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MUZAFFARABAD: An alliance of Kashmiri Mujahideen groups rejected on Wednesday reports that the attack on Pathankot airbase had been carried out by Jaish-i-Mohammad, a banned militant outfit blamed for the 2001 attack on Indian parliament.
“It’s just a false impression. In fact the attackers are a squad of mujahideen drawn from different member outfits in our alliance,” said Shaikh Jameelur Rehman, secretary general of the United Jihad Council (UJC), the conglomerate that brings together over a dozen groups, struggling to overthrow Indian rule in Kashmir.
Jaish-i-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba enjoy observer status in UJC.
“All attackers are local Kashmiris, based in India-held Jammu and Kashmir. And they have been facilitated by local Hindu, Sikh and Muslim officers,” Mr Rehman said in reply to a question by Dawn.
He said that since the attackers were stationed in areas along the national highway in India, they were referred to as `National Highway Squad’.
Mr Rehman said the attack on the airbase was in line with what he called the ‘code of conduct’ of Kashmiri fighters.
“We have not hit any civilian but a military installation. Indian troops are killing us and wherever we find any of them we will hit and kill him,” he said.
Mr Rehman said that since the peace process between India and Pakistan did not protect the Kashmiris from massacres they (Kashmiris) were not bothered about it.
“When our lives, honour and properties are not safe and when our genocide continues with impunity...why should we bother about the peace process?” he said.
When this correspondent contacted Mufti Asghar Kashmiri, in-charge of Jaish-i-Mohammad in Jammu and Kashmir, for his comment, he said: “Those who have carried it out have also claimed the responsibility for that…That’s all.”
Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2016
Comments (66) Closed
They fear if India and Pak come closer and grow as economic power houses, then these nutcases won't have a single job to do..
Everyone in India and Pakistan already knows that LoC Boundaries that are there between India and Pakistan are "Permanent" boundaries. No one is going to change them. Both the government and both the militaries have tried all they could to shift boundaries in their favor time and again and as late as 1999 Kargil War, but it never succeeded. So, Now it is evident that India and Pakistan will not give each other what they already have. So, lets move on. Only way forward is thru peace and economic cooperation which both countries need and want and it is also best for people of Kashmir. If there can be Two Punjabs divided between India and Pakistan why not Two Kashmirs, divided between India and Pakistan. Punjab Formula is best, and it was much more volatile than Kashmir, during Partition and took a heavy life toll, but now both people of Punjab, in India and Pakistan are happy. Same needs to happen with Kashmir.
Where is UJC based?
Totally false propaganda.
Don't try too hard. Everyone knows who is behind it.
Well we do know who really is behind this attack no diversionary tactic will work with us.
@sid Uranus
What happened to India claims of Pakistan's involvement? It's very clear that Kashmir issue is s the reason for this attack and should be the highest priority in the upcoming NSA talks.
Primary question is where did they get training ?
Doesn´t matter who claims it, india and its blind followers will always put the blame on Pakistan. and vice versa for pakistanis. the solution? PLEASE GROW UP YOU BOTH!
As an India, I want to say something to my Kashmiri brothers.. Alright then bring it on.
Terrorists with fanciful ideologies can sugarcoat any poison...yet they will continue to remain as snakes who should only be crushed when they dare to come out from hiding. These people can't be taught civilized peaceful discussions. So its time Pakistan and India join hands to crush these terrorists.
How many times will India change their stance? Please end this drama now..
@Raja Ragu Raman couldn't have said it better my brother. God bless our friendship!
@Nadeem
I do not where you get your information?
the world is tired of the childish behaviour of saudia and iran and india pakistan.
@sid jupiter lol
@Vasan training for what?
No. This is poor attempt to deflect the investigation. This group is non-active for several years. Earlier it's presence was there. But now it's wings are systematically clipped off.
Oh my... then why blame Pakistan?...
