Jammu, Poonch, May1—Lashkar-e-Tayyba and Jaish-e-Mohammad plan to recruit around 200 youth from the border districts of Poonch and Mendhar in order to augment the shortage in their ranks.'
According to highly placed sources, the top commanders of the two terrorists outfits are working in close coordination to ensure that youth of the area join the militant ranks. In order to lure the youth of Poonch and Mendhar, sources said Saiful Rehman, divisional commander of Lashkar-e-Tayba and Saiful Qari, divisional commander of Jaiesh-e-Mohhammad have promised a monthly salary to these youths for three months and after that they will be taken to Pakistan for training.
In a startling revolution it was also revealed that a team of locals has been constituted as recruiting board to identify the local youth, who can be lured successfully into anti-national activities. This team moves with the top militant commanders of the area and motivates the local youth for crossing the border.
The impressionable youth are made to study literature and watch CDs containing inflammatory speeches of militant leaders which exhorts them to seek revenge for the atrocities being committed against the Muslims across the length and breadth of globe.
As per the militant plans, these youth would be first indoctrinated with militant ideology and thereafter taken across the border to Lashkar-e-Toiba camps spread across Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The camps and recruitment centers are spread across the length and breadth of Pakistan and PoK in Muzaffarabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Multan, Quetta, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Gilgit (in the Northern Area of PoK), etc.
LeT reportedly has 2,200 offices across Pakistan These youth would be taught in handling sophisticated weapons which includes AK series rifles, LMG/HMG's, Hand Grenades and sophisticated communication systems. As per reliable sources, the movement of the terrorists have been facilitated to a great extent due to the reduction of troops in the areas as a number of army pickets have been recalled on the pretext of a fall in militancy in the area.
Local, however, opine that militants are waiting to spread their wings as they have spotted an opportunity in the demilitarization move of the army. People, who have worked with the army are particularly perturbed as they feel that they would be targeted by the terrorists.
A local official on the condition of anonymity said that they are keeping a close watch on the situation and every effort would be made to thwart the designs of anti-national elements.
The LeT’s professed ideology goes beyond merely challenging India's sovereignty over the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The Lashkar's ‘agenda’, as outlined in a pamphlet titled Why are we waging jihad includes the restoration of Islamic rule over all parts of India.
Further, the outfit seeks to bring about a union of all Muslim majority regions in countries that surround Pakistan. Towards that end, it is active in J&K, Chechnya and other parts of Central Asia. Hafiz Saeed, a scholar of Islam, has said that the purpose of Jihad is to carry out a sustained struggle for the dominance of Islam in the entire world and to eliminate the evil forces and the ignorant.
He considers India, Israel and US to be his prime enemies and has threatened to launch Fidayeen (suicide squad) attacks on American interests too. The Lashkar-e-Toiba does not believe in democracy and nationalism.
According to its ideology, it is the duty of every 'Momin' to protect and defend the interests of Muslims all over the world where Muslims are under the rule of non-Muslim in the democratic system. It has, thus chosen the path of Jihad as the suited means to achieve its goal. Cadres are drawn from the Wahabi school of thought.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Children stand guard as parents tend to fields in Hill Kaka village
Kalali (Surankote), Jammu April 22—Can you imagine a sixteen year old boy taking admission in class one and than going to school every day with zeal to learn. This unthinkable happened at village Kalali in Hill Kaka in the year 2003 after militancy was crushed by the Indian army during operation Sarp Vinash.
The tragedy, however, is that instead of attending school, sixteen year old Bashir Ahmed son of Abdul Ahmad of Kalali in Surankote is has been forced to hold a gun and guard his family while they are working in the fields.
Not only he, but children as little as 12-year are standing guard to protect their families from the wrath of the militants, who are keen to avenge the mauling of operation Sarp Vinash, launched by the Indian army.
“ I would have passed matric by now, if there was no militancy in the area but it was only after the militants were erased by the Army and local people that schools started”, said Bashir.
The decision to remove army pickets from the area is retrograde and this will result in massacres, he warned, adding that the children of Kalali have taken up guns as life is more important than anything.
Another child of the village Kalali, Qamran said that they waned to live like other children and enjoy life as they were doing, while army was present in
the area. He reiterated that fear has set in among the locals as they actively participated against the militants during the operations launched at Hill Kaka.
The tragedy is that these innocent hill children, more adept at taming the hillocks and playing with nature have become experts in handling sophisticated weapons. Some of them, a Kalali villager said can even tell what type of guns are being used after hearing the shots.
He further said that not only ordinary residents but the VDC members are also afraid due to the removal of army.
