As Pakistan army celebrates the capture of a key Taliban complex in the Bajaur tribal region on the Afghan border, terrorism experts suspect that the Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence, ISI, allowed one of the most dangerous terrorist slip through the crack.

Interviews in Islamabad, Peshawar and Washington DC in last two days suggest that Maulavi Faqir Mohammad, chief of Pakistan’s Taliban in Bajaur, received protection from ISI army in exchange for foreign fighters.

Our sources claim that Maulvi Faqir Mohammad was ISI’s asset in the region facilitating cross border interaction of Taliban’s and al-Qaeda.

“He provided logistical support to foreign fighters,” said a Pakistani source on the condition of anonymity.

Pakistan army Tuesday took a group of journalists for a guided tour of the area which they have captured after killing nearly fifty foreign militants.

“There were Afghans, Chechens, Egyptians, and Uzbeks,” said Major General Tariq Khan who accompanied journalists to the Damadola complex.

Reports going back to 2006 had claimed that Damadola was a key militant headquarters for Talibans and al-Qeada. Pakistan army took over this area after an offensive launched in January 2010.

When asked where Maulavi Faqir Mohammad is, Major General Tariq Khan told journalists: “we will deal with him.”

He did not elaborate ‘how’ or ‘when’ he will be dealing with Maulavi Faqir Mohammad.

American analysts, however, still commend Pakistan army for capturing a key complex of 156 caves developed over seven years, within clear view of eastern Afghanistan.

Journalists who went on this guided tour saw pillows and mattresses, which suggested terrorists had camped out for significant periods.

Major General Tariq Khan was quoted saying this is “the first time Pakistan army uniformed soldiers have arrived in Damadola and the Pakistan flag has been raised for the first time since (independence in) 1947.”

Anayslysts in Islamabad agree with Major General Tariq Khan that no ‘uniformed soldier’ ever reach Damadola but claim that ISI agents frequented the area as if it was their backyard.

In 2006, a US drone struck in Damadola to kill Al-Qaeda number two Ayman Al-Zawahiri. But Zawahiri had managed to escape.

In 2008 this area was run by an Afghan warrior Qazi Ziaur Rehman, who was in charge of administration and collected tithes from local people. However, in 2008 Maulavi Faqir Mohammad, who headed Pakistan’s umbrella Tehreek-e-Taliban faction in Bajaur was installed as the chief by ISI.

Pakistan army launched an operation in Bajaur in August 2008 and claimed victory in February 2009, only for violence to return when their focus switched to Pakistani Taliban fighters in Swat and South Waziristan.

Latest Pakistan army offensive killed 75 militants, 76 militants were arrested and 364 have surrendered.

Major General Tariq Khan told visiting journalists that Taliban “leadership does not exist. Twenty-five per cent of them have gone to Afghanistan, 15 per cent have gone back to Swat and other native areas.”

Pakistani analysts, however, are not optimistic because the key man- Maulavi Faqir Mohammad is either on a run on his own- or worst, was allowed to escape.

It is interesting that Journalists were taken on this guided tour because in December 2005 a Pakistani reporter – Hayatullah Khan who was 32 years old at that time and worked for The Nation was allegedly kidnapped by Pakistani intelligence agency and later found dead.

Reports confirm that a Pakistani intelligence officer had warned Hayatullah Khan, to leave Bajour, along the Afghan border. He stayed and reported on December 4, 2005 that a U.S. missile had killed Hamza Rabia, an al-Qaeda leader, in Miran Shah. He had photographs that showed missile parts with U.S. markings.

“The next day, Khan disappeared. His body was found June 2006, his hands still bound, the newspapers reported, with government-issued handcuffs. The government launched an investigation, but The Nation noted today that its findings have not been made public,” writes Jere Van Dyk for Carnegie Council.

With a spree of success in arresting three high value Taliban leaders, Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence, ISI, seems to be winning hearts and minds of American media and analysts.

“Pakistan’s military leadership has turned around and now we can see the sincerity in their action,” said a terrorism expert on MSNBC this morning.

