ISLAMABAD: A senior al Qaeda leader has been arrested from Quetta along with two other high-ranking operatives for the global terror network, the army announced on Monday.
Younis al Mauritani, who was involved in planning and carrying out international operations, was picked up in the suburbs of Quetta, the military said in a statement.
Two other senior al Qaeda operatives, Abdul Ghaffar al Shami (Bachar Chama) and Messara al Shami (Mujahid Amino) were also arrested along with al Mauritani.
According to Inter Services Pubilc Relations (ISPR), Osama bin Laden had personally tasked al Mauritani to focus on hitting targets of economical importance in United States of America, Europe and Australia. His targets included gas/oil pipelines, power generating dams and strike ships/oil tankers which he planned to blow through explosive laden speed boats in international waters.
The press release states that the operation had been planned and conducted with the technical assistance of American intelligence agencies.
Al 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 in Pakistan, and linked to threats against Europe.
"If it's confirmed, it's a good catch," said one Western intelligence source.
The United States (US) has repeatedly alleged that prominent terrorists and militants are active in Balochistan, the most prominent being the Quetta Shura. It is reportedly composed of top militants of the Afghan Taliban and has Mullah Omar in the senior leadership.
Pakistan rejects assertions that Omar is in Pakistan, or even that the so-called Quetta Shura exists.
Balochistan has seen a recent surge in violence linked to an insurgency, sectarian clashes and Taliban militants.
Hundreds of people have died in violence in the province since the insurgency flared in late 2004.
COMMENTS (30)
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@Abdul Rehman Gilani Dont sympathise with either of them. Stop being apologetic towards al-Qaida and hiding your head in the sand
I wonder, if Al-Qaeda is a monster just because it kills innocent people, then what the heck is the USA? And why do liberals start shrieking if Raymond Davis type spies are caught in Pakistan! Sheer hypocrisy. Thats the answer.
@Faction: You will also be shocked to find out that Al Qaeda operatives are routinely found in Afghanistan in areas under NATO control. Obviously, this means NATO is supporting Al Qaeda.
Flawless logic!
@wali: That's priceless. So, you're saying that when Pakistan does something right and it's acknowledged by past and present critics it automatically has to be a conspiracy? When they do something bad, there's some conspiracy involved. When they do something good, there's some conspiracy involved.
Don't be in such a hurry to hit the post comment button and try to consult common sense and logic first. You look extremely foolish.
@narayana murthy I am sorry to admit to you that many Pakistanis are in constant denial of the "terror monster" that roam are streets....these same Pakistanis are living in a haze..hoping & pretending that this constant capture of the worst killers of Muslims does not thread openly around. I for one am now confused are the AlQaeeda monsters more dangerous or do their supporters and deniers are most lethal?
I think the Abottabad operation and the diplomatic fallout of it, is finally showing some results.
Fai's arrest and other diplomatic tussle has compelled Pakistan to do this.
Good.
This should be a paradigm shift for Pakistan and not just a face saving measure. We will know it soon, depending upon Pakistan's actions on its favorite Haqqani network.
Just some good old technique to pressurize Pakistan and to increase the rift b/w the balochis and the rest of Pakistan...
I failed to understand why every AlQaeeda Guy is being captured from our soil.
Good. Pakistan needed this. Get rid of this scourge, slowly but surely.
Well done pak and USA in getting rid of this plotter. The two countries need to collaborate in establishing peace in pk afghanistan region and world over. No country in this age lives in isolation, well except n Korea.
Alqaeda and Taliban have never been pakistans friend. In fact it used pk soil for it's global ambitions. Every day suicides in pk are not coming from mars but are home grown.
Long live peace and prosperity.
@Ali Hassan - @Abdul Rehman Gilani
DENIAL is a sick perverted emotion of support for these killers of your brothers & sisters ! Mayhem and torture is committed on us because these demonic monsters thrive on your constant love and support.
@EoH: The article was quite informative and logical. No wonder some top terrorists belonging to Afghan Taleban and Al-Qaida are caught off and on but no top terrorists of TTP is either caught or killed till date though an operation is going against this outfit for a long time now.
its all a staged drama.....how can someone arrest a qaeda leader????y didnt he blew himself up before the arrest????how come he surrendered????and y is the credit given to CIA n ISI both.....seems like a flattery tactic to me.....
Even his name looks so artificial 'mauritani', fabricated the way whole plot has been...
So how many "Senior" leaders does Al-Qaeda have really? Its hilarious!
Good job Pakistan! With the anniversary of 9/11 coming up the timing is outstanding.
NATO missile shield in India will set alarm bells ringing not only in China and Pakistan but also in Iran and Russia.
Dr. Kalam wrote:“During this stage, I have gone through many successes and failures. I learnt from failures and hardened myself with courage to face them. This was my second stage, which taught me the crucial lesson of managing failures.”
hundreds of more top leaders are yet to be uncovered from within our borders... historically, all main leaders are found here. No doubt its the sanctuary and capital of this menace.
@Ali: So the ISPR is also part of US propaganda?
funny how this arrest is made as 9/11 ten year aniversary approaches!
wonder what will happen to him later - the court will have ''insufficient'' evidence and let him go once the cameras have gone away from this!
High Profile takes place. There
s headlines. & Later, theres no news about any of them. No Court Trials. All of them disappear quietly. Are they being handed over to CIA? Who gave this information for the capture? CIA? Are there any moles in ISI/Army who are handing over information of Sr AQ Chaps to CIA? & theres this silence, from the Govt / Army? What happened to OBLs wives? where are they? What are the results of the investigation? Why is everything in our country so murky?@Ali: And still there is no prove. Just reports, and blind believers like you
@ali:
You are all welcome to live in your stupid illusions but reality is reality. Checkout this about secret mission in Balochistan http://pioussluts.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/dirty-game-in-balochistan-facts-just-facts/
Every senior member of terrorist organzation is found in Pakistan.
Sorry! Cant believe the press release of ISPR until he is shown on TV arrested by the authorities! In this age of DIS-information, america and its allies are trying to win their lost war through controlled propoganda! But this is against the basic human right of access to the truth! I hope the media doesnt become a party to this propoganda by publishing one sided press releases as the TRUTH!
So there exists a Taliban and Al-Qaeeda Shura in Quetta otherwise why a senior Al-Qaeeda operative was stationed in Quetta and His Holiness stupid Bin Ladin in Abbottabad?
I am shocked, shocked to learn that al Qaeda operatives were found in Quetta!