Priyanka Tiwari
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Suspense crime, Digital Desk : In a shocking new turn, Saifullah Kasuri, the Lashkar-e-Taiba deputy chief alleged to be behind the brutal Pahalgam terror attack, was spotted at a public political rally in Punjab, Pakistan. This not only poses new complications to the already complex Indo-Pak relations, but also raises tensions after videos emerged of him making radical jihadist statements.
Kasuri at the helm of “Terror-Politician” Riot
The Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) rally was also attended by other notable figures such as Talha Saeed, son of UN-designated terrorist and Lashkar-e-Taiba founder, Hafiz Saeed. It is extremely concerning that such notorious extremists are walking the streets with political leaders and suggests much deeper, complex relations between terrorist organizations and politicians within Pakistan.
How Kasuri Came into the Limelight
The offensive Kasuri masterminded on 26 civilians in Pahalgam, Jammu And Kashmir on the 22nd of April is believed to be orchestrated by him. First, the attack was claimed by a TRF (The Resistance Front) affiliated to the LeT group. It later was confusingly retracting the claim a short period after it was announced.
Kasuri reportedly was located in Kanganpur, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 2 months prior to the attack. With his whereabouts close to one of the major strongholds of the Pakistani army, it is safe to presume that there is deeper support and coordination networks in play.
Radical Speeches and Online Propaganda
In the footages of the Lahore rally, Kasuri is seen chanting anti-India and jihadist slogans. He also claimed that the ‘terrorists’ who were killed during India’s Operation Sindoor were martyrs that need to be celebrated. Some of his statements are:
“I was blamed as being the architect behind the Pahalgam terror attack, and now my name is famous across the globe. We shall never yield when faced with the rain of bullets and fire, and we want to capture the glory of martyrdom.”
Such statements have led to anger from the other side of the border. This is anger from the Pakistani State that has still shown no sign of moving against Kasuri or the responsible people.
Who Is Saifullah Kasuri?
Kasuri is believed to be the deputy head of Lashkar-e Taiba and has close links with Hafiz saeed. He is known to encourage islamic radicalism and to recruit school leavers. Moreover, he is seen as a tactical promotion from the Pakistani military. He is SISAC in Having been accused of promoting anti-India sentiments and more radical activities in the region.
India’s Response: Operation Sindoor
India began ‘Operation Sindoor’ on the 7th of May after the Pahalgam attack. This operation sought to eliminate terrorist commanders in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir through nine separate strikes. This response was meant to follow Pahalgam’s terrorist brutality while simultaneously serving notice to forces that had crossed the line.
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