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Pakistan-US-Al-Qaeda Al-Qaeda mastermind in Kunar, Afghanistan: official

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Aug 19, IRNA

Pakistan has told the US military that an Arab Al-Qaeda operative who masterminded the London jetliner terror plot is hiding in northeastern Afghanistan, an intelligence official said on Friday.

According to the Daily Times, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Al-Qaeda member is believed to be moving between Afghanistan's Nuristan and Kunar provinces, which border Pakistan, adding that Pakistan had also sought US help to capture him.

The information was obtained by interrogators questioning Rashid Rauf, a British suspect in the plot to blow up trans-Atlantic passenger planes.

The information has been shared with British and coalition forces operating in Afghanistan, the official said, adding that the wanted Al-Qaeda operative was an aide to Ayman al-Zawahiri, Al-Qaeda's Egyptian no 2 in command killed in January by US and Iraqi forces.

Detained terror suspects have told interrogators Al-Zawahiri had likely approved the plan to blow up British planes.

Rauf was in touch with the Al-Qaeda operative through a courier from Afghanistan.

The official said the Arab Al-Qaeda mastermind had developed links with several Pakistan-based militants including Rauf.

A US military spokesman in Afghanistan said Pakistan routinely shares terror-related information with the US, but he could not comment on whether Islamabad had notified the US about the Al-Qaeda mastermind.

Meanwhile, British police investigating the plane plot refused to comment over media reports they had found a suitcase full of items that could make a bomb.

According to BBC television, the bomb components were uncovered during searches of woodlands near High Wycombe, a town west of London.

British police have found martyrdom videotapes apparently recorded by some of the plane plot's suspects, a media report said.

Officers have found at least six videos in which the suspects allegedly recorded their last statements in preparation for suicide attacks, according to BBC television quoting unofficial police sources.

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