Apples, bangles: What Pakistani handlers are telling terrorists on ground
Pakistan is trying hard to destabilize Jammu and Kashmir and security forces are determined to thwart all its attempts, National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval said on Saturday. The senior government official said Indian side caught a couple of message from across the border, wherein the top brass of terrorists used code words to contact those on the ground. Here are more details.
Context: India's Kashmir move upset Pakistan for reasons unknown
Pakistan has been fuming (?) since India revoked Article 370 and divided J&K into two UTs, namely Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Calling it a "humanitarian crisis", Pakistan, led by its premier Imran Khan, tried to raise the issue on the global stage, only to be sidelined. Reiterating New Delhi's stance, several countries recognized J&K as India's internal matter.
Pakistan wants to stop "apple trucks", send "bangles"
About Pakistan's modus-operandi, Doval said, "There are Pakistani communication towers 20 km along the border, and they are trying to send messages. We heard intercepts that told their men 'How so many apple trucks are moving, can't you stop them? Should we send you bangles?'."
Depending on Pakistan's behavior, restrictions will be lifted: Doval
Doval also spoke about restrictions in J&K which were imposed before the historic move. "We would like to see all restrictions go, but it depends on how Pakistan behaves. It's a stimulant and response situation. If Pakistan starts behaving, terrorists don't intimidate and infiltrate, if Pakistan stops sending signals through its towers to operatives, then we can lift restrictions," he added.
Detained politicians haven't been charged with sedition: Doval
On the detention of mainstream politicians, Doval said the step was taken to ensure peace. "There could have been problems in maintaining law and order in case there were gatherings, terrorists would have used the situation," he said. Doval also added they haven't been charged with sedition, but were taken to preventive custody till an environment which supports democracy is built.
Doval suggested that politicians can challenge their detention in court
Pakistan wants to tell international community that there is "unrest"
Further, Doval said the situation in J&K was much better than he anticipated. "On August 6, one young boy succumbed, he did not die of a bullet injury," he underscored. He added terrorists shot a shopkeeper as they didn't want him to run his business. "Pakistan is trying to create a situation and then tell the international community that there is unrest," he claimed.
Separately, terrorists shot at a two-year-old in Sopore
Meanwhile, four people, including, a two-and-a-half-year-old girl, were injured in Sopore on Friday. About this incident, Doval said terrorists intended to hurt a prominent fruit merchant Hamidullah Rather. When they couldn't find him, they took two of his workers to his home. "They shot at his son Mohammed Irshad and also fired upon his daughter Asma Jaan," Doval added.
