Former ISI Khalid Khwaja found dead in Waziristan

[Adios Amigo]

Former ISI Khalid Khwaja found dead in Waziristan
Updated at: 1653 PST, Friday, April 30, 2010


MIRANSHAH: Former intelligence officer Squadron Leader Khalid Khwaja (retd) was found dead in Karam Kot area of Mir Ali, Geo News reported.

Bullet riddled body of Khalid Khwaja was found today with a pamphlet saying Asian Tigers killed Khwaja.

The self-styled militant organisation, Asian Tigers, which has been holding hostage two former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) officers and a journalist, came up with new demands Wednesday, April 28, 2010, for the release of the kidnapped men.

It had approached former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz parliamentarian from Kohat, Javed Ibrahim Paracha, and sought his role in negotiations between the government and their group for the release of the two retired military officers.

The three men had gone to the volatile North Waziristan tribal region on March 26 to work on a documentary about Taliban. They went missing and an unknown organisation, Asian Tigers, believed to be run by a banned militant organisation of the Punjabi Taliban claimed responsibility for their kidnapping.

The purported militant group released video statements of the two former intelligence officers, Ameer Sultan alias Col Imam (retd) and Squadron Leader Khalid Khwaja (retd) and journalist, Asad Qureshi.

In the video, released on April 19, 2010, Col Imam first introduced himself and then claimed that he had come to Waziristan on the advice of former army chief, Gen Mirza Aslam Baig (retd). He said he had served the Army for 18 years and worked in intelligence branch for 11 years.

Khalid Khwaja, who is now a lawyer and chairman of the Defence for Human Rights, said he served Pakistan Air Force for 18 years and the intelligence unit for two years. He said he had come to Waziristan on the advice of former intelligence chief Lt-Gen Hameed Gul, Gen Aslam Beg (retd) and Col Sajjad of the intelligence unit. It seemed he was reading a written statement handed to him by his kidnappers as at some point he appeared looking down to a piece of paper to read the name of Col Sajjad.

The third person in the video was journalist Assad Qureshi.

He said: "My name is Asad Qureshi. I am a British citizen. Please help and set me free. I am being detained by Asian Tigers." In an email to media, the spokesman for this previously unheard militant organisation admitted that Khalid Khwaja and Col Imam were in Taliban custody.

"We demand the release of all Taliban leaders and others Mujahideen, including Mulla Biradar, Mansoor Dadullah and Maulvi Kabir. We will send a list of other Mujahideen we want to free within few days," the spokesman added. He said they had set 10-day deadline for the government to release 'Mujahideen' or else they would kill the officers or take any other decision.
Kidnapped ex-ISI officer found dead - GEO.tv

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Khalid Khwaja was an Islamist sympathizer, he filed a lot of cases in the courts to get alleged militants released and was against the war against the Taliban, though I would not go so far as to call him a terrorist, since nothing known about him so far indicates he materially supported terrorism.

His murder, and the alleged circumstances behind it, should really give pause to some Pakistanis who still believe in negotiations with the Taliban and that the Taliban, Al Qaeda and allied groups can be 'reconciled'.

If Islamist sympathizers like him are not safe, then who is?

There is no option but to destroy these people wherever they are found.

These people are consumed by hatred and intolerance, and will go to any lengths to impose that on everyone else - there is nothing to salvage here.

RIP to the deceased.

 

[EjazR]

An ignominious end to a person who had a very eventful life. Does anyone have full video links of what the statements were? Asian Times had released only partial videos till now

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

An ignominious end to a person who had a very eventful life. Does anyone have full video links of what the statements were? Asian Times had released only partial videos till now

Do statements under duress carry any weight?

I have been surprised the SS from the At has in fact taken some of the claims in those videos as factually valid.

 

[TalibanSwatter]

Khalid Khwaja was an Islamist sympathizer, he filed a lot of cases in the courts to get alleged militants released and was against the war against the Taliban, though I would not go so far as to call him a terrorist, since nothing known about him so far indicates he materially supported terrorism.

His murder, and the alleged circumstances behind it, should really give pause to some Pakistanis who still believe in negotiations with the Taliban and that the Taliban, Al Qaeda and allied groups can be 'reconciled'.

If Islamist sympathizers like him are not safe, then who is?

There is no option but to destroy these people wherever they are found.

These people are consumed by hatred and intolerance, and will go to any lengths to impose that on everyone else - there is nothing to salvage here.

RIP to the deceased.

I don't think he was killed by pro-TTP elements.

People like Khalid Khawaja are in some ways more dangerous than the TTP thugs.

Good riddance - one less ex-military TTP sympathizer for us to worry about.

 

[EjazR]

Do statements under duress carry any weight?

I have been surprised the SS from the At has in fact taken some of the claims in those videos as factually valid.

Of course they don't. But you get an idea of what agenda the abductors were pushing. Infact, I would assume that Khwaja was asked to say or do something that he opposed, he was threatened with death and he still opposed it, and finally he was killed to "Scare" col. Imam and the British journalist to conform.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

I don't think he was killed by pro-TTP elements.

People like Khalid Khawaja are in some ways more dangerous than the TTP thugs.

Good riddance - one less ex-military TTP sympathizer for us to worry about.

AFAIK, he did nothing illegal.

Disagreement with an individual's political/ideological views is not alone justification enough to call for his death or celebrate his murder.

 

[Kompromat]

Ina Lillah e wa ina eleh e rajeun.

 

[Ahmad]

What would he have thought during the last moments of his life about the taliban and groups like that? he might have regretted having sympathy for them.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

I don't think he was killed by pro-TTP elements.

