Latest news with #Pakistan-trained
Time of India
3 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
J&K LG sacks 3 UT staff for terror links
NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR: J&K LG Tuesday dismissed three J&K govt employees after they were found to be transporting arms, explosives and narcotics to and arranging logistical support for operatives of LeT and Hizb to carry out terror attacks in the UT. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This takes the total dismissals ordered by Sinha under Article 311(2)(c) of Constitution, since he took office, to over 75. All three govt employees sacked in the latest round - Malik Ishfaq Naseer, a constable; Ajaz Ahmed, a teacher in school dept; and Waseem Ahmad Khan, a junior assistant in GMC, Srinagar - are currently in jail on terror charges. Naseer was recruited as a constable in J&K Police in 2007. His brother Malik Asif Naseer, a Pakistan-trained terrorist of LeT, was killed by forces in 2018. Malik, however, continued his terror activities, using his cover as a constable to avoid suspicion. His LeT link was exposed in Sept 2021 when cops found him to be helping LeT drop arms, explosives & narcotics, guided by GPS, at pre-shared coordinates facilitated by him to his Pakistani handlers. Ahmed was recruited as a teacher in 2011 but led a double life as a terror associate of Hizb in Poonch region. He was helping the outfit in smuggling arms and ammunition. Khan's terror links with Hizb were exposed with his arrest in Aug 2018. Sources said he was one of the conspirators behind killing of journalist Shujaat Bukhari in June 2018.
Hindustan Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
3 Jammu and Kashmir govt employees sacked for terror links
Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday sacked three government employees, including a police constable, a school teacher and an assistant in the J&K health education department for their alleged terror links. So far, 72 government employees have been terminated since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The employees whose services have been terminated are Ajaz Ahmad, a government school teacher of Baflaiz village in Surankote tehsil in Poonch district; Malik Ishfaq Naseer, a selection grade police constable at Khahgund, Anantnag; and Waseem Ahmad Khan, an assistant in the J&K health education department and a resident of Diyarwani New Colony, Batamaloo, Srinagar. Law-enforcement agencies of the Union Territory and the lieutenant governor invoked Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, which allows dismissal without an inquiry 'in the interest of national security'. All three are currently lodged in jail. Third termination since Omar took charge as CM Over 75 government employees with terror links have been dismissed so far by the LG administration since abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. This is third termination of government employees since Omar Abdullah took over as J&K chief minister in October last year. Political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have opposed such dismissals, terming them arbitrary. Officials said the action is part of the administration's continued crackdown on terror infrastructure, including overground workers (OGWs) and sympathisers embedded within government institutions. The sacked employees were 'active terror collaborators,' involved in logistics, arms smuggling, and aiding terror operations against security forces and civilians, a senior security official said. Cop backed LeT, smuggled arms Constable Malik Ishfaq Naseer, recruited in 2007, came under suspicion during an investigation into arms smuggling in 2021. His brother Malik Asif was a Pakistan-trained LeT militant and was killed in 2018, but he allegedly continued to support the outfit while serving in the police, he said. 'He used his position to identify safe drop locations for arms, explosives, and narcotics, and shared GPS coordinates with Pakistani handlers,' the official said. Malik also allegedly distributed these consignments to active terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. His LeT link was exposed in September 2021 when J&K Police was investigating a case related to smuggling of arms and explosives in Jammu region. 'He was not only identifying the safe location, sharing the coordinates with LeT handlers in Pakistan but he was also collecting and distributing arms and ammunition to terrorists in the region, enabling them to carry out terrorist attacks on security forces and civilians,' a senior security official. 'His betrayal of the oath and uniform has caused grave damage to the department, society and the nation,' the official added. Teacher helped Hizb in smuggling arms, drugs Ajaz Ahmed, who joined the education department in 2011, was found smuggling arms, ammunition, and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen propaganda. He was arrested during a routine police check in November 2023. According to the probe, the arms were meant for militants operating in Kashmir, sent by his handler Abid Ramzan Sheikh, a Hizb-ul-Mujahideen operative based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Ahmed was allegedly involved in such activities for several years and he became a trusted terror accomplice of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in the Poonch region. He was actively helping the terror outfit in smuggling arms, ammunition and narcotics, the officer said. Part of terror plot to kill journalist Waseem Ahmad Khan, a junior assistant at Government Medical College, Srinagar, appointed in 2007, was allegedly found to be part of a terror plot that led to the assassination of journalist Shujaat Bukhari and his security personnel in June 2018, the officer said. He said Khan was associated with both the LeT and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and provided logistical support for the attack on the journalist. He allegedly accompanied the terrorists and helped them escape after the shooting. He was arrested in August 2018 during investigations into a terror attack in Srinagar's Batmaloo area. Officials said the administration has tightened the vetting of government recruits, making police verification mandatory. 'This has reduced internal sabotage risks and instilled fear among potential sympathisers,' said a senior official. 'The LG's multi-pronged strategy of targeting terrorists, disruptors, and their enablers in the government has significantly weakened terror networks in the Union territory,' the official added.
