ISI-Haqqani alliance is cracking up.

[Zarvan]

Is the ISI-Haqqani alliance cracking up?
Amir Mir Wednesday, November 13, 2013
From Print Edition

ISLAMABAD: The mystery murder of commander Naseeruddin Haqqani in Islamabad has given rise to the buzz that the decades-old controversial alliance between the Pakistani security establishment and the North Waziristan-based Haqqani militant network is cracking up.


This is happening mainly because of the network’s involvement in several acts of terrorism in Pakistan while working in tandem with the TTP. The group is considered by many as one of the ISI’s strategic assets.


The investigators are still clueless about Naseeruddin’s assassins, with speculation that he might have been killed by his friends-turned-foes in the Pakistani establishment.The TTP spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, has blamed the murder on the ISI and vowed to take revenge. “Naseeruddin Haqqani has been martyred by none other than theISI. He was killed because he had bravely supported the TTP Ameer Hakimullah Mehsud,” Shahidullah told AFP on Monday night when asked about the possible killer.



However, while no one has claimed responsibility for the murder, the ISI circles suspect the hand of either the TTP or Afghan National Directorate of Security. Some say his killing is related to a family dispute he had with a cousin, Ishaq, whom Naseeruddin suspected of working with the Afghan intelligence.


Some think that the Central Intelligence Agency, which runs the drone programme, is behind it. But whoever killed Naseeruddin, the fact remains that he resided relatively openly in the federal capital (despite being wanted by the US) which was simply impossible without the consent of the Pakistani establishment.


His death came a week after a drone strike killed Hakimullah Mehsud. Both the TTP and Haqqani militant network are based side by side in the Miranshah area. Naseeruddin and Hakimullah have been laid to rest at Danday Darpakhel village in North Waziristan’s headquarters Miranshah, where some family members of Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani have been living since 1980. Hakimullah was also droned in the same village, which is largely administered by the al-Qaeda-linked Haqqani militant network.

Despite the known presence of Haqqani network, al-Qaeda and other foreign militants groups in North Waziristan, and repeated requests by the United States that action be taken against them, the Pakistani military authorities are reluctant to proceed against them.

This is despite the fact that the Haqqani network is involved in some of the biggest terror attacks in Kabul, including the January 2008 suicide assault on the Serena Hotel, the February 2009 assault on Afghan ministries, and the July 2008 and October 2009 suicide attacks against the Indian Embassy. American intelligence agencies had confronted the Pakistani government with evidence, including communication intercepts, which hinted at ISI’s direct involvement in the 2008 Indian Embassy suicide bombing.


Following Pakistan’s refusal to act against the Haqqanis, Admiral Mike Mullen, the then US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had singled out the network (in 2011) as “a veritable arm” of ISI — a characterisation Islamabad has disputed.


But almost two years later, the situation seems to have changed quite rapidly, with many in the Pakistani establishment considering the Haqqani militant network as a liability rather than an asset (which the Khakis wanted to use to their strategic advantage after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan).


In fact, the establishment is lately perturbed over increasing number of intelligence reports of ever-growing cooperation between the TTP and Haqqanis, especially while carrying out terrorist activities which are directed against the Pakistani security forces in the tribal belt.



Naseeruddin was using his Shahpur area residence-cum-office in the federal capital not only to run his huge transport business but also as the media office of the Haqqani network. Known in the media as Zabihullah Mujahid, Naseeruddin was a spokesperson for his militant group. He was also the chief finance controller of the Haqqani network and would regularly visit the Middle Eastern countries to raise funds. He was also the leader of the Miranshah Regional Military Shura, one of the four regional commands of the Afghan Taliban.



The US Treasury Department added Naseeruddin to its list of specially-designated global terrorists in July 2010. According to the Treasury, he traveled to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates between 2004-2009 to carry out fundraising for the Haqqani Network, al-Qaeda, and Taliban.



Due to his friendly ties with Hakimullah Mehsud, Naseeruddin had been mediating between the Pakistani authorities and TTP leadership for a peace deal. However, he became annoyed with the Pakistani authorities over Hakimullah’s killing in a village that is being controlled by the Haqqani network. Therefore, while accusing Islamabad of having provided intelligence to the Americans about Hakimullah’s precise location in Danday Darpakhel, Naseeruddin simply refused to cooperate with the Pakistani authorities, thus inviting their wrath.


But there are those in the security establishment who believe that Naseeruddin might have been killed by the TTP to avenge the killing of Hakimullah who was guaranteed by the Haqqanis that he would not be harmed if he travelled to Danday Darpakhel.


On the other hand, a spokesman for the Haqqani network, Najeebullah, has blamed the ISI for Naseeruddin’s murder, saying he had been mediating between a powerful agency and the Pakistani Taliban for peace talks. “But he had refused to mediate further following Hakimullah’s death and the subsequent announcement of TTP not to hold any further talks. Naseeruddin’s reluctance to mediate after Hakimullah’s killing must have annoyed the powerful agency to an extent that it decided to eliminate him,” the spokesman of the Haqqani network has been quoted by the media as saying.