Scot Joel, another terrorism expert on ABC Thursday morning claimed, “ISI has changed their attitude towards Quetta Shura and it is indeed a very welcome move.”

New York Times Thursday quoted a NATO commander in Afghanistan saying: “I believe that General Kayani and his leaders have come to the conclusion that they want us to succeed.”

Over all mood of American media seems to turning positive towards Pakistan with many commentators appreciating and acknowledging the leadership of Pakistani military and intelligence agencies, led by General Ashfaq Kayani and Lt. General Ahmed Shuja Pasha.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday told BBC that the Pakistani leadership “recognises that standing firm against the threat is important to the country’s future”.

In an interview to BBC in Saudi Arabia she said: “I would underscore, that the cooperation is increasing, and it is very valuable.” She further added: “I can express our appreciation for the increasing cooperation between the United States and Pakistan.”

Examiner reported Thursday that information provided by the recently captured Taliban second in command, Abdul Ghani Barader had led to the arrest of two additional senior Taliban leaders inside Pakistan.

Mullah Abdul Salam and Mullah Mohammed both self-proclaimed governors of two key provinces in Afghanistan were arrested by Pakistan Inter Services Intelligence, Pakistani officials have confirmed.

“These were two separate raids conducted chiefly by the ISI,” said an Intelligence source in Pakistan’s capital. He insisted that Americans may have had only ancillary role in the latest bout of success against the Taliban. “We are getting good- actionable intelligence from him,” he said referring to Barader.

Mullah Abdul Salam ran the Taliban’s shadow government in the province of Kunduz and Mullah Mohammed ran their operation inthe Afghan province of Baghlan.

Kunduz and Baghlan provinces had fallen to the Taliban but Obama administration’s re-engagement in Afghanistan seems to be yielding result. Both of these leaders had sneaked into Pakistan recently, reports suggest.

ISI, our sources claim, is on a major mission to capture the Taliban leaders that have snuck in since 2001. “Arrest of Baradar and these two governors are clear indication that ISI has turned on the heat,” said a security analyst.

Quoting American officials, New York Times reported Thursday that the Taliban’s second in command Baradar was providing a wealth of information on the Taliban’s operations. “For the past several days, he has been interrogated by both Pakistani and American officials,” report said.

A day after Pakistan’s Interior Minister categorically denied ISI-CIA joint operation to capture Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, country’s military leadership confirmed that the Taliban’s second in command is in their custody.

In a written statement to press, army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas stated that the Taliban leader was arrested 10 days ago in a joint operation by CIA and Pakistani security forces in Karachi.

The statement issued from Islamabad Wednesday said: ”At the conclusion of detailed identification procedures, it has been confirmed that one of the persons arrested happens to be Mullah Baradar,” adding, ”the place of arrest and operational details cannot be released due to security reasons.”

Yesterday Examiner had reported that the chief of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence, Lt. General Pasha approved the joint operation that led to the capture of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Karachi earlier this month.

Our source who requested anonymity claims that Americans had shared some evidence of mid-level link between ISI and Taliban. “When ISI’s leadership learned of mid level interaction they gave orders to carry out a well planned raid,” our source said.

In Washington DC, spokesperson for the State Department Tuesday said “the United States and Pakistan work closely together on security issues in combating terrorism that threatens both of our societies. We have had a close relationship with the Pakistani Government and I suspect that we will continue to work with them in pursuance of a policy that blunts the ability of extremist groups to attack both of our societies.”

Pakistan has been under pressure ‘to do more’ and some analysts are expressing cautious optimism that the country maybe ready to completely de-link itself from some factions of Taliban.

Recent American assurance that Pakistan will have a ‘seat on the table’ in Afghanistan and that the US will keep India in check has gone a long way in building confidence. American leadership has also assured Pakistani military that Washington does not want to interfere in Pakistan’s internal politics.

