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Journalism of Courage
The capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the self-proclaimed head of the Al-Qaeda Military Committee, from a house in a posh Rawalpindi locality, by USA8217;s FBI with assistance from Pakistan8217;s law enforcement agencies, once again highlights the nature of terrorist networks deeply entrenched in Pakistan. It is important to remember that this is really only the second arrest of a top Al-Qaeda leader 8212; after Abu Zubaidah from Faisalabad last March 8212; since the US started its war against terrorism and General Pervez Musharraf promised co-operation with the US, asserting that no terrorists would be allowed to operate from Pakistani soil. At this rate, the US may take decades to neutralise the Al-Qaeda, leave alone capture its men. Yet it is clear that Khalid was recently planning major attacks on the US even as he moved around in Pakistan.
Khalid8217;s arrest throws up important questions regarding the linkages Al-Qaeda have with Islamist movements and militant/jihadi groups in Pakistan. Attempts to get him in Karachi last September failed in spite of a four-hour gunfight since his hosts facilitated his escape. He then found sanctuary in the house of a local woman leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami, whose son has also been arrested now. She has asserted that her son is innocent and his arrest 8220;illogical8221;. What no one is asking, even in Pakistan, is why she hasn8217;t been questioned, leave alone arrested, since Khalid was captured from her home. The reason may well be that Qazi Hussain Ahmed, the chief of the Jamaat-e-Islami and parliamentary leader of the Islamist party, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal MMA, was lecturing on invitation senior brass of the Pakistani foreign office that day. The foreign minister and foreign secretary were listening to him in rapt attention, while a 8220;million strong8221; march organised by the MMA had paralysed life in Karachi.
