ISI, Hizb chief meet for J&K terror
In an attempt to foment fresh trouble in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is pressuring militant groups to intensify their activities. For this, ISI officials have had a series of meetings with members of the United Jihad Council, particularly its chairman Syed Salahuddin, who also heads militant group Hizbul Mujahideen. The Jihad Council is an umbrella organisation of various terror outfits operating out of Pakistan.
These details have been revealed in a highly-classified note circulated among New Delhi’s top security and intelligence agencies last week. The note, which has been accessed by this newspaper, goes on to state that the “ISI is desperate to shift focus from its own domestic issues of a tussle between the Army, government and the judiciary”.
The report goes on to add that a sizeable section within the ISI feels that increased militancy in Kashmir is an ideal diversionary tactic.
“If one was to analyse the security scenario in Kashmir, it will be clear that whenever there is trouble in Pakistan there is an increase in militant activities in the Kashmir Valley. Only this time the ISI seems to be extremely desperate,’’ a senior government official said.
According to the note, a series of meetings have been held between the ISI officials and members of the Jihad Council since early January in Lahore and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The report goes on to mention about once such specific meeting, held on January 10 in PoK, where a senior ISI official Major Dilshad Baig was also present.
At this meeting, the ISI official, while assuring more assistance to Syed Salahuddin, insisted on an immediate increase in militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir.
A fresh blueprint for stepping up infiltration across the border was also discussed at this meeting. Interestingly, the report adds, following these meetings there has been an increase in satellite phone calls and wireless messages among militant groups across the border. Movement of militant outfits near the various launch pads close to the border has also been witnessed.
Highly-placed government sources said security and intelligence agencies have taken a serious note of the fresh inputs and sensitised the concerned agencies. In fact, security along the Line of Control and International Border has already been beefed up in view of the ongoing Assembly elections.
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