Call to review ISI role in 911 attacks

A U.S.-based group has fully backed the recent NATO-led International Security Assistance Force action against the Al Qaeda terrorists in Pakistan's lawless Federally Administered Tribal Area that provides safe sanctuary to Islamic militants from world over.

The American Friends of Baluchistan, that advocates the right to self determination of the Baluch people, sent a letter of support to William Wood and Anne W. Patterson, U.S. Ambassadors to Afghanistan and Pakistan, respectively.

The group said it believes Daniel Pearl, prominent WSJ reporter, was killed by none other but Pakistan's ISI and Military Intelligence and urged the U.S. to review and re-examine the ISI role in the 911 attacks.

Copies of the letter were also sent to Said T. Jawad and Hussain Haqqani, ambassadors of Afghanistan and Pakistan, respectively, General David McKiernan, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, and editors of the Wall Street Journal.

The Baluch say tens of thousands of their people have been killed by Pakistan in five military operations since Baluchistan's forced annexation in March 1948. They say one of the worst crimes against them was Pakistan testing of it nuclear weapons in Baluchistan in May 1998 that has left their land and water contaminated.

Pakistan army recently put Baluch in hot coal tar, The Guardian newspaper reported.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/29/pakistan.humanrights

Islamabad tried to get The Guardian report censored.

Following is the full text of the A.F.B. letter that this author has sent out:

"I want to bring on record the American Friends of Baluchistan, a voice for the hapless Baluch people in the U.S. capitol, fully supports and endorses the right of hot pursuit of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan to go after the Al Qaeda and Taliban beasts no matter where they are.

We understand and appreciate this hot pursuit has become essential because of the role of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence in fomenting Taliban and Al Qaeda violence that has left thousands of Afghans and soldiers of many other nations, including Americans, killed in Afghanistan.

Had Pakistan been genuinely sincere and more cooperative any collateral damage that involves civilian deaths could have been easily averted.

According to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani's own admission, there are as many as 10,000 foreign fighters in FATA. Had there been a couple of dozen or even a couple of hundred the world could have given the Pakistan military and ISI the benefit of doubt. But the presence of this huge number is simply not possible without the support of Pakistan's omnipotent military and ISI.

It is in fact wrong to buy the Pakistani establishment's concocted theory that certain 'rogue elements' within the ISI are responsible for the violence. In fact, the AFB is of the considered opinion Pakistan army as an organization is resolved to defeat the ISAFmission in Afghanistan.

I am not sure what national sovereignty and territorial integrity Pakistan political and military leadership are talking about when they condemn the ISAF action but say they can do precious little in the FATA area, and on top of that do not want the ISAF to target the Taliban and Al Qaeda on Pakistan territory.

With less than a week left to the seventh anniversary of the deadly 911 attacks, the AFB urges the U.S. government to thoroughly review the role ISI played in the 911 attacks. Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was in the process of revealing this ISI role when he was kidnapped and killed by operatives of the ISI and related agencies.

Islamabad's talk of national sovereignty and territorial integrity rings hollow to me as a Baluch as Islamabad has never respected the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Baluchistan, the area-wise largest state.

Baluchistan was illegally annexed by Pakistan in March 1948 against the wishes of the Baluch people. You might be knowing there have been five military operations in Baluchistan and presently there is a temporary ceasefire.

The De Jure Ruler of Baluchistan, Beglar Begi [Prince among the Princes] Suleman Daud Ahmedzai who is now in exile in the U.K. is leading the international fight for justice for Baluchistan. He also plans to knock at the doors of the International Court of Justice at the Hague.

The AFB urges you to open direct talks with Ahmedzai and others in the Baluch national leadership for a lasting solution to the Taliban and Al Qaeda violence in the region and the unresolved issue of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Baluchistan.

Once again the AFB fully supports the ISAF mission in Afghanistan and its right to hot pursuit."