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Back on Osama's
trail
By Syed Saleem Shahzad
ISLAMABAD - Both Pakistani and US
intelligence believe that they are hot on the
heels of Osama bin Laden, after his trail went
cold months ago.
"Both the US and
concerned Pakistani authorities are positive that
in the coming days we shall be around Osama bin
Laden," a senior Pakistani official told Asia
Times Online in an  exclusive interview,
speaking on condition of anonymity.
The
potential breakthrough in the hunt for bin Laden
follows the arrest of al-Qaeda operative Abu Faraj
al-Libbi in Pakistan last week, and an important
lead he divulged during interrogation. Abu Faraj
was interrogated by various agencies, including
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, Britain's
MI6 and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
This is according to the Pakistani
official, who was assigned by Pakistani President
General Pervez Musharraf - the target of two
assassination attempts allegedly masterminded by
Abu Faraj - to coordinate and oversee
investigations involving recent al-Qaeda detainees
in Pakistan.
"The arrest of al-Libbi has
only one significance for Pakistan, and that is
that he was involved in assassination plots on
Musharraf. Apparently there is no way that we will
get Osama bin Laden through al-Libbi. MI6 also
interrogated al-Libbi separately, and they are
also of this opinion, that al-Libbi is little more
than a foot soldier and no way eligible to be
named as an operational chief. However, US
interrogators have a different opinion and they
call al-Libbi the catch of the year," the official
said.
"Nevertheless," said the official,
"the arrest cannot be down-played as
insignificant. During interrogation, al-Libbi
pointed [out] Bajur Agency, a tribal area situated
in North West Frontier Province, where we found an
al-Qaeda sanctuary and arrested many important
operatives, including an Uzbek."
Despite
repeated questioning from Asia Times Online, the
official refused to say whether the Uzbek was the
leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan,
Tahir Yaldevish, who has been widely reported to
have been seen in Pakistan's tribal areas. "This
is a state secret," the official said.
"Neither will I tell you his name nor give
you any hint, but it is true that there is big
'head money' on him, and as a result of
interrogations so far we are quite sure that
through him we will be getting Osama bin Laden, or
at least we will be around his sanctuary and be
able to track his area of rotation. At present, we
are completely in the dark."
The official
believes that a breakthrough will come soon, but
this carries problems. "After that [bin Laden's
apprehension] a new debate will start on whether
Osama should be arrested in Pakistan's tribal
areas or not," said the official.
"I am
not part of any strategic community, but my
political acumen suggests that in the present
drive we will find Osama bin Laden in our tribal
areas, and I am sure we will soon ... we should
try to push him to the other side of the border
and then let US troops arrest him. He should not
be arrested by or in Pakistan. Because if that
happens, I tell you that the Pakistan army will
lose its honor among the masses forever, and at
the same time there would be retaliation against
the government beyond our comprehension, and in
that process anything is possible, real terrorism,
bloodshed and even revolution," he continued.
Recalling his experience in dealing with
the interrogation of the Uzbek, the official
maintained that it had been "truly incredible".
"You can differ in ideologies, but it is
difficult not to be impressed by conviction. We
are politicians - compromise, retreat and lies are
part of our business, but believe me, I passed one
hour with that Uzbek and I admitted to myself some
guilt - his unbreakable conviction for his cause
was the reason.
"He was blindfolded, and
when an interrogator served him a glass of water,
he said, 'Make sure that it is [served] with the
right hand, and not the left hand.' [as per Muslim
custom] He gave a full lecture on their cause, and
said that he had no regrets that he had joined
al-Qaeda. He even recognized me from my voice, as
he said that he had often heard me on television,
and advised that I should take care as soon
everybody 'would be accountable before Allah'.
"I am the person who is monitoring things
very closely, and I see the arrest of bin Laden
not very far away, this is the same opinion of the
US authorities following al-Libbi's arrest. But
whether it will bury extremism once and for all,
or spark it, is a different debate," the Pakistani
functionary commented.
Syed Saleem
Shahzad, Bureau Chief, Pakistan Asia Times
Online. He can be reached at saleem_shahzad2002@yahoo.com
(Copyright 2005 Asia Times Online Ltd. All
rights reserved. Please contact us for information
on sales, syndication and republishing.) |
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