- Soldier martyred as Pakistan Army kills top al Qaeda leader Adnan El Shukrijuma in SWA raid
- Adnan El Shukri Aljuma was counted amongst few top Qaeda commanders and was responsible for its external affairs, terrorist actions and network
At least three suspected militants, including a top al Qaeda leader Adnan El Shukri Aljuma, were killed while one security personnel was martyred during an intelligence-borne military operation in South Waziristan Agency (SWA).
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Asim Saleem Bajwa said on social media that the top al Qaeda leader was killed in an early Saturday morning raid in Shinwarsak while five terrorists were also nabbed in the operation. During the raid, a soldier also embraced martyrdom while another was critically injured.
Aljuma had moved in the SWA area recently from North Waziristan Agency (NWA) following the launch of Operation Zarb-e-Azb and was hiding in a local compound. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also seized from the compound while Aljuma’s accomplice and local facilitator were also killed in the raid.
Aljuma, born on August 4, 1975, in Saudi Arabia, moved to the United States in his youth where he attained his education and later became a part of the al Qaeda.
Both Pakistani and US officials have similar reports regarding Aljuma’s status in al Qaeda. He was counted amongst the few top commanders and was responsible for its external affairs, terrorist actions and network.
Aljuma was declared an absconder and wanted in connection with an attempt to blow up the New York subway, as well as for plots connected to targets in the United Kingdom in 2010. In this respect, a US court in New York had formally indicted Aljuma for his involvement in the terrorist plan.
However, details regarding his arrival in the tribal areas of Pakistan from the US are yet to be retrieved.
In light of his alleged involvement in terrorist plans in both the US and Great Britain, the US declared an amount of $5 million as head money against Aljuma. US agencies even offered attractive rewards on provision of information which would assist them in his arrest.
US federal prosecutors alleged Aljuma had recruited three men in 2008 to receive training in tribal region of Pakistan for bombing the New York subway system. He was also wanted in what Americans allege was a conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction and to commit murder in a foreign country. However, nothing has been mentioned about such foreign countries in the US allegations.
“Charges framed by US agencies against Shukrijuma reveal that the plot against the New York City’s subway system, uncovered in September 2009, was directed by senior al Qaeda leadership in Pakistan,” the FBI website said.
The subway plot was described by prosecutors at the time as the most serious threat to New York since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
US reports further state that Aljuma was also linked to other suspects by US authorities, including a group of men accused of planning to bomb fuel pipelines at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport.
Tribal sources confirm that Aljuma was known amongst locals, and aside from being able to speak Arabic and English, he was fluent in Pashto – had command over Waziri and Mehsud pronunciation of Pashto — Urdu and Dari.
COAS IS SATISFIED:
In the meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif Saturday appreciated the raiding team for the successful operation, and said the army will chase and eliminate all terrorists from its soil and none will be spared. He expressed his complete satisfaction on the progress of operations against militancy and achievements made so far.
Earlier, the COAS visited Corps Headquarters Peshawar and during the day-long stay, he reviewed the progress of ongoing operations Zarb-e-Azb and Khyber I.
General Sharif appreciated the spirit and commitment of troops in sustaining the operations. He lauded the sacrifices rendered by our officers and men in the operations.
The COAS was also briefed on the return strategy for Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) of North Waziristan Agency including the rehabilitation of the affected areas.
Appreciating the planning process, General Sharif said that early return of TDPs is their top priority and directed all concerned to start preparation for the return phase.
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