NEW DELHI: Terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba Chief Hafiz Sayeed on Sunday exhorted his cadres in Pakistan and Kashmir to target those celebrating Valentine’s day later this month.
The terror mastermind who has been put under so-called house arrest by the Pakistani authorities also gave call to his jihadi cadres and tanzeems associated with his outfit to redouble efforts for fundraising and launch a fresh wave of terror attacks in India especially Jammu and Kashmir.
Sayeed’s call not only exposes Pakistan’s duplicity but also bring to the fore the resolve of Lashkar and its frontal organization Jamat-Ud-Dawah’s determination to bounce back despite his house arrest.
The audacity of Sayeed’s call to launch a fresh wave of terror attacks in India also exposes the writ of so called democratically elected Nawaz Shareef government and also displays the terror group’s working relationship with Pakistan’s military leadership, an Intelligence official said.
Sayeed’s access to the Media and the outside world despite his house arrest also calls Pakistan's bluff as Islamabad was projecting itself to be cracking down on terror groups after US President Donald Trump's tough stand against Islamic terror.
As reported, the terror outfits based in Pakistani including LeT and JuD observe Kashmir Day on February 5 every year. This year also the day was observed as Kashmir Day and Sayeed’s call comes as part of the celebration.
In what clearly points to the free run being given to terror groups in Pakistan, as many as 40 different jehadi outfits have expressed solidarity with Sayeed’s call to hit India and target people celebrating Valentine’s Day both in Pakistan and Kashmir. The LeT has directed its cadres to kill people who celebrate Valentine’s Day in the Valley, Intelligence sources tracking terrorist groups in the region said.
The call against Valentine’s Day is not confined to Pakistan or Kashmir as the Lashkar has also appealed to its sympathizers in other countries to undertake personal and social media campaigns against those who observe the day on February 14.
While the Pak Government has tried to project itself as the ruling power in Islamabad by arresting Saeed, his supporters see an opportunity in Lashkar chief’s call to express solidarity with him and expose the weak position of democrats in that country as well as the influence of international community, the sources added.