According to reports, top counter-terror officials and senior Jammu and Kashmir police officials have said that terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM) has activated launch pads in new locations across the Line of Control to push terrorists into J&K from their Pakistan based base. This could be done to boost Jaish’s strength and capabilities in the state.
The officials, who did not wish to be named, also added that this is because Indian security forces have eliminated most of the Jaish leadership in the valley.
They added that Mohammad Umair, JeM chief Masood Azhar’s nephew, who was known to be in Pulwama in February, has either been killed or has returned to Pakistan.
Post the Pulwama attack, Indian security forces were able to eliminate majority of the Jaish leadership in the valley. Only one known commander, known by the codename Munna Bihari, may currently be active in the Shopian district.
Reports also suggest that the Indian forces have gunned down Azhar’s elder brother Ibrahim Athar’s eldest son Usman Haider and Talha Rasheed and Masood Azhar’s brother-in-law’s son Abdul Rasheed Kamran.
In a recent audio clip, broadcast over Jaish’s Rang-o-Noor channel, Ibrahim Athar indicates that Mohammed Umair may have also been neutralized by the Indian security forces. In the audio clip, Athar is heard telling his cadre that Umair and Kamran have already reached “heaven.”
The officials also added that after the Indian air strike at Jaish’s biggest terror training camp at Balakot, the globally proscribed terrorist group has threatened to get even by targeting innocents in hinterland India or security forces in the Valley. Communication intercepts indicate that Jaish will ratchet up violence in the Valley in the coming months.
“While Pakistan has taken some uncontrolled action against its nationals involved in terrorism to curry favour with Financial Action Task Force (FATF), it is continuing to shelter Indian fugitives like Dawood Ibrahim gang, remnants of Indian Mujahideen and Sikh radicals. If Pakistan really means business, why provide shelter and comfort to Indian fugitives,” said one of the officials.