Dawood Ibrahim-led terrorist group's D-Company has diversified: US lawmakers told
Pakistan-based Dawood Ibrahim-led terrorist group D-Company has diversified in many other fields and built a powerful transnational crime-terror organization in part from drug proceeds, US lawmakers were told on Friday. Indian underworld don Dawood wanted in India for a number of terrorist attacks, is now based in Karachi, according to the US and Indian officials. However, Pakistan has denied his presence in the country.
D-Company expanded Karachi's historic role as a drug transshipment point
"Pakistan-based crime-terror group D-Company, whose origins lie in India, expanded Karachi's historic role as a drug transshipment point, and built a powerful transnational crime-terror organization in part from drug proceeds," Dr. Louise Shelley, Professor at Schar School of Policy and Government at the George Mason University told lawmakers. Shelley claimed that the D-Company has diversified. "D-Company, like Mexican drug organizations, has diversified," he added.
India's campaign against Dawood was acknowledged by America in 2003
"D-Company traffic weapons, counterfeit DVDs, and provide financial services through their extensive system of hawala operators," Shelley said during a Congressional hearing organized by the Committee on House Financial Services Subcommittee on Terrorism and Illicit Finance. India's sustained campaign against Dawood was finally acknowledged by America in 2003 when the US declared him a global terrorist having links with al-Qaeda.
Dawood in Karachi, and has a Pakistani passport: US
Vindicating India's position that Pakistan has been sheltering Dawood, the US had said that he was in Karachi and possessed a Pakistani passport under the individual category. Testifying before the same Congressional sub-committee, Celina B Realuyo, Professor of Practice, William J Perry Centre for Hemispheric Defence Studies, National Defense University, said a number of recent attacks in Kabul were planned from Pakistan's safe havens.
