The following are some of this week's South Asia Studies Project reports from the MEMRI Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Project, which translates and analyzes content from sources monitored around the clock – among them the most important jihadi websites and blogs. (To view these reports in full, you must be a paying member of the JTTM; for membership information, send an email to jttmsubs@memri.org with "Membership" in the subject line.)
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· Document: TTP-IMU Joint Statement Cites Prophet Muhammad's Orders And Pashtun Cultural Tradition To Justify Attack On Pakistani Teenager Malala Yousafzai
· Former Member Of Al-Qaeda Shura Council, Abu Hafs Al-Mauritani: 'I Advised The Americans… To Reach An Agreement With The Taliban'
· In Two Articles, Former Pakistani Military Generals Examine Transformation Of Al-Qaeda And The Taliban In Afghanistan-Pakistan Region
· Pakistani Media Reports: Terror Alerts Across Pakistani Cities; TTP Emir Hakimullah Mehsud Compiles List Of Targets; TTP Plots To Kidnap U.S., French Nationals And To Attack Pakistani, Foreign Journalists
· In Three Interviews, Taliban Commanders Detail Recruitment Of Insiders In Afghan Security Forces And Discuss Jihadi Activities In Badghis And Faryab Provinces
· In Recent Statements, TTP Emir Hakimullah Mehsud Outlines War Objectives Against Pakistan Army And Warns Traders Engaged In Music Business
Special Dispatch No. 5019
Document: TTP-IMU Joint Statement Cites Prophet Muhammad's Orders And Pashtun Cultural Tradition To Justify Attack On Pakistani Teenager Malala Yousafzai
In the aftermath of the October 9 Taliban attack on Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, a document was issued jointly by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Harkat-e-Islami Uzbekistan (the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, or IMU), the two leading terror organizations based in the Pakistani tribal region. The document, typed in Urdu and produced in a PDF format, was emailed to journalists in Pakistan. A similar document was recently released by Ustad Ahmad Farooq, head of Al-Qaeda's Dawah and Media Department for Pakistan, questioning the favorable public opinion of Malala.
Justifying the attack on Malala Yousafzai, the joint TTP-IMU document cites Prophet Muhammad's orders in his time for killing women and Jews. Noting that in the modern era the media does more harm than a sword can, the document argues that Malala was using the media to further the Western agenda against Islam. It also cites Islamic shari'a injunctions to argue that Malala is over 15 years of age and is therefore an adult, who must be held responsible for her actions.
Malala and her two school friends, Shazia and Kainat, were shot by a Taliban militant who has been identified as Ataullah, who was previously jailed in Pakistan but later released by a court. According to a Pakistani media report, two relatives of Ataullah have meanwhile been detained by Pakistani officials.
Following is the text of the TTP-IMU document:
"The Present War Underway In The World Is A War Between Two Faiths And Struggle Between Two Religions"; "This Is The War Of Two Faiths, A War Between Islam And Kufr [Unbelief]"
"Clash Of Faiths
"The present war underway in the world is a war between two faiths and a struggle between two religions. A war is continuing around the world presently between religiosity and irreligiousness. One says put on clothes; the other says don't [do that], remain naked, it is your right. One says maintain the veil; the other says no, don't violate women's rights. One says don't do sinful [sexual] things [because] this would destroy the race; the other says it is not so, it is your fundamental right, do whatever you want to do."
Click here to read the full report.
Special Dispatch No. 5018
Former Member Of Al-Qaeda Shura Council, Abu Hafs Al-Mauritani: 'I Advised The Americans… To Reach An Agreement With The Taliban'
On October 17, 2012, the Al-Jazeera TV channel broadcast the first in a two-part interview it conducted with Mahfouz Ould Al-Walid, a former member of Al-Qaeda's shura council and head of its shari'a committee. Al-Walid, aka Abu Hafs Al-Mauritani, is known for having expressed his objection to bin Laden's plans to attack the U.S.
Following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 Al-Mauritani fled to Iran, and was held in Iranian custody from 2002 to 2012. In April 2012 he was extradited to Mauritania, where he was arrested. Al-Mauritani was released from Mauritanian prison in early July 2012. In the interview, Al-Mauritani revealed that he had been interrogated by Americans upon return to his country.
Following are excerpts from the interview:
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"If The Taliban Makes A Commitment To The U.S. ... [It] Will Force This Agreement On Al-Qaeda"
At the beginning of the interview, Al-Mauritani stressed that he was among those who opposed the 9/11 attacks, and talked about a talk he had with American representatives upon his return to Mauritania:
"I was among the biggest challengers of 9/11, even though I was a member of the Al-Qaeda leadership. This was [even] admitted to by a U.S. Congressional committee appointed to investigate 9/11..."
Click here to read the full report.
Special Dispatch No. 5017
In Two Articles, Former Pakistani Military Generals Examine Transformation Of Al-Qaeda And The Taliban In Afghanistan-Pakistan Region
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base at Kamra was attacked by the Taliban in August 2012
Given below are excerpts from two articles by Taj M. Khattak and Shahzad Chaudhry of the Pakistani military, examining transformation of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan-Pakistan region. Khattak is a retired vice admiral and former Vice Chief Of Pakistan Navy while Shahzad Chaudhry retired as an air vice marshal in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF).
