The four-dimensional Karachi operation has its own significance, locally and internationally, and that’s why the briefing of Director General ISPR Lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa was so important.
When Army Chief General Raheel Sharif visited Karachi a few weeks back and attended a six-hour meeting on the Karachi operation, attended exclusively by the top military brass, it was more than clear that something big was coming up.
General Bajwa made sensational disclosures about how international terror networks were working in this economic hub of Pakistan and were involved in big attacks like the Karachi airport, Kamra air base and planning Bannu-like jailbreak in Hyderabad.
The briefing showed that how dangerous Karachi has become particularly after 9/11.
When the accounts of these outlawed groups were frozen due to international pressure, they made Karachi as their base camp to generate money through kidnappings for ransom and extortion.
If North Waziristan was the most futile ground for shelter, Karachi served as their base for collection of billions of rupees to carry out terror attacks.
These networks also used Karachi port to flee and import arms and for this purpose through their financiers they also got control of Karachi fisheries.
Investigation revealed that in some of the attacks, including Safoora Goth, sea route was also adopted to escape. In many ways it was belated Karachi operation and criminal negligence as it allowed terror groups to take roots and also develop contacts with political elements. Even under former President General (R) Pervez Musharraf, al-Qaeda made Karachi its base camp in 2002 before the government swooped on them.
This major gang burst was the hallmark of Karachi operation in 2016. No wonder why Sindh government did not put any conditions for giving extension under the Anti-Terrorism Act. It could be seen in the backdrop of General Raheel's firm commitment and DG ISPR's Friday's statement, "The army has made commitment with the people of Karachi."
This statement has said it all that as long as complete peace was not restored, Karachi operation will continue. There is no deadline and as army chief in its last brief in the city said," no one would be allowed to create any hurdles.
Had al-Qaeda succeeded in breaking Hyderabad prison and got convicts in US reporter Daniel Pearl murder like Sheikh Omar and three others in the case freed, it could be an international embarrassment for two reasons. (1) Sheikh was convicted in Pearl's case and thus the US government would have reacted and (2) he was among the three along with Maulana Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Zargar freed from Indian prison a few years back. Therefore, it’s a big success of intelligence agencies responsible for breaking this network and unearthing a huge conspiracy.
However, it also raised a question as to why Pearl case is taking so long after the accused were convicted by an anti-terrorism court in 2002, but their appeals have been pending for the last 12 years. In the past also conspiracy to break Hyderabad prison had been unearth, but this one was big.
Another aspect which needs to be investigated was the alleged release of some of dangerous criminals prior to this major arrest of the gang.
For instance, about Naim Bokhari there had been contradictory reports since he was first detained a few years back along with one Fazal Karim, initially in Pearl's case. Even at that time he was suspected to be working with al-Qaeda No 3 Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the accused said to be responsible for beheading Pearl. Investigators at that time had also suspected that Karim was also there when he was killed.
Both Bokhari and Karim were never charged in this case but they remained in detention before Karim's arrest came on the surface and booked in some drug case.
If in the past he had been released that remained quite mysterious. Some said he was bailed out while there was also mystery about Sheikh Omar, who some believe had surrendered on assurance that he would not be executed.
Thus, after several years, his name resurfaced and that too in an attempt to release Sheikh Omar along with others. He has now been named as head of an outlawed group link with al-Qaeda. However, the name of al-Qaeda, sub-continent is something new, but a senior security official told this scribe that unlike in the past, the international network after getting weaker had recruited hundreds of Pakistanis and Bokhari was their main contact in Pakistan.
General Bajwa has covered an important aspect of the four dimensional operation. The rest will come in the due course, which would cover about the terror financers and militant wings.
These major disclosures followed by the briefing of DG IB Aftab Sultan about Daesh reflect some of the success stories but it also left many questions unanswered particularly when the political leadership or government is trying to underplay success stories and alert.
The four dimensional operation includes, (1) al-Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi network, (2) Lyari gang war, (3) militant wing of MQM, (which the party denies), and (4) political militancy.
Terror financing and money laundering is another important aspect, the one which become instrumental to terrorist attacks.
Therefore, the most challenging would be the fourth dimension of the operation as it could lead to the arrest of some prominent political figures, but the decision which can create hue and cry among some parties. Perhaps, it has been withheld for the time being.
General Bajwa's media briefing has covered success in breaking the networks involved in countrywide terrorist attacks including suicide attempts at Karachi airport, Kamra air base, and foiled attempt to free dangerous terrorists from Hyderabad prison.
Arrest of around 100 suspects of a huge network led by al-Qaeda, certainly is a big success and the disclosure came within 24 hours after army chief endorse the death sentence of 12 dangerous criminals which also coincided with three "crackers attacks" near private schools in Karachi.
It could be the possible retaliation or desperate attempt on part of their alleged facilitators. He said all in all the Rangers had arrested over 12,000 suspects in 7,000 operations.
Mr. Bajwa's briefing also came within 24 hours after security agencies unearthed a gang of educated youth led by outlawed Hizbut Tehrir and report suggests that it has also busted the HT, network involved in the college and university campuses.
This briefing could be the beginning of the last phase of Karachi operation. After the arrest of ring leader of Lyari gang war, Uzair Baloch, the Rangers are said to be quite close to get hold of other gang members, the most important would be Baba Ladla.
Rangers have also reportedly unearthed an Indian connection linked to Karachi's militancy and arrested some members of the gang.
The fourth dimension would cover terror financing through "china cutting" and this would be covered through the FIA.
So, many "breaking news" are expected in the coming weeks and months, which can cause quite a few problems to the Sindh government and major political stakeholders in Sindh.
The writer is the senior columnist and analyst of Geo, The News and jang.