Here it must be mentioned that soon after the sun breaks, these children get ready for the arduous task of protecting their families. Weapons are checked, ammunition counted and a discussion is held about the proceedings of the day.
Thereafter, the families move out with the guard children as fields have to be tended and cattle need to be grazed, for these are the only two ways in which the people of Kalali and other villages fend for themselves.
The Hill Kaka area in which village Kalali falls was called mini-Pakistan, prior to operation Sarp Vinash, during which the Indian Army managed to uproot hard core terrorists, who had fortified themselves in this area.
The tragedy, however, is that instead of attending school, sixteen year old Bashir Ahmed son of Abdul Ahmad of Kalali in Surankote is has been forced to hold a gun and guard his family while they are working in the fields.
Not only he, but children as little as 12-year are standing guard to protect their families from the wrath of the militants, who are keen to avenge the mauling of operation Sarp Vinash, launched by the Indian army.
“ I would have passed matric by now, if there was no militancy in the area but it was only after the militants were erased by the Army and local people that schools started”, said Bashir.
The decision to remove army pickets from the area is retrograde and this will result in massacres, he warned, adding that the children of Kalali have taken up guns as life is more important than anything.
Another child of the village Kalali, Qamran said that they waned to live like other children and enjoy life as they were doing, while army was present in
the area. He reiterated that fear has set in among the locals as they actively participated against the militants during the operations launched at Hill Kaka.
The tragedy is that these innocent hill children, more adept at taming the hillocks and playing with nature have become experts in handling sophisticated weapons. Some of them, a Kalali villager said can even tell what type of guns are being used after hearing the shots.
He further said that not only ordinary residents but the VDC members are also afraid due to the removal of army.
Here it must be mentioned that soon after the sun breaks, these children get ready for the arduous task of protecting their families. Weapons are checked, ammunition counted and a discussion is held about the proceedings of the day.
Thereafter, the families move out with the guard children as fields have to be tended and cattle need to be grazed, for these are the only two ways in which the people of Kalali and other villages fend for themselves.
The Hill Kaka area in which village Kalali falls was called mini-Pakistan, prior to operation Sarp Vinash, during which the Indian Army managed to uproot hard core terrorists, who had fortified themselves in this area.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Curse of partition undone after 50 years, lost brothers unite
Abhishek
RS Pura, Apr 12—It took fifty years for a family to undo the curse of partition but still the scars of that horrible event can not be erased even now.
The joy which went out of the lives of the family of late Chattar Singh living at Simble Camp, near the border town of RS Pura, returned when his long lost son came back to meet them from across the border, where he was left behind along with family members during the holocaust.
The family here is now headed by Chattar Singh’s son Harbans Singh, who now lives here in Simble camp.
With the improving relations between India and Pakistan, an increasing number of visitors from Pakistan many of whom are part of divided families are coming here to pick up the lost threads.
It was only after a sustained search which lasted half a century, that Harbans Singh’s brother, now known as Sheikh Abdul Aziz could find his lost family in R S Pura.
Yesterday, when Aziz came from across the border, he was given a emotional welcome not only by his family members here, but the entire Simble camp gathered to meet the visitor from Pakistan.
As soon as Harbans Singh saw his brother Aziz, he could not control himself and embraced his brother as to make for the lost fifty years, since they were parted in the melee of partition.
The tragic tale of this family begins from Poonch town, where the family headed by their father Chattar Singh lived in 1947.
Family members said that when the situation became volatile in the area which they lived, they joined a group of people coming to this side of border.
While coming to this side, Chatter Singh lost contact with his family members, due to the prevailing confusion caused by the rioters as a result of which he alone managed to reach Jammu.
Here, he reached Simble camp and after a prolonged search for his family, he married a local woman Harbans Kour and started a new family.
In the meanwhile, his three sons, who remained in Pakistan also settled there and adopted Islam and began life afresh there.
It was only few years back that Singh came to know that his family members had survived partition and were living there.
Thereafter, both families got in touch and started exchanging letters, and many a times plans were made and unmade to meet each other.
It was only after the relations between India and Pakistan improved that it become possible for Chattar Singh’s son Paramjeet Singh aka Sheikh Abdul Aziz to visit his lost family in India.
RS Pura, Apr 12—It took fifty years for a family to undo the curse of partition but still the scars of that horrible event can not be erased even now.
The joy which went out of the lives of the family of late Chattar Singh living at Simble Camp, near the border town of RS Pura, returned when his long lost son came back to meet them from across the border, where he was left behind along with family members during the holocaust.
The family here is now headed by Chattar Singh’s son Harbans Singh, who now lives here in Simble camp.
