Insurgent groups within Algeria and parts of North Africa have become a franchise of Al-Qaeda, according to the US Intelligence reports. American military officials have evidence that a small insurgent group within Algeria has shifted tactics and it operates on the line of terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan. The recent spate of attacks on tourists, kidnapping and suicide attacks in Algeria bear Al-Qaeda’s signature. There are footprints of Al-Qaeda type terrorist activities in various parts spread all over Northern Africa as well.
According to the reports, at least one of the local insurgent groups who were mainly opposed to local Algerian government has embraced the greater call of Islamic Jihad against the West. Salafist Group Members, led by Droukdal, a 38 year old explosives expert who joined local insurgent movement against Algerian government nearly 12 years ago, has become a part of Al-Qaeda. The group with 300 to 400 fighters in the mountains of east Algiers and nearly 200 supporters throughout the country is now known as Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb. The deal between the two almost has corporate overturns. In return of the supply of militants and support to Islamic Jihad, they get weapons and training from the parent Al-Qaeda organisation.
It seems Droukal himself has given an audio interview explaining the standpoint of his group. Intriguing part is, the group was pushed towards terrorism after Sept 11 2001 attack on WTC! Post terrorist attack, on 23rd September, US President Bush had declared a list of terrorist outfits as potential threat to the world. One of the names was that of Salafist Group Members. This came as a shock. The group was never involved in any activity outside Algeria. Further they were cornered by Algerian government which began flushing out Islamic insurgent groups from its country. They also feel future of Algeria and north Africa threatened as US has gained an entry point in northern Africa with increased military activities and has an eye on resources such as oil. So this anti-US feeling has turned them into supporters of Bin Laden and Al Qaeda’s Islamic Jihad.
Now lines are clearly more defined between pro-Islamic jihad outfits and those who oppose their standpoint. If Al-Qaeda manages to bring all pro-Islamic groups under one umbrella it’ll be difficult to protect the whole world from sophisticated terrorist attacks. US is the main target of Iraq and Afghanistan based Al-Qaeda and now France and Europe will be potential targets as France had occupied Algeria for 135 years and Algerian government enjoys European support and wants to adopt its ways of education.
In spite of US military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan and its intelligence, Bin-Laden and Al-Qaeda will continue to find ways to haunt the world. The more wars are declared against Islamic Jihad the more they seem grow in strength. Terrorist outfits like Al-Qaeda and West’s fight against terrorism seem to be fuelling each other’s ambition and between them world stands as an insecure spectator.
source:InternationalHeraldTribune
