Muslim Khan, [one of Pakistan’s most wanted] arrested by Pakistani security forces. Muslim Khan was chief spokesman for the TTP in Swat. He was the first one in the series in which many others Taliban leaders including those from Afghanistan [ fighting against NATO & ISAF forces in Afghanistan] have been arrested by Pakistan.
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ISI–CIA: A TIT-FOR-TAT SERIES OF PAYBACKS
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by Peter Chamberlin
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The multitude of theories on the reasons for the arrests are divided between cooperation and confrontation theories, either it is explained by mutual interests or by rivalries. In my opinion, it is both.
Researchers and analysts are banging their heads against many walls, searching for meaning in reports of multiple arrests of Taliban, by the Pakistani government.
Speculation is running rampant, that Pakistan has finally “seen the light,” that it represents a “split” within the Taliban, or that Pakistan has arrested Taliban who have been negotiating with Brits or Americans. In my opinion, the arrests began as a clean-up operation to remove links to the intelligence being revealed in British courts, but it turned into a tit-for-tat series of paybacks between the ISI and the CIA.
Left: Former Guantanomo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed said, he was tortured in US custody following his arrest in Pakistan. British court has now ordered the government to disclose classified information about how he was tortured while in US custody.
The true meaning of the arrests can be ascertained from the timing of the events. It may have been primarily an American/Pakistani operation to isolate Taliban leaders who had either negotiated with the British, or had been held at Guantanamo. British courts had taken up the case of Binyam Mohamed and American officials publicly stated that disclosing classified information about US abuse of this detainee would damage intelligence cooperation between the agencies of the two nations.
The first arrest, of Taliban number two, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, was on, or about Feb. 7. Multiple news reports have tied Baradar to ongoing negotiations to identify and isolate “reconcilable” Taliban. These attempts at negotiating have all come from the British or Afghan sides, with the US supposedly prepared to take advantage of any breakthroughs.
“A British court has ordered the government to disclose classified information about the treatment of a former Guantanamo Bay…It was released after judges at an appeals court on Wednesday rejected the UK government’s claim that disclosing the information would damage intelligence co-operation with US agencies.”
In the days that followed, the western media was abuzz with more reports that Pakistanhad made multiple “arrests” of the Taliban’s leadership. It is impossible to know how many of these names obtained from the Western media are correct, but some of them had also been tied to the British negotiations, while at least two of them were former inmates of Guantanamo.
Mullah Abdul Raouf.GUANTANAMO Taliban military chief for northern Afghanistan
Mullah Abdul Qayoum Zakir GUANTANAMO around 2006, then transferred to Afghanistan government custody in late 2007, eventually released around May 2008. American officials won’t say why he was let go and have not released a photograph of him.
Mullah Abdul Salam is unidentifiable, at this point, whether he is the governor of Kunduz, or the former Taliban who was involved with British diplomat Michael Semple and EU diplomat Mervyn Patterson, or still other candidates, such as former inmate of Guantanamo Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, or Mullah Abdul Salaam Rocketi.
Mullah Muhammad Hassan
Mullah Muhammad Younis. who is also known as Akhunzada Popalzai
Mullah Ahmed Jan Akhunzada (could be Akhunzada Popalzai)
Maulavi Abdul Kabir, aka Mullah Abdul Kahir Osmani
Mohtasim Agha Jan, son-in-law of Mullah Omer
Do the arrests mean that Pakistan has embraced the American mission in the war on terror?
The following timetable relates the arrests to the rest of the unfolding understory.
1/28- London conference
2/2-4- India/Iran development conference, topic opening Afghan route
2/8- Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar
2/13- Operation Moshtarak offensive begins
2/17- Mullah Abdul Salam
2/18- Car-bomb targeting Mangal Bagh mosque, blamed on Berelvi “Ansar al-Islam”
2/18- Mohammed Haqqani killed in Predator attack
2/20- Two Sipah e-Sahaba militants killed Faisalabad
2/20- Pak Army adds 26 posts to border, Balochistan
2/23- Rigi arrested
2/23- Pak announces new naval base near Gwadar
2/24- Qari Zafar killed in Predator attack
2/25- India/Pakistan talks
2/26- Kabul bomb targets Indian doctors
2/26- Khalid Khwaja petitions Lahore High Court to block deportation of Taliban.
2/27- Intra-Sunni battles Faisalabad (revival of Sipah e-Sahaba attacks on Berelvis)
2/27- Hafiz Saeed, “India will have to fight if it will not talk.” Silence on Taliban arrests.
If you look at the timetable to understand whether or Pakistan and the US are on the same page you see some clear evidence of a joint US/Pakistan mission to eliminate the Taliban leadership, but more than that, you see specific acts of resistance on Pakistan’s part.
“India will have to fight if it will not talk”, says Hafiz Saeed, the head of the Jamat-ud-D’awa [JuD], Pakistan. On Taliban arrests, however, he remained silent.
