Kashmiri militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba rejected media reports in India that it was involved in an attack on Sri Lanka’s cricket squad in Lahore.
“These media reports are false, incorrect and baseless,” Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) spokesman Abdullah Ghaznavi said. He was speaking by telephone from Srinagar from an undisclosed location.
“The attack on Sri Lanka’s team was an attack on Pakistan’s sovereignty and Kashmiri militants could never even think of that (such an attack),” Ghaznavi said.
LeT, which has been fighting for freedom from New Delhi’s rule in Indian-occupied Kashmir, blamed Indian security agencies for the Lahore attack.
“The attack is the handiwork of Indian agencies to defame Pakistan and bring instability to the country,” Ghaznavi said.
Lashkar-e-Taiba has often been blamed by India for terrorist acts within India. Most of these acts have subsequently been proved to have been carried out by Indian based Hindu extremist groups with support from serving Indian army officers.
Lashkar-e-Taiba has never been implicated in any terrorist activities on Pakistani soil and has a strict policy in this regard. They have in fact recently come under fire and recieved threats from CIA backed terrorist Baitullah Mehsud.
Mehsud’s ‘Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan’ (TTP) threatened attacking members of Lashkar-e-Taiba by pointing out that they only fight against Indian rule in Kashmir and do not support TTP’s version of ‘Jihad’ against Pakistani citizens.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s interior ministry chief Rehman Malik said Friday he could not rule out foreign involvement in the Sri Lankan cricket attack.
“I cannot rule out (the involvement of a) foreign hand in the incident,” Malik told reporters in Lahore.
This is the story of a stateless nation that has become a tragic and deadly war zone, a land enveloped in a night of terror for 60 years, and a people born with no choice but revolution or despair.
The people in Kashmir live under a terrible and unprecedented military occupation, which denies its own existence and remains invisible to the world. Before 1943, Kashmir was a distinctively peaceful region characterized by harmonious religious coexistence between its Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist communities. But today, divided between India and Pakistan, and labeled as terrorists and fundamentalists, Kashmiris are trapped in the middle of a tense and bitter conflict that has already exploded in three full-scale wars, leading to the nuclearization of India and Pakistan.
This film tells the story of a new generation of young Muslims that, inspired by the Sufi culture and Kashmir’s long history of ethnic and religious coexistence, started a non-violent movement in the hopes for a new peace in this land of mythic beauty that straddles between two anxious and volatile nuclear powers.
Israeli director’s film on Kashmir earns Indian ire
Srinagar, Feb 09: Indian authorities have taken umbrage at Kashmir: Journey to Freedom and are refusing to allow American-Israeli director Udi Aloni to return to India, after his film was premiered in Panorama section, at the Berlin Film Festival which showcases independent and arthouse cinema.
Aloni tells how a new generation of young Muslim Kashmiris, after years of armed resistance, decide to lay down their arms and start a nonviolent resistance movement – in the hope of finally achieving peace and independence.
“Thousands of people remain victims of enforced disappearances in Jammu and Kashmir. The practices of “disappearances” and extrajudicial executions violate basic human rights, including the right to life, the right to liberty and security of the person, the right to a fair and public trial, as well as the prohibition on torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment. Under international law, an enforced disappearance is a continuing crime until the “disappearance” is resolved.”
“While previous governments have admitted that many persons are missing, it was claimed that they had crossed the border into Pakistan to become militants. Yet, as you are aware, unmarked graves of those deemed to have been unidentified foreign militants are scattered all over Jammu and Kashmir. Many believe that these graves contain the remains of their loved ones who were picked up by security forces, killed in custody, and then falsely identified in police reports to be foreign militants, usually Pakistani citizens. In many cases, when relatives have succeeded in their demand to have graves exhumed, their claims have been found to be correct.”
Read the Full Letter from Human Rights Watch Executive Director Brad Adams to the Chief Minister of Occupied Kashmir, Omar Abdullah – Dated February 9th 2009 [LINK]
The Times of India claims, ‘Sources from the intelligence agencies said that underworld don Chhota Shakeel, a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim, has been given a contract to kill Kasab. According to an intelligence sources, the plot came to light on January 29.’
PKKH originally reported ‘Ajmal Kassab’s’ death on January 27th, putting the Indian authorities on the backfoot. The denials came thick and fast. The Times of India even went to the extent of producing an old photograph of Kassab and, bizzarely, claiming to have ‘nailed Pakistan’s lies’.
Despite the denial by Indian authorities, PKKH understands through its sources in Mumbai that the lone gunman arrested in the wake of the Mumbai attacks and identified since as ‘Amir Ajmal Kassab’ has been dead for over two weeks.
