Mehsud claims responsibility for Lahore attack

LASKAR LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud has claimed responsibility for the audacious terrorist attack on the police training centre in Lahore and warned that his group was planning to carry out an "amazing" attack on the US.

Mehsud, on whom the US has announced a bounty of USD 5 million, also warned of further strikes in Pakistan unless Islamabad withdraws troops from tribal areas and drone attacks cease in the troubled NWFP.

The Taliban commander, who operates from the lawless tribal region in Waziristan, said that the attack was carried out in retaliation for US drone attacks in the region bordering Afghanistan.

"We will keep on taking revenge if the US drone attacks continue. And finally a major attack will prove to be an arrow (aimed at) the government," he warned.

"I will deal with the US. It will take some time but I will teach a lesson to the US. By the grace of Allah, we will take revenge inside the US," Mehsud said echoing the views of Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden.

The Associated Press quoted Mehsud as saying "soon we will launch an attack in Washington that will amaze everyone in the world." His remarks come as authorities in this eastern Pakistani metropolis carried out widespread raids on suspected militant hideouts rounding up more than 50 people on suspicion of helping the attackers.

Pakistani authorities continued their interrogation of the captured attacker which led them to arrest three other persons for facilitating the terrorists who carried out the brazen attack. Gul Khan alias Ishrat Khan, who was captured by the police, told them that his group had been sent by Mehsud to carry out the mission.

Khan and his accomplices had rented a house in Manawan, where the training centre is located, a couple of weeks ago to prepare for the attack, police said.

Along with Mehsud, another little-known group called Fedayeen al-Islam also claimed responsibility for the attack on the police academy.

Its spokesman Umar Farooq also claimed to the media that his group had carried out similar style attack against the Sri Lankan cricket team earlier this month.

The elusive Mehsud, who has been targeted by the US drones, said: "...For now it is time to take revenge from Pakistan," and claimed that he had "increased his activities" instead of restricting his movements after the US announced a reward for him.

Mehsud also also claimed responsibility for suicide attacks on a police office in Islamabad last week and on security personnel in the northwestern Bannu city. Eight persons were killed in these two attacks.

He did not divulge any details about the attacks he was planning but said they "would be a test for the government's security agencies".
Mehsud also did not identify the men involved in the assault of the police training centre, saying such information would create problems for his tribesmen. Asked why he was attacking Pakistanis in retaliation for missiles strikes carried out by US drones, he said the Pakistan government has welcomed the policies of new US President Barack Obama.

"President (Asif Ali) Zardari is pursuing American policies. He (Zardari) opposes US verbally but secretly supports these attacks," Mehsud said.

Mehsud, who is linked to Al-Qaeda, has been blamed by authorities for several high-profile terrorist attacks in the past two years, including the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto in December 2007.

Interior ministry chief Rehman Malik had said Mehsud was involved in the attack on the police training centre near Lahore and the Taliban commander was sending fighters from the South Waziristan tribal region to strike targets across Pakistan.

Eight police recruits and a civilian were killed before Pakistani security forces ended the terrorist siege of the training centre after an eight-hour operation.

However, Mehsud dismissed claims by authorities that an Afghan national arrested near the training centre was a member of his group.

He said police had arrested the man at some other place and then brought him there.