Pakistan government using lashkar militants to fight Taliban
in north west frontier province, say security experts.
An intense churning is underway in militancy scenario in Kashmir, though the real reasons behind it are still not clear.
Several developments are playing out at once: Some key Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operatives from J&K are returning to Pakistan; dozens of militants in PoK are being rounded up in camps; and there’s been a huge jump in extortions by militants in J&K.
Observers say they are still not sure what is happening in Pakistan. But they are convinced that most developments are part of a strategic shift calibrated by the government there.
Though the strategy is not clear, one definite signal is emerging from J&K: Over the past four months there’s been a huge jump in extortions by militants, almost four to five cases being recorded daily.
Sources tell DNA that the rising extortion cases are coinciding with a drop in “finance from Pakistan” for militancy. Widespread extortion is a crucial turning point for insurgency, rendering it unpopular among locals.
Over the past few weeks, Indian agencies have intercepted conversations between some LeT commanders, showing that some of them want to ex-filtrate from J&K into Pakistan. “We are seeing ex-filtration after a very long time,” says a senior official in the security establishment.
A section of the security establishment believe, based on inputs, that Pakistan government is deploying LeT terrorists to fight the Taliban in NWFP (North West Frontier Province). The inputs show that some of the Pakistan-based LeT commanders have been moved from Punjab to NWFP to fight the Taliban.
This section also believes that the reports of ex-filtration of LeT commanders from India could also be linked to this move. That LeT assistance to Pakistan security forces is the reason why Islamabad is reluctant to act against LeT founder Hafiz Sayeed for the Mumbai attacks.
However, many observers are not ready to believe that LeT will fight Taliban, and speculate that the moves could be part of an elaborate hoax to build up a positive image of LeT to mislead the global community.
In PoK authorities are rounding up several dozen militants, especially those from J&K and who have been living in Pakistan for years — most of them are members of Hizbul Mujahideen.
Kashmiris being rounded up in camps has surprised observers here. “On the face of it,” says a J&K hand, it looks as if Pakistanis are trying to “control” militants, a fact that could be used to mislead the international community.
But infiltration into India is showing a different trend: For the first time in five years, August and September have recorded huge spike in infiltration. “It could be a case of nobody being in clear control along the border, while a larger strategy is being unveiled,” says a Kashmir hand.
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