NEW DELHI - The man arrested by the Pakistani authorities in Islamabad, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, is the founder of the biggest militant group active in Kashmir's long and bloody insurgency.
But Lashkar-e-Tayyiba is a Pakistani group rather than a Kashmiri one. And unlike the others, which live a fly-by-night existence in and out of Indian-ruled Kashmir, Lashkar gives an impression of immense solidity and wealth.
Its headquarters, spreading over 77ha, 48km from Lahore in the fertile heart of Pakistani Punjab, contains a huge mosque, a garments factory, an iron foundry, a woodworking plant and a swimming pool. An Islamic university is under construction.
Mystery surrounds the source of Lashkar's wealth, but Indian sources believe it comes from Osama bin Laden.
They also claim he was the inspiration behind the organisation when it was founded in 1987, and that under a pseudonym he attended its annual meetings until he became the West's bogeyman in 1992.
Whatever the truth of that, the man arrested on Monday has created an organisation with many similarities to others associated with bin Laden.
Saeed said in 1997 that Lashkar's aim in Pakistan was to train people in jihad (holy war) in countries with non-Islamic Governments.
"God has ordained every Muslim to fight until his rule is established," he said.
The object of Lashkar is to free Kashmir from the control of Hindus, and then to do the same for Muslims in the rest of India, creating three new homelands.
Lashkar is Pakistan's most sophisticated factory of jihad, using its network of schools, social service groups and religious publications to create a passion for holy war.
In the process it manufactures warriors who are delighted to die for the cause.
After the debacle of the Kargil mountain war in 1999, Lashkar introduced the fidayeen (suicide attack) into the Kashmir struggle, with particular success against Indian military installations.
The organisation has denied involvement in last month's attack on India's Parliament.
Saeed has been careful to avoid antagonising Pakistan's Government, and is believed to have a cosy relationship with military intelligence, which used it in the proxy war against India in Kashmir.
In other developments:
* Two al Qaeda computers containing hundreds of documents and files, including plans to launch a chemical and biological weapons programme, have been found in Kabul, says the Wall Street Journal.
A reporter bought the computers for $US1100 ($2640).
One computer, containing text and video files dating back to early 1997, was used by the leadership of al Qaeda to coordinate secret operations around the world, the newspaper said.
It was last used in May.
A looter apparently found the computer and a laptop in an office used by al Qaeda.
United States officials have confirmed the authenticity of the files, which discuss subjects ranging from fundraising to efforts to create chemical and biological weapons.
* Air passengers in the US will on February 1 start paying up to $US10 extra on a round-trip ticket to help cover the cost of added security, says the US Department of Transportation.
Airlines with planes departing from US airports will be responsible for collecting the $US2.50 per travel segment, raising up to $US900 million annually.
- INDEPENDENT, REUTERS
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