Ustad Ahmad Farooq (language/Urdu: استاد احمد فاروق; c. 1979–1981 − 15 January 2015), born Raja Muhammad Salman (راجہ محمد سلمان) was a Pakistani Islamist jihadi[1] who served as the deputy Emir of Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent,[2] as well as Al-Qaeda's chief media person in Pakistan. It is believed he played a vital role in establishing Al-Qaeda in Pakistan after the September 11 attacks.[3][4]
Early life
Ahmad was born in Brooklyn between 1979 and 1981 to a Pakistani family. He was from Islamabad and received Sharia education at the International Islamic University, Islamabad.[2] He joined Al-Qaeda and quickly rose to become its chief propagandist in Pakistan, releasing several videos, audio clips and writings perpetuating his views.[5]
Death
On 15 January 2015, Usama Mahmood, the spokesman for Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent confirmed that Ustad Ahmad Farooq, had been killed in drone attacks conducted by the U.S. in the Lowara Mandi area of North Waziristan.[6][7] President Barack Obama announced that, in the same drone strike, hostage aid workers Giovanni Lo Porto and Warren Weinstein were killed as collateral damage.[8]
References
- ^ Foundation, Jamestown (2021-01-29). "The Jihadists' War in Pakistan after the U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan: Lessons from Al-Qaeda's Assassination of Benazir Bhutto; Terrorism Monitor Volume: 19 Issue: 2". Retrieved 2022-06-07.
- ^ a b Khan, Tahir (12 April 2015). "Death from above: Unmanned war dents al Qaeda's S Asia franchise". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ Sayed, Abdul (29 January 2021). "The Jihadists' War in Pakistan after the U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan: Lessons from Al-Qaeda's Assassination of Benazir Bhutto". Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- ^ Mir, Amir. "New Al Qaeda leader Shinwari backs terrorism in J&K". Rediff. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
- ^ "GTR". gtrp.haverford.edu. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
- ^ "Al-Qaeda confirms killing of Qari Imran, Ahmad Farooq". The News International. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
- ^ Report, Bureau (2015-04-13). "Al Qaeda confirms death of two key leaders in drone strikes". Dawn. Pakistan. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/world/asia/2-qaeda-hostages-were-accidentally-killed-in-us-raid-white-house-says.html