After some time the world will ignore the nuisance coming out of the two countries, and it's fast reaching that point. Not sure what carrying out such attacks achieves.
Both countries grow up and solve the problems with earnestness. Else millions will continue dying on both sides.
Ahh yes so we are to start taking terrorist outfits at their word now! and ignore the phone records and other material evidence that is present !
@Nadeem What change of stand you try to mention sir????!!!
It is crystal clear to pinpoint the backing of the attack. Don't indulge in false & baseless propaganda to divert attention of the world community. The world community can't be futher befooled which has become very intolerent towards terrorism aftermath of france attacks.
India & Indian army know how to respond to the terrerists so dont be so happy ! You can not do anything to india from where ever you are in this world. Take it easy as Indian Army had taken you with ease.
Make up your mind dear Indians . Such a confused , low grade propaganda is just making your country a laughing stock.
@Honey Singh And that's the "proof" India has shared with Pakistan?
Please lets not confuse the world. If it was so APHC would not have condemned it. There is no purpose but to derail peace process.
@Apoorv Swarup Well, let us see that "material" evidence first . India has presented quite a lot of "material" evidence in the form of pigeons , camels and boats in the past . We all know how that turned out.
@Catalyst Every attack by terrorist in world has its reason. Can you justify the killing of innocents?
@Catalyst But why should it be included in NSA talks ?
The best media can do is not to publish these guys statements. So they don't be relevant. Terrorism cannot solve problem.
Before 1948, we are one,it means we are brothers,then why are we quarrel? Be afraid from who misguide us.Try to understand ,Who are the real enemy to enjoy the fighting between us?
@Ambika Because "Kashmiri Mujahideen’s squad carried out airbase attack". Did you even read the news or straight away jumped to the comments section?
Continued conflict, occupation/subjugation of a people against their will and preventing the peaceful and just resolution of a conflict allows extremism to flourish which both india and Pakistan let alone the entire south asian region can ill afford. Why can't these two neighbourly countries sit down and make peace. india should spare head peace talks and resolve the issue of Kashmir once and for all. So what if it has to give up a little territory. The region of South Asia and her people will prevail!
“We have not hit any civilian but a military installation. Indian troops are killing us and wherever we find any of them we will hit and kill him,” he said.
Good thing is that innocent civilians were unharmed unlike 26/11 where many innocent civilians were attacked. This war is between Military and Militants and innocent civilians should not be harmed.
There are folks on both sides who wouldn't want peace between these two nations for nefarious purposes. Although, there is so much commonality between these two neighbors that rivals some others, like Australia& New Zealand or Canada and USA. However, one big difference is they live in Peace whereas we (Ind&Pak) are always bickering. My wish for the New Year going forward will be to live in Peace and build on commonalities between our two nations and drown out the divisive voices who want to maintain the status quo.
Why compare Pakistan and India. both nations are based (formed) on different platforms. Kashmiris should be worried about their fate. That's all.
The party that is really responsible for this is so courageous that they are not even owning up to say they did this - so much for their courage!
India knows who the attackers are. Nawaz Sharif has been handed over the evidence and India expects action will be taken on the attackers.
Whenever both the countries come closer for peace process, this type of happenings emerge and dragged us back such as the situation after Mumbai attack in 2008. The schizophrenic media of India leaves no stone unturned to exaggerate the situation by directly blaming Pakistan.
India is 1.25 billion strong country with a growing economy. No matter how many of these terrorists attack there are always Indians to defend. Einstein said only fools repeat the same thing over and over
expecting different results. So let the talks progress so some amicable solution can be reached.
@SSP you are absolutely correct. There are outside powers who never wants us to be friend from the very first day we separated. They are greatly benefitting selling us arms. We live together for centuries and we still can do it.
do you think those were so fool or dum or people from 19th centuries have no sense that phone calls would b easily traced and shouldn't be use as medium? grow up! these are extra evil genius who managed to break all military foolproof system and entered the base. y would they commit such foolish mistake.
