ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The FBI has organized some former Pakistani army officers and others into a band known as the “Spider Group” to locate Taliban and al Qaeda fugitives hiding in tribal areas along the Afghanistan border.
A federal law-enforcement official in Washington said yesterday that the move marked an attempt by the FBI to develop a “free flow of information” to U.S. agents who previously had worked under some restrictions with Pakistan’s official Inter-Services Intelligence agency.
The Spider Group consists largely of retired officers of Pakistan’s army, some of whom had reached the rank of brigadier and colonel, say law-enforcement authorities in Washington and sources in Pakistan familiar with the operation.
Most of those involved have had a long experience dealing with Afghanistan, going back to the U.S.-backed war against the Soviets in the 1980s and as recently as the period of Taliban rule, from the mid- 1990s until last year.
**Active Pakistani intelligence officials have begun monitoring Spider Group members, and their presence in army receptions and ceremonies has been banned. Pakistani intelligence operatives have also been directed not to have meetings with the group members. **
An ISI spokesman would neither confirm nor deny the existence of the Spider Group.
“I have heard about it; however, I cannot comment on that without any concrete information,” said the spokesman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. He also denied that the FBI had ever expressed no confidence in information or hints provided by Pakistan’s intelligence agency.
comment: With spies infiltrating all sectors of pakistan society. Now with the one thing pakistan can be proud of its brave army even this is undermined with FBI spies planted everywhere. Causing chaos that the ISI have to monitor and ban this spider group from certain meetings and gatherings because of the threat to security!
it's difficult to name any country where US does not have some sort of covert intelligence presence. It does surprise me that this is claimed for FBI in Pakistan rather than CIA or other less well known outfits. When did Pakistan become the 51st state officially?
everyone (and that's basically Bush, Mush and the joke, Powell) will deny it vehemently - so what are we worried about, as long as they deny it, right?
and as long as this and such rings are supported by pakistani govt (Mush) inside the country, there is a better chance of keeping the extremist camps at abeyance and the wolves away from mush's door. and that is good for pakistan, India and the world at large.
Fraudia is undoubtedly the dreaded "tarantula", the king of all spiders. Perhaps he is in the US spying on our military industrial complex, or perhaps he is here to find out the secrets of Taco Bell and take them illegally back to Pakistan. Who knows....
Ohio guy, but am I a Pakistani spy because thats where my family is from, or an indian one because thats where my wife's family is from? or a British one cuz thats where I was born, nyah maybe a Saudi one cuz thats where I grew up? or dammit can I be a US spy, noting all extremists and their supporters on thsi website as well as in my city.
any of this can be true.or all :) double, triple quatro-crossing spy.
to tell you the truth, i am working for the government of Burkina faso which wants to steal the secret of Nike air technology.
"any of this can be true.or all double, triple quatro-crossing spy"
Cool! All those James Bond thrillers have been a little dull since the demise of the Soviet Union. Spying has gotten a little dull, and perhaps your multi-ethnic backround is what is needed. Now are you as photogenic as Pierce?
Members of the Spider Group, a mix of Muslim and Christian retired army and intelligence officers, have been trained and equipped by the FBI, and, sources in Pakistan say, all have command of the Pashto language spoken in the region. They have also hired Arabic translators.
I never knew Pakistan have Christians in Army and Intelligence Agency. Someone willing to provide statistics of Christians in Pakistan?
Retired officers got a job. Wouldn’t you love that
Most of those involved have had a long experience dealing with Afghanistan, going back to the U.S.-backed war against the Soviets in the 1980s and as recently as the period of Taliban rule, from the mid- 1990s until last year.
Active Pakistani intelligence officials have begun monitoring Spider Group members, and their presence in army receptions and ceremonies has been banned. Pakistani intelligence operatives have also been directed not to have meetings with the group members.
An ISI spokesman would neither confirm nor deny the existence of the Spider Group.
comment: With spies infiltrating all sectors of pakistan society. Now with the one thing pakistan can be proud of its brave army even this is undermined with FBI spies planted everywhere. Causing chaos that the ISI have to monitor and ban this spider group from certain meetings and gatherings because of the threat to security!
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Saif, did it ever occur to u that these FBI agents maybe infact CIA agents using the cover of FBI. CIA doesnt like its presence known openly like that in other countries and thus has to have some sort of cover and FBI provides the suitable cover, since FBI is more of a policing agency than a spy agency :D
On the other hand, ISI and CIA have worked closely and still do ever since 1979 invasion of Afghanistan by Russia. If there is anyone who knows the inner workings of warlords or taliban or al-qaeda, its the ISI field officers, former and current. Thus, it would suit CIA well if it were to recruit ISI agents.
And ofcourse all three agencies would deny it publically :D
true very true