The Mumbai Police had originally intended to announce his death this week – in a supposed ’shootout’ at the Arthur road jail – pinning the blame on ‘Pakistan-controlled gangsters’ with links to Dawood Ibrahim.
If Ajmal Kassab is indeed alive, as the Indian authorities continue to try and convince us, why has he not been allowed access to? Bring him in front of the media, let the truth be known.
‘Nailing Pakistan’s claims that Ajmal Kasab was ‘dead’, TV channel Times Now has got access to the latest pictures of the lone surviving terrorist of the November 26, Mumbai attacks.’ – it says.
Strange that, when on the very same page they admit “There is, however, no clear indication about when this picture was taken or where, because the terrorist is not dressed in any prison gear, casually clad in a t-shirt and brown pants. ” [link]
So basically, the photograph labelled as ‘latest’ by TOI could well have been taken weeks ago, if not months (if reports of his kidnapping from Nepal in 2006 are to be believed.)
Times of India had previously linked PKKH to the ISI – claiming that ‘Reports which security sources suspect to have been planted by Pakistani official agencies, Islamabad alleges that captured Mumbai terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab is actually dead.’
Needless to say, it is the latest example of extremely poor and lazy journalism by a publication that is read by millions in India and is one of the leading newspapers worldwide in terms of circulation figures.
It seems as if the Indian media has taken a leaf out of Bollywood’s book – which thrives on the avoidance of reality by absorption of the mind in entertainment or imaginative situations / activities – in coming up with ‘reports’ that are far, far from reality.
UPDATE: CNN IBN with the same claims as TOI – Call it an ‘Exclusive!’
CNN-IBN are reporting on the same story, and claiming that the above photograph has been ‘exclusively made available to CNN-IBN by highly placed sources in the Mumbai’. LINK
Bizzarely, both the reports in TOI and CNN-IBN have failed to put a date on this photograph, which means they could well have been taken immediately after Kassab’s ‘arrest’.
Further to PKKH’s exclusive report last week, we can now confirm that the Mumbai Police have once again failed to produce Ajmal ‘Kassab’ in court today (February 2nd, 2009).
The Mumbai Police has previously failed to produce Kassab in court TWICE – on December 11th and more recently on January 19th.
Indian authorities have repeatedly denied media access to Ajmal Kassab and have turned down requests from the Pakistani authorities for a DNA sample for Kassab. This is consistent with the inability of the Indian authorities to provide any information (finger prints, DNA) of the other nine alleged perpetrators of the Mumbai Attacks.
PKKH reported earlier after recieving information from sources in Mumbai, that Ajmal Kassab no longer exists. [Read Full Report]
It is also worthwhile to note that during January 15th to 20th, a number of stories were planted in the Indian media by the Indian security agencies in an attempt to sound out the possibility of announcing Kassab’s death in a “Pakistani controlled gang murdering Kassab” scenario – that is, the second episode of Mumbai drama.
In response to PakistanKaKhudaHafiz (PKKH)’s exclusive report about Kassab’s death, the Maharashtra government on Friday said the lone terrorist arrested in 26/11 Mumbai attacks is very much alive.
“Kassab is in Mumbai police custody and very much alive,” state Home Minister Jayant Patil said. [Rediff]
In addition to the Home Minister, the Mumbai Police Commissioner also denied the reports of Kassab’s death.
“Kassab is safe in our custody,” Police Commissioner Hasan Gafoor told PTI.
PKKH understands that Mumbai Police had originally intended to announce his death this week – in a supposed ‘shootout’ at the Arthur road jail – pinning the blame on ‘Pakistan-controlled gangsters’ with links to Dawood Ibrahim.
The lone captured terrorist and alleged Pakistani citizen Ajmal Kassab is dead, sources tell PKKH. Whether he was killed in custody immediately after the Mumbai attacks or in recent days is yet to be confirmed.
On Monday 19th January, Kassab was remanded in police custody until February 2nd. It is important to note that he was not brought to court on this occasion.
Earlier, police in Mumbai had backed off of plans to produce Kasab in court on Thursday December 11th for a routine hearing, citing security concerns.
Indian authorities have repeatedly denied media access to Ajmal Kassab and have turned down requests from the Pakistani authorities for a DNA sample for Kassab. This is consistent with the inability of the Indian authorities to provide any information (finger prints, DNA) of the other nine alleged perpetrators of the Mumbai Attacks.
