hafiz muhammad saeed: cloning terror

7/31/2019 Hafiz Muhammad Saeed: Cloning Terror

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HafizMuhammadSaeed:CloningTerror

ByAmbreenAgha

There'snoneedofannouncingbounties.Wearenothidingincaves.HafizMuhammadSaeed,ataPressConferenceinIslamabad,

April3,2012.

HafizMuhammadSaeed,theChiefofJamaat-ud-Dawa(JuD),thefrontorganisationofthePakistanbasedLashkar-e-Taiba(LeT),findsnoreasontohide.Heoperateswithimpunity,conductingnumberlessmassralliesacrossPakistanunderthebannerofthenewlyformedDifa-e-Pakistan(DefenseofPakistan)Council(DPC).DPCcameintobeingtowardstheendof2011,andcomprises44religiousandpoliticalparties,includinganumberofbannedterroristformations.ItsdeclaredideologypitsitagainstaAmerican-Jewish-IndianconspiracyunderwhichtheUSwithdrawalfromAfghanistanafteradecadeofbrutaloccupationisintendedtoleaveIndiainapositionwhereitcandominatetheregionandservetheinterestsof(a)ZionistControlledworld.

Theseincreasinglyvisibleactivitiescontinue,despitetheUSannouncement,on

April2,2012,ofabountyofUSD10millionforinformationleadingtoSaeedsarrestorconviction.TheUSholdsSaeedresponsibleforhisallegedroleintheNovember26,2008,Mumbaiterrorattacks.USStateDepartmentspokespersonVictoriaNulandstated,"It(thebounty)haseverythingtodowithMumbaiandhisbrazenfloutingofthejusticesystem...Itisbecausewewanttoseehimbroughttojustice."TheUSalsoannouncedaUSD2millionbountyunderitsRewardsforJusticeProgrammeforSaeedsbrother-in-lawandLeTdeputyleader,HafizAbdurRehmanMakki.ThebountieswerepostedontheUSStateDepartmentRewardsforJusticeWebsite,whichstated,

Saeedissuspectedofmastermindingnumerousterroristattacks,includingthe2008Mumbaiattacks,whichresultedinthedeathsof166people,includingsixAmericancitizens...Additionally,theUnitedStatesDepartmentoftheTreasuryhas

designatedSaeedasaSpeciallyDesignatedNationalunderExecutiveOrder13224.SaeedwasalsoindividuallydesignatedbytheUnitedNationsunderUNSCR1267inDecember2008.Lashkar-e-TayyibawasdesignatedasaForeignTerroristOrganizationinDecember2001.InApril2008,theUnitedStatesdesignatedJamaat-ud-DawaasaForeignTerroristOrganization;similarly,theUnitedNationsdeclaredJamaat-ud-DawaaterroristorganizationinDecember2008....

USGovernmentsourcesindicatethatoneofthemainreasonsfortheUSannouncingtheUSDtwomillionrewardforMakkiwashisproximitytotheAfghanTalibansupremecommanderMullahOmarandalQaeda'schiefAymanal-Zawahiri.

Saeedsresponsetotheannouncementofthebountieshasbeencontemptuous.MovingfreelyacrossPakistan,heheldadefiantPressConferenceclosetothecountry

'smilitaryheadquartersinRawalpindionApril3,2012,declaring,Iamhere,Iamvisible.Americashouldgivethatrewardmoneytome.IwillbeinLahoretomorrow.Americacancontactmewheneveritwantsto.HealsodaredtheUStocarryoutamilitaryraidagainsthimliketheonethatkilledalQaedafounderOsamaBinLaden,declaringthathewasnothidingandwouldhimselfgivehiswhereaboutstotheUS.

Despitehisprovocativestance,andinaratherbizarreannouncement,onApril29,2012,theUSAmbassadortoPakistan,CameronMunter,blamedthePakistanimediafor"misreporting"theissue,claimingthattheUSGovernmenthadnotannounc


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edanybountyonSaeed."ThoughHafizSaeedisasuspectedaccusedoftheMumbaiterrorattacks,theUSGovernmentdidn'tplaceanybountyorheadmoneyforhim."AllegationssubsequentlysurfacedthatMunterhadsoughttopacifytheJuDchiefinaone-on-onemeetinginIslamabadheldonanunspecifieddate,thoughbothsideshavecategoricallydeniedsuchameeting.Significantly,onMay9,2012,aUSStateDepartmentofficialdisclosedthatMunterwouldstepdownfromhispositionasAmbassadortoPakistanthissummer,afterservinglessthantwoyearsinthepost.Theofficialaddedthatitwastheambassadorsdecisiontogo...

Amidstrisingconfusion,USSecretaryofStateHillaryClintononMay7,2012,reconfirmedthebounty,stating,inKolkata(India),"IauthorisedtheawardforHafizSaeedwhowasresponsibleforattacksinMumbai.Itmaytakelongerthanwelikebutwewillstandwithyou(India)andtrytomakethathappen.IndiaandtheUSaregreatestrebukestoreligiousdiscrimination."