There is one inescapable reality–the Pakistani Army will never truly turn on the Taliban, who represent their last line of defense, as well as their first option, in any contest with India.
The historical relationship between the military and the militants has been one where the government has used sectarian terror groups (and even created them) to keep the tribes, sects and political groups in line. Keep these things in mind, as you consider the events.
In addition to the arrests, the timetable details American predator strikes which have eliminated some of the Army’s protected militants, in particular, Mohammed Haqqani and Qari Zafar. In between those two American assassinations, you have the arrest of American asset against Iran, Abdolmalek Rigi, thanks to Pakistan’s ISI.
Between the Haqqani hit and the Rigi arrest, Pakistan set-up 26 border posts to block US hot pursuit into Balochistan. Long dormant Sipah e-Sahaba started anti-Berelvi rioting in Faisalabad. After the Rigi arrest, Pakistan announced plans for a new naval base near the Chinese-constructed port at Gawadar.
After the Predator killed Qari, the India/Pakistan talks started and quickly ended, followed by the bombing of the Indians living in Kabul. This was followed by Khalid Khwaja (of Daniel Pearl fame) interceding at the Lahore High Court to block extradition of the Taliban.
But this does not leave us with a clear-cut case of Pakistan blocking American moves and supporting militants for political terrorism, but a record that speaks of both the United States and Pakistan together using militant Islamists and gangs for terrorism.
The Rigi case was a concrete example of the US supporting groups who are committing terror attacks, just like the case of Pakistan and the Taliban. Pakistan handing him to Iran is a clear sign of resistance to American plans, but it should probably be understood as retribution for the killing of Mohammed Haqqani.
But in spite of all this, there have been new signs since all of this has transpired that points to a new direction for the CIA/ISI partnership that leads where all parties have always wanted to go—central Asia.
If you look at the timetable to understand whether or Pakistan and the US are on the same page you see some clear evidence of a joint US/Pakistan mission to eliminate the Taliban leadership, but more than that, you see specific acts of resistance on Pakistan’s part.
There is one inescapable reality–the Pakistani Army will never truly turn on the Taliban, who represent their last line of defense, as well as their first option, in any contest with India.
The historical relationship between the military and the militants has been one where the government has used sectarian terror groups (and even created them) to keep the tribes, sects and political groups in line. Keep these things in mind, as you consider the events.
In addition to the arrests, the timetable details American predator strikes which have eliminated some of the Army’s protected militants, in particular, Mohammed Haqqani and Qari Zafar. In between those two American assassinations, you have the arrest of American asset against Iran, Abdolmalek Rigi, thanks to Pakistan’s ISI.
A new war drama has emerged in Baghlan province, the former domain of “shadow” governor, Mulla Mir Mohammad; there, the forces of ISI friend Gulbuddin Hekmatyar (former CIA friend) have attacked the local Taliban who are hosting IMU terrorists (Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan).
This marks a new direction for a joint CIA/ISI mission. Together, Pakistan and the US will back Hekmatyar as the northern front is expanded (with the “discovery” of many new Uzbek militants) and moves to secure the new supply line.
Today’s news reports that Hekmatyar’s forces have surrendered to the Karzai (Northern Alliance) government. This opens the door to Pakistani-backed militants becoming part of the “reconciliation” program. This will allow the US to buy its way out of Afghanistan in such a way as to set-up the movement of US forces northward toward the hydrocarbon deposits of Central Asia.
Until this new level of cooperation was brought together, Pakistan and the US have been on a collision course over disagreements on the mission of the terror war, which began in the confrontations between Bush and Musharraf over the war in Waziristan.
That period was marked by US and British efforts to penetrate the veil of secrecy that shrouded South Waziristan, as well as the North. One of the most effective of these intrusions was by the British through their agent Michael Semple and his efforts to find “reconcilables” and convert them to an anti-Taliban mission.
The Semple mission through Mansoor Dadullah penetrated the S. Waziristan cloak of secrecy, where it uncovered another covert mission, a joint American/Israeli/Indian mission, known as the “Pakistani Taliban” (TTP), run by Mansoor’s big brother (Mullah Dadullah). Upon this discovery, the British mission was exposed and shut down by the American government (SEE: Dissecting the Anti-Pakistan Psyop).
Continued…
Next: These gimmicks can’t bail out America
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There is a clear cut split in the Taliban leadership .Those who are ready to participate in reconciliation process has to give up their arms and amunition as it is being done by Hikmatyar fraction .All other armed nonstate actors will have to be eleminated to make the peace a reality in Afghanistan as it is happening in Iraq .Now Pakistan can also not afford such elements in both the countries and will have to cooperate with all other stake holders with an open heart . We wish peace will prevail soon in the region with the judicious application of Drone technology .
Dr. Tewari, we agree on the necessary outcome but not on the method.
Drone technology kills far more innocent people then bad guys and many of the bad guys are CIA, Mossad, ISI, RAW and MI5 inspired.
