AGENCY
Islamabad: Pakistan has stepped up security after a terror alert warned of possible Taliban attack at border crossing points with India on the country’s Independence Day on August 14, officials said on Wednesday.
The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab province has sent a memo to the chief secretary that Taliban were planning to target Wagah or Ganda Sindh border crossings between August 13 and 15.
It claimed that two suicide bombers had been tasked by Mualana Fazlullah, the fugitive chief of Taliban who is hiding in Afghanistan, to attack Independence Day parade at the border points.
“Extreme vigilance and heightened security measures are suggested to avoid any untoward incident,” the CTD said.
Both crossings are close to Lahore.
In 2014, at least 55 people, including children and security personnel, were killed and about 200 others injured in a suicide blast at Wagah.
An official of home department said that security has already been increased after a suicide bombing at a hospital in Quetta on August 8 in which 74 people were killed around 72 people were injured.
“We take special security measures for the Independence Day and all alerts and suggestion by the intelligence agencies are considered and security have been provided at relevant points,” he said.
Indicating continued encouragement and support of Pakistani military regulars in pushing militants into the Kashmir valley, Singh said the arrested Lashkar terrorist had been promised cover fire when attempting to infiltrate into Northern Kashmir.
He said the terrorists were communicating with ‘Alpha-3’ on Japanese I-com radio sets which had been modified to cover a vast range.
“Highly technically qualified people have done the modification of the radio set and also trained these militants including Bahadur Ali,” Singh said. About the persons who could be manning ‘Alpha-3’, Singh said it was not possible for a terror group or ordinary people to have such a communication set up which covers a wide range of area and can hack into defence networks.
“NIA is collecting evidence that will stand international judicial scrutiny and will share it with Pakistan for further action through proper channel,” he said. Giving details of Ali’s arrest, Singh said it was possible with the help of local people who informed the police about the suspicious movement of a man in Yahama village.
Upon interrogation, Ali gave away his identity and led the police party to a hideout where AK-47, radio sets, GPS, compass and rubberised maps which showed grid-reference of places during infiltration were found. He had been trained at Manshera, Aksa and Muzaffarabad.
Based on his inputs, security forces could manage to neutralise four militants in North Kashmir.
21-year-old Ali, who has seven sisters and a brother, was recruited in 2008-09 and was in charge of collecting funds for the LeT in Raiwind area of Lahore to which he belonged. He later underwent training modules– Daur-e-Aam (basic training) and Daur-e-Khas (specialised training done in Afghanistan)– before being launched into India from Mandakuli, close to LoC on PoK side.
Ali told his interrogators that there were 30-50 persons in the training camps each time he went there and some ‘Major Saheb’ or ‘Captain Saheb’, believed to be regulars from Pakistani army, often used to visit these camps.
He said he along with others was shown the route on Google maps using LCD TV and was also taught code language for communicating with the control centre.
Ali, according to the Singh, told the interrogators that Lashkar commander from Muzzafrabad controls the movement of militants in India.
He said LeT chief Hafiz Saeed had led ‘Gaybana namaz-e-jinaja’ (funeral prayers held in absentia) for Abu Qassim, a top Lashkar commander killed in an encounter last year.
