Author: Indrani Bagchi
Publication: The Times of India
Date: June 4, 2011
2nd Jolt For Qaida After Osama, Big Relief
For India
Ilyas Kashmiri, al-Qaida's top leader and
a mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, was killed in a US drone
strike in Pakistan's South Waziristan on Friday. The death of Kashmiri, who
has emerged as a major terror threat to India, was confirmed by his terror
group, Harkat-ul-Jihad-ul-Islami.
Kashmiri was alleged to have masterminded the May 22 daring attack on the
Mehran naval base in Karachi. His death, coming after Osama bin Laden's is
a huge setback to al-Qaida and its related terror entities in Pakistan, and
a source of respite for India.
David Coleman Headley, LeT operative currently on trial in Chicago, has confirmed
that the plotting of Mumbai attacks was largely done with the operational
skills of Kashmiri. However, the terrorist had started tormenting India from
the 90s. In 1994, he masterminded the kidnapping of foreign tourists from
Delhi to bargain for the release of jehadi ideologue Maulana Masood Azhar.
His iconic moment against India came in February 2000, when he led a group
of 25 fighters in Kashmir. He not only killed an Indian soldier, but even
carried his head back to Pakistan as a trophy, which earned him kudos with
General Pervez Musharraf.
His growing value for Pakistan as a strategic asset against India combined
with the standing he enjoyed among jehadi circles in Pakistan was the reason
why Pakistani authorities let him off after arresting him for plotting an
assassination attempt on General Musharraf.
The drone targeted a compound in Ghwakhwa area of South Waziristan, about
20 km from Wana, killing almost nine al-Qaida fighters and injuring three.
Kashmiri's death was not confirmed officially by either US or Pakistan, but
in an unusual step, HuJI put out a statement confirming his killing.
The HuJI statement confirming Kashmiri's death was sent to journalists in
Peshawar. It said, "God willing, America, which is the 'pharaoh' of this,
will soon see a revenge attack". Kashmiri was one of the top targets
of both US and Pakistan, and in a recent reported "deal", both countries
had reportedly agreed to joint operations against some top al-Qaida fighters.
FRONTRUNNER TO SUCCEED OSAMA
Who is Ilyas Kashmiri?
A key planner of the 26/11 Mumbai massacre,
was handling Headley. A college dropout from Mirpur, PoK, Kashmiri (47) was
tipped to succeed Osama as al-Qaida chief
Formed and led notorious 313 Brigade, a breakaway
faction of HuJI, which joined Qaida in 2005 to become its sword arm. In 2009
took over Qaida's external ops. US declared him global terrorist in 2010 and
placed $5m bounty on his head
What's India's interest in him?
Apart from 26/11, Kashmiri also involved in
1994 kidnapping of foreigners in Delhi. While his deputy Omar Sheikh was held,
he escaped. Photographed with head of an Indian officer in Feb 2000 after
attacking Army post in Nowshera
How did he die?
Said to have been killed in drone strike in
tribal region of south Waziristan on June 3. No official confirmation from
US or Pak as identifying airstrike victims virtually impossible
