatriates in Chicago.
The agencies have also hinted on
the role of US-based Ijazul Haque, son of former Pakistani military ruler
Gen Zia-ul-Haque who reportedly approached civil rights leader Rev Jesse
Jackson to negotiate with the Taliban militia on the ongoing crisis.
Two Republican Congressmen were
also involved in the diplomatic process for initiating talks with the Taliban.
The move was aimed at giving Pakistan some more time to shift all Jehadi
leaders out of the Taliban ruled areas to safer sancturies.
The report says that earlier this
week, DG ISI and two important Core Commanders -- Gen Aziz and Gen Ahsanul
Haque -- considered to be the hardliners in the Pakistan Army held a meeting
with the Jehadi groups on the issue of providing shelter to the key leaders
who were stuck in Afghanistan after Islamabad officially sealed the border
with its western neighbour.
