This four-part report, done in January 2009, was basically related to the Mumbai incident but carried much wider in scope. It was also the first time that we pointed out a definite connection between the Americans and the Pakistani jihadis operating under various names such as TTP, LeT etc. Our experts made several predictions that are sadly coming true one by one. Our observations at the start of this report are especially significant today. We are reproducing this report here as Archive Material because it is directly relevant to our current investigative-analytical series ‘Smashing Greater Central Asia.’
[Archive Material] Mumbai Mystery: American Designs on Pakistan and India — Part One
Tariq Saeedi, with Sergi Pyatakov in Moscow and Mark Davidson in Washington
Mumbai episode is the latest in a long and nefarious story that started unfolding some 16 months ago in the barren hills of Balochistan, a sparsely populated province in western Pakistan.
After more than 22000 kilometers of road and rail travel, endless legwork chasing small and seemingly unrelated clues, hundreds of interviews and many dozens of field trips, all we have been able to do is just remove the lid on the American designs on Pakistan and India. Equally disturbing is the reality that Central Asia, China and Russia are also in the crosshairs of the United States. What we have found is sheer in scope, mind-boggling and frightening.
The USA seems to have decided to:
- Bifurcate Pakistan using all possible means, including the religious elements that can be bought, coerced or tricked;
- Pull the plug on the Indian and Pakistani economies by creating a situation of perpetual confrontation;
- Prevent India from becoming an economic rival of the United States in foreseeable future by denying it the energy resources of Central Asia and Iran, and draining its precious human and material assets in dead-end pursuits;
- Promote drug addiction in South and Central Asia so that all the opium produced in Afghanistan is consumed in the region and little or none is left for export to the American markets;
- Block the economic growth and expanding regional influence of China and Russia;
- Acquire logistics facilities and infrastructure network for military action against Iran;
The Bumper Crop of Spies
We started working on this story in July 2007 on a vague tip that some foreign spies had been caught in the Pakistani province of Balochistan. We traveled to Balochistan and started talking to people who had many interesting things to tell.
“They caught a spy transmitting from the backroom of a pharmacy in Dalbandin,” said a local shopkeeper.
“Yes, it was about eleven in the night. They caught him without any trouble.” said his friend.
The capture of another spy was rather hilarious.
“He was dressed like a Baloch, and he looked like a Baloch,” said a shepherd.
“But we knew immediately that he was not a Baloch and we tipped a militia patrol,” he added.
“How did you know he was not a Baloch,” we asked.
His brief explanation: “He was not walking like a Baloch.”
It is easy to understand the shepherd if you have ever seen a real Baloch in motion. The lilt and majesty of Baloch gait is inimitable.
Another spy was pretending to be a bush.
“The spy was concealed in a small bush on ——– [name of the mountain omitted deliberately],” told a farmer in a settlement opposite Ahmedwal town.
“Why did you think it was not just a bush like any other bush,” we asked.
“There was no bush there the day before,” was his simple reply.
Because of the keen observation and vigilance of the locals, five spies were caught in less than two months. There were at least three others, who were detected but managed to escape. It is difficult to say as to how many more operated unnoticed, completed their work and went back to wherever they came from.
What was significant was that the locals said that four of the five captured spies were Amreeki (Americans).
This sudden surge in American spies was inexplicable.
We decided to consult Sasha and Misha, two retired KGB colonels, living in a quieter district of Moscow.
Back to Sasha and Misha
Sasha and Misha (not their real names), are retired KGB colonels and top-notch experts on Afghanistan and Pakistan. They were among the architects of the original BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army) during the Russo-Afghan war. They know Balochistan better than anyone else we ever met.
Afghanistan and Pakistan are their first love and like faithful lovers they always keep tab on what is happening in that part of the world. And, they are in touch with many of their old contacts.
“There can be many reasons for increased espionage. It usually indicates some major shift in policy or preparation for a big operation. Looking at other developments, I would say that it is the both. The Americans are going for a major shift in their policy toward Pakistan and they may also be putting together some big operations,” said Sasha.
“Go look for something unorthodox,” added Misha.
The trouble with Misha is that he speaks Cryptese. With his inherent fondness for crosswords, anagrams and puzzles, Misha is almost always difficult to decipher.
“Unorthodox what,” we asked in exasperation.
“Such as Yankee-Jihadi marriage,” said Misha with a naughty twinkle in his eyes that suddenly made him look much younger.
It was clear that we were not going to get anything more from the duo before doing some spadework.
Continued . . .
[This report is our Archive Material, first published in January 2009]