Share this story!            

Al-Suri was Qaeda’s operation commander in Bajaur, Kunar

By Iqbal Khattak

PESHAWAR: Abu Marwan al-Suri was Al Qaeda operational commander in the eastern Afghan province of Kunar and the Bajaur tribal region in Pakistan, official sources said on Saturday.

Al-Suri is believed to have been killed in a clash with security personnel on Thursday. “He was commanding Al Qaeda operatives both in Kunar and Bajaur and was senior leader in Qaeda’s second hierarchy,” the sources tracking the terror network told Daily Times, wishing not to be named.

Also known as a master of disguise, Suri’s death is regarded as a blow to Al Qaeda’s ability to strike and the network also lost an expert on explosives and chemical and biological weapons. Al-Suri was also a good trainer.

His death comes a week after a strike in North Waziristan in which Egyptian-born Al Qaeda explosive expert Abdul Rehman al-Muhajir was reported killed.

“Rehman is confirmed dead in the January 13 strike but what we lack is physical evidence,” officials said.

Al-Suri was not only expert in making explosives but also a good trainer.

Anti-terrorism analysts with a security agency told Daily Times that it appeared the Qaeda network was short of trained people after “we killed a number of their trained” people.

“And you can see how Qaeda is short of trained people from al-Suri working as the operational commander for both Kunar and Bajaur. Normally, you can be operational commander of one sector but not two simultaneously,” he said.

The body of the killed Al Qaeda operative was bullet-ridden, according to a senior administration official in Khar.

“He had a small black beard and dressed in shalwar-kameez,” he said. “At times, he grew small beard and at times he was clean-shaven and attired in western dress to dodge intelligence sleuths.”

The Syrian-born al-Suri was chased the moment he crossed into Pakistan. Dressed in shalwar-kameez, he hired a pick-up to come down to Khar, regional headquarters of Bajaur Agency.

“We doubled paramilitary force strength at one of the check-posts on a highway linking the border town with Khar. As al-Suri came out of his vehicle he ran to avoid being arrested. Security forces’ personnel were shouting at him: ‘Stop, don’t run away’.

“He fired a shot with his 30-bore pistol at the law-enforcers wounding one of them. And still our security force personnel wanted to catch him alive but when the Syrian fired at another jawan who died, then he was fired at from all directions,” the sources said.

The security official said if Al Suriwas caught alive and broken during interrogation he might have provided significant clues about Osama Bin Laden and other top Al Qaeda leaders.

Home | National

Share this story!