Lashkar-e-Taiba posters emerge in Gujranwala, link Pakistan to Uri attack

New posters have emerged in Gujranwala, a town in Punjab province of Pakistan, linking Pakistan-based militant organisation, Lashkar-e-Taiba to the 18 September attack on an Army camp in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir that killed 20 soldiers, a national daily reported on Tuesday. [caption id=“attachment_3071722” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] The Uri Army camp. PTI[/caption] Pakistan has so far denied India’s allegations that the attacks were carried out by a Pakistan-based militant group, and had earlier termed the Uri Attack as “plan conceived and carried out by India” to malign Pakistan’s image. According to a report published in The Indian Express, “Posters have appeared in Gujranwala town (in Pakistan) announcing that the Lashkar-e-Taiba will be holding last rites in absentia for one of the four terrorists who attacked the Indian Army’s 12 Brigade at Uri.” The Times of India, in a similar report stated that the group has organised funeral prayers in absentia for Abu Siraqa at Sadabahar Nursery near Bada Nala Nawab Chowk Girjakh Gujranwala.

#Exclusive | Uri Attack: In posters pasted on Gujaranwala streets, Lashkar claims responsibility https://t.co/CHWkilnCgy pic.twitter.com/hayRtlpfst

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) October 25, 2016

India responded to the attack in a stealth operation on the night of 28 September by destroying militant camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. India has also started an international campaign to isolate Pakistan on the world stage for its support to militant organisations within its territory, a charge, Pakistan had often denied. Quoting Muhammad Aamir Hussaini, a staff reporter with the Frontier Post in Pakistan, TOI reported that the posters have raised doubts about the authenticity of claims made by Pakistani Foreign Office in front of international community, and shows that “Hafiz Saeed is working in Punjab with the consent of the civilian government and in this case the military establishment”. The poster also states that a special address will be made by Jamat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed after the prayers. Jamat-ud-Dawa is the parent organisation of Lashkar-e-Taiba. India has been trying to get Saeed listed as a UN-designated terrorist, a move that was has been blocked by China. India’s attempts to get the Chinese government to support its request also failed during the recently-concluded 2016 Brics Summit in Goa.