It doesn't matter if ujc accept. India is so much afraid and have phobia of Pakistan. For them it's universal truth now every bad thing happen in India is because of Pakistan
India and Pakistan should come closure so that they can be the economic power house of world and we can do it together. These people they are trying to derail to the peace process because if there will be peace between India and Pakistan these anti human people will have no business to do.
Pakistan should cooperate with India to catch these culprits and same India should do for Paksitan.we should take example from Erupean union how they cooperate with each other and lives in peace.
Long live India Pakistan friendship
And we should all believe him ... !!!!
No one believes this.
You guys in pakistan live in some sort of parallel universe don't you where conspiracy is reality and reality is fiction?
@Nadeem you can see why Bollywood does so well in India. They still need to make a movie about the whole boat drama
Now what about the story of border crossing? Even if it si true will they 4 hours to cover a distance of 30 kilometer at a speed of 6k/hr. and no one noticed it. Please do not come to a conclusion until a full investigation is done. Mr. Modi may have to take back his statement if proved that they were locals.
@Raja Ragu Raman Ohh come on. Please stop living in a dream house. Kashmir is the single major issue between Pakistan and India. Pakistan see Kashmir as hers based on the two nation theory and the popular will of the Kashmiris, while India refer to a paper signed by the Dogra ruler of kashmir (which by the way has never been produced in UN or any other international body). Also, India took Junagarh based on it's Hindu majority even when her ruler signed instrument o accession to Pakistan. The Partition was the single largest event in the history of Asia and Muslim Kashmir rightly belongs with her sister states in Pakistan. Anyone who think peace will come without solving kashmir should stop waisting time
India should let go Kashmir for Regional Peace!
Sadly, it ll be a tit-for-tat till the Kashmir Issue gets resolved.
@Raja Ragu Raman Indo-Pak can only come closer if Kashmir issue gets resolved.
@MN This is prejudice my friend.
As many claims, as many mouths!
I think now both India , Pak government and majority population from both countries want to have peace and continue with the dialogue to achieve it. This sort of diversions will definitely come but both should maintain their sincere efforts for lasting peace ,which is in the interest of Kashmiris, Indians and Pakistanis.
@Kashmiri Very well said indeed.
@vithal they are, hence the resistance to occupation. The famous General Giap once said, 'occupations never last, when the locals do not accept them. In the end foreign invaders have to leave, history is witness to that'
Well all those Indians brushing aside this claim by UJC and only focusing on Pakistan, please make the identities/pictures of the attackers public and we will all know who they are and where they came from. Simple.
@Honey Singh "Well we do know who really is behind this attack no diversionary tactic will work with us."
Really! How do you know?
@Rohan Setia "India knows who the attackers are"
Really! Please make the identities/pictures of the attackers public to prove your point that they are indeed from Pakistan and trained in Pakistan. If true then Pakistan MUST act against them or else it's just another burned boat in Indian ocean and spy pigeons drama. Oh and please also let us know why did the terrorists spare the life of SP and according to Indian media reports went back to kill him but still left him alive
This is the eye opener for the people of Pakistan to really see through this PML(N) government and how much they care about the core national interests. They way Mr Nawaz Shareef accepted Indian version despite the Kashmirs freedom fighters accepting the responsibility, bring Pakistan good name in bad light, Mr PM needs to come clean first infront of Pakistani citizens, as to where his interests lies.
@Taimoor Khan Agree 100%
India and Pakistan, two important South Asian neighbors, are capable of creating conducive climate for peace. However, they need to cross psychological barriers and come to terms with reality. Their relations should rise above all differences and disputes.Their leadership should deal with the Kashmir issue on positive lines and vision. It is a challenge that must be faced to ensure peace and progress for their people. Peace between India and Pakistan can herald a new era of cooperation and development for the subcontinent and stability and security for the region and the world.Lets join hands to uproot terrorism and extremism opening a new horizon of peace and tranquality for all