Latest news with #Kafir
Hindustan Times
23-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
4 terrorists arrested as Gujarat ATS busts Al Qaeda module
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested four men for allegedly operating a social media module that promoted the ideology and propaganda of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), a banned terrorist organisation, said officials. The arrests followed a statewide and inter-state operation carried out on July 21 and 22 based on intelligence inputs received last month. Two of the accused have been remanded to 14 days in ATS custody. Legal proceedings against the other two are in progress. (Gujarat ATS) The investigation identified four individuals: Fardeen Shaikh from Fatehwadi, Ahmedabad; Mohammad Faiq from Chandni Chowk, Delhi; Zeeshan Ali from Noida, Uttar Pradesh; and Sefullah Qureshi from Modasa in Gujarat. Gujarat ATS DIG Sunil Joshi said that all four individuals had been under watch for suspected links to the terror outfit and that the operation to arrest them was done based on specific intelligence inputs and coordinated surveillance. On June 10, Gujarat ATS received information about a group of Instagram accounts being used to circulate inflammatory content aimed at inciting violence and attracting youth toward terror organisations, said officials. The accounts sharyat_ya_shahadat, f4rdeen_03, _mujahideen1, mujahideen.3, and sefullah_muja_hid313 were sharing videos of AQIS and promoting the ideology 'Ghazwa-e-Hind', they said. 'The accounts aimed to incite Indian Muslims to commit violence against non-believers, encourage rebellion against the government, and promote establishment of an Islamic Sharia-based Caliphate in India,' said an official. ATS officials formed a team under superintendent of police K. Siddharth to identify the account operators. The team included officers from various ranks and conducted investigations to trace the users. Four teams were dispatched to these locations on July 21 and 22. The operation involved coordination with Delhi Police, Delhi Special Cell, UP ATS, and UP Police. All four suspects were detained and brought to the ATS office. 'During examination of recovered items, ATS found AQIS literature promoting jihad against India for Operation Sindoor and a sword from Fardeen Shaikh's possession. A video on his mobile phone showed him waving the sword while chanting: 'This was the only thing missing, now it's complete. Allahu Akbar',' said officials. The mobile phones of all four accused contained content related to jihad, Ghazwa-e-Hind, Kafir, and material promoting violence and terror attacks. The four individuals were found to have been operating together, using their respective accounts to amplify each other's posts and reach a wider audience, according to officials. The accused worked together to distribute propaganda material, jihadi content, videos, and incitement fatwas for rebellion like Ghazwa-e-Hind through Instagram. The activities targeted institutions of Indian governance. Mohammad Faiq collaborated with Pakistani Instagram accounts gujjar_sab.111 and M Salauddin Siddiqui 1360 to target Indian governance. The investigation extended to 25 Instagram accounts and data from 62 accounts related to the case. A case has been registered against the four under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), including sections 13 (unlawful activity), 18 (conspiracy), 38 (membership of a terrorist organisation), and 39 (support to a terrorist organisation). They have also been booked under sections 113 (promoting enmity), 152 (statements conducing to public mischief), 196 (conspiracy to commit offences against the state), and 61 (attempt) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023 (BNS). Two of the accused have been remanded to 14 days in ATS custody. Legal proceedings against the other two are in progress, and further investigation is underway to identify additional persons involved in the network, said officials. The arrest comes as a major development in India's crackdown on terror activities, particularly after the terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22 in which 26 people died, most of whom were tourists.
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First Post
26-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Is Pakistan's ISI using ISIS to threaten Balochistan activists?
While Pakistan tries to whitewash its image, the latest manifesto of ISIS-K targets Baloch rights activists, including Mahrang Baloch. The terror group was also seen parroting the same narrative pushed by Pakistan's ISI. Read our exclusive read more Portraits of Baloch missing persons are seen by their family members at a sit-in protest camp, in Islamabad, Pakistan Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. File Image / AP While Pakistan denies claims that it is fostering terror groups on its soil , the Baloch civilians and activists in the country are facing threats from the Islamic State (ISIS) terror cells. In recent weeks, the transnational terrorist organisation announced war on the Baloch militant groups, like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front. However, a prominent Baloch rights activist, who asked to remain anonymous, told Firstpost that the terror group is also targeting Baloch civilians and political protesters. The activist from the Baloch Yakjehti Committee told Firstpost that ISIS has been allegedly linking the missing Baloch civilians and their families to militant groups like BLA and BLF. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The source noted that the group issued a 117-page booklet, claiming that the activists are against 'the rules of Islam'. The front page of the booklet featured Manzoor Pashteen, leader of Pashteen Tahafuz movement, Bashir Zeb, leader of Baloch liberation army and a faceless woman. The cover image of the ISIS booklet features Manzoor Pashteen, leader of Pashteen Tahafuz movement, Bashir Zeb, leader of Baloch liberation army and a faceless female. Image Source: BYC The picture is believed to be depicting prominent Baloch activist Dr Mahrang Baloch. Just last year, TIME Magazine included the Baloch human rights activist on the TIME100 Next list for her efforts to raise the Baloch plight. While her activism was celebrated around the world, on March 22, Dr Mahrang Baloch was arrested by the Pakistani authorities during a peaceful sit-in where she was demonstrating against police violence on protesters from the previous day. In the photographs of the booklet shared by the source to Firstpost, Dr Baloch's name was explicitly mentioned. In the provocative manifesto, Dr Mahrang was referred to as 'Kafir, a Muslim who has left Islam and became non Muslim,' the source said. In the booklet, Dr Mahrang Baloch's name was explicity mentioned, she was referred to as 'Kafir, a Muslim who have left Islam and became non Muslim. Image Source: FP Sources How is ISI involved in all this? The game of narratives While speaking on the matter, the Baloch activist told Firstpost that ISIS has been promoting the same narrative often pushed by Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence, also known as ISI. 