With the improving relations between India and Pakistan, an increasing number of visitors from Pakistan many of whom are part of divided families are coming here to pick up the lost threads.
It was only after a sustained search which lasted half a century, that Harbans Singh’s brother, now known as Sheikh Abdul Aziz could find his lost family in R S Pura.
Yesterday, when Aziz came from across the border, he was given a emotional welcome not only by his family members here, but the entire Simble camp gathered to meet the visitor from Pakistan.
As soon as Harbans Singh saw his brother Aziz, he could not control himself and embraced his brother as to make for the lost fifty years, since they were parted in the melee of partition.
The tragic tale of this family begins from Poonch town, where the family headed by their father Chattar Singh lived in 1947.
Family members said that when the situation became volatile in the area which they lived, they joined a group of people coming to this side of border.
While coming to this side, Chatter Singh lost contact with his family members, due to the prevailing confusion caused by the rioters as a result of which he alone managed to reach Jammu.
Here, he reached Simble camp and after a prolonged search for his family, he married a local woman Harbans Kour and started a new family.
In the meanwhile, his three sons, who remained in Pakistan also settled there and adopted Islam and began life afresh there.
It was only few years back that Singh came to know that his family members had survived partition and were living there.
Thereafter, both families got in touch and started exchanging letters, and many a times plans were made and unmade to meet each other.
It was only after the relations between India and Pakistan improved that it become possible for Chattar Singh’s son Paramjeet Singh aka Sheikh Abdul Aziz to visit his lost family in India.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Harried passenger demand renaming of Poonch-Rawalakote bus service
Abhishek Aijaz Qazmi
Poonch, Jammu, April 11—Notwithstanding the hype surrounding the Poonch-Rawlakote bus service, the Indian passengers are harried lot once they cross the Zero point and reach the other side of the border in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
The Indian passengers, board the bus from Degree College, Pooch and once they reach Zero point on the line of control, they are dropped off to cross over to PoK, where they are made to pass through Pak Immigrations and Customs.
Once through these formalities, the elated Indian visitors are happy to reach Pakistan occupied Kashmir but the reality sinks in only when they do not find any connecting service to reach Rawlakote town, a distance of 48 kilometres from the Customs and Immigration office.
Neither a government bus service, nor private vehicles are available to the Indian visitors to reach Rawlakote, said Mohd Din, a resident of Mendhar, who was on a visit to meet his family members across the border.
Critical of the manner in which the passengers are being treated, Mohd Din said, “The Poonch-Rawlakote bus service should be renamed Poonch-Zero point bus service”, adding once the passengers reach PoK they are left to the mercy of elements.
The travellers were also critical of the Indian government over its refusal to ease the communication facilities with PoK. The problems are compounded by the fact that people from this this side can not make phone calls across the border to their relatives, said Farooq Din, another passenger, who returned from PoK, after visiting relatives.
“Our relatives do not know when we are coming as we can not contact them, as such they are not able to come to pick us after crossing the border”.
Once the passengers reach Pakistan, there is no one to receive us and it is after a great trouble that private conveyance is arranged, he added.
The passengers, however, appreciated the transport arrangements made by J&K government, which has provided JKSRTC buses to ferry the passengers across the border.
Here it must be mentioned that the Poonch-Rawlakote bus service was flagged off by UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi alongwith Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee in on June 20 in 2005.
Launch of this bus service was a long pending demand from the locals of both sides as it drastically rescued the travel time. Earlier the people intending to visit the other side of Kashmir had to go from Muzaffarabad.
Poonch, Jammu, April 11—Notwithstanding the hype surrounding the Poonch-Rawlakote bus service, the Indian passengers are harried lot once they cross the Zero point and reach the other side of the border in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
The Indian passengers, board the bus from Degree College, Pooch and once they reach Zero point on the line of control, they are dropped off to cross over to PoK, where they are made to pass through Pak Immigrations and Customs.
Once through these formalities, the elated Indian visitors are happy to reach Pakistan occupied Kashmir but the reality sinks in only when they do not find any connecting service to reach Rawlakote town, a distance of 48 kilometres from the Customs and Immigration office.
Neither a government bus service, nor private vehicles are available to the Indian visitors to reach Rawlakote, said Mohd Din, a resident of Mendhar, who was on a visit to meet his family members across the border.
Critical of the manner in which the passengers are being treated, Mohd Din said, “The Poonch-Rawlakote bus service should be renamed Poonch-Zero point bus service”, adding once the passengers reach PoK they are left to the mercy of elements.
