The Quint has learnt that Ashfaq Ahmad, Hafiz Abdul Shakur and Qasim Jaan are the three handlers of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) who were giving instructions to the terrorists in Pathankot.
According to Indian Intelligence, the handlers were located in Bahawalpur city in Pakistan. Bahawalpur is in Pakistan’s Punjab Province where the headquarters of JeM are located.
The Indian government has shared the names of these 3 handlers as well as the name of the Chief of JeM, Masood Azhar, with the Pakistan government. Apart from names, the government has also shared the phone numbers of the handlers.
Senior Official, MHAIndia shared all evidence with Pakistan and have demanded immediate action. We are waiting for their reaction. Though we are not so hopeful of their cooperation. We have strong evidence and Pakistan cannot deny that the handlers were operating from their soil.
Evidence Against These Handlers
- The government has recordings of the phone conversation between the handlers who were giving instructions to the terrorists just a few hours before the terror attack.
- India has shared the transcript of these phone recordings with Pakistan.
- India has shared pictures of the markaz (center) where the Pathankot terror strike was allegedly planned.
- One of the phone calls was made from the headquarters of Jaish e-Mohammad’s office in Bahawalpur city.
- Indian Intelligence has the exact location in Bahawalpur city from where the calls were made and received by the handlers.
- The Intelligence Bureau says that these are known phone numbers used by the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group. Indian Intelligence had information about some of these phone numbers.
It’s not clear as of now where these six militants infiltrated in India. The militants were not carrying GPS devices making it more difficult for investigators to ascertain the route they took to enter the Pathankot air base. The investigators are also not sure of whether the arms and ammunition were supplied to the militants on Indian soil or if they were carried across the border.
A top Border Security Force (BSF) official has claimed that the militants didn’t infiltrate the International Border in Punjab.
A fact-finding team has been formed by the BSF to conduct an inquiry. The team is expected to submit a report in 15 days.
Top Official, BSFWe have submitted a report to the Home Ministry on Pathankot terror strike. We are still clueless about where these militants entered from. Our worry is that terrorists may use the same route again to infiltrate
BSF officials say that they have not found any tunnel at the International Border, nor have they found any security breach.
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