Srinagar: The Pakistan Army and its espionage agency ISI were involved in the car bomb attack that left over 40 CRPF personnel dead, top Army official KJS Dhillon said Tuesday. He also sent out a chilling message that anyone picking up the gun in Kashmir would be eliminated unless he surrenders.
The Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) leadership in Kashmir was eliminated within 100 hours of the February 14 terror attack in Pulwama, General Officer Commanding of Army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt General Dhillon informed at a press conference along with IG Kashmir SP Pani and IG CRPF Zulfiqar Hasan.
Three Jaish terrorists were killed Monday in a 16-hour operation in Pinglan area of Pulwama district, 12 km from the spot of the February 14 terror attack on a CRPF convoy. An Army major and four security personnel also lost their lives.
“The Jaish-e-Mohammad is the brainchild of Pakistan army and ISI. They both control the terrorist outfit. The involvement of the Pakistan Army is 100 per cent and there is no doubt in it,” Dhillon told reporters.
Dhillon also appealed to the parents of Kashmiri youth who have joined the ranks of militants to persuade their sons to surrender or face elimination. “I would like to tell the parents of Kashmiri youth, especially the mothers… to request their sons, who have joined terrorism, to surrender and return to the mainstream. Anyone who has picked the gun in Kashmir will be eliminated, unless he surrenders. This is a message and request to all of them,” he said.
Giving details of Monday’s operation, Dhillon stated that the three Jaish terrorists killed included Kamran, the self-styled chief operations commander of the outfit in Kashmir valley.
“On specific information the day before (intervening night of Sunday and Monday), we hit this module and I am happy to inform the country that in less than 100 hours of the car bomb attack, we eliminated the JeM leadership in Kashmir,” he said.
Last week’s strike, when a suicide bomber drove an explosives laden car into a bus, was a first for Kashmir, Dhillon said. “With this type of intensity, it has never happened before. However, similar incidents have happened in other countries like Syria, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Since this modus operandi has now been started by terrorists, we are alive to it… we are keeping all options open to deal with this type of modus operandi in future,” Dhillon asserted.
Asked if Gazi Abdul Rashid one of the Jaish terrorists killed Monday, had an Afghanistan connection, Dhillon replied in a dismissive manner. “Many Gazis have come and gone. There is nothing new in it… We will handle it, Let any Gazi come,” he asserted.
Dhillon warned infiltrators that they would not return alive if they entered Kashmir valley.
PTI