Latest news with #MuskanSangwan
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
UK channel traces jihadist content to Muridke site destroyed in Operation Sindoor
A structure in Muridke damaged in the Indian strike LONDON: Sky News has traced social media accounts expressing support for jihadist terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and al-Qaida to the exact location of the building in Muridke, Pakistan, which was struck by India last week in retaliation for the Pahalgam terrorist attack . A Sky News forensics and data team geolocated to Markaz Taiba in Muridke multiple videos on TikTok, YouTube and Google which express support for the LeT and "313", referring to the 313 Brigade , al-Qaida's military wing in Pakistan. Operation Sindoor India-Pakistan Tensions Live Updates: India hits back after Pakistan violates ceasefire; Nagrota sentry hurt in brief gunfire Operation Sindoor Live Updates: Drones shot down at multiple places in J&K as Pakistan violates bilateral understanding Pak drones enter Indian airspace, explosions heard just hours after truce deal The videos were posted before India blew the complex up last week. The channel confirmed the video locations using satellite imagery in and around the complex. According to Stanford University's mapping militants project, members of 313 Brigade include Taliban and allied jihadist groups, such as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, LeT and Jaish-e-Muhammed . 313 Brigade has been behind many high-profile attacks and bombings inside Pakistan. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Living perfectly well without American goods': Why more Chinese shoppers support local brands CNA Read More Undo Captions, hashtags and usernames posting these videos express support for either or both the LeT and "313". One video shows a man with a gun and the username states: "Lashkar Taiba - Markaz Taiba Muridke - 313 Bhai Group - Mujahid Force PK". A TikTok video with the text "313" is captioned "bring your arms and ammunition and go to war". Muskan Sangwan, senior intelligence analyst at TRAC, a terrorism research consortium, said: "These young men posing with rifles are using 313 label as a badge for jihadist identity," which, she said, would help with recruitment. One video with the hashtag "313 jihad" shows children practising sword-fighting inside the mosque, with the caption "We are little soldiers, and we fight the non-believers". The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) told Sky News: "It has been known for decades that LeT has its headquarters in Muridke." Pakistan-based Resistance Front, an LeT proxy, initially claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack. Khawaja Asif, Pakistan's defence minister, said: "This appears to be a random video with background music added later - consistent with how TikTok trends often function. If this is to be considered credible evidence, we could produce millions of similar clips ourselves." Any suggestion that the mosque was used as a base by terrorists was a "completely false social media made up hoax," he added.
News18
10-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pro-Terrorist TikTok Accounts Post Videos Of Terror Camps Hit By India During Operation Sindoor
Last Updated: Several videos were uploaded on TikTok, Google and YouTube that appear to be filmed at Markaz Taiba camp in Muridke, the LeT headquarters demolished by India on May 7. As tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following 'Operation Sindoor', some social media accounts expressing support for a Pakistan-based terror group linked to al-Qaeda have surfaced after posting videos from Pakistani terror groups targeted by Indian airstrikes. Sky News found several videos posted on TikTok, YouTube and Google that appear to be filmed at Markaz Taiba camp in Muridke, which serves as the headquarters of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. The captions and usernames contained expressions of support for the LeT and a group called '313'. Markaz Taiba, established in 2000 in Pakistan's Punjab province's Muridke, is Lashkar-e-Taiba's main training hub. It serves as a centre for arms training, physical drills, and radicalisation programmes for recruits from Pakistan and abroad. What Do These Videos Show? Several videos uploaded by the pro-terrorist handles showed armed men patrolling the streets, while one clip, showing children practising martial arts inside the terror camp, which was struck by Indian airstrikes, is captioned, 'We are young warriors, and we fight the non-believers." The number '313' appears to refer to the 313 Brigade, a proscribed terror organisation in Pakistan. A TikTok video posted to the Google page for Markaz Taiba showed a man walking in the street with a gun. The account that posted that video wrote in their description, 'Lashkar Taiba, Mujahid Force, '313' and Markaz Taiba Muridke", self-proclaiming their support for the Pakistan-based terror groups. 'Brigade 313 is al Qaeda in Pakistan. It's an umbrella organisation for members of several groups like Taliban, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Haqqat ul-Jihad-al-Islami, Jaish-e Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Jundullah," said Muskan Sangwan, senior intelligence analyst at TRAC, a terrorism research and analysis consortium. The TRAC has reported an increase in TikTok videos and other social media posts that refer to '313', and most of the accounts are related to each other. 'They [the TikTok users] mostly use '313' as a hashtag… trying to push that hashtag to as many people it can reach on social media," she told Sky News. After comparing the videos from the strike location and the video released by the Army conducting the strike, the UK-based media outlet confirmed that the videos posted by these social media groups were from the terror camps. 'Go To War' One of the videos on TikTok was captioned 'bring your arms and ammunition and go to war". The text on the screen of the TikTok is '313' and he is carrying a gun. Sangwan explained that these social media posts are helpful in pushing propaganda on social media which could generate a lot of significance in terms of recruitment and local support. India launched 'Operation Sindoor' on May 7, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) after the barbaric Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that left 26 tourists dead. Indian forces neutralised nine high-value sites linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and dealt a decisive blow, crippling the operational infrastructure of both groups. The Markaz Taiba complex in Muridke serves as Lashkar-e-Taiba's main training hub and carries substantial historical and strategic importance. In 2000, Osama Bin Laden contributed Rs 10 million towards the construction of a mosque and guest house on the site, which later played a key role in orchestrating the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 10, 2025, 23:48 IST
