US offers $5 million reward for Pakistan Taliban leader

[Solomon2]

2018-03-09 14:23:44

US offers $5 million reward for Pakistan Taliban leader

The US has announced it will pay a $5 million reward to anyone who assists in the finding of the leader of Pakistan’s Taliban, and has offered $3 million for two other militants from other terrorist groups.

The US State Department posted the reward on Thursday for information leading to Maulana Fazlullah, the head of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militant group (TTP), also known as the Pakistani Taliban.

It also offered $3 million each for two other militants associated with the TTP: Abdul Wali, leader of Jamaat ul-Ahrar, and Mangal Bagh, the leader of Lashkar-e-Islam.

The State Department said the TTP has “demonstrated a close alliance with al-Qaeda” and the three pose a threat to the security of the United States.

“Each of these individuals is believed to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of the United States and its nationals,” the department said in its statement.

“In addition to opposing the Pakistani military, one of TTP’s stated goals is the expulsion of Coalition troops from Afghanistan. The group has demonstrated a close alliance with al-Qaeda, and, since 2008, has also repeatedly publicly threatened to attack the U.S. homeland.”

Although Pakistani Taliban militants still unleash attacks, the group has lost control of all territory in Pakistan since its December 2014 attack on an army school that killed 132 children.

According to US officials, TTP gave explosives training to Faisal Shahzad, who failed in his attempt to set off a car bomb in New York’s Times Square in May 2010.

The group was behind the massacre of more than 150 people at a Peshawar school in December 2014, and nine dead in another attack in December 2017 in the same city.

It was also responsible for the October 2012 shooting of a renowned schoolgirl, Malala Yousafzai, solely because she went to school. Later Yousafzai, who nearly escaped death, became a global symbol of the fight for girls’ rights to schooling.

Tensions have grown in relations between the United States and Pakistan following US President Donald Trump’s accusations that Pakistan was harboring “terrorists.”

Pakistan has vehemently denied the charge and says it has carried out several military operations in the country’s tribal regions and elsewhere to kill or arrest militants.

 

[Solomon2]

Rewards for Justice - Reward Offer for Information on Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and Factions Key Leaders
Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
March 8, 2018



The U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice Program is offering rewards for information leading to the identification or location of three key leaders associated with the terrorist organization Tehrik–e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and affiliated factions.

The Department is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information on TTP leader Maulana Fazlullah, and up to $3 million each for information on Abdul Wali and Mangal Bagh.

Maulana Fazlullah is the leader of the TTP, a terrorist organization that has claimed responsibility for numerous terrorist acts against Pakistani and U.S. interests, including the failed attempt by Faisal Shahzad to detonate an explosive device in New York City’s Times Square on May 1, 2010. Under his leadership, the TTP has also claimed responsibility for the December 16, 2014, attack on a school in Peshawar, Pakistan in which gunmen killed 148 people, including 132 students. Fazlullah also is responsible for the June 2012, beheading of 17 Pakistani soldiers, and the October 9, 2012, shooting of Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai. In 2015, the Department designated Fazlullah as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224, which freezes all of his assets based in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons.

Abdul Wali is the leader of Jamaat ul-Ahrar (JUA), a militant faction affiliated with TTP. Under Wali’s leadership, JUA has staged multiple attacks in the region targeting civilians, religious minorities, military personnel, and law enforcement, and was responsible for the killing of two Pakistani employees of the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar in early March 2016.

Mangal Bagh is the leader of Lashkar-e-Islam, a militant faction affiliated with TTP. Under his leadership, LeI operatives have attacked NATO convoys. His group generates revenue from drug trafficking, smuggling, kidnapping, and collection of “taxes” on transit trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan. In September 2007, the Government of Pakistan announced a reward offer of about $60,000 for the capture of, or information leading to the arrest of, Mangal Bagh.

Each of these individuals is believed to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of the United States and its nationals. In addition to opposing the Pakistani military, one of TTP’s stated goals is the expulsion of Coalition troops from Afghanistan. The group has demonstrated a close alliance with al-Qa’ida, and, since 2008, has also repeatedly publicly threatened to attack the U.S. homeland.

More information about these reward offers is located on the Rewards for Justice website at www.rewardsforjustice.net. We encourage anyone with information on these individuals to contact the Rewards for Justice office via the website, e-mail (info@rewardsforjustice.net), phone (1-800-877-3927 in North America), or mail (Rewards for Justice, Washington, D.C., 20520-0303, USA). Individuals may also contact the Regional Security Office at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

The Rewards for Justice program is administered by the U.S. Department of State's Diplomatic Security Service. Since its inception in 1984, the program has paid in excess of $145 million to more than 90 people who provided actionable information that helped bring terrorists to justice or prevented acts of international terrorism worldwide. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Rewards4Justice.

 

[Spring Onion]

ANA should avail the opportunity.

 

[Sh@msu]

I declare 5 BDT reward for 50000 american head

 

[Dalit]

That is terrible news for India and Afghanistan. I hope this is a sincere effort by the US and not a cosmetic one to please Pakistan.

