Tribune News Service
Jammu, October 5

Islamabad has asked all Kashmiri militants in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to cross the Line of Control and launch jihad in the Valley. It has also ordered closure of offices of Kashmiri militant outfits in Rawalpindi and asked them to shift to Muzaffarabad, capital of PoK, to give the fresh violent movement a complete Kashmiri look.

Pakistan has already vented its fire and fury over the scrapping of Article 370, giving special powers to Jammu and Kashmir, on the global stage, and the directions are aimed at giving a practical shape to its “bloodbath in Kashmir” statement.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had made the statement at the UNGA after being isolated over pleas for intervention in Kashmir.

Islamabad is desperate to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir before winter when most of the mountainous passes close due to heavy snowfall. This is the first major step that the Pakistan establishment has taken to ratchet up militancy in the Valley and other parts of the state, say sources.

There are around 3,000 trained Kashmiri militants in PoK. They had gone there for training over the years and a number of them subsequently got married.

“The militants have been told that it was Pakistan’s duty to train them in handling of arms and ammunition, which it did. Now it is their duty to fight for their land, and the time has come to go and do so,” a source said. “The idea is to portray the entire militancy in Kashmir as indigenous,” the source said.

The militants have been divided into two categories — bachelor and married. The unmarried have been told to do a refresher’s course in arms training and head towards the LoC. Pakistan establishment handlers have told them that their entry into J&K would be facilitated by Pakistan, and they would be provided weapons and ammunition for their assigned task.

The married militants have been asked to start preparing to go (to J&K), and their families would be taken care of by the establishment. Maximum investment is being made in Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, the indigenous group that has offices in PoK and Pakistan. The Hizb leadership, including its chief Syed Salahuddin, has been asked to immediately shift to Muzaffarabad from Rawalpindi.

This strategy fits into Pakistani doctrine that it provides moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiris, while Kashmiris are fighting on their own.

Hizb leadership asked to leave Rawalpindi

• Hizb leadership, including chief Syed Salahuddin, has been asked to shift to Muzaffarabad from Rawalpindi
• Around 3,000 trained Kashmiri militants are currently present in PoK. They had gone there for training over the years
• Islamabad is desperate to disturb peace in J&K before winter when most of the high passes close due to heavy snowfall

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