Video uploading in Islamabad offers clue to Time Square bombing
A man from Islamabad arrested by the Pakistani intelligence agencies has disclosed Faisal Shehzad's links with the Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP), sources in the capital have told Viewpoint.
Islamabad was initially reluctant to link Faisal Shehzad, who failed to carry out a car bombing in Times Square in New York, with the militant groups in the tribal regions because of the fear of renewed pressure on Pakistan to launch an offensive against the groups in North Waziristan. The confusion evaporated when the sleuths of the intelligence agencies arrested the man, who revealed information about Faisal Shehzad and his links with the TTP led by Hakimullah Mehsud.
The TTP chief, who survived a US drone attack in the Shaktoi area of South Waziristan on January 14 this year, released a video in which he threatened to attack US cities to avenge US drone attacks on militant leaders. The agencies netted the person who uploaded the video of the TTP chief from Islamabad. But that man, whose name was not disclosed by the sources, revealed lots of information about Faisal Shehzad and his plan to detonate a car in Times Square. The man, who is being grilled by the agencies, disclosed that Faisal Shehzad went to the tribal region because he wanted to take revenge for the frequent drone attacks there, particularly in North Waziristan.
The arrested man is so far the only link connecting Faisal Shehzad with the TTP, say the sources.
Although initially the Pakistan security agencies arrested several persons from Karachi associated with the banned Jaish-e-Mohammad (JM), a militant group headed by Maulana Masood Azhar, they failed to establish any link between Faisal Shehzad and that group. Sources in Islamabad say that 11 JM activists were taken into custody and shifted to the American consulate for grilling. But none of them yielded satisfactory leads. Among these is believed to be Taha, alias Abu Bakar, and Adnan, alias Bilal, both said to be expert in bomb making.
Other suspects included Shahzad's friends and in-laws, including his father-in-law Iftikhar Mian, but investigators say they haven't found any evidence to link these people with terrorist networks. The special investigation group of the Federal Investigation Agency, trained by the US for counter terrorism, has also interrogated the father of Faisal Shehzad, Mr Bahauddin, who is a retired air vice marshal in the Pakistan air force, and his friend Nasir, but discovered no clues to link them with terrorist grouips.
According to media reports, Faisal Shehzad initially told his US interrogators that he acted on his own and he did not get any support from militants based in Pakistan. But after the arrest of the TTP man from Islamabad, the Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said it was unlikely that Faisal acted on his own. Sources within the Pakistani security establishment say investigators are now working on the possibility that Shahzad was an agent working to damage Pakistan's reputation.
These sources also say that Faisal Shehzad received money from the TTP for the attack. The exact amount is not clear, but some sources say that he received $5000 and other say $15000 for the failed mission. Faisal Shehzad was unemployed in the US and needed money for the attack and received it from the TTP, they maintained.
Though most of the militants training camps are reportedly set up in North Waziristan, Faisal Shehzad was sent to the Mohmand tribal region close to the Afghan border province of Nangarhar. "He travelled there in February this year and got training in bomb making," a source told Viewpoint.
Waliur Rehman, known as Commander Omar Khalid, the Taliban's commander in Mohmand region and associated with the TTP, provided him with this training, these sources say. The Pakistani army's operations in the last year against Omar Khalid and his fighters squeezed his power but the group still has a few hundred fighters in Khwaizai, Baizai, Qandaro and other inaccessible border areas close to Afghanistan.
After the arrest of Faisal Shehzad, a person who introduced himself as Azam Tariq, spokesman for the TTP, told the media that they had no link with the accused and denied knowing him.
But the very next day, the TTP sent an email to selected journalists in Peshawar – perhaps the first ever militant group email to the media - which states, "it is once again clarified that the person who contacted the media on Thursday showing himself as spokesperson of TTP and gave statement regarding Faisal Shahzad, is not the spokesperson of TTP. The journalist brothers should alert from such person, who misguide the media as well as the people. The TTP has not shown his point of view regarding Faisal Shahzad till now."
This message has not been verified independently, but if it is authentic, it is clear that the TTP did not deny its links with Faisal Shehzad.
This writer talked to a relative of Faisal Shehzad in Mohib Banda village of Nowshera district, who claimed that the family has suicidal tendencies, with three cousins of Faisal Shehzad having committed suicide in their youth without any solid reasons.
Faisal Shehzad was in a dispute with his wife, who was demanding a divorce, these sources close to the family of Faisal Shehzad said. This may be the reason behind his contact with the Jehadis and plan to carry out a bombing in New York.
Shafiq Ahmad has been working in electronic as well as print media for the last 16 years. Currently, he is associated with Times Now TV channel as a special correspondent based in Islamabad. He has also served Geo English as correspondent at its Peshawar. He has recently produced a documentary on Pashto music and films, which is under threat from Taliban. Shafiq has also worked as freelance producer with several international TV channels, particularly RTL of Germany and Channel 4 of UK. Besides, Shafiq worked for monthly Herald and daily Dawn. Besides, he has contributed several feature stories to Swiss newspaper Neue Zrcher Zeitung (NZZ), Geographical Magazine of London, Cutting Edge magazine of Lahore and The News on Sunday.