ISI-LeT direct link found

By Amitabh Shankar
New Delhi, Aug. 14: The interrogation of two Laskhar- e-Toiba terrorists arrested last week by the special cell of the Delhi Police has confirmed once again that Pakistani intelligence agency ISI and army have direct links with the terror outfit, strengthening India's case that Islamabad was actively supporting terrorist activities in the country.
One of the arrested militants Abu Anas has revealed that he was the body guard of Lashkar second-in-command Zaki-ur-Rehman and given detailed description about functioning of the terror outfit and the monthly meetings that take place between Pakistan Army officials and LeT leaders.
"Zakir-ur-Rehman and some others of LeT used to meet Pakistani Army's Major Wajahat, Brigadier Riaz and Brigadier Haji every month in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir," Joint
Commissioner of police (Special Cell), Mr Karnal Singh said.
"We have got details about ISI and Pakistan Army's connection with Laskhar-e-Taiba. It is not that LeT's working independently. The monthly meeting discussed terror activities in India and this brings out the linkages among terror groups, Pakistan Army and the ISI," he added.
He has also given details about the command structure of the outfit and names of operatives in charge of various departments. Anas used to take Zaki-ur-Rehman, whom he described as a person in his mid-40s in charge of terrorist operations in India, for meetings with ISI officers in a green Land Cruiser (IDL-5392) in Islamabad and Muzaffarabad, Singh said.
He has told police that one Hafiz Sayeed, a resident of Johar Town in Lahore, was the chief of LeT, while Hazi Ashraf from Faislabad and Yousuf Taabi was in charge of finance and functioning of madrassas.
Abdul Rehman Maki, a resident of Jamia Mahadul Ali, Murdika Lahore, looks after collection of funds from various countries, while the head of operations in Jammu and Kashmir was Abu-al-Kama, a resident of Mandi Bahuddin district in Pakistan.
The command for operations outside Jammu and Kashmir was given to Azam Cheema alias Baba and Muzammil. According to police, they have recovered his Pakistani passport, identity card and some other articles of Anas from the bag he had hidden in a cloak room in Lucknow railway station.
During interrogation, he told police that he was from Faislabad district of Pakistani Punjab and had joined the terror outfit in 2001 after dropping studies. His elder brother is an officer in Pakistan Air Force.
He received training in handling of arms and ammunition, at training camps in Ummal Kura and Sirikot Muzaffarabad alongwith a large number of Pakistanis and Afghan nationals.
They were taught how to handle rocket launchers, grenades, AK 47s, LMGs, mortars and trained in carrying out attacks against security forces, Singh added.

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Courtesy: Asian Age