Nov 20, 2010

Transnational Linkages and Counter Terror Cooperation

The shadow of David Coleman Headley, the Pakistan born American citizen who had carried out extensive reconnaissance of possible terror targets for the Lashkar-e-Taiba which led to Mumbai 26/11 strike is now even hanging over the visit of the US President Barack Obama. "We could say that we were disappointed that the name of David Headley was not provided, if not pre-26/11 at least post 26/11 [by the US]," Union Home Secretary G K Pillai told the media in response to a query on claims by one of his wives that she had given inputs to the US authorities.  Headley's American wife is reported to have given the FBI in New York a tip-off about his LeT links in 2005 while his Moroccan wife had told authorities in the US embassy in Islamabad, less than a year before the 2008 Mumbai attacks, that he was plotting a terror strike but the information was not shared by the US as per Mr Pillai. He also underlined the need for cooperation by all countries in countering terrorism stating, "Even the LeT is now becoming global in its operations. Therefore it is absolutely essential for all countries to cooperate in the fight against terrorism because any group may turn around any day and attack you even if you believe its focus is somewhere else."

Later in another interview next day Mr Pillai stated, “Intelligence sharing has definitely improved in recent months with the signing of counter-terrorism security initiative. The cooperation between India and US is now far more broad based," he told reporters in New Delhi.

Transnational linkages were also exposed when the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet against Mohd Zia- Ul- Haque s/o Mohd Sharif and Abdul Aziz @ Abu Rehan @ Wali, an operative of Lashkar-e-Toiba in the Court of Hon’ble Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Nampally, Hyderabad in the case of terror attack in Hyderabad in May,2006. During investigation by the National Investigation Agency it was established that Mohd Zia- Ul- Haque s/o Mohd Sharif had entered into a criminal conspiracy with Pakistani national Abdul Aziz @ Abu Rehan @ Wali, an operative of Lashkar-e-Toiba, a terrorist organisation, and other LeT operatives based outside India to wage war against India and indulge in terrorist acts using arms, ammunition and explosives.

 In pursuance of the said criminal conspiracy Mohd Zia- Ul- Haque who had been working in Saudi Arabia since 1996 was influenced by LeT operator Abdul Aziz and others to wage jihad against India and taken to Karachi, Pakistan in early 2002 and then to Muzzafarabad (POK) where he joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He received 45 days’ training along with other trainees at the Baitul Mujahideen (LeT Training Centre at Muzaffarabad) in the use of arms, ammunition and explosives and communicating through e-mails. After completion of training, Mohd Zia- Ul- Haque was infiltrated into India through Poonch (J&K) along with other LeT cadres.

The extensive linkages that are established by the LeT to attract terrorists and to motivate and train them has been unraveled in the Hyderabad May 2006 case. By identifying potential candidates for terror strikes from migrant labor from the Gulf, training them in Pakistan and then transporting back to the country, the operation has been elaborate enough to ensure that the trail does not go back to Islamabad or the LeT. The NIA which has been formed after the Mumbai 26/11 attacks has done well to unravel the case and expose how the transnational network has been operative over a period bringing out the need for a more comprehensive extra regional effort to stem the tide of terror.