Due to the nature of this information and the lack of verifiable sources, we are not able to confirm or dismiss the reports of Kassab’s death at the moment. However, India’s reluctance to allow the Pakistani authorities access to Kassab and refusal to carry out a joint investigation certainly raises questions about the authenticity of Indian claims.
On a separate note, the leading Dutch daily newspaper ‘De Telegraaf’ reports that the Indian authorities will be investigating the role of right-wing politicians in Mumbai massacre. It also reports that Ajmal Kassab was already under arrest at the time of the Mumbai attacks, for an unrelated crime. Below is a rough translation from the article in ‘De Telegraaf’:
“There are indications that Indian politicians and Hindu extremists are behind the attacks in Mumbai last November. It is thought that statesmen of Maharashtra wanted to get rid of the head of the anti-terrorism bureau, Hermant Karkare, whilst putting the blame on Pakistan as reported by Radiance, a weekly magazine. Hemant Karkare was one of the 163 victims killed during the attacks. Karkare was investigating the hindu terrorist group Hindutva suspected to be planning an attack and had received death threats. An independent investigation is underway to find the politicians who demanded Karkare’s resignation and which of them has provided financial means for the attacks. Remarkably, the only gunman who was captured alive, a Pakistani, was already serving a sentence in jail for another crime.”
The militants and the Indian Army had been fighting for the past nine days in Poonch, with the Indian Army earlier claiming to have surrounded the militants ‘from all sides’.
On Thursday afternoon, the Indian Army called off the operation when it became clear that the terrorists were not in the area any more.
The Indian Army has released a statement that the operation was over, but they do not seem to have an explanation for how their estimates have been so off the mark.
In the beginning, when the operation began, the Army said there were 4 militants. Then they said there were 10. Now, when the militants have got away after killing Indian Army soldiers, they still don’t know for sure how many there were.
A big slap on the face of those calling for war with Pakistan. A handful of rag-tag militants armed with AK47s and grenades against the might of the Indian army – what chance would they have against our battle hardened tribal lashkars, if it ever came to war?
It is now becoming increasingly clear New Delhi is interested more in creating anti-Pakistani hysteria than in establishing the truth behind the attack. What is laughable is that India began involving Pakistan in the attack even before preliminary investigations had begun. One can contrast this paranoia with Pakistan’s attitude, which has been sober and characterized by self-confidence stemming from the justness of its position. It has reacted coolly to the Indian accusations and asked India to offer concrete evidence of the involvement of Lashkar-i-Taiba and Jaish-i-Muhammad in the attack. It has even offered to cooperate in the investigation and hold a joint inquiry. India has rejected this. Nothing, however, provides a greater proof of India’s duplicity than its rejection of the American suggestion of involving the FBI with the investigation. One can clearly discern the motives behind New Delhi’s rejection of this offer from a country that is friends to both Pakistan and India. Obviously, associating the FBI with the investigation runs the risk that the truth will be established — and that is the last thing New Delhi wants.
The above paragraph sounds like it was written post Mumbai. It wasn’t. Below is the full editorial that appeared in Dawn on December 20th, 2001, in the wake of the attack on the Indian Parliament.
Despite harping on about having given Pakistan proof – the reality is that the ‘evidence’ so far presented amounts to ONE letter, a confession statement given to the police, which wouldn’t even be accepted as evidence in Indian courts as per the Indian Penal code.
Did ‘Kasab’ even write this letter?!
JANG has revealed some interesting facts about the letter handed over to Pakistan by India, allegedly written by Ajmal Amir Kasab (Qasab/Kasav/Ajmal Amin/Mohammad Ajmal).
Indian diplomatic staff in Pakistan distributed copies of the letter to selected journalists, and requested them to ‘try and prove that Ajmal belongs to Pakistan’. Some of these journalists have had close links with Indian missions in Pakistan and abroad.
The letter itself is dated ‘December 19th’ – which is weird considering the Indian media had been reporting about this letter since as early as December 13th. (We have been able to locate this news report from the 15th talking about the letter)
Additionally, the letter (written in Urdu script) contains atleast 3 words which are Hindi.
Sources say there are a few other interesting mistakes in the letter which will be revelaed ‘at the appropriate time’.
Jang also reports that Pakistan plans to take a strong position internationally and discredit Indian claims by revealing the contents of this letter.
Despite repeated requests, India has FAILED to provide ANY real evidence linking any Pakistan national to the attacks in Mumbai. Could it be because there isn’t any to begin with?
Their attempt to attribute a confessional letter to the captured terrorist has fallen on its arse. Not to forget the letter wouldn’t have stood in any court anywhere in the world as evidence anyway.
