Al Qaeda calls for fresh attacks on Pakistani forces

January 18, 2008

tacks_pakistani_forces.html

Submitted by Mudassir Rizwan on Fri, 01/18/2008 - 06:00.

By DPA

Islamabad : Two major Al Qaeda operatives in Pakistan's tribal areas

near Afghanistan have called upon their followers to intensify holy

war against security forces and seize control of the capital

Islamabad, media reports said.

" Jihad is compulsory in Pakistan as it is compulsory in Afghanistan, "

Qadri Tahir Yaldeshiv, chief of the Islamic movement of Uzbekistan

and the chief of Uzbek militants in North Waziristan, was cited as

saying by Italian newswire Adnkronos International (AKI) Thursday.

He also encouraged Muslims to avenge the army commando operation at

the Red Mosque in July 2007 that led to the death of more than 100

militants and hardcore students of an adjoining Islamic seminary.

The action followed several weeks' standoff with the government that

rejected their demand for Taliban-styled strict Islamic rule in the

capital.

The video that was sent from Yaldeshiv's camp in the tribal district

of North Waziristan included a statement from Abdul Khaliq Haqqani,

who supported the Uzbek militant.

Yaldshive also talked about the need for strict Sharia law in

Pakistan. " Pakistan came into being on the name of Islam, therefore

Islam should be enforced in the country, " he said in the video.

The Uzbek commander is not very popular among the pro-Taliban

militants in South Waziristan and hundreds of his men were killed

early last year in an offensive by the local tribal fighters, led by

Mullah Nazir. Many others fled to the neighbouring North Waziristan

district.

The rivalry was renewed last week when suspected Uzbek militants

attacked two pro-Taliban offices in North Waziristan, killing eight

of their supporters. There are reports that local tribesmen have

already assembled an army of hundreds of fighters to avenge the

killings.

Hundreds of Al Qaeda terrorists fled to Pakistan after the US invaded

Afghanistan in 2001. Initially, they were warmly welcomed by the

local tribesmen but in some areas the natives turned against them

because of their rigid behaviour.

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