Al-Qaeda behind Danish embassy blast
Thursday, July 24, 2008 at 3:07 am Under World News Alerts 16 views
The man believed to be al-Qaeda’s commander of operations in Afghanistan, Mustafa Abu al-Yazeed, has claimed responsibility for the June bombing of the Danish embassy in Islamabad.
The senior al-Qaeda leader has urged Pakistanis to help Afghans fight the US-led coalition forces. He has also condemned President Pervez Musharraf for arresting Arab and Afghan fighters and handing them over to Washington.
In a rare on-camera interview given to a Pakistani Channel, al-Yazeed reiterated al-Qaeda’s claim of responsibility for the June 2nd suicide car bombing on the Danish embassy in Islamabad that killed six people.
Al-Yazeed, an al-Qaida commander in Afghanistan, praised Pakistani tribesmen for helping Afghans fight - a reference to the Taliban-led insurgency in the country - but criticised the Pakistan government.
“Sadly it is the government of Pakistan which has most damaged our cause. (Pakistani) President (Pervez) Musharraf violated the trust of Muslims and contributed to the destruction of the Islamic government of Afghanistan,” he said.
Al-Yazeed said that secret organisations - an apparent reference to Pakistani spy agencies - had
“arrested Arab mujahedeen and handed them over to infidel Americans.”
“Musharraf and his government have made big mistakes, there is no such example in other Islamic states,” he said.
Geo TV said the interview was conducted a few days ago in the eastern Afghan province of Khost. The footage shows al-Yazeed wearing a white turban, black-rimmed glasses and brown jacket. It is filmed against a canvas backdrop with a rifle lying to his right side.
He spoke Arabic during the interview, which was mixed with an Urdu translation for local audiences.
Al-Yazeed has previously made video statements distributed through al-Qaeda’s media arm, al-Sahab, but such an interview of an al-Qaeda leader with a television network is rare.
Musharraf made Pakistan a key ally of the United States and rounded up hundreds of al-Qaida militants after the September 11, 2001, attacks.
The former army strongman has been sidelined since elections earlier this year, but Pakistan remains a Washington ally although it is facing growing criticism for failing to halt the infiltration of militants from its tribal regions into Afghanistan.
Concern is also growing that al-Qaeda leaders enjoy sanctuary in tribal regions, including Waziristan, which lies opposite Khost.
In the interview, al-Yazeed called for more Pakistanis to fight in Afghanistan, where US and NATO forces are backing the government installed after the hard-line Taliban regime was ousted in 2001.
“Thanks be to God” that Muslims from Pakistan’s tribal regions are continuing to help Afghans, he said. “In fact, it is obligatory for them to render this help and is a responsibility that is imposed by religion. It is not only obligatory for residents of the tribal regions but all of Pakistan,” he said.
(APTN)
( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)
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