Plan to hit US interests foiled:L Faisalabad raid against Al Qaeda
By Shamsul Islam Naz
FAISALABAD, April 3: A special team of American and local law enforcement agencies has succeeded in extorting vital information from the Al Qaeda members arrested during Thursday’s operation jointly conducted in the city by the FBI and the local police.
Well-placed sources revealed on Wednesday that Al Qaeda leaders were planning attacks on American installations and embassies in various countries through a well organized network. The plan had been finalized but before it could be executed the Al Qaeda men with their chief Abu Zubaydah were arrested.
Abu Zubaydah, sources said, provided vital information to investigators at a secret place in Punjab about those Pakistanis who had taken part in the Afghan war and who had now returned home, awaiting instructions from the central command of Al Qaeda and Taliban leaders.
During Thursday’s operation in Faisal Town, sources said, the raiding team found a computer network containing sensitive information about the lists of Al Qaeda leaders and activists, their mailing addresses in various countries and some hints about plans.
Sources said the Bush administration had conveyed to the Pakistan authorities about its intention to shift all 19 Al Qaeda members arrested at Faisal Town to Guantanamo Bay for interrogation. So far the Pakistan government has not officially given any indication for meeting the US demand. The issue is being discussed and a decision is expected during the next 24 hours.
Sources said that Abu Zubaydah, 31, was injured in the shootout during the operation and is being given medical aid under tight security of the FBI personnel. He is out of danger and two doctors of a secret national agency have been deputed for his treatment.
Following a clear-cut claim by the Bush administration about the arrest of Abu Zubaydah, foreign reporters thronged Faisalabad and were seen visiting the houses of those arrested during the Thursday’s raid.
According to American agencies, Abu Zubaydah took over as Al Qaeda’s chief of military operations after the man in charge, Muhammad Atef, was killed in American bombing of Afghanistan in November.
A local police officer, requesting anonymity, told Dawn that another operation would be launched in Faisalabad and some neighbouring towns to arrest the Jihadis. Sources said the secret agencies had also found some printed material from the hideout of alleged terrorists inscribed with names and addresses of youths who had taken part in war against America.
