Latest news with #al-Qaeda-linked
India Today
10-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Pak senator defends nation's terror ‘past', says it is a changed country
In a fiery interview with Sky News, Pakistan Senator and senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Sherry Rehman, staunchly defended her country's record on terrorism, asserting that "Pakistan is a changed country" and is actively "fighting terrorism," while accusing international narratives of being skewed by Indian heated exchange comes as Islamabad launches a global diplomatic offensive, sending high-level delegations to counter India's narrative following a recent military conflict. In the copycat move that came after India dispatched its own envoys to brief the world on Operation Sindoor against terrorism, Pakistan has now sent its own delegation, which includes Sherry Rehman, to the US, UK, and Brussels to present its side of the the tense exchange with anchor Yalda Hakim, Rehman was confronted with allegations regarding Pakistan's role in sheltering terror outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammad, the Haqqani Network, and the al-Qaeda-linked Brigade 313. When pressed on why groups like Brigade 313, a coalition of terror groups including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad for operational purposes, continue to operate from Pakistani soil, Rehman said, 'Am I going to war every time there is an attack in India?' She deflected blame, adding, 'There are 100 insurgencies running in India. Are we responsible for what goes on there? That's what it amounts to.'Hakim raised the issue of Brigade 313 acting as a unifying front for various terror factions in Pakistan, a premise Rehman flatly rejected. 'I don't know who told you this... I can produce any number of pages saying all this. Perhaps we should also produce a digital dossier,' she retorted, in a veiled reference to dossiers previously released by India on cross-border consistently challenged the basis of the questions, suggesting a coordinated information campaign against Pakistan. 'International analysts are aligned with India's narrative. They only tell India's story. And this is our deficit that we haven't been able to tell the story right,' she interview also touched upon Pakistan's recent removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list. When Hakim pointed out Pakistan was on the list until 2022 for terror financing and money laundering concerns, Rehman defended her country's progress. "We were taken off the grey list because we provided forensic evidence. Pakistan is a changed country. We are fighting terrorism but you keep on talking about the past,' she back her argument, she presented "facts," stating, "Pakistan has filed 2,645 terrorism financing cases. This is why we are in the white list and not the grey of FATF." She claimed that organisations like those in Muridke and Bahawalpur "are proscribed now, these are all banned now and atleast 2000 of their members have been arrested."When asked why India isn't on the grey list, Rehman described it as "our failing that we haven't bothered," before bringing up the case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was captured by Pakistan alleging that he was an Indian conversation heated up when Hakim pointed to Pakistan's alleged role in providing sanctuary to terrorists, a charge Rehman vehemently denied with an "absolutely not." Hakim also questioned the presence of the then-ISI chief in Kabul on the day of the Taliban takeover, to which Rehman reiterated, "Pakistan is a changing place and we are trying very hard. We have a revolving door with Afghanistan."Regarding a statement from Jaish-e-Mohammad about the death of its leader Masood Azhar's family members in Indian airstrikes, Rehman was dismissive. 'Children are not leaders,' she stated, denying the presence of militant infrastructure in the area and offering to take Hakim to the location. 'There are hospitals, mosques, and rubble. I'm happy to take you there.'
NDTV
10-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"What Is Brigade 313?" Pakistan Senator Sherry Rehman Admits Islamabad's Terror Past On Live TV
Islamabad: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Vice President Sherry Rehman acknowledged that Islamabad's past is linked to terrorism while she dodged questions on al-Qaeda-linked Brigade 313. "You keep on talking about the past because it was," she told Sky News journalist Yalda Hakim in response to questions on Pakistan's record on harbouring extremist elements. "We are fighting terrorism. Pakistan is a changed country now." Ms Hakim, citing inputs from the Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium (TRAC), said Brigade 313 was a Pakistan-based terror outfit tied to al-Qaeda with members from groups such as the Taliban, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami. "Brigade 313 is al-Qaeda in Pakistan," she said, referencing TRAC. "They are the leaders of a massive terrorist organisation that focuses on attacks in Kashmir," Ms Hakim said, adding the group was known to be a "hub for terrorism." She confronted Ms Hakim about the group, questioning her whether Pakistan should be held responsible for repeated attacks in India, particularly those linked to groups like Brigade 313. "Am I going to war every time there is an attack in India?" Ms Rehman visibly deflected. She added, "There are a hundred insurgencies running in India. Are we responsible for what goes on there?" The conversation also touched on Pakistan's inclusion on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list until 2022. Ms Hakim questioned whether individuals like Sajid Mir, one of the key plotters of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, played a role in delaying Pakistan's exit. Ms Rehman responded, "You're citing a long history of engaging with terrorism one way or the other, either fighting it or otherwise." 'Pakistan is fighting very hard to clean its terrorist record' Vice President of the Pakistan People's Party Senator Sherry Rehman tells @SkyYaldaHakim 'Pakistan is a changed country', even though they were taken off the grey list in 2022 — Sky News (@SkyNews) June 9, 2025 What Is Brigade 313? Formed in the early 2000s, Brigade 313 reportedly took its name from the 313 companions who fought alongside Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Badr. It was led by Ilyas Kashmiri, a former Pakistani army-trained fighter who became one of al-Qaeda's most prominent commanders before his death in a 2011 US drone strike. The brigade is a hybrid coalition, drawing terrorists from Lashkar-e-Taiba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI), Jaish-e-Mohammed, and others. It operated under al-Qaeda's umbrella and frequently collaborated with Pakistan's Taliban factions. Authors describe it as one of al-Qaeda's most "dangerous and effective" formations in South Asia, staging high-profile actions such as assassinations of senior Pakistani officials, bombings across Pakistan, and plots connected to the Kashmir insurgency. Brigade 313 is often described as part of al-Qaeda's Lashkar al-Zil (the "Shadow Army"), and has been accused of carrying out high-profile terror attacks, including bombings, assassinations, and plots aimed at Kashmir. Earlier, Pakistan's Defence Minister, Khawaja Asif, admitted to the country's complicity in supporting terror groups in the past. He said, "We have been doing this dirty work for the United States for about three decades, and the West, including Britain."