'It [the manifesto] totally shows this is promoting the narrative of ISI and going to target Baloch activists,' the source told Firstpost. The source explained that both ISIS and ISI paint Baloch rights activists as 'soft faces of militants'. When asked why Pakistan's ISI would use ISIS to terrorise Baloch civilians, the Baloch activists gave a simple response: Growing public awareness about atrocities against Baloch civilians. 'The ISI has long sought to continue human rights violations and exploit the region's resources without accountability. However, our peaceful movement has exposed their actions to the world, which is why they are now targeting us in an attempt to silence our voices. Despite their efforts, they have failed,' the source told Firstpost. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Currently, Dr. Mahrang Baloch and four of our leaders — Beebarg Baloch, Beebu Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, and Shaji Baloch — are unjustly imprisoned. My own father forcibly disappeared as part of a pressure tactic to force my surrender. The state continues to brutally suppress every protest, yet we have not stopped resisting.' Mahrang Baloch has been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Prize. Image: mahrangbaloch__/Instagram Now, as public awareness grows and the people's resentment against state oppression deepens, they (ISI) are shifting strategies. Since open violence is increasingly being condemned both locally and internationally, they may resort to using groups like ISIS to further suppress us. This allows them to deflect criticism, evade responsibility, and even gain international sympathy because any violence blamed on a banned terrorist group distances the state from accountability," the source furthered. Against the backdrop of the alleged threat coming from the ISI-ISIS combo, the BYC had to cancel its rallies in different regions across Balochistan. When asked if there are just threats or the lives of Dr Mahrang Baloch and other rights activists are actually in danger, the source stated: 'This is a threat to all political activists like us, and victim families, who came on the roads just for justice.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Baloch civilians are facing the burnt of terror groups During a phone call with Firstpost, the source explained how the tensions between ISIS-K (Islamic State - Khorasan Province) and Daesh actually started. The Pakistani wing of the transnational terror group claimed that militant organisations like BLA and BLF killed 30 people. The source noted that Daesh and the Baloch militant groups have camps in Mastung town in the Balochistan province. The Baloch activist also pointed out that neither the BLA nor the BLF have claimed responsibility for killing Daesh members as of now. Militants from the Baloch Liberation Army in Quetta. File image/AFP However, in the tussle between the two groups, it is the Baloch civilians and activists who are getting dragged into all this. For instance, on March 29, a suicide bomber detonated himself near the rally conducted by Sardar Akhtar Mengal and other leaders of his faction of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) in Mastung. According to Pakistani news outlet The Express Tribune, the rally was en route from Wadh to Quetta when the attack occurred. No casualties were reported in the blast. The demonstration was organised to protest the arrests of Balochistan Yakjehti Committee (BYC) chief organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch and other leaders. The source claimed that the attack was carried out by the Daesh terror group operating in the Khorasan province. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The atrocities by the ISI and the state of Pakistan Not only this, but the Baloch activists and innocent civilians are also facing atrocities at the hands of the Pakistani establishment. 'The ISI has employed a wide range of tactics to target Baloch activists, aiming to silence dissent and suppress the movement. These methods include: Fabricating allegations and spreading false propaganda, intimidation and harassment of activists and their families, misusing anti-terrorism laws and sedition charges to criminalise peaceful activism, etc,' the source told to Firstpost. 'These actions collectively aim to dismantle the peaceful Baloch movement through fear, legal persecution, and economic strangulation,' the source furthered. Baloch activists hold pictures of their missing family members in Islamabad, Pakistan, 2023. File Image: AP The ISIS booklet peddles the same narrative against Baloch activists as formulated earlier by the ISI. This also offers evidence backing the charge that the Pakistani establishment and its security agencies have terror links. This may compound troubles for Pakistan when it's already under global scrutiny for sponsoring terrorism in India, especially in the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre of tourists.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Narak Jaana Pasand Karunga…': Javed Akhtar prefers hell over Pakistan - The Economic Times Video
"Many people encourage me and praise me. But people from both sides indeed abuse me. One side say you are a Kafir and will go to hell. The other side say you are a Jihadi and go to Pakistan. If I have to choose between hell and Pakistan, I would prefer to go to hell...," said Lyricist Javed Akhtar
India.com
18-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Would Choose Hell Over Pakistan: Javed Akhtar's Bold Remark Goes Viral
Mumbai: Lyricist Javed Akhtar attended the launch of Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut's book Narkatla Swarg (Heaven in the Swamp) in Mumbai on Saturday. The event was attended by several political leaders, including Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray and (NCP-SCP) chief Sharad Pawar. While addressing the audience, Akhtar shared how, over the years, he has faced backlash from people due to his outspoken nature. #WATCH | Mumbai: "Many people encourage me and praise me. But it is true that people from both sides abuse me. One side say you are a Kafir and will go to hell. The other side say you are a Jihadi and go to Pakistan. If I have to choose between hell and Pakistan, I would prefer… — ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2025 "People from both sides abuse me. It's not one-sided. I would be very ungrateful if I don't admit that there are people who also appreciate me. Many support me, praise me, and encourage me," Akhtar said. "Toh agar mere paas sirf choice Pakistan aur jahannum yani nark ki hain toh main nark hi jaana pasand karunga..." he added. Meanwhile, Narkatla Swarg, the book launched at the event, is written by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and revolves around his political experiences. The event was attended by top leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale Meanwhile, Narkatla Swarg, the book launched at the event, is written by Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and revolves around his political experiences. The event was attended by top leaders, including Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale.
