Dark_Prince
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NEW DELHI: Slain Pakistani journalist Syed Saleem Shahzad wanted his recently released book, 'Inside al Qaeda and Taleban -- Beyond bin Laden and 9/11', to be translated into all Indian languages to familiarize Indians with the direct threat they faced from al-Qaida. Just before he went missing last month, he had contacted members of the Indian strategic community seeking help in identifying publishers who could help him in this exercise.
While Shahzad's indictment of al-Qaida seems to be one of the reasons for his undoing, the Pakistani journalist had repeatedly emphasized in his meetings with Indian experts that India was emerging as one of the main targets of al-Qaida. Shahzad insisted that al-Qaida was trying to surround India by terror and was working on a plan to set up its terror camps in almost all of India's neighbouring countries to achieve this. Al-Qaida, he said, was particularly focusing on Bangladesh to set up anti-India terror camps.
In the book, which was released days before his disappearance, Shahzad has blamed al-Qaida and low-level ISI operatives for the Mumbai attacks. Shahzad was found murdered last week and many in Pakistan, apart from his family members, said he was bumped off at the behest of the Pakistani intelligence agency.
"We were discussing this (publishing the book) with him. He wanted the book translated into Indian languages and seemed particularly concerned about the threat from al-Qaida,'' said strategic affairs expert Satish Kumar, who is also the editor of India's Annual Security Review.
As it turns out though, many in India were apprehensive about getting too cosy with Shahzad. They were apparently asked by Indian agencies to maintain safe distance from him because of his "strong links'' with terror groups even if they were purely journalistic in nature.
In his meetings with Indian experts, Shahzad also said that he was a part of the back channel diplomacy being carried out by Turkey to establish trust between Pakistan and Afghanistan and facilitate Taliban reconciliation. In fact, Turkey had recently allowed Taliban to open an office there.
Shahzad said in his book that al-Qaida and rogue ISI elements hijacked an earlier plan by ISI to attack India. Ilyas Kashmiri, who is said to have died last week in a drone strike, played a major role in this as he felt a debilitating strike against India would make the US give up its war on terror in Afghanistan and stop drone attacks. Shahzad also alleged in the book that Pakistan navy had been infiltrated by al-Qaida.
Slain Pak journo wanted to alert India about al-Qaida threat - The Times of India
While Shahzad's indictment of al-Qaida seems to be one of the reasons for his undoing, the Pakistani journalist had repeatedly emphasized in his meetings with Indian experts that India was emerging as one of the main targets of al-Qaida. Shahzad insisted that al-Qaida was trying to surround India by terror and was working on a plan to set up its terror camps in almost all of India's neighbouring countries to achieve this. Al-Qaida, he said, was particularly focusing on Bangladesh to set up anti-India terror camps.
In the book, which was released days before his disappearance, Shahzad has blamed al-Qaida and low-level ISI operatives for the Mumbai attacks. Shahzad was found murdered last week and many in Pakistan, apart from his family members, said he was bumped off at the behest of the Pakistani intelligence agency.
"We were discussing this (publishing the book) with him. He wanted the book translated into Indian languages and seemed particularly concerned about the threat from al-Qaida,'' said strategic affairs expert Satish Kumar, who is also the editor of India's Annual Security Review.
As it turns out though, many in India were apprehensive about getting too cosy with Shahzad. They were apparently asked by Indian agencies to maintain safe distance from him because of his "strong links'' with terror groups even if they were purely journalistic in nature.
In his meetings with Indian experts, Shahzad also said that he was a part of the back channel diplomacy being carried out by Turkey to establish trust between Pakistan and Afghanistan and facilitate Taliban reconciliation. In fact, Turkey had recently allowed Taliban to open an office there.
Shahzad said in his book that al-Qaida and rogue ISI elements hijacked an earlier plan by ISI to attack India. Ilyas Kashmiri, who is said to have died last week in a drone strike, played a major role in this as he felt a debilitating strike against India would make the US give up its war on terror in Afghanistan and stop drone attacks. Shahzad also alleged in the book that Pakistan navy had been infiltrated by al-Qaida.
Slain Pak journo wanted to alert India about al-Qaida threat - The Times of India
