Head of Al Qaeda's newly formed South Asia wing commander Shahid Usman, arrested in Pakistan

[Saifullah Sani]

Pakistani authorities have arrested a man they describe as an important commander in Al Qaeda's newly created South Asian wing.

Police arrested Shahid Usman, in his mid-thirties, and four others in the southern city of Karachi on Thursday. They also seized weapons and 10 kilograms of explosives.

Al Qaeda's new South Asia wing, Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, tried to hijack a Pakistani navy ship in September this year, a few days after the group had announced its formation.

Police say Usman is the head of the Al Qaeda wing in the port city of Karachi and was planning more attacks there.

"He is the Karachi chief of Al Qaeda's newly formed wing working under the set up of Asim Umar, the South Asia chief of Al Qaeda," a senior official at the police counter-terrorism unit said.

The official said Usman lived in Defense, a wealthy neighbourhood, and owned a car-parts dealership in one of the city's most expensive commercial areas.

"Unlike the usual militant profile, Usman comes from an affluent background," the police officer said.

Officials said Usman was previously associated with the outlawed Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami militant group, whose operational commander, Ilyas Kashmiri, was killed in a US drone strike in 2011 near the Afghan border.

Usman had also received training in Afghanistan, the police officer said.

Al Qaeda announced the formation of its South Asian wing on September 4 with Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri promising to spread a holy war across South Asia, home to more than 400 million Muslims.

Analysts say the move is part of Al Qaeda's plan to take advantage of the planned withdrawal of US-led forces from Afghanistan and boost its influence in the region.

The new Al Qaeda wing may also be an attempt to grab back the initiative from the Islamic State (IS) militant group that was expelled from Al Qaeda for its brutal tactics and which now holds parts of Iraq and Syria.

Pakistani militants say envoys from the IS are trying to make contacts in the region.

Usman's arrest followed the reported killing of two senior Al Qaeda leaders in Pakistan this month.

Head of Al Qaeda's newly formed South Asia wing, Shahid Usman, arrested in Pakistan - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[Sinnerman108]

I am very happy with the fact that off late our intelligence has significantly improved and we are starting to catch these animals.

 

[Jaanbaz]

WTF are they doing in Karachi? Why can't these idiots go and bring stone age laws to their tribal areas or in Afghanistan. Can't they leave Karachi and specifically Sindh alone?

 

[SQ8]

The official said Usman lived in Defense, a wealthy neighbourhood, and owned a car-parts dealership in one of the city's most expensive commercial areas.

This is the really bothersome part. You can thank organizations like Hizb-ut-Tahrir, and other quasi religious setups for creating this new monster of literate intolerance.

 

[Gunsnroses]

Although this is plausible but worrisome too. This is a vicious circle and one arrest doesn't warrant anything good as someone else will be appointed in his place but it is still a blow to make a hole.

 

[Kompromat]

He'll enjoy his meeting with our Ninja Turtles. He's likely to be behind the assasination of ISI's Brigadier Fazal Zahoor Qadri, since AQISA claimed it.

 

[Foggy_Bottom]

We certainly see a marked difference in Pakistan's efforts and look forward to a successful prosecution.

Gen. Rasheed on his latest trip had promised our government of going after the Haqqani network too.

 

[tarrar]

Well the NGO's who were recently caught in Karachi proves they were up to something big, these raids & arrests are prove of it.

Any how job well done by our boys but nothing will happen to these rented terrorists as they will be set free by corrupt & incompetent courts or max they will be only jailed & not sentence to death thanks to corrupt & traitor politicians who are clearly friends of rented terrorists.

 

[The Great One]

We certainly see a marked difference in Pakistan's efforts and look forward to a successful prosecution.

Gen. Rasheed on his latest trip had promised our government of going after the Haqqani network too.

After the events of May 2 2011, do you people seriously take the word of Pakistan seriously.

 

[pak-marine]

WTF are they doing in Karachi? Why can't these idiots go and bring stone age laws to their tribal areas or in Afghanistan. Can't they leave Karachi and specifically Sindh alone?

Well From the post it seems they are living in posh areas running businesses .. leading a very peaceful and prosperous life

We certainly see a marked difference in Pakistan's efforts and look forward to a successful prosecution.

Gen. Rasheed on his latest trip had promised our government of going after the Haqqani network too.

Its ""Gen Raheel "" FYI

 

[Foggy_Bottom]

Its ""Gen Raheel "" FYI

I stand corrected. Thank you!

After the events of May 2 2011, do you people seriously take the word of Pakistan seriously.

We work on the principle of trust but verify.

 

[Devil Soul]

After the events of May 2 2011, do you people seriously take the word of Pakistan seriously.

Why ur backside is on fire??? Asset lost i guess .... hmmm

 

[saiyan0321]

amazing work. He should ofcourse be placed through the process where relevant information about his history,recruitment,contacts,future plans, involvement in past plans and ofcourse where his friends might be located so that we can truly deal a healthy blow to this menace and again ever since raheel sharif has come to power, i must say that he has tackled extremism like a master. This is amazing work.

 

[Irfan Baloch]

"He is the Karachi chief of Al Qaeda's newly formed wing working under the set up of Asim Umar, the South Asia chief of Al Qaeda," a senior official at the police counter-terrorism unit said.

the description should be he WAS the Karachi chief of new Al Qaeda wing
he must be kept away from judiciary because they will free him immediately.
this is the legacy of shameless Ifitikhar Choudry who bred a team of judges who are morbidly pro terrorists and hate ISIS and Pakistan army and in order to show their hatred they support the enemies of Pakistan army.