European Militants Find Training in Pakistan

Fighters wary of Iraq are groomed for terror ops on Afghan border
By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 14, 2007 6:38 PM CDT
European Militants Find Training in Pakistan
Authorities say Pakistan has become a training ground for terrorists in recent months.   (Shutter Stock)

Renewed Al-Qaeda strength on the Pakistan-Afghan border is wooing European militants to train in Pakistan, the Los Angeles Times reports. Fighters who are wary of Iraq—where they may have to strap on a bomb on short notice—can enjoy being groomed for missions in Pakistan. “Pakistan worries me more than Iraq,” says a Belgian official, because militants “have time to be trained as operatives.”

Officials uncovered the Euro-Pakistan trail while probing last month’s foiled bomb plots in Germany and Denmark. Extremists hail from all over Europe, though, including Britain—where Al-Qaeda-trained natives killed 52 in 2005. Their easy passage through Iran en route to Pakistan has convinced anti-terrorist agents that Tehran is supporting the fighters. (More Pakistan stories.)

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