Al Qaeda affiliate could be behind Benazir killing
New Delhi (PTI): A group having ideological leanings with global terror outfit Al-Qaeda could be behind the assassination of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, say former intelligence officials and diplomats.
Al-Qaeda has on several occasions claimed responsibility for terror strikes through Al-Zajeera TV channel, a news agency, newspaper of international repute or chose internet to convey its message.
But in this case, a call claiming responsibility went to a small-time news agency in Italy. "We terminated the most precious American asset which vowed to defeat (the) 'mujahadeen'," Italian news agency Adnkronos International (AKI) quoted Al-Qaeda Commander and spokesman Mustafa Abu Al-Yazid as having claimed in the telephonic conversation.
Former Director of Intelligence Bureau A K Doval says the killing could have been carried out by small groups like Lashker-e-Jhangvi or Sipah-e-Sahiba terror groups which are affiliates of Al-Qaeda.
The claim of Al-Qaeda that it was behind the killing of Bhutto should not be taken on its face value, says Doval. "I feel that it could be a handiwork of a group affiliated or trained by Al-Qaeda," he said.
Al-Qaeda is a pre-dominantly Arab outfit and the group that killed Bhutto could have ideological links with the international terror group, says former High Commissioner to Pakistan G Parthasarthy.
"Recently, Tehrek-e-Taliban-Pakistan was formed on similar lines of Al-Qaeda. They had vowed to eliminate her. They could be possibly behind the killing," he said.
