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This article was first published 13 years ago

'ISI should focus on nabbing world's most wanted terrorists'

Last updated on: June 16, 2011 17:55 IST

Image: Some of the most wanted terrorists
Lalit K Jha in Washington
Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence should focus on nabbing some of the world's most wanted terrorists -- Ayman al-Zawahiri, Siraj Haqqani, Major Iqbal, Sajid Mir and Dawood Ibrahim -- hiding in the country, a United States foreign policy magazine has demanded.

"As Pakistan's powerful ISI was able to uncover and arrest the alleged Central Intelligence Agency informants very soon after the killing (of Osama bin Laden), one might wonder what they could do if they put as much energy into locating some of the world's other most wanted people believed to be hiding out in the country," the prestigious Foreign Policy magazine said on its website on Wednesday.

It has identified Sajid Mir, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Siraj Haqqani, Major Iqbal and Dawood Ibrahim as the few bad guys who should be on the target list of the ISI.

...

Sajid Mir: Man believed to be director of 2008 Mumbai terror attacks

Image: The Chabad House during the 26/11 attacks

Sajid Mir is the man believed to be behind the Mumbai terrorist attacks in 2008 is a shadowy figure with ties to militant group Lashkar-e-Tayiba and reportedly to the ISI, though they deny it, it said.

"He directed the Mumbai operation as it was happening and can be heard on recorded phone conversations instructing the terrorists on the ground where to go, whom to kill, and when to go out in a storm of bullets. He also recruited the American David Headley to act as a scout for the group," it said.

...

Ayman al-Zawahiri: New Al Qaeda chief

Image: Ayman al-Zawahiri

Ayman al-Zawahiri, new Al Qaeda chief and bin Laden's longtime deputy, is one of America's prime targets in Pakistan, it said.

...

Siraj Haqqani: Leader of the powerful Haqqani network

Image: Siraj Haqqani

Siraj Haqqani, the current leader of the powerful Haqqani network sends weapons, recruits, and supplies to attack US forces in Afghanistan.

The group is closely allied to the Taliban. Some analysts say it works as a proxy force used by the ISI, elements of which are accused of providing financial and operational support for their attacks in Afghanistan, it said.

...

Major Iqbal: ISI officer who helped plan 2008 Mumbai attacks

Image: Mumbai's iconic Taj Mahal hotel under attack

Major Iqbal, the Foreign Policy magazine said is perhaps the most mysterious fugitive in Pakistan. He is an officer in the ISI who helped plan the 2008 Mumbai attacks, according to testimony from David Headley, who claimed that he provided money and helped choose targets.

He is named as Headley's ISI handler in a justice department indictment. But very little is known about him--including his real identity and how high up in the ISI he was.

...

Dawood Ibrahim: '50th most powerful person in the world'

Image: Dawood Ibrahim

In 2009, Forbes magazine named Dawood Ibrahim the 50th most powerful person in the world.

"The head of the Mumbai-based crime syndicate D-Company, he is also India's most wanted man, believed to be involved in everything from drug and weapons trafficking to terrorism (he's suspected of organising attacks in Mumbai in 1993 that killed 257 people and the US says he has links to Al Qaeda).

"He's reportedly hiding out in Pakistan, using plastic surgery to help avoid detection--as well as his connections in the ISI," the magazine said on its website.

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