The Hindu : ISI and LeT are behind the militant attacks, claim police

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

ISI and LeT are behind the militant attacks, claim police

Staff Reporter | August 15, 2006

"Disclosure by Pakistani militant held with a conduit"

NEW DELHI: The Special Cell of the Delhi police on Monday claimed that it had concrete evidence of active collusion between the Pakistan Army, its Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) network and the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in carrying out militant attacks in India. This was allegedly revealed by Abu Anas, the Pakistani LeT militant arrested with a conduit, Mohammad Issa, at New Delhi railway station on August 10.

During interrogation, Anas revealed that he had worked as the personal security guard of Zaki-ur-Rehman, second-in-command in the LeT hierarchy in Pakistan, from July 2005 to May 2006. Being his personal guard, Anas accompanied Zaki for all the meetings at different places. "Anas disclosed that top LeT militants held meetings with ISI officials once every month where they discussed the status of militancy in India. Zaki also used to frequently meet one Major Wajahad of the Pakistan Army. The Army official would also visit Zaki at his Shiwai Nala office in Mujaffarabad," said Joint Commissioner of Police Karnal Singh at a press conference here.

In his mid-forties, Zakiregularly met one Brig Riaz and Brig Haji, also of the Pakistan Army, to plan out future terrorist operations in India. He held meetings with Brig Riaz at a safe house in Islamabad near Tarambadi Chowk, said Mr. Singh, adding that the 50-acre compound where Zaki's office is located is also known as Baitul Mujahideen and it comprises a madrassa.

During interrogation, Anas allegedly revealed that LeT chief Hafiz Sayeed, a resident of Johar Town, had his office at Chowk Chuberzi in Lahore and the outfit's finances were in the hands of Hazi Ashraf, a resident of Faislabad. Yusuf Taabi was the head of all the LeT madrassas, while Abdul Rehman Maki, a resident of Muridke, raised funds for the activities of the outfit. Anas also disclosed that Zaki's 18-year-old son Wasi-ur-Rehman has now been launched in the Rajouri area of the Kashmir Valley, where a LeT camp is operating.

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