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LeT vowed to liberate Hyderabad
The terror threat on Hyderabad looms large as, like Kashmir, Pakistan-based terrorist groups consider the erstwhile princely state an unfinished agenda of partition. Addressing a conference in Lahore days before the twin blasts in the city, chief of political affairs of Jamat ud-Dawa (JD), Lashkar-e-Taiba's public face, Hafiz Abdul Rehman Maki called for the liberation of Hyderabad, Manvadar and Junagadh. "We launch a jehad for the liberation of Hyderabad, Junagadh, Manvadar, and other areas that were supposed to be part of Pakistan at the time of partition. Our relationship with India is that of revenge," he said. The conference was also addressed, over phone, by chairman of the break-away faction of the Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Earlier, on August 14, JD had issued Pakistani maps showing Hyderabad, Manvadar, J&K, Junagadh, and Bangladesh as parts of Pakistan. This was done, according to JD's website, to tell Pakistanis that it is their duty to liberate these areas, and until this was done Pakistan is incomplete. Slamming Pakistani rulers, JD chief Hafiz Mohammad Sayed said: "They have allied with evil; they have no right to celebrate Independence Day. The day reminds us of supreme sacrifices and martyrdom. Pakistan is duty-bound to liberate Kashmir, Junagadh, Manvadar and Hyderabad." He said JD's stand on Kashmir hadn't changed, and that jehad was the only solution. Back channel diplomacy, bus services, trade and commerce are not going to work, he said. The statements haven't come as a surprise. "This is part of LeT's established agenda, and they have articulated it repeatedly. In 2000, JD head Hafiz Mohammad Saeed declared Kashmir was a gateway to capture India and that campaigns in Hyderabad (and Junagadh) were the highest priorities," executive director, Institute for Conflict Management Ajai Sahni said. Makki had, at the same meet, proclaimed the formation of a new unit in Hyderabad to liberate Hyderabad from India. From this stage onwards, there has been an augmenting effort by LeT and other groups, including Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and the Harkat-ul-Jihad Isalmi Bangladesh (HuJI-B), to increase activities in the South. "For this, they also set up a core unit in Hyderabad in 2004," and added, "attacks on Hyderabad are the unfolding of this long-term strategy." Posted by: Fred 2007-09-10 |
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