WASHINGTON – The US State Department has placed a reward up to $5 millionfor any information leading to the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, linkedto series of attacks inside Pakistan and the 2010 bid for Times Square carbombing in New York.
Under its ‘Rewards for Justice program’, the State Department announced onThursday that up to $3 million each would be paid for information on AbdulWali (leader of Jamaat ul-Ahrar) and Mangal Bagh ( leader ofLashkar-e-Islam) as well.
“Each of these individuals is believed to have committed or to pose asignificant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten thesecurity of the United States and its nationals. In addition to opposingthe Pakistani military, one of TTP’s stated goals is the expulsion ofCoalition troops from Afghanistan. The group has demonstrated a closealliance with al-Qa’ida, and, since 2008, has also repeatedly publiclythreatened to attack the U.S. homeland” said a statement posted on thedepartment’s website.
*TTP’s Mullah Fazlullah*
According to US officials, TTP-led by Mullah Fazlullah, gave explosivestraining to Faisal Shahzad, who failed in his attempt to set off a car bombin Times Square in May 2010.
Moreover, the militant group was behind the Peshawar school attack (APS) inDecember 2014 and killed 148 people, including 132 students. As per USauthorities, TTP also orchestrated another attack in December 2017 in thesame city, killing nine.
“Fazlullah also is responsible for the June 2012, beheading of 17 Pakistanisoldiers, and October 9, 2012, shooting of Pakistani schoolgirl MalalaYousafzai. In 2015, the Department designated Fazlullah as a SpeciallyDesignated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224, which freezes allof his assets based in the United States or in possession or control ofU.S. persons” stated the department.
*Jamaat ul-Ahrar’s Abdul Wali*
Detailing the activities of Abdul Wali, US State Department stated that hewas the leader of Jamaat ul-Ahrar (JUA), a militant faction affiliated withTTP and under his leadership, JUA staged multiple attacks in the regiontargeting civilians, religious minorities, military personnel, and lawenforcement.
“He was responsible for the killing of two Pakistani employees of the U.S.Consulate in Peshawar in early March 2016” claimed the department.
*Lashkar-e-Islam’s Mangal Bagh*
Regarding Mangal Bagh, the department stated that he was born in KhyberAgency, Pakistan, and was believed to be in his mid-forties. He studied ata madrasa for several years and later fought alongside militant groups inAfghanistan. Under his leadership, LeI operatives attacked NATO convoys.