Pakistan

'CIA tip-off led to the arrest of Bali bombing suspect'

Pakistan security officials say the arrest was a "solely Pakistani operation".

Afp/express March 31, 2011

ISLAMABAD: A report has quoted Pakistani security officials as saying that a tip-off from the CIA led to the arrest of the Indonesian suspect in the 2002 bombing of Bali nightclub.

Pakistan security officials confirmed the capture and stressed that the arrest was a "solely Pakistani operation", adding however that the the CIA had tipped them off that he may be travelling in Pakistan.

It is not clear, however, whether the Americans will get access to the militant.

The officials did not say where or when Umar Patek who is claimed to be a commander of al Qaeda’s affiliate Jemaah Islamiyah was detained.

"I can confirm the arrest of an individual, who could be the Bali bombing suspect," foreign ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua told a press briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, adding that "consular access will be given to the Indonesian mission and it will be for them to determine who exactly the person is".

A US official familiar with the operation confirmed that the CIA worked with foreign intelligence agencies to capture Patek.

On Wednesday, Indonesian officials confirmed that an alleged extremist believed to be one of the masterminds behind the 2002 Bali bombings had been arrested in Pakistan.

Indonesia’s counter-terrorism police have been tracking Patek for years. He has a $1.0 million bounty on his head under the US government’s “Rewards for Justice” programme.

COMMENTS (11)

Jadoon | 13 years ago | Reply @salman& adeel, dears Madrissas are not responsible for extremism. Remember that Madrissa system is there since the times of Muslim Kings in India. Even today, millions of extremely poor kids get education, boarding and lodging in these seminaries. Having said this, I must add that this institution was used by powerful entities to make their own ends meet. Fighters emerging from these seminaries were the legendary "Mujahideen" of CNN, Time, NY times and Washington post in eighties as long as they were fighting the USSR. The same fighters have become terrorist when they turned their guns to USA and Pakistan.

Asif | 13 years ago | Reply @Cautious: Why would CIA waste a $60000 predator bombe for paki lives...its not worh it...$100 maybe..

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UncleSargam | 13 years ago | Reply I heard Talat Hussain, Juvaid Chaury and other great anchor people explain that this is a grand conspiracy against Pakistan and this gentleman was actually General Hamid Gul's son-in-law on a conjugal visit to Pakistan. .................................................................. It is so sad that terrorists from all over the world can find safe haven in Pakistan. This is not the gentle, fun Pakistan that I grew up in.

Saad | 13 years ago | Reply Now is our beloved intelligence extending their hands of support to the Indonisian talibs as well !!! good god, i hope they don't, it will be terrible.

Paki | 13 years ago | Reply Strategic depth, chaps. & thats why the world calls pakis 'militant pakis'

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply @J.Oberoi: ISI is an organisation with is very selective in what it wants to see and act upon!!! Its a well known fact around the world!! The only place its not is in the land of pure, as its been indoctrinated in the polulation too, to be selective with ones vision and to act only when affected personally, until then its somebody else's problem!!! As for the rest Allah will take care of it!!!!

J.Oberoi | 13 years ago | Reply CIA knew about this terrorist but ISI ("the world's most efficient intelligence agency") did not? What a farce! Sorry, but it is obvious whose side the ISI is on. Western media does not call it a "rogue" agency for no reason.

Hedgefunder | 13 years ago | Reply Surprise Surprise!!! So it was not ISI or any other Pak security agency, but Uncle Sam's very own CIA !!! Now chaps do the right thing, after few days, while the guy is in transit of some fashion, just release him and throw out a statement that he escaped!!! After all he came to pakistan to seek sanctuary & shelter from his Jihadi brothers in north waziriatan!!!

Cautious | 13 years ago | Reply CIA probably took pictures of him having tea with some of those "innocent civilians" the drones have been stalking.

adeel babar | 13 years ago | Reply as long as we continue to allow religion to interfere so strongly in the affairs of the govt. our country will continue to be seen by islamic fundamentalists from around the world as a welcoming place to live & carry out terrorist attacks. our media,especially some anchors provide excuses,lame justifications,rationalisations for the murderous attacks of islamic fundamentalists.They throw out wild conspiracy theories so the public cannot see their real enemy:the religious barbarians. it's time the people held these news channels accountable for their complicity in protecting & deflecting blame away from the people killing our women & children.

muhammad salman | 13 years ago | Reply why is it that all terrorists of the world find pakistan as the ideal place to find refuge? why don't we close down our madrassas which provide shelter,food,logistics to these people? in multiple terrorist attacks we've seen that the religious terrorists took refuge in madrassas where the local madrassa students helped them in killing innocent civilians.

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