Jaish-e-Mohammad, the Pakistan-based terror outfit, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Militant outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Umar Khatab was killed and an army jawan wounded in a fierce gun-battle in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Sunday. Khatab was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Bhatti-Dar area at Mendhar early on Sunday morning, said Brigadier General Staff (16 Coprs) S Dua. Acting on specific information that some militants were hiding in Bhatti-Dar area, Rashtriya Rifles troops and the police launched a search-and-cordon operation.
'Jaish is known for its fidayeen activities.' 'This well trained human resource backed by military-based training makes the JeM an obvious choice over the LeT and HM.'
Since Balakot strike, India is trying to build maximum pressure on Pakistan on the issue of terrorism, sources said.
After receiving sanction under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the NIA will name Azhar, his brother Rauf Asghar, and handlers of four terrorists -- Qashif Jan and Shaid Latif in the chargesheet to be filed soon, official sources said.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi also claimed that Azhar is unwell to the extent that he cannot leave his house.
Security forces on Saturday morning killed a top commander of Pakistan based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.
Asserting that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir has seen a "tremendous improvement and stabilisation" since August 2019, a top Army commander said the Union territory is regaining its past glory and peace through sacrifices of the security forces and people.
Dawood Khan, the mastermind of the Ayodhya suicide attack and self-styled chief of Jaish-e-Mohammad in the Jammu region, was gunned down in a fierce gun-battle between security forces and militants in Poonch district on Monday. Acting on a tip off, troops of 37 and 39 Rastriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a combing operation in Narol forest area in Mendhar belt on Sunday.
He said the US has been very clear to Pakistan on ending support to terrorist safe havens.
The founder of the dreaded terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed undergoes regular dialysis at an army hospital in Rawalpindi in Pakistan.
'If deterrence through India's conventional superiority is to be established now, then India will have to escalate to a point where its greater resources make the difference.' 'This is, to put it mildly, both difficult and dangerous and thus inadvisable,' points out Mihir S Sharma.
China, a veto-wielding member of the United Nations Security Council and a close ally of Pakistan, has repeatedly foiled India's bid to list Azhar as a global terrorist, saying there is no consensus in the top organ of the world body on this issue.
As many as 160 terrorists were killed and 102 arrested in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.
The terrorists exchanging heavy gunfire with security forces in Bhati Dhar jungles of Poonch are suspected to be from Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group, the army said on Wednesday, but did not specify any time frame for flushing them out.
"I want to spend one night with you people and understand your problems," Shah said addressing the security personnel at the CRPF campus, adding it was his 'most important' engagement during his visit to the Union territory.
In his first comments since the militaries of India and Pakistan jointly announced on Thursday that they have agreed to strictly observe all agreements on the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) and other sectors, Khan said Pakistan remains ready to move forward to resolve 'all outstanding issues' with India through dialogue.
Highly placed Jammu and Kashmir government sources said the militants were brought to Srinagar on Sunday morning by police to identify the body.
The terrorists have been identified as Raqib Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Shiganpora in Kulgam, and Pakistani nationals Waleed and Numan, a police spokesman said.
Army chief General Bipin Rawat has already been given the Z-plus security.
The deceased policeman was identified as assistant sub-inspector Mushtaq Ahmad.
A CRPF vehicle had suffered slight damage when a Santro car went up in flames after an explosion at Tethar village, seven km from Banihal, shortly after a Jammu-bound convoy crossed the Jawahar Tunnel, the gateway to Kashmir valley.
A senior NIA official claimed that one of the four terrorists involved in the attack on the army camp in Handwara managed to flee.
A computer typed Hindi letter was received by the Government Railway Police in Aligarh on Sunday, which threatened to create havoc in Uttar Pradesh by triggering blasts in trains and other important places in Aligarh and Lucknow. According to police sources here, the name of the terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad was written at the end of the letter. Meanwhile, police officials are investigating the matter.
The IAF hit the JeM training facility using S-2000 precision-guided bombs fired from the Mirage-2000 fighter jets.
They ultras were wanted for their complicity in a series of terror crimes.
According to sources, the NIA is trying to collect more information like Jaish-e-Mohammad as a terrorist organisation and its role in the attack.
The FATF warned Pakistan that if it doesn't complete a full action plan by June, it could lead to consequences on its businesses
A dossier will be given to the FATF, an international terror financing watchdog.
According to sources, the agencies have warned that two JeM terrorists have sneaked into the national capital with the intention to carry out high-profile strikes and a hostage crisis could also be possible.
A truck was intercepted at 8 am on the Jammu-Pathankot Highway and during checking six AK-47 rifles were seized, Inspector General of Police, Jammu, Makesh Singh told PTI.
As Xi is due to arrive in Goa on Saturday to take part in the BRICS Summit, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said the relations between India and China made "great headway" despite some "disputes" but there was no change in in Beijing's stand on the issues of NSG and Azhar.
"The United States and China share a mutual interest in achieving regional stability and peace, and that a failure to designate Azhar would run counter to this goal," State Department Deputy Spokesperson Robert Palladino said in response to a question on previous successful attempts by China to block the UN designation of Azhar
'Cosmetic action will not cut any ice'
The external affairs ministry conveyed strong objection to the neighbouring country at the "vulgar display" of an injured personnel in violation of all norms of International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Convention.
After nabbing two suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed militants, police on Tuesday are on the lookout for at least one of their contacts believed to be hiding in Delhi.
Lelhari was named as the new commander of Ghazwat-ul-Hind in June this year after Zakir Musa was gunned down by security forces.
Palli panchayat, 17 km from Jammu city, was virtually sealed with local police and paramilitary personnel including Border Security Force and Central Reserve Police Force deployed in strength to keep a strict vigil.
Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said in a written reply that according to available reports, terrorist groups in India were receiving funds from abroad, mainly through hawala and informal channels.
On March 15, France imposed financial sanctions on Azhar.
