J&K terror attacks: ISI plans to pass off Lashkar operations as ISKP attacks

New Delhi, Aug 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) Two back-to-back terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir have raised concerns about a possible resurgence of terrorism in the Union Territory, but security agencies remain confident that the recent incidents do not signal a sustained trend and have vowed to prevent any revival of the menace.

An official said that Pakistan and its Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) will make an attempt to revive terror in Jammu and Kashmir. The recent strikes were all claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), which is a proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, that trend is likely to change as the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has instructed these groups not to claim responsibility for the attacks in the future.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the operatives of the Lashkar have been instructed to exploit the networks of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and use this to enhance terror activities in J&K.

"The ISI has decided that while Lashkar would carry out the attacks, responsibility for every strike or terror activity would be attributed to the ISKP," the official said.

By attributing activities and attacks to the ISKP, the LeT and ISI would have operational deniability. It would also complicate matters for the Indian investigating agencies.

As of now, there is plenty of data on the activities and cadres of the Lashkar and TRF. However, that is not the case relating to the ISKP, which has a very small presence in Jammu and Kashmir.

The ISKP has focused more on online radicalisation when it comes to Jammu and Kashmir. The outfit would prefer a radicalised society against India rather than ground-level activities.

"The ISKP does have an interest in operating on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the ISI has so far not been receptive to the idea, as it fears such a move could upset Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), Lashkar, and Hizbul Mujahideen," an official said.

Another official said that although the attacks would be carried out by the Lashkar, the ISKP still has plenty of advantages. This would automatically boost their online radicalisation campaign, and it would be seen as a strong entity when it comes to Jammu and Kashmir, the official added.

Recently, the Pakistani spy agency had roped in the Islamic State to battle alongside the Lashkar in Balochistan and KP. Facing immense losses at the hands of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the security forces had set out an SOS to these terror groups.

The ISI realised that the LeT alone cannot battle against the BLA and TTP and hence decided to rope the Islamic State in.

Officials say that since the two groups are already battling together, the Kashmir strategy comes as no surprise. The Lashkar wants terror attacks and recruitments in Jammu and Kashmir, while the ISKP is interested in the publicity.

The official said that since the destruction of the Lashkar’s main training facility in Muridke near Lahore, it has moved a large part of its training facilities close to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In these training facilities, the Lashkar has been conducting joint operations with the operatives of the ISKP, the official added.

Officials say that going forward, the ISI would come up with multiple strategies to rebuild its networks in Jammu and Kashmir. It is already trying to set up home-grown modules in the Union Territory.

Further, attempts are on to build a completely new network of overground workers (OWGs) who do not have a police file. Getting the LeT to attack and then claim responsibility in the name of the ISKP is the latest strategy of the ISI when it comes to Jammu and Kashmir, the official added.

Source: IANS