OnFebruary16,2012,muchbeforeannouncingthebounty,theUShadstronglyurgedPakistantopreventSaeedfrommovingfreelyinthecountry,freezetheassetsofthegroupsassociatedwithhim,andstopallowingLeTtoacquireweapons.

ThoughitisnotclearwhetherSaeedwaspresentattheDPCdemonstrationatLahore,onApril6,2012,thecrowdatthemeetingcarriedbannersandplacardsinscribedwithslogansinhisfavourandagainsttheUSandIndia.Leadersfromdifferentreligiousgroupsdeliveredfieryspeeches,condemningtheUSfortakingthisdecision(onthebounty)underIndianpressure.CommanderoftheHizb-ul-Mujahid

een(HM)AsgharRasool,whoparticipatedintherallywarned:TheUSispleasingIndiaItsnottheissueofHafizSaeedbutoftheentireMuslimUmmahandifwedontrisetotheoccasiontodayitcanhappentomanyotherstomorrow.

FrequentralliesarenowbeingorganisedbyDPC,withtheparticipationofanumberofproscribedoutfits,includingJuD,Ahl-e-Sunnat-Wal-Jamaat(ASWJ)andLashkar-e-Jhangvi(LeJ),aswellasIslamistpoliticalgroupingssuchastheJamaat-e-Islami(JeI),DawatAhl-e-Hadees,MajlisAhrar-e-Islam,InternationalKhatam-e-NabuwatandJamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadees,andmainstreampoliticalpartiessuchasPakistanMuslimLeague-Nawaz(PML-N),JamaatUlemaIslam-Fazl(JUI-F)andImranKhansPakistanTehreek-e-Insaf(PTI).Thepresenceoftopterroristleaders,includingthefatheroftheTalibanMaulanaSami-ulHaqandtheLeJfounderMalikIshaq,raisesseriousquestionsregardingtheDPC,thestatepatronagethatit,andothers

ofitsilk,enjoyinPakistan,aswellastheideologicalandpoliticalspectrumwithinwhichitislocated.JuDSpokespersonYahyaMujahidconfirmedthatMalikIshaqwaspresentonthestageduringtheDPCrallyonFebruary17,2012,inMultanDistrict.

AsympathetictonetowardstheAfghanTalibandominatesDPCrallies.SpeakingagainstUS-ledNATOforcesinAfghanistan,andwarningIslamabadofseriousconsequences,onMarch28,2012,SaeeddeclaredthatifNATOsuppliesthroughPakistanareeverresumed,thiswouldonlyfurtherentrenchtheUSinAfghanistan.Significantly,PakistanclosedNATOsupplyroutessoonafterUS-ledNATOforcesattackedPakistanitroopsonNovember26,2011,attheSalalaCheckpostintheMohmandAgencyoftheFederallyAdministeredTribalAreas(FATA).Earlier,inaDPCrallyonFebruary12,2012,severalspeakerspaidtributetoAfghanTalibanleaderMul

lahOmarandwarnedthattheywouldturneverysquareofthecountryintoaTahrirSquare,ifattemptsweremadetopushthecountryintoUSsubservience.

WewillgotothelastextenttohelptheKashmirisandultimatelyIndiawillhavetopulloutits800,000troopsfromtheoccupiedterritory.WhentheUnitedStates(US)alongwithalmost40othernationscannotperpetuateitspresenceinAfghanistan,howcanIndiacontinuewithitsoccupationofKashmir?

WewillgotothelastextenttohelptheKashmirisandultimatelyIndiawillhavetopulloutits800,000troopsfromtheoccupiedterritory.WhentheUnitedS


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tates(US)alongwithalmost40othernationscannotperpetuateitspresenceinAfghanistan,howcanIndiacontinuewithitsoccupationofKashmir?.

Allthisoccursopenly,despitethefactthatSaeedsdirectinvolvementinterroristactshasbeendocumentedrepeatedlyandwell.AddingtoalargebodyofevidencethathasledtosuccessivebansonvirtuallyeveryorganisationthatSaeedheads(theDPCremainsapresentexception),DavidColemanHeadley,thePakistaniAmericanLeToperativeinvolvedinplanning26/11,inhisconfessionalstatementintheUS,hadconfirmed:"HafizSaeedhadfullknowledgeoftheMumbaiattacksandtheywerelaunchedonlyafterhisapproval."

IndiaalsohasgivensignificantevidenceonSaeedsinvolvementin26/11.IndianGovernmentsourcesdisclosethatsuchevidenceincludedthestatementofAjmalKasabthelonesurvivinggunmanintheMumbaiattacksconcedingthatSaeedwaspresentduringtheselectionandtrainingofterroristsbehindthe26/11attack.

