Pakistan says al-Qaeda and Taliban behind Bhutto killing
'They were very brave boys who killed her,' says Taliban official to al-Qaeda leader in transcript released by Pakistani government of conversation proving terror groups were involved in assassination of Benazir Bhutto
A transcript released by the Pakistani government Friday of a purported conversation between militant leader Baitullah Mehsud, who is referred to as Emir Sahib, and another man identified as a Maulvi Sahib, or Mr. Cleric. The government alleges the intercepted conversation proves al-Qaeda was behind the assassination of Benazir Bhutto
Al-Qaeda and Taliban were behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan's interior minister told The Associated Press.
''We have the evidence that al-Qaeda and Taliban were behind the suicide attack on Benazir Bhutto,'' Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz said.
Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema said that on Friday, the government recorded an ''intelligence intercept'' in which militant leader Baitullah Mehsud ''congratulated his people for carrying out this cowardly act.'' He gave no further details on the nature of the intercept.
Cheema described Mehsud as an ''al-Qaeda leader'' and said he was also behind the Oct. 18 bombing against Bhutto's homecoming parade through Karachi that killed more than 140 people.
Mehsud is a commander of pro-Taliban forces in the lawless Pakistani tribal region South Waziristan, where al-Qaeda fighters are also active. His forces often attack Pakistani security forces.
This fall, he was quoted in a Pakistani newspaper as saying that he would welcome Bhutto's return from exile with suicide bombers. Mehsud later denied that in statements to local television and newspaper reporters.
Cheema said Mehsud was ''behind most of the recent terrorist attacks that have taken place in Pakistan.''
He said Pakistani security forces would hunt down those responsible for Bhutto's death.
Excerpts from the transcript:
Maulvi Sahib: They were our men there.
Mehsud: Who were they?
Maulvi Sahib : There were Saeed, the second was Badarwala Bilal and Ikramullah was also there.
Mehsud: It was a spectacular job. They were very brave boys who killed her.
Maulvi Sahib: Praise be to God. I will give you more details when I come.
Mehsud: I will wait for you. Congratulation once again.
Maulvi Sahib: Congratulations to you as well.
