Startling Revelations: IS
Operative Confesses To Getting Funds Via US
By Naveed Miraj
January 28, 2015 "ICH"
- "Express
Tribune" -
ISLAMABAD: Yousaf al Salafi –
allegedly the Pakistan commander of Islamic
State (IS) or Daish – has confessed during
investigations that he has been receiving
funds through the United States.
Law enforcing agencies on
January 22 claimed that they arrested al
Salafi, along with his two companions,
during a joint raid in Lahore. However,
sources revealed that al Salafi was actually
arrested sometimes in December last year and
it was only disclosed on January 22.
“During the
investigations, Yousaf al Salafi revealed
that he was getting funding – routed through
America – to run the organisation in
Pakistan and recruit young people to fight
in Syria,” a source privy to the
investigations revealed to Daily Express
on the condition of anonymity.
Al Salafi is a
Pakistani-Syrian, who entered Pakistan
through Turkey five months ago. Earlier, it
was reported that he crossed into Turkey
from Syria and was caught there. However, he
managed to escape from Turkey and reached
Pakistan to establish IS in the region.
Sources said al Salafi’s
revelations were shared with the US
Secretary of State John Kerry during his
recent visit to Islamabad. “The matter was
also taken up with CENTCOM chief General
Lloyd Austin during his visit to Islamabad
earlier this month,” a source said.
Al Salafi also confessed
that he – along with a Pakistani accomplice,
reportedly imam of a mosque – was recruiting
people to send them to Syria and was getting
around $600 per person from Syria.
“The US has been
condemning the IS activities but
unfortunately has not been able to stop
funding of these organisations, which is
being routed through the US,” a source said.
“The US had to dispel the
impression that it is financing the group
for its own interests and that is why it
launched offensive against the organisation
in Iraq but not in Syria,” he added.
There are reports that
citizens from Libya, Afghanistan, Pakistan
and India besides other countries are being
recruited by the IS to fight in Syria.
Posters and wall chalking in favour of the
IS have also been seen in various cities in
Pakistan.
Published in The
Express Tribune, January 28th,
2015.
