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. The UNSC list clearly reveals that Pakistan is a safe haven for terrorists. This bolsters the notion that the Islamic Republic is not only a threat to regional security but also to global stability and security.
According to the report, the UNSC list includes names of globally designated terrorists – ranging from Al Qaeda chief Ayman al Zawahiri to Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) commander Maulana Fazlullah. The list also has the name of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief and 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, underworld don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and the Haqqanis.
The list highlights the names of terrorists who have been provided a safe haven by Pakistan. These terrorists operate on the Pakistani soil in collaboration with the local groups to carry out their terror operations.
The first name in the list is of Al Qaeda chief Zawahiri, a former operational and military leader of Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) and the closest associate of Osama bin Laden. According to UN data, Zawahiri is believed to be hiding in the Pakistan and Afghanistan border area along with his close associates who have found mention in the list as well.
Another notorious and dreaded terrorist whose name features in the list is of Hafiz Saeed, his deputy Zafar Iqbal, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi (the LeT chief of military operations), Dawood Ibrahim etc.
The terror entities based in Pakistan which find mention in the list includes Afghan Support Committee, Al Rashid Trust, Al Akhtar Trust International, Al Haramain Foundation, Emarat Kavkaz, Haji Bashir and Zarjmil Company Hawala, Haji Khairullah Haji Sattar Money Exchange, Haqqani Network, Harkatul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Jamaatul Ahrar, Khaitiba Imam Al Bukhari, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Rabita Trust, Rahat Ltd, Revival of Islamic Heritage Society, Roshan Money Exchange, TTP, Ummah Tameer e Nau and Wafa Humanitarian Organisation.
Moreover, Jaish-e-Mohammad is behind the dastardly terrorist attack in Pulwama. This terror outfit 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.
Jaish-e-Mohammed, an organization founded and led by terrorist Maulana Masood Azhar is responsible for many attacks in Kashmir and many other parts of India. The JeM was found to be involved in the Parliament attack in 2001, the Uri and Pathankot attack in 2016, and the Pulwama attack in 2019. It is designated as a terrorist organization by India, UK, US, Russia, UAE, and the United Nations.
Pakistan uses terrorism as a tool of its state’s policy. It exports terrorism to its neighboring countries, and provide safe haven to terrorists. 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. It is an open secret that the state of Pakistan is at the mercy of its Army with democracy having no say in its state of affairs. As it is said, “In other countries state has an army but in Pakistan army has a state.”
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