Pakistan

Taliban chief Mullah Omar treated in Pakistan: Report

Hussain Haqqani says report has "no basis whatsoever."

Afp January 19, 2011

WASHINGTON: The reclusive one-eyed chief of the Afghan Taliban Mullah Mohammed Omar was treated for a heart attack in Pakistan with the help of its intelligence service, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

The spiritual leader of the insurgency, who went deep underground after the 2001 US-led invasion, suffered a heart attack on January 7 and was taken to a hospital near Karachi for several days, the Post said, citing a report by a private intelligence network run by former US security officials.

The network, operating as a private company known as "The Eclipse Group," said its source was an unnamed physician in the hospital. "While I was not personally in the operating theater... my evaluation based on what I have heard and seeing the patient in the hospital is that Mullah Omar had a cardiac catheter complication resulting in either bleeding or a small cerebral vascular incident, or both," the physician was quoted as saying.

The doctor added that Omar appeared to have suffered some brain damage and had slurred speech following the operation.

The report said Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency had "rushed him to a hospital in Karachi, where he was given heparin (an anticoagulant) and operated on." "After 3-4 days of post-operative care in the hospital, he was released to the ISI and ordered to take absolute bed rest when at home for at least several days," it added.

Official denial

Although Pakistan is officially an ally of the international coalition battling the Taliban in Afghanistan, US officials have long accused the ISI of playing a double game. Pakistan has always strongly denied such charges, and its Washington ambassador Husain Haqqani said the Eclipse report "had no basis whatsoever."

"Sometimes intelligence tips received by professionals turn out to be wrong. The story about Mullah Omar falls under that category," he told the Post.

The Post said Eclipse appeared to be "the latest iteration of a shadowy, Pentagon-backed operation that began contracting with former CIA and military operatives to supply intelligence in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2009."

The newspaper said it was run by a former chief of the Central Intelligence Agency's counterterrorism center, a retired diplomat and a former US army Special Forces information operations specialist in Iraq.

COMMENTS (42)

Omar/Sydney | 13 years ago | Reply Mullah Omar and OBL are not on any wanted list in Pakistan. As such, they are entitled to visit this country and to seek medical assistance if they want it. So what is all the fuss about?

Canuckistani | 13 years ago | Reply One correction in my previous post is that OBL IS LISTED on the FBI's most wanted page, but is not wanted for the events of 9/11 for precisely the reasons I have described in my post.

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Canuckistani | 13 years ago | Reply The US government alleges a conspiracy on 9/11 to carry out massive terrorist attacks against the people of America. Their theory is that a group of people in caves in Afghanistan carried the attack out. That is a conspiracy theory! To suggest that the US government had a hand in the event may also be called a conspiracy theory. I ask you, which of the two has the resources to carry out such a task? Which of the two has gained from the event? Therefore, I put forth to all thinking men and women, that the more plausible conspiracy theory is that it was the US government that carried out the event. Now all of America's apologists will kick and scream about how what I am saying is mere conspiracy theory, but I again ask, is not the alternative (US govt version) story also a conspiracy theory? And if so, why is the US version being treated as fact whereas the other plausible explanation is being dismissed as conspiracy theory? If one checks out the webpage of the FBI, they have not added Osama Bin Laden as one of the most wanted. An American journalist who inquired as to why was informed that the US has no conclusive proof that OBL was behind 9/11. The journalist inquired about the much publicized OBL "confession" videos, to which the response was that those video tapes could not be authenticated. The US version is that the fires melted the structures of the buildings causing them to collapse at free-fall speed, but passports of the alleged hijackers were found in the wreckage of the twin towers. WTC Building 7 (the third building) mysteriously collapsed without any airplane crashing into it...why? All of this information is publicly available. What else is publicly available is the fact that the US repeatedly lied about the facts surrounding the invasion of Iraq. I think logic compels to re-assess what is being told to us by the US government and its puppet allies. Also, forget Mullah Omar, is it not true that Osama Bin Laden was being treated for his kidney disorders in Dubai where US CIA officials regularly visited him? The US government has been at war pretty much nonstop for the last 50 years with one country or another. That media like the Express Tribune are so willing to mimic the hysterical anti-Pakistan pieces one finds in the west suggests that the roots of the upcoming tragedy in Pakistan have extended deep into our society. There is an entire class of people in Pakistan that are entirely willing to always side with outside forces against the interests of the country at large. Express Tribune seems to cater to this class. Way to go...I hope they pay you well for your treason.