In fact, Naseeruddin’s killing is curious in many ways, especially being the manner in which he was shot dead in a busy bazaar of Islamabad.


Most of the Haqqani network leaders of Naseeruddin’s stature have been killed in US drone strikes in the Waziristan tribal belt as had been the case with his brother Burhanuddin Haqqani. But Naseeruddin has been killed far from North Waziristan which is the Haqqani’s base of operations in the Fata and where he was feeling quite safe.


His killing in the federal capital must be hugely embarrassing for the Pakistan government as well as the security establishment, which had fended off American accusations for years that it sheltered the Haqqani militant network.


It was only last year that a leaked ISAF report in Afghanistan claimed that the ISI was directly supporting the Haqqani network’s terrorist campaign inside Afghanistan. “Senior Taliban representatives, such as Naseeruddin Haqqani, maintain residences in the immediate vicinity of the ISI headquarters in Islamabad,” the ISAF report had stated.


Naseeruddin’s killing on the Pakistani territory also mirrors the May 2011 American raid that killed Osama bin Laden at a compound in the garrison town of Abbottabad, highlighting how openly the most wanted al-Qaeda leaders live in Pakistan.

Is the ISI-Haqqani alliance cracking up? - thenews.com.pk

@karan.1970 @notsuperstitious @Roybot @Spring Onion @LoveIcon @Secur @Armstrong @balixd @Side-Winder @Alpha1 @Aeronaut @Jungibaaz @nuclearpak @Contrarian @hinduguy @Syama Ayas @Capt.Popeye @kurup @kaykay @joekrish @Srinivas

The article is full of lies and journalist belongs to famous Jang group which is playing in raw hands Haqqani has never done anything in Pakistan their entire focus is on USA and Nato Troops in Afghanistan

 

[Spring Onion]

The article is full of lies and journalist belongs to famous Jang group which is playing in raw hands Haqqani has never done anything in Pakistan their entire focus is on USA and Nato Troops in Afghanistan

Zaravan it can turn into reality and thats what is being done by killing Haqqani's son and Hakimullah at odd time.

 

[haviZsultan]

ISI has no alliance with the Haqqani network. ISI like any other country has just merely judged what are its priorities. Our priorities are eliminating the Pakistani Taliban or TTP first. After that comes the Lashkar E Jhangvi and then LET Haqqani network, Hekmatyars, Bahawal Khans, Gul Bahadur and the rest.

ISI most likely realizes that the threat posed by the Pakistani Taliban is greater than the threat posed by the Haqqani network, which ofcourse we must also eliminate. But when you can't deal with one group of barbarians you do not just go off creating enemies out of more barbarians. According to reports from independent observors Sararogha was the only tehsil cleared of militants in South Waziristan out of 6 such tehsils where operation Rah E Nijat took place. When we can't eliminate the Taliban menace despite trying so hard then why should we open new fronts? It is a matter of priorities.

My point is Pakistan should take an interest in defeating terrorism first on its soil rather than destroying terrorism in Afghanistan, India or Iran. Our first priority should always be finishing off the Pakistani Taliban and the Lashkar E Jhangvi. I believe we can successfully do this if we have the will. It was us who arrested Mohammed Sheikh Khalid and Ramzi Yousuf, all partly involved in plotting attacks on the US. We needed to arrest them too but the main culprits are the Pakistani Taliban. They are responsible for the deaths of 50,000 Pakistanis.

 

[Zarvan]

ISI has no alliance with the Haqqani network. ISI like any other country has just merely judged what are its priorities. Our priorities are eliminating the Pakistani Taliban or TTP first. After that comes the Lashkar E Jhangvi and then LET Haqqani network, Hekmatyars, Bahawal Khans, Gul Bahadur and the rest.

ISI most likely realizes that the threat posed by the Pakistani Taliban is greater than the threat posed by the Haqqani network, which ofcourse we must also eliminate. But when you can't deal with one group of barbarians you do not just go off creating enemies out of more barbarians. According to reports from independent observors Sararogha was the only tehsil cleared of militants in South Waziristan out of 6 such tehsils where operation Rah E Nijat took place. When we can't eliminate the Taliban menace despite trying so hard then why should we open new fronts? It is a matter of priorities.

My point is Pakistan should take an interest in defeating terrorism first on its soil rather than destroying terrorism in Afghanistan, India or Iran. Our first priority should always be finishing off the Pakistani Taliban and the Lashkar E Jhangvi. I believe we can successfully do this if we have the will. It was us who arrested Mohammed Sheikh Khalid and Ramzi Yousuf, all partly involved in plotting attacks on the US. We needed to arrest them too but the main culprits are the Pakistani Taliban. They are responsible for the deaths of 50,000 Pakistanis.

either you are too innoncent or denying the reality Mr we have long relations with Haqqani network and we are supporting them to some extent and Afghan Taliban have never participated in any attack on Pakistan and now a days our first priority is to take out LEJ because we can talk to TTP but we can't have talks with LEJ and we can't defeat TTP we will eventually talk to them do how many operations as you want in the end you will talk to them 

Zaravan it can turn into reality and thats what is being done by killing Haqqani's son and Hakimullah at odd time.

