Author: PTI
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: May 28, 2011
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/341771/US-serves-Pak-list-of-most-wanted-terrorists.html
Post slaying of Osama bin Laden, the US has
drawn up a list of five terrorists, including al-Qaeda's second-in-command
Ayman al Zawahiri, Mullah Omar and Illyas Kashmiri, on whom it expects Pakistan
to provide intelligence immediately and possibly target them in joint operations,
according to US officials.
The list was discussed during three meetings
between Pakistani and US officials in the past two weeks, including Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton's talks with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad yesterday,
ABC News quoted the US official as saying.
The list also includes commander Sirajuddin
Haqqani, the operating chief of Haqqani network and Atiya Abdel Rahman, the
Libyan operations chief of Al Qaeda, who had emerged as a key intermediary
between bin Laden and Qaeda's affiliate networks across the world.
The US views the list as a test of whether
Pakistan is "serious about fighting terrorists who have long enjoyed
safe havens within its borders", the report said.
An American source too confirmed the existence
of the list to the Dawn newspaper and said the US softening its position on
unilateral action against terrorists found in Pakistan was conditional.
"The message given to Pakistani leaders
was loud and clear: you either cooperate with us on these...Terrorists or
we'll take care of them by ourselves," the source was quoted as saying
by the newspaper.
Ilyas Kashmiri has emerged as one of the most
dangerous terrorists in recent years. He is a militant with international
goals and connections across Arabia and South Asia.
Though the Pakistan Army officially denies
it, Pakistani military officials admit he received military training.
He long ago turned his sights against Pakistan,
and Pakistani officials believe he tried to kill former President Pervez Musharraf
in 2003.
Siraj Haqqani is the operational commander
of the Haqqani network, the most violent Taliban faction that is based in
Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region.
Ilyas Kashmiri, a senior member of Al Qaeda,
was once dubbed "the next Osama bin Laden".
Afghan and American officials believe Pakistan's
Inter-Services Intelligence maintains influence over the Haqqani network and
can help target it or convince it to open a political dialogue.
Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Clinton
declined to address specific names but said the US expects Pakistan to authorise
"joint action al Qaeda and its affiliates", adding "there is
still much work required and it is urgent.
New York Time quoted a senior official travelling
with her as saying that the actions would include "specific operations"
against individuals.
The list does not only include militants the
US wants Pakistan to target, ABC News reported.
