After the IAF’s airstrike against terrorist outfit Jaish-E-Mohammad’s camp, there were many media reports claiming that a very large number of terrorists died in the airstrike. However, the Pakistan authorities completely rubbished such reports and maintained that there had been no casualties.
But now an audio tape of Maulana Masood Azhar’s brother- Maulana Ammar- has emerged which substantiate India’s claims.
According to an India Today report, in the audiotape, the Jaish-e-Mohammed leader can be clearly heard saying that the Madrasa was struck down by IAF. The entire audiotape of Maulana Ammar, younger brother of Maulana Masood Azhar, is 14 minutes 32 seconds long.
In the audio tape, Maulana Ammar accepts that IAF targeted their centre in Balakot. He attacked Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan for releasing IAF Wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman– who was captured by Pakistan.
Maulana Ammar said, “Imran Khan has caused us embarrassment by releasing the Indian pilot. We won’t forgive him.”
He also said, “Indian aircraft did not bomb the safe house of any agency or its headquarters or where agency officials held their meetings, they bombed the centre where students were trained to understand the concept of Jihad.” Maulana Ammar further appealed to Pakistanis to join him in spreading jihad. He is also heard saying “India will have to pay back for this action.”
It seems that JeM is extremely angry with Imran for not protecting them and also for releasing Abhinandan Varthaman. It is not a good sign for Imran Khan as JeM can go to the extent of killing him. In the past, JeM attempted to kill former Pakistan president General Pervez Musharraf. When Pakistan outlawed the JeM as a “terrorist organization” in 2002, not once but twice, the JeM attempted to assassinate then-Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in 2003.
Imran Khan and others in Pakistan should pay attention Hilary Clinton’s words: “You can’t keep snakes in your backyard and expect them only to bite your neighbors. You know, eventually those snakes are going to turn on whoever has them in the backyard.” Her words were a blunt message to Pakistan and terrorism sponsored and supported by it. Pakistan uses terrorism as a tool of its state’s policy. It exports terrorism to its neighboring countries. To put it in perspective, 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden was traced in Pakistan. He remained under the protection of Pakistan army and ISI till the US forces eliminated him.
According to the Express Tribune report, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has released an updated list of terrorist individuals and terrorist outfits out of which 139 belong to Pakistan. It’s an open secret that Pakistan is a safe haven for terrorists. The JeM, which is behind the dastardly terrorist attack in Pulwama, enjoys the support of Pakistan military, politicians and ISI. Recently, Pakistan Foreign Minister, Mahmood Qureshi, had acknowledged that Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan. He further admitted that Masood Azhar was ‘unwell’ and was not getting out of his house. However, India can act against him only if they present ‘solid’ and ‘inalienable’ evidence against the JeM Chief, said Qureshi.
Also read: This is why Subramanian Swamy’s strategy to deal with Pakistan makes much more sense now