According to media reports, banned global Islamic terror organisation Jaish-e-Muhammad has called on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government to lift restrictions on jihadist groups and be allowed to start terror attacks on Indian forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jaish-e-Muhammad has published a series of articles in its magazines and digital platforms to lift restrictions on jihadist groups, so they can start terror operations across the Line of Control (LoC).
A Jihadi poem that was published on September 4 issue of the Jaish-e-Muhammad house-magazine Al-Qalam reads, “Talk to the preachers of power in the language of power. Do not even mistakenly talk to the enemy with softness”. This was directed at the Pakistan government and the army which supports it.
In 2019, JeM was responsible for carrying out the Pulwama suicide attack that led to the death of 40 paramilitary personals. India for the first time since 1971, launched surgical airstrikes deep into Pakistan territory in Balakot that holds a deep meaning for jihadists.
Since then, JeM has managed only small-scale operations in Kashmir and have lost many of there jihadists, not to mention there top Improvised Explosive Device maker Abdul Rehman in a shootout with police.
A senior police officer in Kashmir said, “The jihadist movement in Kashmir is clearly facing a serious crisis of resources, from weapons to ammunition to training”.
According to Pakistani scholar, Ayesha Siddiqa author of the book Military Inc.: Inside Pakistan’s Military Economy said, “Lots of reasons exist for why Prime Minister Khan’s government fierce words on Kashmir aren’t matched by a willingness to unleash the jihadists,” Saudi Arabia has made it clear it isn’t enthused by the prospect of a crisis over Kashmir; there’s the threat of sanctions from the Financial Action Task Force; there’s the risk of war”.
“There’s little doubt that Prime Minister Khan’s government has clamped down on the Kashmir jihad”, says Siddiqa.
“The thing that’s important to remember, though, is that the jihadists have been controlled—not crushed”.
After the Balakot airstrike In 2019, by the Indian Air Force attack, the Pakistan government took control of the Jaish’s madrasas in Bahawalpur, Punjab which is the centre of the group’s operations.
A recent article published in Al-Qalam, the in-house magazine of JeM reads, “General Pervez Musharraf tried to impose restrictions on the Kashmir struggle, but he failed and got mud on his face. The movement emerged even more powerful in both military and non-military terms”.
“These people also want to kill the movement,” the article went on.
“They also want to wear a medal of peace—but don’t worry; things will change. They will fail. The morning will dawn when jihad will become prominent again”, the article carried.