omar yusaf / Sydney | 13 years ago | Reply What a mixed bag of responses, with some of them bordering on the absurd. But I guess that is to be expected when people dont make judgements based on fact, but rather on hearsay and propaganda put out by spin doctors. Judging by the motley chorus of voices, it would seem that most of the respondents are unable to discern a villain from a Volkswagen. Its a pity, because the very people and institutions you praise are the very ones that slaughter your own people, and all in the name of democracy and freedom. A cursory reading of the history of psychological manipulation by such luminous entities, will show you that Governments aim to win wars not solely through the barrel of a gun, but employ a whole mix of measures, all of them aimed at blurring the boundaries of the truth and replacing it with what 'they' would have you believe is the truth (even if it kills you in the process!). That is the role of propaganda and false flag operations. To make you believe that what you thought was good is in fact bad, and what you thought was bad is, you guessed it - good for you. All this works, and it works very well, when aimed at unthinking people. Those who abuse religion for personal advantage, employ the same tactic, and you have seen how well it works, dating back from the time of the Christian Crusades to the state of affairs now prevalent in Pakistan as judged by the recent assassination of the Governor in Karachi. The religion of Islam exhorts its followers to 'think' and to 'reason'. How much of that do most of us exercise before we jump to conclusions, as witnessed in the comments about a locally respected tribal elder striving to evict an invading froce from his country. And before the unthinkers among you get all frothy at the mouth, remember, the "Afghan Taliban' are distinct from the 'Pakistan Taliban'. The Afghan Taliban a long time ago, disassociated themselves from the Pakistan Taliban, and condemned their behaviour and their methods of operation. In fact it was the one eyed Mullah who issued a decree stating as much, way back when the TTP reared its head. By the way, whether you like or dislike the Afghan Taliban (i.e. Mullah Omar), the fact remains that he and his followers are exercising a universal right, enshrined in the UN Charter of rights, to resist by all and any means an invading force that attacks a sovereign nation. Something we in Pakistan havent understood as yet when it comes to our allies brazenly slaughtering innocent men women and children in our country, and the Mullahs spreading poison in our society.

A.S.Baloch | 13 years ago | Reply Drowning man catches at straw, As US losing its so-called War on Terror in Afghanistan and there is not any other options left rather than to blame Pakistan for helping Taliban, Should someone asks US how come you finance and provide aid to Pakistan if they help Taliban...... Better The Eclipse Group, search OBL and Omar somewhere in Chicago or Camp Davis not here in poor areas...

Suriya Nazir | 13 years ago | Reply @Balma - please do not bore us with facts; we are the conspiracy crowd at random; we should know the only facts we require is the ones we manufacture so we can look good and the rest is the Jewish hoopla.

Balma | 13 years ago | Reply Ms. YY, But, what about the fact that the Saudi prince owns 10 percent of News Corp?

imran | 13 years ago | Reply the largest lie of the world is american CIA

vasan | 13 years ago | Reply If mullah omar is medically attended to in Pakistan, Can OBL be far behind???

