After India's Balakot strike, Pakistani terrorists being trained in Afghanistan
Pakistan-based terror organizations, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), have reportedly shifted their cadres to Afghanistan following the Indian Air Force's airstrikes on terror camps in Pakistan's Balakot. After receiving intelligence inputs that JeM and LeT cadres have moved to Afghanistan's Kunar, Nangarhar, Nuristan, and Kandahar provinces, the Indian diplomatic missions and offices in Kabul have been put on a high alert. Here's more.
JeM and LeT joined hands with Afghan Taliban, Haqqani Network
Pakistan-based JeM and LeT have joined hands with the Afghan Taliban and the country's Haqqani Network, across the Durand Line separating Pakistan and Afghanistan, for training their cadres in subversive activity, reported Hindustan Times citing some documents. Meanwhile, Indian security agencies believe the shifting of these terrorist cadres to across the border was done to avoid Pakistan's blacklisting by Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Indian diplomatic establishments in Afghanistan under threat
People in Indian counter-terror agencies familiar with the matter said that Indian diplomatic establishments in Afghanistan, including the embassy, were under threat from heavily-armed Haji Abdul Safi-led JeM terrorists. While the Indian Embassy in Kabul was under the threat of a vehicle-borne IED attack from terrorist Qari Wari Gul, the Indian Consulate in Kandahar was on alert against a Taliban attack.
North Block informed of the shifting of JeM, LeT cadres
"The North Block has also been informed that a significant number of Jaish cadre shifted to Kot and Momandara (Nangarhar); Sanguin and Marja (Helmand); Logan, Nawa (Ghazni), Zurmat (Paktia), Kunar, Faryab and Kunduz provinces of Afghanistan in coordination with the Taliban," reported Hindustan Times.
Taliban, Haqqani Network also offered shelter to Masood Azhar
Taliban and Haqqani Network also reportedly offered shelter to JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar in Afghanistan in Feb'19. However, Azhar felt safer in Bhawalpur under Pakistani Army's protection. Meanwhile, LeT started training camps in Afghanistan's Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar, Helmand, and Kandahar. It also shifted its cadre from Pakistan's Peshawar to Kabul and decided to train them in sabotage and subversive activity with Taliban's help.
