LeT plot to kill Modi: Stratfor knew before WikiLeaks

Global private intelligence group Stratfor knew that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayiba was planning to assassinate Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi much before whistleblower WikiLeaks brought it before the world through its leaked US diplomatic cables.

In an internal email conversation, which was released by WikiLeaks along with several other Stratfor confidential mails, analysts have been quoted as saying, "We knew it... WikiLeak (though not original source of Info, but acted as vector/parasite) confirmed it."

According to WikiLeaks cables released on December 2010, the terror outfit had several rounds of discussion on how to carry out the attack. The intelligence reports released on the website said that Pakistani handlers and Indian members were in constant touch in June 2009.

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"LeT member Shafiq Khafa possibly preparing for operations. Hussein, an India-based LeT member, continued operational planning on three tasks in early June. The tasks were associated with a possible operation against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the establishment of a training camp, and unspecified work involving a car," the leaked cable sent on June 9 read.

It went on to say that Hussein would co-ordinate his activities with an India-based colleague identified as Sameer.

However, days after the secret cable was released media agencies reported that the US had already tipped off the Home Ministry, which in turn, alerted the police of both Gujarat and Maharashtra about the planned attacks on Modi.

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Stratfor has been making headlines following the leak of its internal mails dated between July 2004 and late December 2011.

The private intelligence firm has been heckled in India for allegedly spying for Dow Chemicals on the activists of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.

The emails posted by WikiLeaks on its website, revealed that Stratfor not only provided to Dow Chemicals and Union Carbide the analysis of the daily developments on the case related to the Bhopal Gas tragedy in Indian courts, but also the activities including the travel plans and like where they are staying or what they plan to do.

WikiLeaks alleged that these files reveal how Stratfor has recruited a global network of informants who are paid via Swiss banks accounts and pre-paid credit cards.

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"Stratfor has a mix of covert and overt informants, which includes government employees, embassy staff and journalists around the world," it alleged.

WikiLeaks alleges that this material shows how a private intelligence agency works, and how they target individuals for their corporate and government clients.

WikiLeaks alleged that whereas large numbers of Stratfor's subscribers and clients work in the US military and intelligence agencies, it gave a complimentary membership to the controversial Pakistan general Hamid Gul, former head of Pakistan's ISI intelligence service, who, according to US diplomatic cables, planned an IED attack on international forces in Afghanistan in 2006.

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