BruceRiedel,aformerCentralInvestigationAgency(CIA)officerandnowaseniorfellowintheSebanCentreatBrookingsInstitute,citingthedocumentsrecoveredfromslainalQaedaleaderOsamabinLadenshideawayinAbbottabadintheKhyberPakhtunkhwa(KP)province,observedthatSaeed,whoisanalQaedaally,wasinclosetouchwithOsamauntilhisdeath:"OsamaBinLadencommunicatedwithSaeedandothersviacourier.Hepractisedverygoodopsec[operationssecurity].Thetwohadalong-standingrelationshipgoingbacktothecreationofLeTinthe1980s...OsamaBinLadenprovidedsomeoftheseedmoneytostartthegroup

(LeT)."

TheUShasalsoclaimedthatithadhardevidencethatSaeedwascommunicatingwithOsamabinLadenthroughacourierandthatLadenhadplayedakeyroleinthe26/11attacks.OnFebruary7,2012,SaeedhimselfconfessedforthefirsttimethathehadmetwithOsamabinLadenandclaimedthathe(Saeed)hadstudiedunderthesamescholar,SheikhBinBaz,whotaughtBinLadenandAymanAl-Zawahiri.

Yet,IslamabadcontinuestoshieldSaeedclaimingthatthereisnoevidenceagainsthimtosustainaprosecution.

Suchclaimshavebeenendorsedatthehighestlevel.FederalMinisterforInteriorRehmanMalikclaimedthat,whenIslamabadaskedforevidenceinsupportofth

eUSbounty,wecametoknowtherewasnone...IfAmericadoesnthaveanyevidenceandIndiastillclaimstohaveevidence,itshouldbesharedwithus.Inasimilartone,PrimeMinisterYousufRazaGilani,onMay13,2012,declaredthattherewasinsufficientevidencetoarrestSaeed."Ifyouarresthim(HafizSaeed),thatmeanshewillbereleasedbythecourtsinPakistan.Forthecourtsyouneedmoreevidence...YouknowthejudiciaryiscompletelyindependentinPakistan."

Addingtothistragedyoferrors,anunnamedcounter-terrorismofficialinIslamabadmadethebizarreassertion,onApril6,2012,thatSaeedwashelpingde-radicalizemilitants:"HafizSaeedhasagreedwiththePunjabGovernmentprogrammeofde-radicalisationandrehabilitationofformerjihadisandextendedfullcooperation."Expressingconcernsforhissafety,theFederalGovernmenthadrequestedhimtomaintainalowprofileaftertheannouncementoftheUSbounty.OnApril2

3,2012,SaeedtoldthemediathatFederalGovernmentAgencieshadadvisedhimnottoparticipateinpublicralliesforthetimebeing.Significantly,reportsindicatethatatleastninepolicemen,onsixhourshifts,guardthethreebarricadessetupbyJuDvolunteersabout200to300metersfromSaeed'shouse.

Saeedisopenlyappreciativeofthesecurityofferedtohim,andthesupportgiventotheenterpriseofjihaditerrorism,bythePakistanistate.OnJanuary1,2012,hethusobserved:

Pakistanisunmatchedintermsofthefreedomitallowsforthepursuitofjihad


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andforthespreadofIslam.NootherterritoryintheworldmatchedPakistananditwasagreatblessingfromAllah...Non-MuslimswereconspiringagainstPakistanbothinternallyandexternally.

Saeed,undoubtedly,hasenormoussupportfromtheauthoritiesatthehelm.BruceRiedelnotes,

Saeed,averypublicfigureinPakistanandadmiredbyitsmilitaryadvocatesatrulyextremevision:thedestructionofIndiaandthecreationofaMuslimcaliphateovertheentiresubcontinent.BothSaeedandLeTforyearsbenefittedfromstatepatronage,particularly,theArmyandtheInter-ServicesIntelligence(ISI)Agency..

TheopensupportextendedbystateandpoliticalagenciestotheDPCanditsvariousconstituents,aswellastoSaeed,Makkiandotherterroristleaders,canonlyemboldenexistingIslamistextremistandterroristformationsinPakistan,andcreatewideningspacesforanewbreedofviolentlyintolerantclones.IslamabadcontinuestobreedgroupscommittedtoviolenceinthenameofjihadagainsttheUS,Indiaandotherinfidelstates.Thisenduringstatecollusionandtheconsequentimpunitywithwhichextremistsandterroristsfunctioncanonlyfurtherdevastatethefragilepolitical,socialandeconomiclandscapeinPakistan,anddestabilizethewiderSouthAsianregionaswell.

AmbreenAghaisaResearchAssistantwithInstituteforConflictManagement,New

Delhi

Source:SouthAsiaIntelligenceReview

URL:http://newageislam.com/islam,terrorism-and-jihad/ambreen-agha/hafiz-muhammad-saeed--cloning-terror/d/7392

COMMENTSBysupportingdangerousandradicalfanaticslikeHafizMuhammadSaeed,Pakistan'smilitaryestablishmentisslowlytakingtheircountrytothestoneage.ItisashamethatthejudiciaryhasnotbeenabletoconvictandimprisionS

aeed.

hafiz muhammad saeed: cloning terror

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