Pakistani security forces had a major breakthrough when Adnan Rashid, one of the most feared commanding masterminds Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was nailed in South Waziristan Agency (SWA).
“Rashid was arrested after Pakistani troops, following a credible lead, stormed his den in Shakai village of SWA three days ago. The TTP commander was on the run from North to South Waziristan”. He was supposedly injured in a shootout.
Rashid, the chief of Ansar Al-Aseer, the TTP’s unit tasked to free militant prisoners, surrendered himself to security forces following a brief shootout, the sources added.
“He was later moved to an unknown location via helicopter”, according to sources.
Rashid, believed to be in his mid 30s had been convicted and sentenced to death for his alleged role in a murder attempt on former military ruler Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf in 2003.
Rashid, who was on death row, was among those 400 inmates who escaped in a sweeping jailbreak after hundreds of militants stormed a prison in Bannu in 2012.
Security sources also believe that Rashid was also responsible for engineering a massive breakout at a Dera Ismail Khan jail on 30 August 2013, in which 175 prisoners were freed including 35 high profile militants.
Following his release, he claimed responsibility for masterminding another jail break that freed 250 prisoners, made a series of YouTube videos and wrote an open letter attempting to justify the assassination attempt on schoolgirl activist Malala Yousafzai.
In his English language letter to Malala, Rashid said, “I wish you were not attacked. You were targeted because you speak against the Taliban.”
He joined the Pakistan Air Force as a junior technician in 1997, but was later dismissed due to his suspicious activities.
Local residents in the area where Rashid was captured say that leaflets purporting to be from the Taliban were being circulated, blaming Rashid’s capture on some local Taliban commanders and promising vengeance.
