During a rally in Rawalakot on 18 April, Musa declared, ‘Jihad will continue, guns will rage, and beheadings will continue in Kashmir. India wants to change the demography of Kashmir by giving domicile certificates to non-locals’read morePakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, recently referred to Kashmir as Pakistan’s “jugular vein” in a provocative statement that is being viewed as a potential trigger for Lashkar-e-Taiba’s terror strike in Pahalgam, which coincided with the arrival of US Vice President JD Vance, sources said.While agencies have yet to make a definitive assessment, several intelligence officers indicated that Munir’s inflammatory speech — in which he also highlighted alleged differential treatment between Muslims and Hindus — may have emboldened The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy that has claimed responsibility for the attack, to plan a “spectacular strike”.AdvertisementAn intelligence assessment suspects that Lashkar’s top commander, Saifullah Kasuri, alias Khalid, was one of the key plotters. Reports also suggest the involvement of Abu Musa and two other Lashkar leaders based in Rawalakot is under investigation.More from India
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‘This brutal crime has no justification’: Putin expresses condolences to President Murmu, PM Modi over Pahalgam terror attackDuring a rally in Rawalakot on 18 April, Musa declared, “Jihad will continue, guns will rage, and beheadings will continue in Kashmir. India wants to change the demography of Kashmir by giving domicile certificates to non-locals.”According to sources, many of the victims in Pahalgam were reportedly asked to recite the kalma (an Islamic creed), and those who were unable to do so were shot.The Times of India reported last week that Indian intelligence believed the rise in anti-Hindu rhetoric was a deliberate strategy, timed with rallies opposing recent revisions to the Waqf Act, aimed at mobilising Pakistan-based terrorists.Initial assessments by the intelligence services suggest that the attack was carried out by approximately six terrorists, with support from local auxiliary elements.“It appears the attackers arrived a few days before the incident, conducted reconnaissance, and then struck when the opportunity arose,” said one source. “Between 1 and 7 April, we had intelligence indicating that terrorists had surveyed several hotels. Therefore, this was not an intelligence failure.”AdvertisementEnd of Article
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Did Pakistan Army chief’s ‘Kashmir is our jugular vein’ remark trigger Pahalgam terror attack?
