Taliban do not operate in Kashmir: surrendered Pak militant

Srinagar, Apr 25 (PTI) Militant groups operating in the
northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir have set up their
own separate training centres across the line of control but
the Taliban do not operate here, a surrendered Pakistani
militant said.

"Every group has its own training mechanism. Each
'Tanjeem' (group) has its own character and agenda," Syed
Moinullah Shah, a Hizbul Mujahideen militant who was part of
the group of 31 militants who crossed over to Indian side of
Kashmir told the media here.

Giving graphic details of the training imparted to
militants in Pakistan, Shah said the recruits undergo training
of three separate durations - 21 days, 40 days and three
months.

Even after being trained at the camps across LoC these
militants are not given any details about any specific mission
or targets in Kashmir.

"We are not given any specific target to hit. Once we
come to this side of LoC we are given missions by Commanders
who are already located here. They tell us where to go and
what to do," he said.

During his brief interaction with media in presence of
Brigadier General Staff of 15 corps Gurmeet Singh, Shah ruled
out role of Taliban in the Kashmir.

"Taliban do not operate here. They are separate and have
different set up. They are involved in Afghanistan and certain
parts of Pakistan," Shah said.

Shah was produced before the media by Army came waving
hands at reporters. During his 10 minutes of appearance before
the media, he only answered some basic questions about
himself, training and his group.

But as soon as he started giving details about the
surrender, he was whisked away by the Army from the media.

"Please appreciate that he is of immense intelligence
importance to us," Brigadier Singh said while asking his men
to take him away.

"There were 31 militant belonging to four different
groups including HM, LeT, JeM, and Pir Panchal Regiment (PPR)
of which six were killed in an avalanche. Rest were all
porters, ice cutters and guides who went back to Pakistan," he
replied to a question.

He said he was disillusioned about the reports of
atrocities on Kashmiris by Indian Army only after coming to
the state.

"I realised that people were doing their jobs and there
were no atrocities as claimed by Kashmiri preachers who come
to Pakistan seeking our support in jihad," Shah told reporters
when asked why he decided to surrender. PTI ABS
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