Is this another case of Hindu Extremists carrying out mass murder and pointing the finger at Pakistan, as they did with Samjhauta Express and Malegaon? Both of those were initially blamed on Lashkar-e-Taiba and the ISI. Wonder where the ATS chief who investigated those terrorist attacks is now.
Oh thats right, he was conveniently shot dead along with his team as soon as the Mumbai drama began. But that is something you can’t dare question in the Great Indian Democracy™.
Silence of Zardari -Gilani led Pakistan government in proceedings of UN Security Council raises many doubts and questions. Since the start of India’s aggressive campaign to brand Pakistan as a terrorist state, why have no diplomatic counter measures been taken? Why was an old time tested friend such China (probably the first time in Pakistan’s political history) not requested to veto the resolution? What was the real hurry in banning an organization which was once donated funds by UN in 2005, without a shred of evidence linking them to any illegal activities in or outside Pakistan? Why was our Government even more quicker in clamping operations of newly labeled terrorist organizations who were doing charity in Pakistan for hundreds of thousands of people which included Muslims, Hindus and Christians alike? Why the Government of Pakistan agreed to sent ISI Director General on a single call? And why did our Information Minister sound more like an Indian Information Minister when Indian Air force Fighter jets violated Pakistani airspace?
A MUMBAI-BASED lawyer has moved the Bombay High Court, seeking an independent investigation into the circumstances under which Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad chief Hemant Karkare was killed.
Amin Solkar filed a public interest litigation (PIL) on December 11, mainly because Karkare was investigating the countrywide Hindutva terror network. The PIL has asked the court to appoint a special investigating team under its supervision.
Karkare had unearthed an alleged Hindutva terror plot while probing the Malegaon blasts case. The Muslims in Malegaon have always claimed Karkare was killed by Hindutva militants and not by Qasab.
Solkar’s petition is expected to be heard on Thursday. The PIL wants former CM of Maharashtra, Vilasrao Deshmukh, to file an affidavit disclosing the names of political leaders who wanted Karkare out of the ATS.
Former revenue minister Narayan Rane will also have some explanations to do. “A week after 26/11, he said some politicians had provided logistical and financial support for the attack,” claimed Solkar.
Rane, incensed on being denied the Chief Minister’s post following Vilasrao Deshmukh’s resignation, had alleged that terrorists were getting “logistical” support from politicians. He, however, had not revealed any names.
More information is coming out that confirms how the Zardari-Gilani government has deliberately opened a door that could lead to future sanctions against Pakistan and its military under the pretext of fighting terrorism. This is suicide for Pakistan. This is also my answer for those who criticized me for being harsh when I said that this government is committing treason.
KARACHI – Hundreds of school children have turned out today to protest the decision by United Nations to ban a charity accused by India over the Mumbai attacks.
Outside the Karachi Press Club, students of Jama’at-ud-Dawa run schools in the city of Karachi complained that Jama’at-ud-Dawa was not a terrorist organisation and should not be banned.
“Thousands of children all over the country have been affected by this unjust ban”, said one of the teachers. “This is a total farce, we are not terrorists.”
The children carried placards and posters demanding the government overturn the ban.
“We just want to go back to school. We’re very scared. Education is our right – don’t take it away from us. Don’t destroy our future”, read some of the placards.
A majority of the approximately 25,000 children studying in Jama’at-ud-Dawa’s schools come from extremely poor families or are orphans, and would’nt otherwise have been able to get an education. Jama’at-ud-Dawa provides free education to these children.
The schools are of a much higher standard than those run by the Pakistan government, and subjects include English and modern Sciences. Most of Jama’at-ud-Dawa’s schools have fully furnished science and computer labs and facilities comparable to any good school in Pakistan. The basic curriculum taught is the same as schools all over Pakistan.
Since the ban has come into effect, teachers and students of the school have complained of harassment from the police, leading to a lot of parents not sending their children to school out of fear. A number of schools have been sealed shut, while others have no option but to remain closed as parents are hesitant in sending their children to school, and perhaps justifiably.
Education is the transmission of civilization. Its a real shame that the Pakistani government has taken these measures against Jama’at-ud-Dawa when there’s never been any proof of their involvement in any illegal activity in and outside Pakistan. Ultimately, its the children that will suffer as in the case of most of them, their families cannot afford to educate them. Jama’at-ud-Dawa had been doing it for free.