YY | 13 years ago | Reply Those claiming that this appearing in 'Washington Post' gives it credibility, do keep in mind that Washington Post is owned by News Corp., the same company behind Fox News (and, for that matter, the Wall Street Journal as of recently, MySpace.com, India's Star TV network (yes), and many, many more all around the world...). The chairman of News Corp, Rupert Murdoch, though possessing an English / gentile name, has a mother of Jewish origin, who comes from a wealthy family. It was after marriage with her that Murdoch's English/Australian father suddenly shot through the ranks and became chairman of News Corp. Murdoch also recently invested in an oil exploration project, in partnership with with Lord Jacob Rothschild, in Israel. He publicly commented about it to the Israeli press, saying that although in his entire life he had never invested in any business except for media, what he was doing here was because it was in the benefit of Israel. Lord Rothschild comes from the infamous Rothschild family, which is credited with having had created Israel, and which in the 19th century was known as unequivocally the most powerful financial force in the world. A hospital 'near Karachi', the report says. There are no hospitals 'near' Karachi; there are either hospitals 'in' Karachi, or there are hospitals in Hyderabad, etc.; Karachi does not have 'suburbs' ('sub'-urban areas) like the West. Perhaps they didn't do enough research on Pakistani society before composing this report?

Mohammed+Abbasi | 13 years ago | Reply interesting.... a private company says this and its taken as gospel truth! good marketing though the companies name is now international

Aslam | 13 years ago | Reply That fact Taliban and ISI are two different organization.is a interesting news. Err.. a interesting rumour.

Qaisrani | 13 years ago | Reply The story can not be doubted altogether, if Pakistani readers are not one-eyed to see only what is shown to them "officially". As Quetta most probably does not have dependable facilities to treat such ailments, and that too afflicting such a high profile patient, his treatment most likely was carried out at Karachi. My lifelong experience shows that what is "officially" denied in Pakistan had actually taken place on ground. So, do not buy with one eye or both eyes shut the "official" line in Pakistan.

Burger Boy | 13 years ago | Reply Mushroom clouds over Los Angeles, Yellow Cake Uranium from Niger, Weapons of Mass Destruction....weapons factories in Sudan, ..intelligence failures.....all LIES Osama in Pakistan, Mullah Omar in Karachi, unsafe nukes, alleged support for terrorism against neighbors....more LIES. Beware all Pakistanis, our "ally" is about to declare all out war against us and we have plenty of people in government and elsewhere that are already working for them.

Sata | 13 years ago | Reply I will trust American inteligence when they find WMD in Iraq. Until than they have no credibility.

Cautious | 13 years ago | Reply Why does the USA continue to treat Pakistan as an ally?

aamir hussain | 13 years ago | Reply rubbish.propaganda

Cautious | 13 years ago | Reply Why should anyone doubt this report? The ISI rules outside the authority of the civilian govt or don't you recall what happened the last time your civilian govt tried to exercise control over the ISI? I predict the ISI will eventually get Pakistan in a war with India, the USA or perhaps both - on the bright side at least the ISI will finally go away..

Sandy | 13 years ago | Reply So what's new in ISI taking care of Mullah , every mother takes care of her children

Jamal Khan | 13 years ago | Reply While this 'mujahid' is treated in Karachi under the protection of our saviours, his children are killing innocent Pakistani children, men and women. They are not sparing our schools, mosques and hospitals either. Just today one 'mujahid' blew up a school in Peshawar, maiming a number of innocent children. Destroying the spirit of education. Perhapes education and awareness of the common Pakistani people and speically of Pakhtoons is in not in the interest of our ideological gadfathers such as mullahs, chaudris and faujis!

faraz | 13 years ago | Reply Why didnt they arrest him?

Alick | 13 years ago | Reply I am sure the picture shown above is not of Mullah Omer because he followed Deobandi+Wahabi (mixed fiqh) branch of Islam. He studied in Madrassa od Maulana Sami ul Haq. If you visit any Mullah from this madrassa and this branch of Islam you cannot find anyone has this kind of Mustache. They consider a big sin to have mustache like this. Hey Washington Geeks might be its a story like Mullah Mansoor

ali | 13 years ago | Reply one eye chief ....dajal also have one eye

Khattana | 13 years ago | Reply Conspiracy Theory by CIA . now all liberal fanatics of Pakistan will say look its true blha.. bhla... as this is from Washington post.

