JOIN US “The creation of the cells is aimed at coordinating the banned group’s activities in the area ranging from the southern port city of Karachi to Waziristan in the restive tribal belt bordering Afghanistan,” the Express Tribune newspaper quoted its sources in Kohat, Hangu, Peshawar and Lahore as saying.
“Each sub-group is responsible for carrying out activities in a specific geographic location,” one of the sources said.
Individuals with connections within the LeJ and intelligence officials tracking the group said the move appeared to be an attempt to outsmart law enforcement agencies.
“It looks like (LeJ strategists) don’t want to put all their eggs in one basket,” said an unnamed intelligence official.
“It’s a typical guerrilla warfare and urban militancy technique. With scattered cells, they have better chances of survival by diverting the focus of law enforcement agencies.”
The LeJ, which is dominated by militants from Punjab, has established hideouts inside North Waziristan tribal region, which is controlled by the network of Afghan Taliban commander Jalaluddin Haqqani.