American and Pakistani officials have claimed that Mullah Baradar had the responsibility of over-all operation of the Quetta Shura, a faction of the Taliban allegedly based in the southwestern Pakistani city.
American security analysts claim that remnants of Taliban have coalesced and reconstituted an insurgent force in the Baluchistan city of Quetta and call themselves Quetta Shura. Pakistan has so far denied presence of Quetta Shura.

Although Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik denied that it was a joint operation but everyone else in the position of power has confirmed that ISI was aided by Americans in this well planned and extremely secret operation.

“Lt. Gen Pasha kept this operation very close to his chest and even those ISI agents who went on the raid didn’t know the real identity of the target,” our source said.

Head of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence, Lt. General Pasha approved the joint operation that led to the capture of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Karachi earlier this month, highly placed sources in Islamabad told Examiner Tuesday.

Our source who requested anonymity claims that Americans had shared some evidence of mid-level link between ISI and Taliban. “When ISI’s leadership learned of mid level interaction they gave orders to carry out a well planned raid,” our source said.

In Washington DC, spokesperson for the State Department Tuesday said “the United States and Pakistan work closely together on security issues in combating terrorism that threatens both of our societies. We have had a close relationship with the Pakistani Government and I suspect that we will continue to work with them in pursuance of a policy that blunts the ability of extremist groups to attack both of our societies.”

Pakistan has been under pressure ‘to do more’ and some analysts are expressing cautious optimism that the country maybe ready to completely de-link itself from some factions of Taliban.

Recent American assurance that Pakistan will have a ‘seat on the table’ in Afghanistan and that the US will keep India in check has gone a long way in building confidence. American leadership has also assured Pakistani military that Washington does not want to interfere in Pakistan’s internal politics.

American and Pakistani officials have claimed that Mullah Baradar had the responsibility of over-all operation of the Quetta Shura, a faction of the Taliban allegedly based in the southwestern Pakistani city.

American security analysts claim that remnants of Taliban have coalesced and reconstituted an insurgent force in the Baluchistan city of Quetta and call themselves Quetta Shura. Pakistan has so far denied presence of Quetta Shura.

Although Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik denied that it was a joint operation but everyone else in the position of power has confirmed that ISI was aided by Americans in this well planned and extremely secret operation.

“Lt. Gen Pasha kept this operation very close to his chest and even those ISI agents who went on the raid didn’t know the real identity of the target,” our source said.

After the guilty verdict in the high profile trial of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui in New York, defense attorney Elaine Sharp- the only member of the defense team that Dr. Siddiqui has any relations with said: “Dr. Siddiqui told us that she was picked-up by Pakistani men in two black cars. These were people of Pakistani intelligence. You know- she said ISI.”

Following guilty verdict several popular TV Talk Show hosts in Pakistan also questioned ISI’s role in her alleged abduction in 2003. Common sentiments were that the ‘daughter of the nation’ was arrested and handed over to the Americans.

Mention of ISI evokes several conflicting emotions – and fear for Pakistanis. Just as mentioning CIA occasionally evokes images of global conspiracy and the KGB calls gulags to mind, the ISI has come to represent political deceit in Pakistan. And, during General Pervez Musharraf’s rule as more and more Pakistanis started to disappear in thin air, ISI became more enigmatic.

But current sentiments in Pakistan are an excellent opportunity for the democratic government to restructure ISI. The turmoil in Pakistan’s past has led to censure of the ISI.

A visible feature of the ISI’s history that has done great damage to its reputation is the continual deterioration of civilian institutions due to multiple military coups. Despite some improvements in civil-military relations in recent years, the army remains a dominant actor in Pakistan’s political makeup.

Disappearance of hundreds and previous abuses of power has stigmatized ISI to point that business as usual means leading the country into absolute abyss.

Although reforming ISI will be difficult, the good news is that with patience, resolve, and international assistance, Pakistan’s government can indeed reassert civilian control over the intelligence community.

Luckily for Pakistan, there are predecessors to take notes from. Indonesia and Chile have both undergone transformations in the intelligence arena and have plenty to offer Pakistan by way of example.