Amir | 13 years ago | Reply Why would the ISI take him to a private hospital when they have their own facilities all over Pakistan? And where they can then guard the secrecy?

Khalid Khan | 13 years ago | Reply @ Fahad Gilani; I didn't know he was your relative, other wise I dare not. We always heard that he has one eye. Thankyou for informing the world that he has two. But can you tell the world where has he hidden his second eye.

Saud Usmani | 13 years ago | Reply A good story for a new movie... nice plot, powerful characters, with few songs, it would be "Humara Mullah Ap kay Pass hai " and don't forget to add a sizzling 'atem lumber' "ISI badnaam hoye Mullah teray liye...", with sunny deol playing mumbai police officer; alone destroying an army of taliban... turning 40 ton tanks in a piece of junk with a punch... and so on.

KM | 13 years ago | Reply Funny it is ... It is NOT about Osama Bin Laden anymore, for which Afghanistan was invaded :)

Patriot | 13 years ago | Reply Where are the drones?

Amer | 13 years ago | Reply Now tell me why these are not all conspiracy theories? Just because they are in Washington Post?

zain | 13 years ago | Reply Doesn't he have like a $50 million bounty on his head, I am pretty sure some sane person would have recognised him and have him arrested...anything is possible for $50 million.

umair baloch | 13 years ago | Reply Americans have gotten frustrated and now they have started to imagine things we all know how good their intelligence is(Iraq).

Hamza Baloch | 13 years ago | Reply This news is not come in "conspiracy theories" as its from Washington Post :)

ali jan | 13 years ago | Reply @ khan there are huge restrictions on ordinary peoples movement and in settled areas every place is allowed for security check ups by any one whether local authorities or Americans I agree but the problem is that the Mullah Sahib is not an ordinary man.

Umair Baloch | 13 years ago | Reply Americans have gotten frustrated and now they have started to imagine things we all know how good their intelligence is.

Ben | 13 years ago | Reply First it was Quetta shura in the restive Balochistan region, now it is Karachi. It seems that the venue of the new Great Game is being shifted to Karachi. Read more at: link text

Ahmad | 13 years ago | Reply Wonder why he had a heart attack..

khan | 13 years ago | Reply these are all lies and it has no base. how it is possible that a man like mullah omer comes to Pakistan and is treated for a very serious disorder. the said report further says that he remained here after treatment for another few days. out of question. there are huge restrictions on ordinary peoples movement and in settled areas every place is allowed for security check ups by any one whether local authorities or Americans. so how could a very well known and heavily guarded mullah omer can come to a place like Karachi. these are all pressure tactics to malign Pakistan nothing else.

Vidyut | 13 years ago | Reply Poor man. America doesn't stop stalking him even when he is ill. Why are they harrassing him? He is arrested, okay? Like that guy who got injured and released when he was feeling better and Kashmiri, who could have gotten killed by mistake, so he was better off jailed till the danger passed. If the ISI is taking care of him, what is the big deal? The ISI is chivalrous with one eyed leaders. Its humanitarian duty to take care of a sick, old man. He can play war on terror once he is feeling better. If they had published the address, we could have sent flowers, chocolates and get well soon cards. Poor man, must have been so stressed by missiles. He should get some restful gifts, no? America will probably also cover his medical expenses and the ISI's expenses in managing security so efficiently. Not to worry Mullah, Pakistan will find the money to keep you safe somehow. You only concentrate on getting well again. The War on terror just isn't the same without you.

Sulaiman Malik | 13 years ago | Reply Why didnt the brilliant CIA get him if thats the case??

Fahad Gilani | 13 years ago | Reply @ Khalid Khan...Your comment clearly demonstrates that he doesn’t have one eye but you have.... This wants to see only the desired scene

Khalid Khan | 13 years ago | Reply This one eyed man cannot have heart attack because he doesnot have a heart. He can get only one disease and that is aids.

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