Arrests Show Growing Internationalism of Pakistani Militant Groups, The Washington Post, 10 December 2009
EXCERPT: "The arrest in Pakistan of five Americans who authorities say might have been on their way to terrorist training camps highlights the growing internationalism of Pakistani militant groups - both in their aims and their appeal. The men, who had not been charged as of Thursday night but were being questioned by the FBI, have been connected by Pakistani police officials to at least two armed Pakistani groups, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Jangvi. Both groups have traditionally had local aims but in recent years have increasingly been linked to al-Qaeda, an organization with global reach and aspirations. Police officials suggested that the five Americans arrested Tuesday might have been headed to North Waziristan, the rugged tribal land that has become al-Qaeda's home base. The region is used as a training ground for fighters and as a staging area for attacks against U.S. troops in neighboring Afghanistan. Pakistani police officials said the men made clear that they intended to wage jihad, or holy war. For decades, Pakistan has had a long roster of militant groups, each with its own goals, tactics and memberships. Groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, for instance, once focused almost exclusively on attacking Indian targets in and around the disputed region of Kashmir, often with covert Pakistani government support. Lashkar-e-Jangvi, meanwhile, has targeted Shiites as part of a campaign of sectarian violence. But Pakistani analysts say the organizations have recently begun to show an unprecedented level of cooperation and appear to be working toward a common agenda that involves attacking U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Pakistani government targets. "
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Related articles:
Five US men arrested in Pakistan said to plan jihad training, The New York Times, 10 December 2009
Pakistan arrests 5 men reported missing in United States [includes State Department press conference video], CNN, 10 December 2009
Five Americans have Al-Qaeda link: Police, DAWN, 10 December 2009
Five Muslim men missing from US reportedly arrested in Pakistan [blog], The Long War Journal // Threat Matrix, 10 December 2009
Terror suspect has roots in Pakistan, US, CNN, 9 December 2009
Pakistan holding retired officer in US terror case, The Associated Press, 1 December 2009
Family defends Canadian accused of terror plot, The Globe and Mail, 24 November 2009
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The Pakistan-Britain terror connection: Lessons and warnings for the United States, 13 November 2009
