ID :
162391
Sun, 02/20/2011 - 08:54
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/162391
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Pakistan Taliban say ex-spy official killed: report
Islamabad, Feb 20, IRNA-- Pakistani Taliban said Saturday that they have killed a former official of the country’s intelligence agency, they had kidnapped in March last year in North Waziristan tribal region, state and private TV channels reported.
Geo TV quoted a Taliban spokesman as saying that a video of the slain official of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Col (retd) Sultan Ameer Tarar, commonly known as Colonel Imam, will be released later today.
Col. Imam and another former ISI official, Squadron Leader (retd) Khalid Khawaja, had gone to North Waziristan along with a British TV journalist, Asad Qureshi, to make a documentary on the Pakistani Taliban and victims of the US drone strikes when they were kidnapped on March 6, 2010.
Later, an unknown militant organisation, Asian Tigers, claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and accused Khalid Khawaja of spying for the CIA. He was subsequently shot dead on April 30 near Mir Ali town.
Journalist Asad Qureshi and his driver Rustam Khan were released several months later reportedly after his family paid ransom to his kidnappers, who in reality were a group of Mahsud tribal militants and the Punjabi Taliban led by Sabir Mahsud and Usman Punjabi.
He was in the custody of militants affiliated with the Hakimullah Mahsud-led Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Family sources of the veteran intelligence officer said they were hearing rumours since Saturday about his death but till now there was no confirmation from any independent source.
Taliban spokesman Ihsanulah Ihsan claimed that Col. Imam has been killed and a video of the killing will be released later Saturday, Geo TV reported.
“The video will show Taliban fighters are firing at Col. Imam,” the report quoted Taliban spokesman as saying.
“Col. Imam is no more in this world,” Ihsan has been quoted as telling Geo television.
Col Imam was widely respected by the Afghan Mujahideen and also by the Taliban due to his role during the Afghan Jihad (1979-89) against the Soviet forces in Afghanistan. Col Imam had described himself as ‘teacher’ of Taliban chief Mulla Muhammad Omar in several TV interviews.
He also served as Pakistan’s consul general to Afghanistan’s western Herat city for some years after the installation of the Afghan Mujahideen government. He had trained and backed the Afghan Mujahideen and was on friendly terms with Taliban supreme leader Mulla Mohammad Omar and other Taliban leaders./end
Geo TV quoted a Taliban spokesman as saying that a video of the slain official of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Col (retd) Sultan Ameer Tarar, commonly known as Colonel Imam, will be released later today.
Col. Imam and another former ISI official, Squadron Leader (retd) Khalid Khawaja, had gone to North Waziristan along with a British TV journalist, Asad Qureshi, to make a documentary on the Pakistani Taliban and victims of the US drone strikes when they were kidnapped on March 6, 2010.
Later, an unknown militant organisation, Asian Tigers, claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and accused Khalid Khawaja of spying for the CIA. He was subsequently shot dead on April 30 near Mir Ali town.
Journalist Asad Qureshi and his driver Rustam Khan were released several months later reportedly after his family paid ransom to his kidnappers, who in reality were a group of Mahsud tribal militants and the Punjabi Taliban led by Sabir Mahsud and Usman Punjabi.
He was in the custody of militants affiliated with the Hakimullah Mahsud-led Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Family sources of the veteran intelligence officer said they were hearing rumours since Saturday about his death but till now there was no confirmation from any independent source.
Taliban spokesman Ihsanulah Ihsan claimed that Col. Imam has been killed and a video of the killing will be released later Saturday, Geo TV reported.
“The video will show Taliban fighters are firing at Col. Imam,” the report quoted Taliban spokesman as saying.
“Col. Imam is no more in this world,” Ihsan has been quoted as telling Geo television.
Col Imam was widely respected by the Afghan Mujahideen and also by the Taliban due to his role during the Afghan Jihad (1979-89) against the Soviet forces in Afghanistan. Col Imam had described himself as ‘teacher’ of Taliban chief Mulla Muhammad Omar in several TV interviews.
He also served as Pakistan’s consul general to Afghanistan’s western Herat city for some years after the installation of the Afghan Mujahideen government. He had trained and backed the Afghan Mujahideen and was on friendly terms with Taliban supreme leader Mulla Mohammad Omar and other Taliban leaders./end
