COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

ISI forcing Afghan labourers into jihad in Kashmir

Army officials say the recent arrest of eight impoverished Afghans, forced to become mercenaries by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence when they sought refuge in that country, clearly indicates that Pakistan is fighting a losing battle in enforcing a proxy war on India.

Army sources say the Afghans, apprehended in Kashmir's Kupwara sector, were labourers who had fled their country because of the Taliban's atrocities. They had crossed over to Pakistan in search of jobs.

''They (the ISI) are finding it difficult to induct regular Afghan mercenaries," sources said, "So they are pushing innocent people into the valley for the so-called jihad, exploiting their pathetic conditions.''

The arrested 'mercenaries' had reached Kaistan from Mazar-e-Sharif, some 40 days ago. They went to Bagh division in Pakistan occupied Kashmir and started as labourers.

During interrogation, the 'mercenaries' said that in October a man named Farooq Qurashi approached one of them and said he was looking for labourers for a job in Muzaffarabad. He took 18 labourers who, after enforced military training, were pushed across the border along with some Pakistanis and Kashmiris.

The Afghans were apprehended by the Indian army from a jungle, after they failed to reach their destination. They were armed with AK-47s and grenades.

Army sources said that Kashmiri youth had now realised the futility of jihad and were not coming forward to join militancy. Besides, Kashmiri militants had suffered major causalities -- 654 were killed by security forces.

The foreign mercenaries inducted by the Pakistani government had virtually taken control of militancy in the valley. Now, Kashmiri youths were being used as 'second rate mujahids', sources said.

The foreign mercenaries have also suffered heavy causalities. About 700 had been killed since the inception of insurgency in the valley. This year's tally is around 200.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report