Haqqani, LET terrorists behind attack
THE OPERATION WAS CODE-NAMED BLACKSTAR BY THE PAKISTAN INTELLIGENCE, WHICH USED THE HAQQANI NETWORK AND ELEMENTS OF LET
NEW DELHI: Security at the Indian Embassy in Kabul and consulates in Jalalabad and Kandahar has been put on the highest levels of alert with Indian and western intelligence confirming that the Haqqani network and Lashkar-etayyeba (LET) terrorists chose to hit Guru Har Rai gurdwara at Shor Bazaar due to heavy troop deployment at the Indian mission.
As many as 28 Sikh worshippers were killed, eight others injured and another 85 were rescued during the shoot-out at the soft target gurdwara, which is located three kilometres from the Indian mission.
According to information reaching Delhi from Afghan and western security agencies, the strike was ordered by Quetta Shura of Taliban at the behest of Pakistani deep state with the larger motive of driving out India from Afghanistan, officials aware of the developments said, asking not to be named.
The operation was codenamed Blackstar by the Pakistan intelligence, which used the Taliban insurgent group Haqqani network led by Taliban’s deputy commander Sirajuddin Haqqani and elements of LET.
Attackers armed with four AK-47 rifles were part of the strike at the gurdwara. The Afghan security forces managed to kill one of the terrorists; the rest escaped.
Even as the Afghan Sikhs were cremating the victims on Thursday afternoon, a bomb exploded nearby -- creating further scare in the area.
Since the US announced a deal with the Taliban on February 29, there has been a spurt in violence in Afghanistan with a resurgence of the Haqqani network and relocation of terror camps of both LET and Jaish-e-mohammed from Pakistan.
According to counter-terror analysts, the Haqqani network comprises mainly of Zardan tribe based in Nangarhar, Khost, Nuristan and Kunar provinces, which is in direct conflict with the miniscule Sikh community over land in Jalalabad and trade in Kabul.
On July 1, 2019, the Haqqani network targeted the Sikh community in Jalalabad as they came to meet President Ashraf Ghani during his visit to Nangarhar province. In both cases, the Islamic State was allowed to take credit for the attack.
“While the world is grappling with the Covid-19 virus, the Pakistani deep state continues to push jihad against minorities in Afghanistan,” a senior official said.
The strategy, this official added, was meant to force India out of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of the US forces from Afghanistan.
With the Taliban, Haqqani network, LET and JEM all under control of the Pakistani deep state, Afghanistan again will provide strategic space to its terrorist arm for controlling Kabul and hitting at Kashmir.
Western agencies have sent alerts about JEM and LET moving training camps to eastern borders of Afghanistan with Kashmir in the crosshairs. The Taliban, with their sword arm Haqqani network, will handle Afghanistan while the Islamic State and Al Qaeda would be their digital fronts in the social media space.