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U.S. Returns a Militant Leader to Pakistan U.S. Returns a Militant Leader to Pakistan
(about 1 hour later)
LONDON — In a fresh spur to warming relations between Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States, the American military has returned to Pakistan a senior militant leader who was captured under murky circumstances last year and whose case symbolized the deep distrust between the three countries. LONDON — In a fresh spur to warming relations between Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States, the American military has returned to Pakistan a senior militant leader who was captured under murky circumstances last year and whose case symbolized the deep distrust between the three countries.
Pakistani and Western officials said the United States had flown Latif Mehsud, a senior Pakistani Taliban leader being held by the Americans at Bagram Airfield, back to Pakistan on Friday. Mr. Mehsud’s release was ostensibly part of a continuing process to repatriate foreign prisoners from American detention facilities in Afghanistan before the conclusion of the formal combat mission at the end of this month.Pakistani and Western officials said the United States had flown Latif Mehsud, a senior Pakistani Taliban leader being held by the Americans at Bagram Airfield, back to Pakistan on Friday. Mr. Mehsud’s release was ostensibly part of a continuing process to repatriate foreign prisoners from American detention facilities in Afghanistan before the conclusion of the formal combat mission at the end of this month.
But in Pakistan, several officials said they viewed the transfer as part of a developing thaw in the country’s previously strained relations with both Afghanistan and the United States, which have improved following a flurry of meetings in recent months. But in Pakistan, several officials said they viewed the transfer as part of a developing thaw in the country’s previously strained relations with both Afghanistan and the United States, which have improved after a flurry of meetings in recent months.
Relations between Pakistan and the United States also appeared to be on the upswing after a series of attacks on major Qaeda targets in Pakistan’s tribal belt in recent days that have reinforced counterterrorism efforts in the country.Relations between Pakistan and the United States also appeared to be on the upswing after a series of attacks on major Qaeda targets in Pakistan’s tribal belt in recent days that have reinforced counterterrorism efforts in the country.
At least four people were killed in a suspected American drone strike on a compound in the North Waziristan tribal district on Sunday, Pakistani officials said. Local news reports said that strikes had targeted Ustad Ahmad Farooq, a Pakistani commander with Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, a recently formed branch of Al Qaeda.At least four people were killed in a suspected American drone strike on a compound in the North Waziristan tribal district on Sunday, Pakistani officials said. Local news reports said that strikes had targeted Ustad Ahmad Farooq, a Pakistani commander with Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, a recently formed branch of Al Qaeda.
Since coming to power in September, the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, has made a concerted effort to improve relations with Pakistan, a country that his predecessor, Hamid Karzai, regularly accused of supporting the Afghan Taliban. In a recent visit to Islamabad, Mr. Ghani held talks with Pakistan’s military leadership. In London last week he smiled and shook hands with the Pakistani premier, Nawaz Sharif, on the steps of 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain looked on. Since coming to power in September, the Afghan president, Ashraf Ghani, has made a concerted effort to improve relations with Pakistan, a country that his predecessor, Hamid Karzai, regularly accused of supporting the Afghan Taliban. In a recent visit to Islamabad, Mr. Ghani held talks with Pakistan’s military leadership. In London last week, he smiled and shook hands with the Pakistani premier, Nawaz Sharif, on the steps of 10 Downing Street as Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain looked on.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have announced diplomatic breakthroughs in the past, only for them to collapse into renewed acrimony. But officials on both sides are hopeful this time will be different. Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, Jalil Jilani, spoke this week of a “sea change” in the relationship.Pakistan and Afghanistan have announced diplomatic breakthroughs in the past, only for them to collapse into renewed acrimony. But officials on both sides are hopeful this time will be different. Pakistan’s ambassador to the United States, Jalil Jilani, spoke this week of a “sea change” in the relationship.
The repatriation of Mr. Mehsud to Pakistan signals the end of a cloudy episode that once showed how little the three countries trusted one another.The repatriation of Mr. Mehsud to Pakistan signals the end of a cloudy episode that once showed how little the three countries trusted one another.
