 "Hamas official to join huddle of Pakistani terror outfits in PoK; Indian agencies on alert: Report")
Indian intelligence agencies were on high alert Wednesday (February 5) following inputs that top leadership of terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e Mohammed were assembling in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) for an event to mark so-called Kashmir Solidarity Day.
Times of India reported that a senior functionary affiliated with the Palestinian militant organisation Hamas was also scheduled to address the gathering, slated to take place at Sabir Stadium in Rawlakot.
Meeting called under banner of Al Aqsa Floods
The meeting has been called under the banner of Al Aqsa Floods, a reference to the famous Jerusalem mosque revered and claimed by both Jews and Muslims.
The Hamas official slated to attend the gathering has been identified as Khalid Qaddoumi, a spokesperson for the entity. His presence at the event is something that Indian agencies would be marking as an effort to link the Pakistan-backed Jihadi campaign in Kashmir to the Palestinian movement against Israel in Gaza.
According to media sources, there was a possibility that terrorists like Masood Azhar’s brother Talha Saif, Ashgar Khan and Iliyas Masood may attend the meeting.
‘Narrative building exercise’
According to Indian intelligence agencies, the gathering of Pakistani terrorists and Hamas functionaries in the PoK event is part of the “narrative-building” exercise to portray a false equivalence between Kashmir and Gaza conflict.
Meanwhile, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah chaired two key meetings over security situation in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir; one on Tuesday and the other on Wednesday.
Shah said that the top priority of the Narendra Modi government was to achieve the goal of “zero infiltration”. He added that the terror network in the territory had weakened, owing to sustained efforts from the union government and armed forces.
“Our goal should be to uproot the existence of terrorists,” he said.
The meeting was also attended by top officials of the Army, police, paramilitary forces and others.
It is for the first time that Shah attended two key meetings on J&K in two consecutive days.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsJammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Director of Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, DGP Nalin Prabhat, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi were among those attended the meeting.
(With inputs from agencies)
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