Abu Al Misri Killed in Drone Attack

by MJK on October 21, 2009

It has been reported in news that top Al Qaeda operative Abu Al Misri has been killed in a drone attack in North Waziristan today. According to Dawn:

PESHAWAR: In the first drone strikes since the Pakistan military began its operation in South Waziristan a top al-Qaeda operative Abu Al-Masri is reported to have been killed in a strike from a US unmanned aircraft.

However, conflicting reports earlier suggested that Al-Masri may have been killed preparing suicide jackets in the village of Spalga.

Known as Mustafa Al-Yazid, he was urported to have links with Afghan immigrant Najibullah Zazi, whom US authorities arrested in an alleged plot to use homemade backpack bombs, he served three years in an Egyptian prison, in the 1980s, for supposed links to the group responsible for the 1981 assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

After his release, he was also known as Sheik Said and Abu Saeed al-Masri and became a founding member of the terrorist group.

Abu Masri went into hiding after the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, but resurfaced in May 2007 during a 45-minute interview posted on the web by Al-Sabah.

In August 2008, Pakistani military officials claimed Abu Masri had been killed in fighting in the Bajaur tribal area along the Afghan border. However, he turned up in subsequent al-Qaida videos, all of which had clearly been made after the Bajaur fighting.

Abu Masri appeared on an al-Qaida video posted this month, vowing to avenge the death of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in a CIA missile strike Aug, 6

The death of Al Misri, if true, is surely a big success in the US led War against Al-Qaeda but the timings of the death might prove a disaster for Pakistan army. As i wrote in my earlier blog post about the ongoing military operation in South Waziristan and non interference of Waziri Tribesman in it, the death of Al Misri might change the whole game plan. Since he was the guest of Waziri tribesman and allied to Haqqani led Talibans groups and their local host Haji Gul Bahadur, his death might result in a backlash. The Waziri tribesman led by Haji Gul Bahadur and based in North Waziristan might pull back from the deal with the government and resume their fight in this crucial time. This may open another front for our military and hence lead to a long and crippling blow to our much hyped Operation “Rah e Nijat”. If that happens, the only party that will suffer most is our military and our security forces. The death of Al-Misri might not benefit Pakistan directly but it can surely hurt us at a very crucial time.

The Americans have once again shown their true face with this stupid move and i just pray that nothing happens and our understanding with Haji Gul Bahadur and Mullah Nazir group keeps in contact. The Americans have done the worst and couldnt find any better time to create further trouble for our military forces.  If they had their eyes on this booty, they could have taken him out at any other opportune time but not at this moment when it can surely lead to a bigger disaster for our Armed forces in the Waziristan opeartion. Let’s just hope it don’t happen and if that happens, the Americans are surely the one to be blamed for the suffering of its so called ally in the War on Terror!

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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

1 orkut scraps 10.22.09 at 2:12 pm

We should pray that, if it is true, Pakistan shall not suffer its consequences. (A’amin).

2 Ahson Malick 10.22.09 at 2:45 pm

Cruel act and Extremely wrong timing (well of course if you are a Pakistani) to say the least, It reflects the nature of double game US is playing with people of Pakistan i.e. by feeding both sides, 1st they armed and financed rouge TTP and then by “droning” various places which usually causes sever collateral damage, provide them their version of excuses to spread terrorist activities in country wide campign against Pakistanis, terrorist activities in reaction provide legitimacy for another military operation, and it goes around in this circle.

Impact of this attack will be quite disturbing to imagine, it will force elements like Molvi Nazir which are known for not following the policy of confrontation with Pakistan to join the emotional foolish pawns like Hakim-ullah Mehsood, another fact that NATO has “tactically” withdrawn from boarder posts near area of operations in wazristan, which will allow “two way traffic” to flow in smooth direction towards waziristan and ultimately ISPR will have to announced an extend in the previously provided timeliness about finding the path of deliverance, perhaps exactly in accordance with the sketch drwan by US. Sadly, Its crystal clear that US has successfully dragged his war into our streets, colonies and schools.

3 Pakistan First 10.24.09 at 9:52 pm

@ Ahson Malick

“1st they armed and financed rouge TTP”

What proof you have for this? As for collateral damage, this is WAR, terrible things happen. I don’t see Taliban complaining.

This was and always has been our war. You can fool yourself into thinking that it was not. There is a part of the country that has the fire power to smoke anyone out. How can you have that?

4 Ahson Malick 10.25.09 at 9:50 am

@ Above

Their is enough circumstantial evidence available to support that “inverted comma”, one only needs to sit back and analyze it instead of siting tight & watching media stories all day and then come up blazing with a specific tuned up band of intelligence & awareness which is available on quite cheap rates these days.

5 Usman Hashmani 10.26.09 at 5:04 am

Ahsan is quiet right about mentioning the withdrawl of 12-posts under watch control of NATO close to waziristan and in addition to it ,two planes/helicopters evicted 70 people from the area before operation by Pak army started.Who were those people ? BLA? Who leaked the information prior about this highly secret operation?Rehman Malik ?

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