A former deputy leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Mr. Mehsud was arrested in late 2013 as he traveled to Kabul at the invitation of Afghan intelligence. The Afghans, who have long accused Pakistan of harboring the Afghan Taliban, sought to recruit Mr. Mehsud both to serve their interests and as a payback of sorts aimed at the Pakistanis, an Afghan official told The New York Times. A former deputy leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Mr. Mehsud was arrested in late 2013 as he traveled to Kabul at the invitation of Afghan intelligence. The Afghans, who have long accused Pakistan of harboring the Afghan Taliban, sought to recruit Mr. Mehsud to serve their interests and as a payback of sorts aimed at the Pakistanis, an Afghan official told The New York Times.
But American intelligence learned of the plan and, fearing its repercussions for regional stability, captured Mr. Mehsud as the Afghans were taking him to Kabul, then took him to the detention center at Bagram.But American intelligence learned of the plan and, fearing its repercussions for regional stability, captured Mr. Mehsud as the Afghans were taking him to Kabul, then took him to the detention center at Bagram.
On Sunday, Afghan officials in Kabul said they had no knowledge of Mr. Mehsud’s transfer, which they said had been coordinated by the Americans. They said they had learned of it through Pakistani news media reports. On Sunday, Afghan officials in Kabul said they had no knowledge of Mr. Mehsud’s transfer, which they said had been coordinated by the Americans. They said they learned of it through Pakistani news media reports.
But other Afghan leaders said the return of Mr. Mehsud was part of a plan to improve relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. “He was released a few days ago based on the agreements made between Ashraf Ghani, Pakistan and the Americans during President Ghani’s trip to Pakistan,” said Abdul Wali Wakil, a provincial council member from Logar, where Mr. Mehsud was detained in 2013. “It was meant to improve relations between three countries.” But other Afghan leaders said the return of Mr. Mehsud was part of a plan to improve relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. “He was released a few days ago based on the agreements made between Ashraf Ghani, Pakistan and the Americans during President Ghani’s trip to Pakistan,” said Abdul Wali Wakil, a provincial council member from Logar, where Mr. Mehsud was detained in 2013.
Other actions have also pointed to improving cooperation among the three countries on cross-border militancy. Recently, American warplanes have conducted airstrikes against Pakistani Taliban leaders hiding in the provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar in eastern Afghanistan. The presence of Pakistani militants in Afghanistan has been a regular complaint of Pakistani officials. Other actions have also pointed to improving cooperation among the three countries on cross-border militancy. Recently, American warplanes conducted airstrikes against Pakistani Taliban leaders hiding in the provinces of Nangarhar and Kunar in eastern Afghanistan. The presence of Pakistani militants in Afghanistan has been a regular complaint of Pakistani officials.
The suspected American drone strike Sunday in Pakistan came one day after the Pakistani military said it had killed Adnan G. el-Shukrijumah, a Qaeda leader accused of plotting to bomb the New York City subway system, in a commando raid on a remote mountain valley in neighboring South Waziristan. The suspected American drone strike Sunday in Pakistan came one day after the Pakistani military said it had killed Adnan G. el-Shukrijumah, a Qaeda leader accused of plotting to bomb the New York City subway system, in a commando raid in neighboring South Waziristan.
Mr. Shukrijumah, 39, is a naturalized American citizen who had been indicted in 2010 for his role in several terrorist plots, including the foiled subway attack. The F.B.I. described him as a senior figure in Al Qaeda’s external operations division and had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture. Mr. Shukrijumah, 39, is a naturalized American citizen who had been indicted in 2010 for his role in several terrorist plots, including the foiled subway attack.
By late Sunday evening there were conflicting accounts about whether Mr. Farooq, also known as Umer Farooq, had died in the latest explosion. Pakistani officials also offered conflicting accounts about whether American drones were involved in the attack. By late Sunday there were conflicting accounts about whether Mr. Farooq, also known as Umer Farooq, had died in the latest explosion. Pakistani officials also offered conflicting accounts about whether American drones were involved in the attack.
But a militant commander in northwestern Pakistan said he had been told that Mr. Farooq was dead. “We have lost another precious brother in the attack,” he said in a telephone interview on the condition of anonymity.But a militant commander in northwestern Pakistan said he had been told that Mr. Farooq was dead. “We have lost another precious brother in the attack,” he said in a telephone interview on the condition of anonymity.