 

[Path-Finder]

Why now? These kunts have been running a mock for a long time! hmmn

 

[bafxet]

Too late too little

 

[Solomon2]

Why now? These kunts have been running a mock for a long time! hmmn

Yes, that's the question I had. A bit more about the RFJ program:

"RFJ, the U.S. Department of State’s Counter-Terrorism Rewards Program, was established by the 1984 Act to Combat International Terrorism, Public Law 98-533 (codified at 22 U.S.C. § 2708). Administered by the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, RFJ’s goal is to bring international terrorists to justice and prevent acts of international terrorism against U.S. persons or property. Under this program, the Secretary of State may authorize rewards for information that leads to the arrest or conviction of anyone who plans, commits, aids, or attempts international terrorist acts against U.S. persons or property, that prevents such acts from occurring in the first place, that leads to the identification or location of a key terrorist leader, or that disrupts terrorism financing."
​

So these rewards aren't offered for info on terrorists attacking or targeting only U.S. allies: they have to attack or target "U.S. persons or property" for State to put up a reward. Then I suppose there has to be some evidence or intelligence - not just claims - as a basis. After that it's a matter of how long it takes to set up the Reward in the federal gov't bureaucracy.

I especially like this tidbit from the RFJ FAQ page:

HAS RFJ EVER TAKEN SOMEONE OFF THE REWARDS FOR JUSTICE LIST? IF SO, WHO AND WHY?

• Yes, the Rewards for Justice program has removed various suspects from its list over the years, including Baitullah Mehsud, Bali bomber Dulmatin, Usama bin Ladin, Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, and Fazul Abdullah Mohammed. Suspects may be removed from the RFJ list for a variety of reasons, including when they are taken into custody by law enforcement or security forces, or are confirmed dead by an official authoritative source.

 

[Ryuzaki]

But but USA is supporting TTP along with NDS and RAW!

 

[Path-Finder]

Yes, that's the question I had. A bit more about the RFJ program:

"RFJ, the U.S. Department of State’s Counter-Terrorism Rewards Program, was established by the 1984 Act to Combat International Terrorism, Public Law 98-533 (codified at 22 U.S.C. § 2708). Administered by the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security, RFJ’s goal is to bring international terrorists to justice and prevent acts of international terrorism against U.S. persons or property. Under this program, the Secretary of State may authorize rewards for information that leads to the arrest or conviction of anyone who plans, commits, aids, or attempts international terrorist acts against U.S. persons or property, that prevents such acts from occurring in the first place, that leads to the identification or location of a key terrorist leader, or that disrupts terrorism financing."
​

So these rewards aren't offered for info on terrorists attacking or targeting only U.S. allies: they have to attack or target "U.S. persons or property" for State to put up a reward. Then I suppose there has to be some evidence or intelligence - not just claims - as a basis. After that it's a matter of how long it takes to set up the Reward in the federal gov't bureaucracy.

I especially like this tidbit from the RFJ FAQ page:

HAS RFJ EVER TAKEN SOMEONE OFF THE REWARDS FOR JUSTICE LIST? IF SO, WHO AND WHY?

• Yes, the Rewards for Justice program has removed various suspects from its list over the years, including Baitullah Mehsud, Bali bomber Dulmatin, Usama bin Ladin, Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, and Fazul Abdullah Mohammed. Suspects may be removed from the RFJ list for a variety of reasons, including when they are taken into custody by law enforcement or security forces, or are confirmed dead by an official authoritative source.

These scoundrels could have been neutralised many years ago when the "hammer and anvil" strategy was implemented or conceived. Anyway that's now in the past.

 

[Champs Trophy 2017]

And at the same time they will increase his security with help of RAW

 

[Dalit]

Why now? These kunts have been running a mock for a long time! hmmn

You know why now. Pakistan has made it very clear to the US that do more doesn't only apply to one side. Also, the Americans fully understand that Pakistan means business. When Pakistan openly states that it won't do more it really means that. The message has struck home.

The Americans have been tolerating Indian and Afghan based terrorists for far too long. I agree with most people here. It is too little and too late for this gesture now.

But but USA is supporting TTP along with NDS and RAW!

Who said they aren't? You? LOL Just because the Yanks have ditched their terrorists doesn't in any way mean it is all good now.

 

[Path-Finder]

You know why now. Pakistan has made it very clear to the US that do more doesn't only apply to one side. Also, the Americans fully understand that Pakistan means business. When Pakistan openly states that it won't do more it really means that. The message has struck home.

The Americans have been tolerating Indian and Afghan based terrorists for far too long. I agree with most people here. It is too little and too late for this gesture now.



Who said they aren't? You? LOL

It all colimnitames with the melting of the snow and the start of spring, the yanks don't do s#it if the benefit doesn't swing their way. They have taken a long road to war but they are not in any position to keep their stakes high in that country. The long war is dragging other players into this conflict whose interest align against them.

The opportunity to do the right thing has gone out of their hands now its just for the sake of keeping themselves relevant.

 

[Dalit]

It all colimnitames with the melting of the snow and the start of spring, the yanks don't do s#it if the benefit doesn't swing their way. They have taken a long road to war but they are not in any position to keep their stakes high in that country. The long war is dragging other players into this conflict whos interest align against them.

The opportunity to do the right thing has gone out of their hands now its just for the sake of keeping themselves relevant.

Absolutely spot on. This gesture has no value. The damage has been done long ago.

Pakistan should lay back and observe. Observe what the Yanks do.

 

[YeBeWarned]

CIA , RAW and NDS can win this 5 Million Dollars, just dump the Asset ..