What’s needed to attack extremism is education, schools, jobs, water treatment, sewage treatment, hospitals and medical centers, honest policemen, an honest legal system and total freedom of religion. We need equality and justice for all people regardless of race, creed, color, sexual preference or religion. The answer is education alone.
That probably won’t happen since the Powers That Be don’t want that to happen and we will witness terror far into the future.
Many of us are fighting for freedom but many more fight against us. We have pens and keyboards and they have guns and bombs.
@ Jeff ,The power key board is more than a bomb and the technology I am talking about is designed to minimise the colatral loss . It is a fact that terrorists are killing more innocent than the Drones .Action of foreign spying agencies will certainly get reduced when the Afghan army will be able to safe guard their national interest and there will be no interference from Pakistan in the internal affairs of Afghanistan .The Carrot -stick policy is still operative and most of the unemployed youth can be given job opportunity in various environmental projects there .This is the only way through peace can prevail in the region .
The Afghans did not accept & resisted the ‘sticks’ of former USSR, finally breaking the very ‘sticks’ the Soviet super power used against them. They fought then with the stingers provided to them by the same United States who later dubbed them as terrorists.
They would neither accept the sticks nor carrots of the United States of America. Resistance by the Taliban who even today control major provinces of Afghanistan is a proof. The weapon of mass education along with the development process suggested by Jeff will be the best and most practical solution to the situation prevailing in Afghanistan now.
But this education weapon will have to be purely a weapon of Afghan origin sprouting from the roots and psyche of Afghan culture, not the one framed by the CIA.
Before 2001 these very Taliban were supported by the ISI/CIA/MI6. The Madrassas which are now being branded as nurseries of terrorism were actually established with CIA’s finance and even the syllabus devised for these Madrassas was vetted by CIA approved university professors from America.
and
These nurseries bred terrorism which America then called Jihad but now the same nurseries are being tagged with ‘terror’ because they are fighting against the carrots and sticks of Uncle Sam.
True Dr. Hashmey, all sadly true.
I’m of the opinion that both Afghanistan and Pakistan need to be left to their own accord to solve internal problems. Drones and bombs simply create more enemies. Far more enemies. A huge number of enemies. One innocent person killed makes every family member and friend an enemy. That means as many as 50 or 100 enemies for every innocent person killed. No one can win a war like that and the Soviets learned that lesson.
No, we need to bring our soldiers AND our drones home and provide financial aid to Pakistani and Afghan NGOs so that education and infrastructure can be vitalized and these largely illiterate people can be brought into the 21st century able to read, write and earn an income greater then mere survival or subsistence wages.
It will take years. Many more years if we continue fighting the extremists we designed with the bombs we designed.
Of course that might be exactly what we want. There are powers here, the international bankers and corporations that profit from war and instability that are far greater then Pakistan or Afghanistan.
I am deeply saddened for the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan and as I said once before, it’s embarrassing to be an American here on these pages.
Those who created the Taliban are now being given the opportunity to eradicate the same Taliban. Pakistan is providing them arms and ammunition to continue resistance, but the same Taliban are now posing a threat to the very security of Pakistan. Mush started a timely action against the Taliban by launching the Red Star operation; otherwise they would have entered the Pakistani parliament as well. Situation, is, however, changing. Pakistani establishment must realize the past mistakes which are very crucial at this juncture. Taliban now seem to be isolated and hence can be disarmed in the next few years. Once they are encircled, only then will they agree for negotiations.
Your observations I must say, are terribly biased and to that: they do not match realities of the present day ‘war’ scenario. Firstly Taliban were created not by Pakistan alone, but were a collective effort of Pakistan’s ISI, MI6 of Britain and the CIA. And mind this Dr. AKT, not all Taliban are bad, those in Afghanistan are fighting a war of liberation. I do not subscribe to their version of Islam, neither do I agree with their theocratic governance of Afghanistan or for that matter of any other Islamic state, but as far as their aspirations to have their land free of occupation is concerned, this is the birth right of all peoples, all nations- to decide what type, style and form of governance do they wish for themselves.
As for Mush’s operation, it was not his operation, all what he did was the operation he was assigned to perform on orders of Bush the junior. And what Bush Jr. wanted was nothing but what the Bush Cheney cabal including the neocons sitting in Whitehouse wanted. And Dr. AKT, FYI the Taliban of Afghanistan are not isolated. They are controlling major provinces of Afghanistan and coalition forces’ causalities are on the increase, which is why there is now a growing resentment against this so called ‘war on terror’ within America as well.
America has declared to leave Afghanistan by 2014. If the armed opposition continues and situation remains unstable then it might extend that date. The complete disarming of Taliban is a prerequisite to end the declared war against terror.
A superficial analysis of the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan might appear as you write, but dear Doc. if you can read between the lines, America in no case is going to leave either the AfPak region or the Central Asian highlands. The mineral wealth of Pakistani Balochistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian Gas and oil reserves are a factor which tempts the neocons and Pentagon’s imperialists not to leave these two areas. But if they do, world will be relatively more peaceful at least than it is now.