Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, has branded as “propaganda” last night’s explosive report that the Inter-Services Intelligence agency has, along with CIA operatives, captured Mullah Baradar. From Dawn:
“We are verifying all those we have arrested. If there is any big target, I will show the nation,” Malik said.
“If the New York Times gives information, it is not a divine truth, it can be wrong. We have joint intelligence sharing and no joint investigation, nor joint raids,” Malik added.
“We are a sovereign state and hence will not allow anybody to come and do any operation. And we will not allow that. So this (report) is propaganda,” he added.
Note that Malik didn’t deny the report that Baradar was arrested; he merely is saying it hasn’t been verified. In fact, it appears the real issue he is addressing is CIA participation in covert activities against the Taliban.
As I mentioned last night at LWJ and expanded upon this morning at The Weekly Standard, the arrest of Baradar raises some very uncomfortable questions for the Pakistani government:
But his arrest also raises some interesting questions. The Inter-Services Intelligence agency has long been accused of aiding/sheltering the Afghan Taliban. The Pakistani government and military have long denied that the Taliban’s top leadership (called the Quetta Shura for the Pakistani city where it was based) is operating in Pakistan. And the government denied rumors the Quetta Shura relocated to Karachi. Then, lo and behold, Baradar is arrested in Karachi. Why was Baradar arrested now? Is this a signal that the Pakistani military is dropping its support for the Quetta Shura? If not, why haven’t the rest of the senior Taliban leaders been rounded up?
Add to that list the touchy issue of CIA involvement in Pakistan.
Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.
3 Comments
Some interesting theories here about the internal dynamics of the nab.
Also, this short & sweet micro-analysisfrom a Kandahar-based writer/analyst, via Twitter: “doesn’t bode well for ‘negotiations’. A big retaliatory attack to come in Kabul or in south in next few days, I’m guessing.”
Hope he’s enjoying the view!
This guy is their joker in the pack. To be sure, i’m talking about Malik.
They are cowards–they can’t stand up and lead their people. Sovereign nation maybe (bar free-for-all Waziristan) but copper politicians.
It would have been better for all if the news hadn’t been broken. Its bad for the Zardari regime, its bad for American PR, and letting the whole Taliban know that he’s been compromised while the current offensive is going on may hurt us in the end. Maybe not, but to take a chance like that isn’t good…