I disagree - I think it is clear that all these groups are interlinked, and the 'spokesman' who contacted the media refers to the meetings of these individuals with the TTP leadership and their efforts to bring about a negotiated peace.

Following are excerpts from a recent article by Saleem Shehzad of AT, in which he extensively quotes a Taliban spokesperson and it appears clear from the comments that the TTP had a hand in the kidnapping and subsequent death.

Pakistani Taliban spokesman Umar gave his version of Khawaja's trip to North Waziristan.

"Khalid Khawaja, Colonel Imam and a [former] Iraqi intelligence agent [Mehmud al-Samarai] and Shah Abdul Aziz [a commander during the Taliban regime and a former member of parliament] visited North Waziristan about a month and a half ago. They were all old mujahids who fought against the Russians, therefore they were all treated with respect. However, everybody noticed their suspicious activities," Muhammad Umar told ATol.

"They met the chief of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan [Pakistani Taliban] Hakeemullah Mehsud, Mufti Waliur Rahman Mehsud [chief of the Taliban in South Waziristan] and the Khalifa Sahib [Sirajuddin Haqqani]. Khawaja brought with him a list of 14 commanders and he tried to convince Hakeemullah Mehsud and Waliur Rahman Mehsud that all those commanders, including Qari Zafar [a leader of the Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi] and others are Indian plants among the mujahideen and the Taliban should get rid of them. Both Hakeemullah and Waliur Rahman were tolerant of those allegations against their own commanders and they were silent. However, these people did some other things which made them suspicious," Umar said.

"They tried to convince Hakeemullah Mehsud and Waliur Rahman Mehsud to stop attacking the Pakistan army and discussed a mechanism to target NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] supply lines only. They offered to help Hakeemullah set up pockets in different parts of the country from where they could attack NATO supplies going to Afghanistan.

"Shah Abdul Aziz was then spotted asking people the names of the militants who [last December] attacked the Parade Lane Mosque in Rawalpindi [several army officers were massacred along with 17 of their children]. At the same time, the visiting group met with Khalifa Sahib and urged him to keep his connection with the army. They asked him what kind of weapons he required and they would arrange it for him," Umar said.

Umar said that during Khawaja's first visit, he used Mufti Mehsud's four-wheel drive vehicle. A few days after Khawaja and the others returned to Islamabad, the same vehicle was hit by a drone.

"You know that the Pakistan army aims to keep the Taliban divided as good and bad Taliban. The Afghan Taliban are good for them and the Pakistani Taliban are bad. We don't have such distinctions. If we get proof that a person has a connection with the ISI, whether he is bad or good, he is an enemy. As far as Khawaja is concerned, he confessed that he was sent by an ISI officer. We have reports that he frequently meets with the CIA and arranges meetings of other people with the CIA in return for money," Umar said.

"Khawaja and the others left North Waziristan with assurances that he would soon come back with a British journalist. We all compared notes and concluded that he had come with an agenda and he would come back again. As was expected, he came back and we caught him immediately. The journalist he brought with him also worked for the ISPR [Inter-Services Public Relations) for documentary-making projects. Therefore, they were all the Pakistan army's assets and our enemies and they will be dealt with according to their crimes. It has been decided," Umar said.

http://www.defence.pk/forums/pakistans-war/56014-showdown-looms-north-waziristan.html#post824008

 

[kugga]

He was Pro-Afghan Taliban but he was not pro-TTP .... as far as I know.

But who are asian tigers?? and what is there agenda??..... if they are ttp why don't they use word ttp?? there are many questions still not not known about them.......

Afghan Taliban have clearly said that they have no relation with ttp :..... then what is TTP???? stil unsolved

 

[qsaark]

Agno,

There was a long debate almost a year ago on using the word 'Islamist'. I think majority of us (the TT member and I was among them back than) had agreed that the word 'Islamist' is not an appropriate word as the TTP thugs or other anarchist/terrorist elements are only using the name of Islam to further their dirty agenda. Terrorists are terrorists, they have no religion as no religion encourages terrorism; I'll suggest you not to use the word 'Islamist' for the terrorists who 'claim' themselves to be Muslim but know nothing about the Islamic teachings/principles.

As for Khalid, yes, good riddance; his murder should act as a deterrent for the on-duty and former ISI officers who are very eager to jump into these kind of dirty games. Aslam Baig and Hameed Gul must also be questioned as to why they sent (as appeared in the newspapers) Khalid Khwaja, and Col Imam to talk to TTP thugs; what they were hoping to achieve? Since both the men are 'former' ISI officers, the Army should also investigate as to why and under who's orders these former officers were/are still carrying out these kind of operations whereas they have no mandate to involve in these kind of activities.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

He was Pro-Afghan Taliban but he was not pro-TTP .... as far as I know.

But who are asian tigers?? and what is there agenda??..... if they are ttp why don't they use word ttp?? there are many questions still not not known about them.......

Afghan Taliban have clearly said that they have no relation with ttp :..... then what is TTP???? stil unsolved

Read the excerpt from the AT article in my last post - it would appear that the the TTP had a major role in the kidnapping and killing, regardless of which 'name' they used.

 

[Pak123]

He was Pro-Afghan Taliban but he was not pro-TTP .... as far as I know.

But who are asian tigers?? and what is there agenda??..... if they are ttp why don't they use word ttp?? there are many questions still not not known about them.......

Afghan Taliban have clearly said that they have no relation with ttp :..... then what is TTP???? stil unsolved

Yes brother he was Pro Afghan Taliban not pro ttp and never had sympathy for them !

 

[laiqs@mi]

Ina Lillah e wa ina eleh e rajeun