In a shocking development, intelligence agencies have learned that a group of terrorists from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) is preparing to enter Bangladesh on instructions from the Lashkar-e-Taiba leadership. This ISI-backed mobilisation in Bangladesh is aimed at planning major serial bomb blasts in India. According to reports citing an Intelligence Bureau official, the group is expected to reach Bangladesh to train others under the guidance of the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s top commanders.
Explosives-trained operatives set to reach Bangladesh
IANS reports say that Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba are attempting to re-activate their modules in West Bengal and the northeastern states. Quoting an intel expert, an official said that the fact that these terror groups are sending in explosive experts to Bangladesh is a sign of something big to come.
High alert at the border
A high alert has been declared in the border areas as there would be attempts to infiltrate into India and carry out bomb blasts, another official was quoted by IANS. Indian agencies have learnt that there is a lot of ISI-backed activity that is taking place in Bangladesh. While West Bengal and the northeastern states have always been under threat by Bangladesh-based terror groups, this time the scenario is different. Both Jaish and Lashkar groups are reportedly sending explosive experts to Bangladesh.
What was the plan?
India’s intelligence has got the intel that several teams of both the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba have visited Bangladesh many times. This is to interact with the local terror groups. Recently, a close aide of Hafiz Saeed was in Bangladesh to meet with the local terrorists and motivate them. Intelligence agencies have also reported that sometime this month, the chief of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hafiz Saeed, is slated to visit Dhaka and interact with both terrorists of his group as well as others.
Classical ISI-Style Operation
These are ISI-run madrasas where teachers belong to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. Some were set up specifically to plan serial blasts in India. Now that the planning is almost complete, these madrasas have been closed for the time being.
The report quoted an official saying that this is a typical Pakistan-style operation. If the madrasas stayed open while a major attack was being planned, the ISI could be easily linked to them. Questioning the people from these madrasas would reveal who radicalised and trained the youth who later joined these terror groups. This is termed a classic ISI operation, where Bangladesh will be accountable for the terrorist act rather than Pakistan.
