Militant intentions: Taliban plan tit-for-tat if N Waziristan attacked

Terrorist leaders plan attacks on parliament, PM.

LAHORE:

The Pakistani military high command may not have yet made a decision about strike against the Taliban in North Waziristan, but the militant groups based there are taking no chances, preparing contingency plans for a counter-assault if necessary.

An interior ministry report states that a secret meeting of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Masjlis e Shura, recently held in South Waziristan was attended by the leaders of the Haqqani group, the Al Haq Brigade, the Fidayi Force, the Allah Dad group, the Lashkar-e-Islam, the Jaish-e-Islam, and the Mujahid Khalid group. The militant leaders had gathered to decide how to respond in the event of a Pakistan Army attack on North Waziristan.

The meeting was more akin to the board of directors meeting of a large corporation, with a presentation of cash flows, a review of past operations and perceived threats in the coming year as well as a strategic plan for 2011.

The militant leaders reportedly reviewed the availability of funds from donors in the Arab world, and created a strategic plan to conduct large-scale attacks against important buildings, military installations and high-profile individuals in the coming year, including Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and his son. The plan would be activated if the military initiated an operation against Taliban groups in North Waziristan.

The United States has been pressuring Pakistan to attack the Taliban in North Waziristan and has stepped up its own drone strikes campaign against them. The strikes’ success at targeting Taliban leaders was alluded to at the meeting and militant leaders were advised to avoid moving out of North Waziristan and avoid living there.

Another interior ministry report revealed that the TTP has created four terrorist groups, collectively known as the Lashkar e Kharaji, under the command of the TTP’s South Waziristan commander, Qari Muhammad Idrees, also known as Ilyas. The groups are likely to target United Nations offices in Islamabad, Saudi diplomats, and vehicles of law enforcement agencies.

The report adds that Qari Dadullah has been assigned the task of targeting government training institutions in Lahore that are frequented by senior officials.

Another secret meeting of groups working under the name of the Al Toheed group was reportedly held in Charsaddah, at the house of a local militant, Hafiz Naseerullah Maavia, alias Master Jee. The group decided to conduct suicide bombings against shrines in Multan and Lahore, especially the shrines of Shah Rukn-e-Alam and Bahauddin Zakaria.

The leaders of the Fidayi (Suicide Bombers) Force of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi met in Nowshera at the house of Ahmedullah, alias Rahman Bhai. They reportedly decided to target police officers’ residences throughout the country. Qari Zafar, alias Bahader Khan, was assigned the task of bombing the Iranian Embassy in Islamabad.

Several interior ministry reports detail threats to targets such as the Parliament building in Islamabad, important bridges, large dams, airports, and factories across the country. One report revealed that militants have moved arms, ammunition and explosives to south Punjab.

Another report reveals that military cantonments in Gujranwala, a church in Lahore and large hotels are also terrorist targets. Other reports reveal that the militants plan to kidnap leaders of the Ahmediyya community and the principal of the United Christian Hospital in Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th,  2011.