NEW DELHI: Intelligence inputs reviewed by The Sunday Standard reveal that India’s most wanted terrorist is no more a prized guest of Pakistan but a captive of ISI, which will not let him go out of Pakistan alive.
“After Osama’s Abbottabad episode, Pakistan would rather kill Dawood than let India parade him before the public,” said sources, monitoring Dawood’s activities.
The chatters indicated Dawood, unlike reports, did not venture out of Pakistan in the last one year. More certainly, he has been confined to two safe-houses in Islamabad and Karachi unlike previous reports of seven to eight hideouts.
“Dawood could be poisoned by ISI. In this case, his death could be easily placed under the wrap by the agency which controls movements and interactions of his entire family, including wife Mehajabeen, son Moeen and daughters Mahrukh and Mehreen,” top intelligence sources said, adding that his elimination could happen sooner than later after reports that Modi government has laid down a plan to nab Dawood.
“We can’t talk about the operational details but definitely a concrete plan to get Dawood was initiated after the new government came to power. Just wait and watch,” a senior government functionary told this newspaper.
And, this could precisely be the reason for Dawood’s captivity. A recent chatter reveals that Dawood is not being allowed by the Pak agency to move out especially since Modi government came to power last year. His last travel logged by agencies was to a function in Karachi and a visit to Ziauddin Hospital in April this year. This is unusual for Dawood, known for frequently changing his locations in Pakistan to avoid Indian and International agents tailing his movements. But, sources confirmed that his family members are frequently travelling in and out of Pakistan. The agencies, which have been logging Dawood and his family members’ Passport since he fled to Dubai in mid-80s, have listed new Passports provided by Pakistani government. His wife Mahajabeen has been travelling using Pakistani passport No. J-589103 while his son Moeen has been issued a Pak passport, No. J-588518. Daughter Mahrukh, who is married to son of Pakistan cricketer Javed Miandad, holds Pakistani passport No. J-563473.
Business Network Intact
Intercepts reveal that Dawood has been in constant touch with Aslam Chaudhary and Subha Bahi, who are learnt to be looking after his illegitimate business empire in Karachi and Bangladesh. Several other intercepts show Dawood chats with Malik Bhai, a businessman in Lahore. Not much is known about Malik but sources said that he owns two shops in the city and is acting as front for Dawood’s fake currency business.
An intercept also gives out details of Shaikh Shafi, who is based in Dubai and is learnt to be handling Dawood’s real estate business. A former Pakistani government servant, Shafi, is using the services of Khadka, a Nepali businessman, to expand D-company’s businesses in Abu Dhabi.
Key Figures Located
The aggressive surveillance, mounted since last year after Ajit Doval took over as National Security Advisor, also netted several high-profile individuals considered close aides of Dawood. Pakistani national Aslam Chaudhary, Dawood’s high-level ‘Mr Fixit’, has been found to be frequently moving in and out of Abu Dhabi. Chaudhary’s name had cropped up sometime in 2013 in connection with a probe in Hawala syndicate operating through Thailand and Bangladesh. A senior intelligence officer who earlier served under Doval in the Intelligence Bureau said, “Doval thinks like his target. Rules to demolish Dawood’s empire was laid down immediately after he assumed office. It is not about only Dawood but also to dismantle the vast network he has been able to create in the last 30 years,” the officer said.
Then, there is Irshad, who has been tailed by Indian agencies in Thailand, after inputs revealed that he along with Musa, another close aide of Dawood, is shifting most of his illegitimate businesses to Khon Kaen province. Sources said an elaborate plan has been made to nab them when time is ripe.
At least three more fugitives—Aslam, Suleiman and Mullah—are also on the radar in Dubai. The intercepts reveal that mullah recently travelled to Bangladesh.