India Today
17 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Three J&K employees sacked over alleged Lashkar, Hizbul Mujahideen links
Three government employees in Jammu and Kashmir have been dismissed from service over alleged terror links, after a probe found them working for Pakistan-based terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered the dismissal of the officials -- a constable, a school teacher, and a non-teaching college staffer -- adding to the more than 75 government employees terminated in recent years under a constitutional provision that permits such three sacked employees are Malik Ishfaq Naseer, a police constable; Ajaz Ahmed, a teacher in the School Education Department; and Waseem Ahmad Khan, a Junior Assistant at Government Medical College. All three are currently in jail on terror-related charges. A senior security official said the individuals were helping terrorists carry out attacks on security forces and civilians.'Having a mole and a dangerous terrorist associate within the ranks of the police and other government departments is a serious threat. The continuation of such infiltration can be extremely costly for the sovereignty and integrity of the nation,' the official said. Malik Ishfaq Naseer was recruited as a constable in the J&K Police in 2007. According to officials, his brother Malik Asif Naseer was an alleged Pakistan-trained terrorist of LeT, who was killed by security forces during an encounter in 2018. Despite this, Malik reportedly continued his terror activities with impunity and, being a police constable, was able to evade Ahmed, a teacher in the School Education Department, was allegedly working for Hizbul Mujahideen, officials said. He was recruited as a teacher in 2010 and became a trusted associate of the outfit in the Poonch region. The probe found that he was actively involved in smuggling arms, ammunition, and and his associate were arrested during a routine police check. Both were found carrying arms, ammunition, and Hizbul Mujahideen posters in Ajaz's third employee sacked on Tuesday, Waseem Ahmad Khan, was a Junior Assistant at Government Medical College, Srinagar. His terror links with Hizbul Mujahideen were exposed in August 2018. According to senior officials in the security establishment, Waseem was one of the conspirators involved in the targeted killing of journalist Shujaat Bukhari and his two security personnel in Watch IN THIS STORY#Jammu and Kashmir
Indian Express
17 hours ago
- Indian Express
Cop, teacher among 3 govt employees sacked in J-K for alleged terror links
The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday terminated the services of three employees, citing alleged links to terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM). This brings the number of employees sacked in Jammu and Kashmir over the last five years under Section 311(2) (c) of the Constitution to 83. This Section empowers the administration to dismiss a government employee without holding an inquiry if it is in the interest of the State's security. Those sacked on Tuesday include Malik Ishfaq Naseer, a police constable; Ajaz Ahmed, a teacher in the school education department; and Waseem Ahmad Khan, a junior assistant in Government Medical College, Srinagar. Waseem Khan, official sources claimed, was linked to the plot that led to the targeted killing of journalist Shujaat Bukhari and two of his PSOs by militants on June 14, 2018. He was arrested on August 12, 2018, while the police were investigating terror associates involved in an attack in Batmaloo. He had been appointed by the Health and Medical Education Department in 2007. The J&K police constable, Malik Ishfaq Naseer, is the brother of Malik Asif Naseer, who official sources said was a 'Pakistan-trained terrorist' of the LeT killed in a police encounter in 2018. Recruited to the police ranks in 2007, Malik Ishfaq Naseer is accused of 'continuing his terror activities with impunity'. Official sources claimed his LeT link came to light in September 2021, when the J&K police were investigating a case related to the smuggling of arms and explosives in Jammu. Ajaz Ahmed, official sources claimed, is accused of working for the HM in Poonch. He was recruited as a teacher in 2011. Sources claimed he was 'actively helping the terror outfit in smuggling arms, ammunition and narcotics.' His alleged association came to light in November 2023 when police arrested Ajaz and his friend during a routine check, sources said. Further investigation revealed that the consignment was received on the directions of a handler based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. It was alleged that the consignment was to be delivered to terrorists operating in Kashmir for carrying out attacks on security forces and civilians.
