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A win for Pak diplomacy
Anees Ibrahim an asset to ISI
Rajeev Sharma
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 20
Contrary to Islamabad’s assertions, its diplomatic missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates played a crucial role to secure the illegal deportation of Dawood Ibrahim’s younger brother Anees to Pakistan.

A latest classified report sent to the Vajpayee government through diplomatic channels says Pakistani consulate officers in these UAE missions took the plea with the UAE authorities that before handing over Anees Ibrahim to India his status should be decided as he also holds a Pakistani passport. The Pakistani consulate officers argued that Anees was wanted by the Pakistan authorities and thus delayed his deportation to India.

It was a chess game cleverly played by the Pakistani diplomats in Abu Dhabi and Dubai which led to Anees Ibrahim’s illegal deportation to Pakistan despite the fact that an extradition treaty between India and the UAE was signed in 1999, well-placed sources here said.

It is an open secret that far from being a wanted criminal in Pakistan, as the Pakistanis argued before the UAE authorities, he is a strategic asset for the Pakistan government and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Though an Indian national, Anees is in possession of a Belize passport (number A 001407, dated 6.6.1995, issued at Dubai). He is understood to have surrendered his Indian passports to the Consul-General of India at Dubai on September 2, 1996, on the pretext that he had obtained Belize nationality.

In addition to a Pakistani and Tanzanian passports, Anees also has an American passport (number 111480930) in the name of Sheikh Anees A Tasleem. His wife, Tahseem, is also said to be in possession of an American passport (number 091655833) in the name of Sheikh Kalsoom A Anees.

Anees Ibrahim came from Karachi to Dubai on November 29, this year and was arrested by the UAE authorities on December 3. The Interpol has issued a red corner alert notice in 1994, for him in connection with the March 12, 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts.

The UAE authorities asked India to file request for Anees Ibrahim’s extradition as he was arrested on the charges of murder of Irfan Goga, a notorious extortionist and drug smuggler in Dubai who was murdered in 1998. Goga’s body remains were found in October/November, 2002.

Eventually Anees Ibrahim was allowed to go to Pakistan on December 12 and he flew to Pakistan the same night.

According to sources, however, Anees Ibrahim has been warned against his entry into the UAE in future.

A press note issued by the Director-General, CID, Dubai Government, said Anees Ibrahim was arrested for suspected criminal activities carried out in Dubai and not because of any other charges.