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Osama bin Laden in Pak-occupied Kashmir

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

Saudi Arabian millionaire turned terrorist Osama bin Laden is now in Pakistan, taking active interest in political developments there, according to Indian intelligence sources.

The international fugitive is staying in Muzaffarabad, at the headquarters of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, but has visited Karachi at least once over the last week.

HUM, formerly known as Harkat-ul-Ansar, has close ties with bin Laden. HUM chief Fazlur Rehman Khalil had signed bin Laden's declaration in February 1998 calling for attacks on US and Western interests.

According to the sources, this is probably the first visit of the terrorist leader to Pakistan after the Kargil operations ended.

During Operation Vijay, there were intelligence reports about bin Laden's presence in Pakistan. Indian intelligence agencies and the military establishment also possess evidence to show his involvement in the intrusions.

Though the precise reason for bin Laden's current visit is not known, the sources said he chaired a meeting of Islamic militant leaders in Karachi where details of the fundamentalist operations in Russia were discussed.

Russia has in the last two weeks witnessed several bomb attacks in Moscow, and the Russian army and air force are currently involved in operations against Islamic extremists in Dagestan and Chechnya.

Intelligence officials believe bin Laden's increasing influence in the Pakistani establishment is of great significance for India. A reliable source said there is strong evidence about the Arab taking an "active interest" in political developments in Pakistan, with rumours of an army coup and the Opposition forming a front to oust Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief.

According to reports, America has asked Islamabad to arrest bin Laden, but Indian intelligence doubts "if he will ever by arrested by Pakistani forces". They argue that bin Laden is an "acceptable figure among senior military leaders" in Pakistan.

The sources also said there are reports of bin Laden strengthening his ties with the Taliban in Afghanistan, who are under increasing pressure not to allow the terrorist to operate from their territory. The Arab recently married the daughter of one of the Taliban chieftains, thus strengthening his ties with the fundamentalists.

A senior intelligence source said, "Sooner or later Pakistan will realise the nuisance that bin Laden is. He and the Taliban forces are already creating trouble for the local government in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir."

According to inputs from PoK, the Taliban have increased their activities in the northern parts of PoK, forcing locals to co-operate with them. In Chitral town, Taliban members have been found roaming around with weapons terrorising the local people.

"Orders for closing government institutions and offices are issued at will and the terrorists can be seen roaming around freely, brandishing sophisticated weaponry," the source said. Moreover, they have begun an exercise to identify Ismailis and non-Ismailis in government offices.

Latest reports today said senior police officers of the region have reached Chitral with 10 platoons of paramilitary forces to control the situation.

In Jammu and Kashmir, meanwhile, security forces recovered a leaflet written in Urdu from a slain terrorist. The paper, titled 'Be prepared for jehad (holy war)', originated from the Inter-Services Intelligence headquarters and appeals to Kashmiri women to encourage their men folk to join "Islam's cause".

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