Terrorist, trained at Zaki Ur Rehman Lakhvi’s house, arrested; was active in Srinagar since 2017: Police

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have arrested a Pakistani terrorist who was active in Srinagar since 2017. The terrorist, Mohammad Waqar, entered into Indian territory in July 2017.

Waqar, who is a resident of Mohalla Miana, Mianwai, in Pakistan's Punjab, reportedly got trained at Zaki Ur Rehman Lakhvi’s house. Rehman is the mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

SSP Baramulla, Abdul Qayoom: His name is Mohammad Waqar, a resident of Mohalla Miana, Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan. He came here in July 2017 by crossing the border, he was operating in Srinagar for over a year. His plan was to resurrect militancy in Baramulla. pic.twitter.com/BWUEkdQj50

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2019

"His name is Mohammad Waqar, a resident of Mohalla Miana, Mianwali, Punjab, Pakistan. He came here in July 2017 by crossing the border, he was operating in Srinagar for over a year. His plan was to resurrect militancy in Baramulla," Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Abdul Qayoom said.

According to the police, the terrorists said he joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba after he was told that Muslims are not allowed to offer Namaz in Kashmir and are being persecuted, their houses are destroyed.

“I received training for four months at a camp in Muzaffarabad. I was told that atrocities are committed on children and women. Prayers are not allowed in mosques and houses of Muslims are destroyed,” he told reporters, adding he found that the conditions were different in Kashmir.

Police officials said Awan's arrest and "confession" is a ‘live evidence’ for Pakistan as to how youths are manipulated on its soil, prepared for militancy and then sent here to join Jaish-e-Mohammad or Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army said that it has gunned down 41 terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir since Pulwama attack which claimed lives of 40 CRPF personnel. Out of those killed, 25 terrorists belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammed and 13 of them were Pakistanis.  

"We have targeted Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) leadership, the situation now is that no one is coming forward to take over the leadership of JeM in the valley. Even after Pakistan's best efforts, we will continue to suppress Jaish, especially after Pulwama. Operations against the terrorists will continue with full vigor and we will not let terrorism rise up," said Indian Army Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon on Wednesday.