Pakistan’s government must reinforce the separation between civilian and military intelligence agencies. The integration of former ISI agents into other civilian bodies, particularly the IB, should be limited or stopped. Cross-recruitment prevents organizations from becoming independent.

Pakistan also needs to strengthen the police force. A better-trained and better-equipped police force can do a better job of counterterrorism, which work is currently exploited by the intelligence agencies to legitimize their control over politics in Pakistan.

Ignoring the urgent need to establish supremacy over the intelligence community would be a grave mistake on the part of Pakistan’s civilian government. Reducing the role of the military in the intelligence sector will allow the government to consolidate itself domestically, so it should be a top priority.

In addition, government control over military and intelligence will cast a positive light on the state of Pakistan’s emerging democracy, and will improve international opinion of Pakistan.

If Pakistanis honestly consider Dr. Aafia Siddiqui “daughter of the nation,” they must demand structural changes in how ISI operates and demand their government to demonstrate political will to trace all the disappeared.

With an independent judiciary and a democratic government, Pakistan has opportunity that does not come too often. It is encouraging that the Supreme Court has resumed hearings of disappearance cases but the democratically elected government has the responsibility to immediately reveal details hundreds of missing people, and hold to account those responsible — including the country’s security and intelligence agencies.

According to the Defense of Human Rights, a Pakistani organization that campaigns on behalf of the relatives of the disappeared, out of 416 enforced disappearance cases filed in the Supreme Court since 2005, 195 cases remain pending since 3 November 2007.

It is not sufficient to vent anger against the United States alone- Pakistan must clean house first. All those responsible for selling men, women, and children like slaves must be exposed. Otherwise, this outburst of anger, national pride and bravado – statements like “we will go bring the daughter of nation back,” are meaningless, insincere and belong only on soap operas or lollywood movies.

And, the international community has a vital role to play here too. On one hand they blame Pakistan’s problems on the ISI, but still maintain close relations with the agency. Often, these relations undermine the democratic government and vindicate the very intelligence actors that need to be controlled.

This double standard must be avoided by direct involvement with the Pakistani government, rather than going through intelligence services.

After the guilty verdict against Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani woman charged with attempted murder in the U.S, was announced, Elaine Whitfield Sharp, her attorney, told reporters outside the Federal Court House in New York Wednesday that government of Pakistan had put a gag order on Dr. Siddiqui’s family as a pre-condition to release her son, Ahmed.

Despite all the bravado of Pakistani officials implying that Dr. Siddiqui would be released, this verdict ensures that she will spend a few more decades in U.S. custody.

Sharp told reporters that her client, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui was picked up by ISI on March 29, 2003 in Karachi. They arrived in two black cars and placed Siddiqui in one car and the children in another car.

Dr. Siddiqui says that she was immediately hooded and drugged and when she woke up she was tied to a gurney in a place that could not have been Karachi because the air was very dry.

Sharp also discussed the issue of the missing children. She said that the baby was reported killed during the arrest, but Dr. Siddiqui does not know if the girl, Maryam, who would now be 11 years old, is alive or not.

Dr. Siddiqui was shown a picture of her baby laying in a pool of blood.

American reporters continued to find Dr.Siddiqui’s claims incredulous and questioned Sharp on the plausibility. Do you really believe her?, a reporter asked Sharp. “Yes!”, she replied categorically.

Sharp said that a gag order was placed on the family by the Government of Pakistan, who made this a pre-condition for the release of the oldest child Ahmed. This is why no one from the family has been able to talk openly about what may have happened to her and her children for 5 years.

Many reporters have also said that a Pakistani official who frequented the proceedings and told them “off the record” that Dr. Siddiqui was actually part of an Al-Qaeda sleeper cell.

Many legal observers have questioned if there was a conflict of interest in the Government of Pakistan paying for the defense when they themselves are implicated in her kidnapping.

Dr. Siddiqui, according to her attorney, requested all her supporters not to engage in any violence in protest against the verdict.