There is increased speculation based on several recent attacks on Jihadi leaders that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is targeting individuals who oppose Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf.

Analysts say that there is a links in the attacks on former head of banned group Harkat-ul-Mujahideen Maulana Khalil and leader of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (parent of Lashkar-e-Toiba) Amir Abu Hanif. Both happened right after their speeches bashing Musharraf by unidentified gunmen and without any arrests. Since there is no attack on Jihadi infrastructure and only on individuals inimical to Musharraf, analysts say that this may be the ISI’s mode of letting the Jihadi element know when they have crossed the line.

Interestingly Pakistani police have also arrested Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operatives in South Waziristan on charges of conspiring with Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. While Pakistan has consistently denied the Hizb’s participation in al Qaeda, this is the first public admission of such as alliance. The Hizb’s leader blasted Musharraf on his “apologetic and timid approach” to the Kashmir issue. With dwindling support from the Pakistani establishment, the Hizb has said that it will participate in a political solution to the Kashmir issue without giving up its armed struggle. Arguing that “war and dialogue” can happen simultaneously as in Afghanistan and Vietnam, Hizb and United Jihad Council Chairman Syed Salahuddin said that all militant groups can announce ceasefire if they are convinced that India is serious about resolving the Kashmir issue.  Coincidentally, the Hurriyat leader Umar Farooq asked the Indian armed forces to declare a ceasefire.