India Today
5 days ago
- Business
- India Today
Not just water, money too flowed from India to Pakistan as part of Indus treaty
"I have stuck my neck out to secure funds from various friendly governments," an impatient and anxious World Bank president, Eugene Black, told Indian and Pakistani negotiators in April 1959. He needed to break the impasse over the agreement over the Indus waters. Time was running out, and an agreement could not be reached for the potential Indus Waters Treaty even after eight long years of impasse ended only after India and other donor countries agreed to pay $1 billion ($10 billion today, factoring in inflation). Of this, India paid $174 million ($1.6 billion today) to paved the way for the signing of the Indus Waters Treaty in 1960. Under the agreement, Pakistan was granted exclusive rights over the western rivers, the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum, while India retained unrestricted use of the eastern rivers, the Ravi, Beas, and billions of gallons of water continued flowing into Pakistan, millions of dollars also flowed from India to Pakistan for the next 10 years, as compensation for India's exclusive access to the eastern almost six decades later, the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is again in the spotlight. Following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, India announced the suspension of the IWT. Pakistani and Pakistan-trained terrorists killed 26 civilians, mostly Delhi said Pakistan's actions violated the treaty's foundational principles of goodwill and friendship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi echoed this stance, saying, "blood and water cannot flow together", as the treaty was kept in abeyance until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ceased support for terrorism. This marked the first time since its signing in 1960 that India paused the urged India to reconsider the suspension of the pact, citing its critical role in supporting 80% of its agricultural water needs. Despite a ceasefire agreement on May 10 after a mini-war, India has kept the IWT in abeyance, with reports indicating that it will be fast-tracking projects on the western rivers to tap the suspension of the IWT came after India's patience was tested regularly by Pakistan and its gave Pakistan both water and money, but Pakistan returned the favour with this backdrop, it's worth revisiting the treaty's circumstances, how negotiations took shape, the rationale behind India's payment to Pakistan, how the payout of $174 million was arrived at through intense bargaining, and how Pakistan ultimately let India's then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, down even after the IWT was signed. The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960 by the Government of India, led by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (L), and Pakistan's President Ayub Khan. (Image: World Bank) WHY WAS INDUS WATERS TREATY NEEDED?The Partition of India in 1947 split the Indus River System, which had long irrigated vast farmlands, between India (the upper riparian) and Pakistan (the lower riparian). By 1948, India's use of the river waters triggered a panic in the newly-formed Islamic Republic. An interim agreement was signed, but Pakistan said it remained 1956, as PM Nehru prepared to dedicate the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej River to the nation, tensions with Pakistan escalated sharply. The risk of a war loomed."Take up Arms" and "A Black Day" were the headlines in Lahore's Urdu newspapers, noted Niranjan Das Gulhati, the chief Indian negotiator and technical advisor during the formulation of the World Bank stepped in to mediate a long-term challenge was immense: to divide a single, integrated water system between two hostile neighbours. The solution took shape in the form of the IWT, in what would become one of the most complex international water-sharing agreements. The Indus River originates in Tibet near Lake Mansarovar, flows northwest into Ladakh, then enters Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, then traverses the length of Pakistan from north to south, and drains into the Arabian Sea near Karachi. (India Today File) advertisementFORMAL PROPOSAL AND THE FIRST DEADLOCK OF INDUS WATERS TREATYNegotiations formally began in May 1952, facilitated by the World Bank. The process moved in 1952 to 1954, a working party of engineers from both countries, along with World Bank officials, developed technical proposals. In 1954, the Bank presented its formal proposal, suggesting a division: India would get exclusive use of the Eastern rivers, and Pakistan the Western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab).Pakistan accepted the principle but insisted on a massive replacement plan to offset the loss of Eastern river said it would not fund this entire plan, leading to a deadlock, noted Niranjan Das Gulhati in his 1973 book, Indus Waters Treaty: An Exercise in International 1955 and 1958, negotiations stalled India and Pakistan remained wasn't until 1959 that a breakthrough seemed year, officials of the World Bank (then called the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development), including its President Eugene Black and Vice President WAB Iliff, undertook intensive shuttle