Sir yes that is why need to take out those who have done this and finish them

 

[Spring Onion]

ISI has no alliance with the Haqqani network. ISI like any other country has just merely judged what are its priorities. Our priorities are eliminating the Pakistani Taliban or TTP first. After that comes the Lashkar E Jhangvi and then LET Haqqani network, Hekmatyars, Bahawal Khans, Gul Bahadur and the rest.

ISI most likely realizes that the threat posed by the Pakistani Taliban is greater than the threat posed by the Haqqani network, which ofcourse we must also eliminate. But when you can't deal with one group of barbarians you do not just go off creating enemies out of more barbarians. According to reports from independent observors Sararogha was the only tehsil cleared of militants in South Waziristan out of 6 such tehsils where operation Rah E Nijat took place. When we can't eliminate the Taliban menace despite trying so hard then why should we open new fronts? It is a matter of priorities.

My point is Pakistan should take an interest in defeating terrorism first on its soil rather than destroying terrorism in Afghanistan, India or Iran. Our first priority should always be finishing off the Pakistani Taliban and the Lashkar E Jhangvi. I believe we can successfully do this if we have the will. It was us who arrested Mohammed Sheikh Khalid and Ramzi Yousuf, all partly involved in plotting attacks on the US. We needed to arrest them too but the main culprits are the Pakistani Taliban. They are responsible for the deaths of 50,000 Pakistanis.

we have done alot. when your enemy is courting these guys you cant be saint and brandish WoT.

we need to wakew up re-think the war. Time is running out 

Sir yes that is why need to take out those who have done this and finish them

Before doing that you need to stop letting these friendly forces from falling into enemies' hands

 

[nair]

It cant be true and i am sure ISI wont let it happen.... How can they go against their most trusted strategic asset(aka terrorists)...... 

Before doing that you need to stop letting these friendly forces from falling into enemies' hands

Irony is that pakistan has not learnt the lesson yet.... Playing or working with terrorist is like playing with a cobra..... You never know when it can turn and bite you...... But in this case there are several snakes turned back and did bite its master......

 

[karan.1970]

Sooner or later, they always turn on each other..

 

[Aslan]

It cant be true and i am sure ISI wont let it happen.... How can they go against their most trusted strategic asset(aka terrorists)...... 


Irony is that pakistan has not learnt the lesson yet.... Playing or working with terrorist is like playing with a cobra..... You never know when it can turn and bite you...... But in this case there are several snakes turned back and did bite its master......

If that is the moral of the story, then beware. You guys are not far off. Or is Bangali adventure already biting you in the butt. Oh wait the BLA, and TTP are also here. Not dont give me that age old indin bs that we dont do that and prove it. Apparently you are the one blaming ISI for even ur constipation it seems. And yes we are all dirty, all are equally involved.

 

[Spring Onion]

It cant be true and i am sure ISI wont let it happen.... How can they go against their most trusted strategic asset(aka terrorists)...... 


Irony is that pakistan has not learnt the lesson yet.... Playing or working with terrorist is like playing with a cobra..... You never know when it can turn and bite you...... But in this case there are several snakes turned back and did bite its master......

There is no lesson to be learned in such a scenario. Its fight to survive where you cant afford playing moral stories.

Recently India had extended hand to the same Taliban aka "terrorists" as called by Indians.

 

[notsuperstitious]

Better than killing innocent people, let them fight each other.

 

[Zarvan]

we have done alot. when your enemy is courting these guys you cant be saint and brandish WoT.

we need to wakew up re-think the war. Time is running out 


Before doing that you need to stop letting these friendly forces from falling into enemies' hands

Yes and that is the way to do it take out their enemies yourself and help them finishing USA and NATO in Afghanistan and than take the help of Mullah Omar in taking out TTP

 

[Spring Onion]

Yes and that is the way to do it take out their enemies yourself and help them finishing USA and NATO in Afghanistan and than take the help of Mullah Omar in taking out TTP

thats not easy not a candy

 

[Zarvan]

thats not easy not a candy

Who on earth said that is easy but that is the only way out and only way to teach USA and Nato a lesson and make sure next government in Afghanistan is Pakistan friendly other wise you are gone

 

[illusion8]

The Haqqani dude who got killed was living in Islamabad for many years?? isn't much surprising nowadays.

 

[Spring Onion]

The Haqqani dude who got killed was living in Islamabad for many years?? isn't much surprising nowadays.

NOT many years. He was bridge between Taliban-Govt for talks initiated recently thats why he was there 

The Haqqani dude who got killed was living in Islamabad for many years?? isn't much surprising nowadays.

NOT many years. He was bridge between Taliban-Govt for talks initiated recently thats why he was there