Banned Islamic Militants groups reorganize operations in Kashmir

Banned Islamic Militant groups reorganize operations in Kashmir

 Muzaffarabad: June 29, 2009

Report: Zafar Iqbal

 Pakistan based Jihadi outfits have started their operations in Pakistani administrated Kashmir, eye witnesses confirmed here on Monday.

 Some activists of a banned militant group Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) have been observed engaged in different activities related to construction of homes and offices in Dulai village located on Muzaffarabad Rawalpindi road, an official says.

 Declaring a terrorist organization, the US, India and Pakistan have banned hard line Islamic militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) which denies allegations and claims that it operates in humanitarian work in Pakistan and its administrated Kashmir area.

 Pakistan arrested Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) military chief Hafiz Zaki- ur- Rehman in a crackdown on alleged camp after the deadly attack in Mumbai (India) last year when India accused Lashker Taiba(LeT) which is parent organization of Jamaat Uddawa(JuD) behind the incident.  Hafiz Saeed, the head of Jamaat Ud Dawa (JuD)  released by Pakistani authorities on court order in January this year.

 ‘Some militant organizations have hired private houses and shops for residential purpose in Kundal Shahi locality of Neelum valley’, a resident of bordering Athmuqam area told.

India alleges that Pakistan based militants groups have been infiltrating in its controlled part of Kashmir across the Line of Control (LoC) through Neelum valley and other border areas, however, Pakistan denies. Both countries observe cease fire since 26 November 2004 on dividing border of Kashmir after a decade of shelling and firing which heavily impacted civilian populations on both sides.

 ‘Indian army would start shelling civilian population living across the LoC,

if the militants restart their activities in our areas’ ,warns a local resident of Neelum valley fearing that  it would ruin our daily life again like the period before the peace process between India and Pakistan which have fought wars over the Himalayan state of Kashmir since 1947.

 (The writer of this report could be contacted at: zafarjournalist@gmial.com)