diplomacy between New Delhi, Karachi (Pakistan's capital until 1959), Washington DC and London. The Indus Waters Treaty negotiations spanned eight arduous years, from 1952 to 1960, involving intense mediation by the World Bank. WAB Iliff (R), as Vice-President of the World Bank, played a crucial role in mediating the treaty, and ultimately signed the agreement on behalf of his organisation. (Images: World Bank) INDIA RESISTED SHARING PAKISTAN'S FINANCIAL BURDENPakistan's demand for aid was rooted in the fact that it had lost access to the canals and their networks fed by the Eastern rivers, some of whose headworks were then laid in India. To survive agriculturally, it needed to build new infrastructure to tap the Western rivers: link canals, dams, and barrages. The estimated cost exceeded $1 World Bank began seeking contributions from major powers. The United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Germany pledged funds. But the treaty couldn't move forward unless India, gaining exclusive rights over the Eastern rivers, also agreed to initially the World Bank argued that India was benefiting by securing exclusive rights and therefore should bear part of the replacement cost. The Bank also made it clear that without India's contribution, the treaty would collapse. Camels on a dry riverbed of the Indus River in central Sindh. Pakistan depends on the Indus Basin for nearly 80% of its agricultural water needs, making it the lifeline of the country's farming and food security. (Image: Reuters) WHY PAKISTAN WANTED MONEY AFTER INDUS WATERS TREATY?In May 1959, Iliff told Gulhati, India's chief negotiator, that Eugene Black had put his credibility on the line, saying, "A stage has been reached. If the negotiations are to break down, I should know immediately; otherwise my reputation with these governments would be at stake".The World Bank secured commitments from friendly nations based on India's assumed participation. If India refused to pay, the deal would fall apart."Before I left Washington in the third week of April, Iliff told me that, in New Delhi, Black would propose to the Prime Minister [Nehru] that India should pay $250 million as her contribution towards the cost of works to be built in Pakistan. I said that this was much too high a figure," Niranjan Das Gulhati wrote."However, the horse-trading in New Delhi was to be limited to the range of $158 million, which sum we considered fair, and $250 million, which Iliff regarded as a fair deal. Pakistan was hardly concerned as the Bank was undertaking to underwrite the entire cost of her works from assistance by friendly countries," he closed doors, Iliff and Indian officials, including then Finance Secretary, BK Nehru, debated the numbers. After much back and forth, they settled on $174.8 million (62.06 million pound).India would pay 10 equal annual instalments into the Indus Basin Development Fund, managed by the World Bank, until 1970. The fund financed Pakistan's massive infrastructure projects like the Mangla Dam and various link contribution was earmarked specifically for Pakistan's "replacement works" under the Indus Basin Development Contributions to Indus Basin Development Fund (1960)ContributorFinal Contribution (Approx.)United States$315 millionWorld Bank (IDA & Loan)$250 millionUnited Kingdom$90 millionCanada$70 millionAustralia$20 millionGermany (West Germany)$12 millionNew Zealand$6 millionIndia83 crore (approx $62 million)Pakistan (self-financed)$100 million (approx)Total Estimated CostOver $1 billionPAKISTAN REMAINS HOSTILITIE DESPITE INDUS WATERS TREATYWith the finances sorted, the treaty was finally signed on September 19, Nehru and Pakistan's President General Ayub Khan formalised the agreement in Karachi. World Bank Vice-President WAB Iliff signed it on behalf of his idealist in Nehru hoped that this IWT would usher in a new chapter in India-Pakistan relations. He believed that resolving this vital issue could pave the way for cooperation on other issues, including just months later, Gulhati, in his book, recalled Nehru telling him: "I had hoped that this agreement would open the way to settlement of other problems, but we are where we were".Four years after signing the IWT, in 1964, Pakistan's replacement works exceeded initial estimates. A supplementary agreement was signed to raise additional funds from donor countries. India did not pay again, as its financial obligation had already been fulfilled under the terms of the original treaty in the massive diplomatic and financial effort India put into the IWT, Pakistan continued to challenge and bleed India on several fronts. The Pahalgam attack was the latest of Pakistan's five years after the IWT was signed, Pakistan dragged India into a war after it infiltrated Kashmir and parts of spirit of goodwill that Nehru hoped the treaty would foster quickly retrospect, while the Indus Waters Treaty is still hailed globally as a successful case of water diplomacy, it came at a high cost for India, not just in terms of water allocation, but also in hard just with money, India paid with goodwill and trust too, only for Pakistan to repeatedly betray it. This very pattern of Pakistan's behaviour is what the Narendra Modi-led government, by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, has now attempted to InMust Watch
