LeT role in Swedish killing exposes Pak lies

Pakistan’s assurances to Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of containing terrorist groups stands exposed by the involvement of global terrorist group LeT’s international operational commander Sajid Mir’s role in the killing of Swedish cartoonist in Sweden early this month. LeT is based in Pakistan and has for long enjoyed state patronage. Sajid Mir, a leader of LeT’s international operations, has been associated with Pak Army’s intelligence agency, ISI.

Sajid Mir, one of the most wanted terrorists in the world today, is involved in several international terrorist incidents including the November 2008 Mumbai attack. Mir was involved in a conspiracy to attack a newspaper and its employees in Denmark between 2008 and 2009. He was tried in absentia by a US Court. There is a $5million reward for his arrest.The US Department of Treasury in 2005 had pinpointed Mir for overseas recruitment and training, money laundering and operational planning. Mir, however, has remained free under the umbrella of Pak Army protection.

Although Pakistan has denied the existence of Sajid Mir, there is clear evidence of his existence and close relationship with Pakistan Army. A few years ago, Jean-Louis Bruguiere, one of France’s most powerful investigative judges who questioned Willie Brigitte, a French LeT operative, said Mir was an ISI agent. Brigitte was one of his agents. A more infamous agent of Mir was David Headley, a key operative in the Mumbai attack. Headley told his interrogators that Mir was his handler and a Pak Army official.

There is evidence that the killing of Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks in a car crash in Sweden was planned and executed by Sajid Mir, a clear sign of Pakistan surreptitiously reviving the terrorist group’s international operations with dangerously devious motive. Although details of planning and execution of the assassination camouflaged as an accident are hazy, the modus operandi betray the hand of Sajid Mir who has had considerable experience in operating in foreign countries and using local network of operatives.

Vilks had been a target of Muslim extremist groups ever since he drew controversial cartoons of Prophet Muhammad in 200. An al-Qaida organisation in Iraq had offered $100,000 for killing Vilks. LeT was one of the groups in Pakistan which had issued similar threats against Vilks and other artists for denigrating Islam. The killing of Vilks is a signal to others who had been targeting Islam.

In fact, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had been a vocal supporter of groups and persons targeting those who had insulted the Prophet. Early this year, he had ordered the French

Ambassador to leave Pakistan for certain objectionable cartoons published in a French satire magazine.

Pakistan, greylisted by the international anti-terrorism finance watchdog, had repeatedly assured strict actions against terrorist groups like LeT. There has been some token action against LeT leaders like Hafiz Saeed and others but in reality the terrorist group was asked to lie low till the Taliban captured Kabul. In fact, LeT was tasked to train new cadres and fight alongside the Taliban in the militant group’s run across Afghanistan early this year. Sajid Mir’s role in the killing of Swedish artist clearly shows Pakistan is willfully negating its own assurances to FATF and the international community.