Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2002 12:09:23 EDT
From: freemanaz@aol.com
Subject: [azpeace] US: Pakistan Replaces Afghanistan As Terror Hub
To: azpeace@yahoogroups.com
Reply-To: azpeace@yahoogroups.com


http://www.hindustantimes.com/170602/detfor09.asp

Pak new terror hub as Al-Qaeda gains strength  
S. Rajagopalan 
(Washington, June 16) 


--

American officials are veering round to the view that Pakistan has 
effectively replaced Afghanistan as the terror hub. They believe that 
hundreds of Al-Qaeda terrorists are now hiding in Pakistani cities after 
forming or renewing alliances with local extremist networks. 
A report in the Los Angeles Times quotes officials as saying that the 
Pak-based terror outfits have provided logistical back-up to the Al-Qaeda 
operatives. These men appear to have gone "wherever they want" in Pakistan's 
teeming cities, so much so that an official thought it was a case of "hiding 
in plain sight". 

The spurt in terror attacks within Pakistan against Western targets has 
strengthened the belief that the Al Qaeda men have spread across Pakistan. 

Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recently hinted at Al-Qaeda presence in 
Kashmir, but promptly toned down his statement at Pakistan's bidding. 

The Al-Qaeda's spread within Pakistan has been confirmed by the arrest of 
several leaders and operatives in recent months in several cities, including 
Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. In some 
cases, US officials have come across the Inter-Services Intelligence's (ISI) 
open support to the terrorists. 

A retired US counter-terrorism official has gone so far as to remark: "The 
ISI is filled with extremists, and I don't think they're trying very hard to 
find these people. In fact, they're actively trying to hide them." 

For all its support to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, the US is 
privately voicing concern that his crackdown on local terrorist groups 
earlier this year has largely failed. Officials have been quoted as saying 
that several banned groups have morphed or spawned virulent offshoots and 
have launched several attacks against Westerners. 

US intelligence officials believe the Al-Qaeda is not going to confine itself 
to US and other Western targets. 

They reckon the possibility of an overthrow of governments in Pakistan, Egypt 
and Jordan, all Muslim nations but known for their proximity to the US.



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Free $5 Love Reading
Risk Free!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/3PCXaC/PfREAA/Ey.GAA/MtTslB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
azpeace-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/