Gulf Insider
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
US To Formalize Military Presence In Syria
The US is working to formalize its military presence in Syria by signing a deal with the new al-Qaeda-linked government, according to a report from The New Arab . The report was published Friday and said that a high-level US military delegation was expected to meet with Syrian officials in the coming days with the goal of shifting the US military presence from an illegal occupation to a formalized, legal partnership. The report comes as the US has been drawing down its forces in northeastern Syria and handing over some bases to the Kurdish-led SDF. The US is expected to maintain only one base in Syria, the al-Tanf Garrison in the south, which is situated where the borders of Syria, Iraq, and Jordan converge. From al-Tanf, the US helped its proxy militia, known as the Syrian Free Army (previously known as the Revolutionary Commando Army), join in on the offensive led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that ousted former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024. A formal deal on al-Tanf would signal that the US is planning a long-term or even potentially a permanent military presence in Syria. The Pentagon has said that it's currently working to reduce its forces in Syria to fewer than 1,000 troops in the country. According to the latest reports, approximately 1,500 US troops are currently stationed in the country. The US has embraced the new Syrian government that's led by HTS despite the group still being listed by the State Department as a foreign terrorist organization due to its al-Qaeda roots. President Trump recently met with HTS's leader and Syria's de facto president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, and praised him as a 'young, attractive guy' with a 'very strong past.' Sharaa got his start with al-Qaeda in Iraq, where he fought an insurgency against US troops before being imprisoned from 2006 to 2011. In 2012, he traveled to Syria and formed al-Qaeda's affiliate in the country, the al-Nusra Front. In 2016, Sharaa claimed the al-Nusra Front was cutting ties with al-Qaeda. At the time, he thanked the 'commanders of al-Qaeda for having understood the need to break ties.' In 2017, he merged his group with several other Islamist factions to form HTS. Also read: 'Clean Sweep': RFK Jr. Boots Entire CDC 'Rubber-Stamp' Vax Panel
Saudi Gazette
03-06-2025
- General
- Saudi Gazette
Al-Qaeda linked group says it carried out huge attack on Mali's army
BAMAKO — An al-Qaeda-linked group says it carried out a major attack on the Malian town of Boulikessi and the seizure of an army base there. More than 30 soldiers were killed in Sunday's attack, according to sources quoted by the news agency Reuters, however that figure has not been confirmed by the authorities. On Monday the same group, Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), said it targeted the military in the historic city of Timbuktu, with residents reporting hearing gunfire and explosions. Mali's army said in a statement late on Monday that it had repelled an "infiltration attempt by terrorist fighters" in Timbuktu, "neutralizing" 14 militants and arresting 31 suspects. It added that weapons, vehicles and other items were seized, but did not name the group responsible for the attack. The army said search operations across Timbuktu were ongoing. In an earlier statement, the army said it "reacted vigorously" to Sunday's attack, before "withdrawing" — suggesting a tactical retreat."Many men fought, some until their last breath, to defend the Malian nation," the statement unnamed local source told Reuters that JNIM had left many casualties and "cleared the camp".Unverified video footage showed dozens of militants storming the base, including one which captured them stepping on bodies, according to Monday's attack, JNIM said its fighters had attacked a military airport and Russian and security sources told the AFP news agency they were "fighting back", but that the militants were "everywhere in the city".A local official said the attackers had arrived "with a vehicle packed with explosives" that detonated close to the army a UN World Heritage Site, was captured by Islamist militants in 2012 before they were driven out, but has once more been under siege in recent attacks, the latest sign of collapsing security in Mali and the wider Sahel region, came after the United States Africa Command warned about growing efforts by various different Islamist militant groups which operate in the Sahel to gain access to West Africa's a press conference on Friday, the commander of United States Africa Command (Africom), Gen Michael Langley, described recent attacks in Nigeria, the wider Sahel, and the Lake Chad Basin as deeply troubling, warning that the groups' access to the coast would significantly boost their capacity for smuggling and arms is thought that more than 400 soldiers have been killed by militants since the beginning of last month in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, Reuters reports. — BBC
First Post
21-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Al-Qaeda Affiliate Claims Killing 200 Soldiers in Burkina Faso Firstpost Africa
Al-Qaeda Affiliate Claims Killing 200 Soldiers in Burkina Faso | Firstpost Africa | N18G Al-Qaeda Affiliate Claims Killing 200 Soldiers in Burkina Faso | Firstpost Africa | N18G An al-Qaeda-linked group has claimed it killed 200 soldiers in an attack on a military base in northern Burkina Faso. The base in Djibo town was attacked early Sunday, along with a police station and a market. Although there's no official confirmation of the death toll, residents said many soldiers and civilians died. The group, Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), released a statement claiming responsibility, according to a US-based organisation that tracks militant activity. The attack is part of a recent surge in violence by JNIM in the region. Earlier, the group's leader in Burkina Faso warned locals in Djibo to leave the area. Burkina Faso has been struggling with extremist violence for years. See More
