Al-Qaeda leader, two operatives arrested
Muhammad AnisTuesday, September 06, 2011
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ISLAMABAD: Security forces have arrested a senior al-Qaeda leader, Younis al-Mauritani, along with two other senior operatives of the network near Quetta.
Muhammad AnisTuesday, September 06, 2011
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ISLAMABAD: Security forces have arrested a senior al-Qaeda leader, Younis al-Mauritani, along with two other senior operatives of the network near Quetta.
“In an intelligence-driven operation by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in coordination with the Frontier Corps Balochistan, a senior al-Qaeda leader, Younis al-Mauritani, mainly responsible for planning and conduct of international operations, was nabbed along with two other senior operatives, Abdul Ghaffar al-Shami (Bachar Chama) and Messara Al-Shami (Mujahid Amino) from the suburbs of Quetta,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Monday.
Al-Mauritani was allegedly personally tasked by Osama bin Laden to focus on hitting targets of economic importance in the United States, Europe and Australia. He was planning to target US economic interests, including gas/oil pipelines, power generating dams and strike ships and oil tankers through explosive-laden speedboats in international waters.
The operation was conducted with the technical assistance of US intelligence agencies with whom the ISI has a strong, historic intelligence relationship. “Both Pakistan and the United States intelligence agencies continue to work closely together to enhance security of their respective nations,” the ISPR said.
“The intimate cooperation between Pakistan and the US agencies has resulted in the prevention of a number of high profile terrorist acts not only inside Pakistan and the United States but also elsewhere in the world. Through these critical arrests yet another fatal blow has been inflicted on the al-Qaeda network.”
The ISPR did not tell the exact location of arrests of the three al-Qaeda leaders and the date of operation but said the operation was conducted in the suburbs of Quetta. AFP adds: The Army did not say when the arrests took place but two Pakistani security officials in Quetta told AFP the three men were arrested early last week in a late-night operation in Satellite town, an upmarket city suburb, along with two Pakistanis.
Mauritani does not feature on either the US FBI list of most wanted terrorists or the US Treasury Department’s own list of global terrorists. But Western intelligence officials from two separate countries confirmed Mauritani was part of al-Qaeda’s top team and linked to threats against Europe. “If it’s confirmed, it’s a good catch,” said one Western intelligence source.
Meanwhile, the White House hailed on Monday the capture of a senior al-Qaeda leader. “We applaud the actions of Pakistan’s intelligence and security services that led to the capture of a senior al-Qaeda operative who was involved in planning attacks against the interests of the United States and many other countries,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters in Washington.
Earnest called it “an example of the longstanding partnership between the US and Pakistan in fighting terrorism, which has taken many terrorists off the battlefield over the past decade”.
Al-Mauritani was allegedly personally tasked by Osama bin Laden to focus on hitting targets of economic importance in the United States, Europe and Australia. He was planning to target US economic interests, including gas/oil pipelines, power generating dams and strike ships and oil tankers through explosive-laden speedboats in international waters.
The operation was conducted with the technical assistance of US intelligence agencies with whom the ISI has a strong, historic intelligence relationship. “Both Pakistan and the United States intelligence agencies continue to work closely together to enhance security of their respective nations,” the ISPR said.
“The intimate cooperation between Pakistan and the US agencies has resulted in the prevention of a number of high profile terrorist acts not only inside Pakistan and the United States but also elsewhere in the world. Through these critical arrests yet another fatal blow has been inflicted on the al-Qaeda network.”
The ISPR did not tell the exact location of arrests of the three al-Qaeda leaders and the date of operation but said the operation was conducted in the suburbs of Quetta. AFP adds: The Army did not say when the arrests took place but two Pakistani security officials in Quetta told AFP the three men were arrested early last week in a late-night operation in Satellite town, an upmarket city suburb, along with two Pakistanis.
Mauritani does not feature on either the US FBI list of most wanted terrorists or the US Treasury Department’s own list of global terrorists. But Western intelligence officials from two separate countries confirmed Mauritani was part of al-Qaeda’s top team and linked to threats against Europe. “If it’s confirmed, it’s a good catch,” said one Western intelligence source.
Meanwhile, the White House hailed on Monday the capture of a senior al-Qaeda leader. “We applaud the actions of Pakistan’s intelligence and security services that led to the capture of a senior al-Qaeda operative who was involved in planning attacks against the interests of the United States and many other countries,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters in Washington.
Earnest called it “an example of the longstanding partnership between the US and Pakistan in fighting terrorism, which has taken many terrorists off the battlefield over the past decade”.
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