Khattak's article titled "The Kamra fallout" was published following the Taliban attack on the Pakistan Air Force base at Kamra in August 2012. However, Chaudhry's article titled "The Changing Taliban" was published in July 2012.
Following are excerpts from Admiral Khattak's article:
"On 9/11 [In 2001], Al-Qaeda Was Believed To Constitute Around 400 Members"; That Number Has Shot Up Many Times Over, Counting Its Sympathizers Like The TTP; No One Knows The Exact Number"
"During the 1968 Tet offensive in Vietnam, Gen. William Westmoreland, President [Lyndon B.] Johnson's top U.S. commander, stood before TV cameras on the grounds of the U.S. embassy in Saigon with gaping holes in compound wall, trying to remain as composed as possible as he grasped the enormity of what had happened.
Click here to read the full report.
Special Dispatch No. 5016
Pakistani Media Reports: Terror Alerts Across Pakistani Cities; TTP Emir Hakimullah Mehsud Compiles List Of Targets; TTP Plots To Kidnap U.S., French Nationals And To Attack Pakistani, Foreign Journalists
Following the recent attack on Pakistani teen Malala Yousafzai by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants, Pakistani cities are on security alert for likely terror attacks. Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik has warned that the militants, angered over sympathetic media coverage of the girl, are planning to launch attacks on Pakistani and foreign media houses and journalists, especially television presenters.
According to Pakistani media reports, excerpts from which are given below, TTP Emir Hakimullah Mehsud has drawn up a list of targets, including journalists, and has assigned tasks to TTP suicide bombers. Meanwhile, Rehman Malik has also announced a $1 million bounty for the head of TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ihsan.
Pakistani Interior Minister: Militants Planning Attacks On Media Houses, Journalists
Following are excerpts from an October 16 report:
"[Pakistani Interior Minister] Rehman Malik has revealed that the militants have planned to target some media houses and [television] anchors while the intelligence agencies are working to gather details about the plan. Talking to the media..."
Click here to read the full report.
Special Dispatch No. 5015
In Three Interviews, Taliban Commanders Detail Recruitment Of Insiders In Afghan Security Forces And Discuss Jihadi Activities In Badghis And Faryab Provinces
Below are excerpts from interviews with Haji Abdul Samad, chief of the Taliban's Dawat-o-Irshad Commission for the southern and western zone, which is tasked by Mullah Omar with recruiting Afghan soldiers and policemen for defection to the Taliban ranks; Maulvi Abdul Quddus, a 28-year-old militant commander who has studied in Afghan and Pakistani madrassas and is responsible for jihadi activities in Afghanistan's Badghis province; and Mullah Ataullah Umri, who is the Taliban's shadow governor in Faryab province. Umri has also waged jihadi activities in Zabul and Badghis provinces.
Haji Abdul Samad's interview was published by Shahamat, the Pashtu-language monthly magazine of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban's shadow government in the country). Maulvi Abdul Quddus's interview was published on the Urdu-language website of the Islamic Emirate; and Mullah Ataullah Umri's interview was published by Shariat, the Islamic Emirate's Urdu-language magazine.
Commander Haji Abdul Samad On Dawat-o-Irshad Commission's Responsibilities: "Following The Decree Of Emir-ul-Momineen [Mullah Omar] A Year Ago, The Commission Was Given The Task To Recruit People Working In The Enemy Ranks"
Following are excerpts from Haji Abdul Samad's interview:
Question: "First of all, kindly introduce yourself and give us details of your responsibilities and job?"
Click here to read the full report.
An Audio Statement, Al-Qaeda's Ustad Ahmad Farooq Questions Upsurge Of Support For Pakistani Teenager Malala Yousafzai
In an audio statement addressed to Pakistani audiences, Ustad Farooq questions the upsurge of popular support from the Pakistani military and government leaders as well as from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Pakistan for Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani teenager shot by the Taliban for her advocacy of education for girls.
Ustad Ahmad Farooq is head of Al-Qaeda's Dawah and Media Department for Pakistan. His audio statement was released by an online jihadi forum.
Click here to read the full report.
In Recent Statements, TTP Emir Hakimullah Mehsud Outlines War Objectives Against Pakistan Army And Warns Traders Engaged In Music Business
Hakimullah Mehsud, the Emir of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), is believed to be hiding in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region. However, in view of the continuing U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan, it is thought that he might have shifted his base from the Pakistani tribal region to eastern Afghanistan where other TTP commanders Maulvi Faqir Muhammad and Maulana Fazlullah have been based recently.
Following the August 16, 2012 attack on a Pakistan Air Force (PAF) base at Kamra in Punjab province, Hakimullah Mehsud has come under scanner for the TTP attacks in recent months. TTP spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan had claimed the responsibility for the PAF base attack, stating that it was carried out in revenge for the killings of former TTP Emir Baitullah Mehsud who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in August 2009 and Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden who was killed in a U.S. commando operation in 2011.
