After president Asif Ali Zardari’s warning that Pakistan could engage India in a 1,000-year war over Kashmir, the neighbour is gearing up for more terrorist attacks in the Valley. Pakistan’s new terror plans were unearthed when a conversation between the terrorists holed up in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk and their handlers across the border was intercepted.
A number of modules of Pakistan-trained terrorists have reportedly become active in the Valley with the sole aim of hitting sitting ducks in winter. Over 100 such terrorists had sneaked in, 93 were killed and 227 pushed back during the many infiltration attempts last year.
Intelligence agencies have specific information that more Lal Chowk-like attacks are being planned, primarily to silence peaceniks.
Alarmed by the turn of events after the ‘fidayeen attack’ in the heart of Srinagar, the home ministry has put its entire security mechanism and Kashmir Police on alert.
“We have specific information that Pakistan-trained terrorists are planning more such attacks to derail the ongoing [backdoor] peace talks,” a senior home ministry official said.
“Their new strategy has something to do with the depleted security presence in Srinagar and other big towns of the Valley following the shifting of the secretariat to [winter capital] Jammu,” the official said.
In what is being perceived as a “mini” replica of 26/11, the terrorists were in constant touch with their bosses in Pakistan while they were holed up in a hotel.
Preliminary investigation into the attack has revealed that it was masterminded by the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
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