The travellers were also critical of the Indian government over its refusal to ease the communication facilities with PoK. The problems are compounded by the fact that people from this this side can not make phone calls across the border to their relatives, said Farooq Din, another passenger, who returned from PoK, after visiting relatives.
“Our relatives do not know when we are coming as we can not contact them, as such they are not able to come to pick us after crossing the border”.
Once the passengers reach Pakistan, there is no one to receive us and it is after a great trouble that private conveyance is arranged, he added.
The passengers, however, appreciated the transport arrangements made by J&K government, which has provided JKSRTC buses to ferry the passengers across the border.
Here it must be mentioned that the Poonch-Rawlakote bus service was flagged off by UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi alongwith Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee in on June 20 in 2005.
Launch of this bus service was a long pending demand from the locals of both sides as it drastically rescued the travel time. Earlier the people intending to visit the other side of Kashmir had to go from Muzaffarabad.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Hill Kaka warriors feel orphaned, rue decision to fight terrorists
Poonch, Jammu,India—They defeated the nefarious designs of the terrorists in Hill Kaka and fought neck and neck with the Indian Army during the operation Sarp Vinash but now they are feeling orphaned.
The people of Kalali, Do Phalli, Chapra and Telgi Katha-all villages enroute Hill Kaka are ruing their decision to fight the highly trained terrorists enconsced there. The reason for the desolation of these people is the reported movement of the troops from these villages, where army pickets had been set up to provide security to people since 2003.
According to sources, !6 Rastriya Rifles which was posted in the area has been shifted and as a result the villagers have been left to fend for themselves. Perturbed over the shifting of Army pickets from the area, around 120 Village Defence Committee members, who took an active part in anti-insurgency operations allege that they are being treated as cannon fodder by the government. “We fought against the terrorists alongside the security forces and because of our support terrorists were crushed in the area”, they said in unison, adding that they have become easy targets as army has left the area.
“We fear a Kalakote like massacre in the area as the army has moved out like it happened there”, they assert. Most vulnerable among these villagers are the 20 women VDC members, who are trained in handling and using the weapons. These women feel that absence of army will definitely give an upper hand to the militants and allow them to set up base here.
A resident of Dophalli, Razia Begum said “I have fought against terrorists when I should have been tending the family and the household all because we had faith in the Indian establishment”, adding “we feel orphaned in the manner we have been left at the mercy of terrorists”.
During the crucial fight in Hill Kaka it was our men and women, who provided crucial information to security men, which led to a resounding victory for the Indian Army. The residents of the area warn that the absence of armed forces in the area could be very dangerous not only for the people but strategically as well. “If the terrorists return, they will hit us hard”, said an angry Imtiaz Ahmed, a VDC member, who has worked extensively against the terrorists.
Listening to the fears of these people, it can be safely assumed that if the faith of these people is lost than India will be losing their most strategic asset and best friends which she got in the militancy infested country.
The people of Kalali, Do Phalli, Chapra and Telgi Katha-all villages enroute Hill Kaka are ruing their decision to fight the highly trained terrorists enconsced there. The reason for the desolation of these people is the reported movement of the troops from these villages, where army pickets had been set up to provide security to people since 2003.
According to sources, !6 Rastriya Rifles which was posted in the area has been shifted and as a result the villagers have been left to fend for themselves. Perturbed over the shifting of Army pickets from the area, around 120 Village Defence Committee members, who took an active part in anti-insurgency operations allege that they are being treated as cannon fodder by the government. “We fought against the terrorists alongside the security forces and because of our support terrorists were crushed in the area”, they said in unison, adding that they have become easy targets as army has left the area.
“We fear a Kalakote like massacre in the area as the army has moved out like it happened there”, they assert. Most vulnerable among these villagers are the 20 women VDC members, who are trained in handling and using the weapons. These women feel that absence of army will definitely give an upper hand to the militants and allow them to set up base here.
A resident of Dophalli, Razia Begum said “I have fought against terrorists when I should have been tending the family and the household all because we had faith in the Indian establishment”, adding “we feel orphaned in the manner we have been left at the mercy of terrorists”.
During the crucial fight in Hill Kaka it was our men and women, who provided crucial information to security men, which led to a resounding victory for the Indian Army. The residents of the area warn that the absence of armed forces in the area could be very dangerous not only for the people but strategically as well. “If the terrorists return, they will hit us hard”, said an angry Imtiaz Ahmed, a VDC member, who has worked extensively against the terrorists.
Listening to the fears of these people, it can be safely assumed that if the faith of these people is lost than India will be losing their most strategic asset and best friends which she got in the militancy infested country.
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