کراچی( ) اقوام متحدہ کی جانب سے جماعة الدعوة پر پابندی سے متاثر ہونے والے الدعوة اسکولز کے سینکڑوں طلباءو طالبات نے بلاجواز پابندی کے اقدام کے خلاف کراچی پریس کلب کے سامنے احتجاجی مظاہرہ کیا۔ اس احتجاجی مظاہرے میں کراچی کے 14الدعوة اسکولز کے طلباءو طالبات اور اساتذہ نے شرکت کی ۔ مظاہرے کا اہتمام متاثرہ اسکولوں کے اسٹاف اور بچوں نے کیا تھا۔ مظاہرے کے دوران ننھے بچے پابندی کے خلاف پرجوش انداز میںنعرے بازی کرتے رہے ۔ بچوں نے ہاتھ میں بینرز اور پلے کارڈ اٹھا رکھے تھے جن پر اردو اور انگریزی زبان میں نعرے اور مختلف مطالبات درج تھے۔ مظاہرے کے دوران بچوں کے ہاتھوں میں اٹھائے ہوئے بینرز اور پلے کارڈز پر “UNOکیا ہمیں تعلیم دینا جماعة الدعوة کا جرم ہے؟ ، تعلیم ہمارا حق ہے یہ ہم سے نہ چھینو، دہشت گرد ہم نہیں دہشت گرد امریکہ ہے، پابندی کی آڑ میں ہمارے مستقبل کو تباہ نہ کرو، ہمارا اسکول بند ہوگیا ہم کہاں جائیں جیسے نعرے درج تھے۔ جماعة الدعوة پر پابندیوں کی وجہ سے ملک بہر میں الدعوة اسکولز میں زیر تعلیم 24ہزار طلباءمتاثر ہوئے ہیں۔ کراچی میں متاثر ہونے والے 14اسکولز کے ساڑھے 23سو کے قریب طلباءو طالبات ہیں۔ اساتذہ اور طلباءنے میڈیا سے گفتگو کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ پولیس اور سرکاری محکموں کے اہلکار اسکولوں میں آ کر بچوں اور اساتذہ کو حراساں کرتے ہیں۔ بار بار پولیس کے آنے سے بچے اور ان کے والدین خوف کا شکار ہیں۔ اور اس تفتیشی عمل کی وجہ سے بچوں کی پڑھائی میں خلل آرہا ہے۔ والدین بچوں کو اسکول میں بھیجنے سے گریز کر رہے ہیں۔ الدعوة اسکول ملیر کے استاد نے میڈیا سے گفتگو کے دوران کہا کہ پولیس نے اسکول کو سیل کر دیا ہے اور دوران پڑھائی آ کر پرنسپل اور دیگر عملے کو حراساں کیا ہے۔ جسکی وجہ سے پڑھائی کا عمل شدت سے متاثر ہوا ہے۔مظاہرین نے مظالبہ کیا کہ جماعة الدعوة پرامن اور محب وطن رفاہی تنظیم ہے۔ امریکہ و بھارت عالمی دہشت گرد اس پر بلاجواز پابندی لگا کر پوری دنیا کی آنکھوں میں دھول جھونک رہے ہیں۔کیونکہ جماعة الدعوة نے آج تک کوئی ایسے اقدم نہیں کیے جو ملکی سالمیت یا مفاد عامہ کے منافی ہوں۔ معصوم بچوں اور ان کے معلمین کو دہشت گرد قرار دینا سراسر نا انصافی پر مبنی ہے۔ ایسی تمام بے بنیاد اور ناجائز پابندیوں کو ختم کر کے حکومت جماعة الدعوة کی تمام رفاہی اور تعلیمی سرگرمیاں بحال کرے۔
Jama’at-ud-Dawa operates 14 schools in Karachi, 20 overall in Sindh, and over 150 in total nationwide. Apart from secondary and high schools for boys and girls, Jama’at-ud-Dawa also runs a science college in Shehdadpur, Sindh, and plans to open many more.
So basically, the photograph labelled as ‘latest’ by TOI could well have been taken weeks ago, if not months (if reports of his 
Silence of Zardari -Gilani led Pakistan government in proceedings of UN Security Council raises many doubts and questions. Since the start of India’s aggressive campaign to brand Pakistan as a terrorist state, why have no diplomatic counter measures been taken? Why was an old time tested friend such China (probably the first time in Pakistan’s political history) not requested to veto the resolution? What was the real hurry in banning an organization which was once donated funds by UN in 2005, without a shred of evidence linking them to any illegal activities in or outside Pakistan? Why was our Government even more quicker in clamping operations of newly labeled terrorist organizations who were doing charity in Pakistan for hundreds of thousands of people which included Muslims, Hindus and Christians alike? Why the Government of Pakistan agreed to sent ISI Director General on a single call? And why did our Information Minister sound more like an Indian Information Minister when 
