Pampore attack masterminded by Hafiz Saeed’s son-in-law

Khalid Waleed, son-in-law of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder and Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, is suspected to have plotted the 25 June attack on a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Jammu and Kashmir's Pampore which killed eight jawans.

Two other members of the LeT, Hanzla Adnan and Sajid Jat, played the role of handlers for the two terrorists who carried out attack, and LeT commander for south Kashmir Abu Dujana is suspected to have arranged local logistics.

Khalid Waleed has reportedly been given task of overseeing anti-India operations of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, including attacks on forces in Jammu and Kashmir. Abu Qital, who oversees the terror camps of LeT in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, is suspected to have trained the two terrorists and facilitated their infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir.

''We believe Waleed, who has been associated with Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) for a long time and now handling LeT operations, gave instructions for this operation,'' a security officer was quoted as saying.

Hanzla and Sajid were also handlers of Mohammad Naveed, the LeT terrorist caught alive during an attack on a Border Security Force convoy on 5 August last year in Udhampur.

According to the report, Khalid Waleed is being groomed by Hafiz Saeed to oversee anti-India operations of Lashkar-e-Taiba. Waleed was associated with Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) for a long time.

Abu Qital, who oversees the terror camps of LeT in PoK, looked after the training of the two fidayeen who killed 8 CRPF jawans on June 25. Dujana on the other hand arranged for the stay of the two terrorists and their travel to the attack site.

The two fidayeens carried articles like seven grenades with 'Pakistan Ordnance Factory" markings, medicines, track suits and shoes made in Pakistan, packets of dates not available in India, 11 magazines of AK-47 rifles and used/live rounds procured in Pakistan.

This, in the opinion of intelligence agencies, proves that Pakistan had a direct hand in the attack. Jammu and Kashmir police also contend that the modus operandi and the investigation so far also point to a clear LeT involvement in the attack.

These developments come about even as the CRPF and the Indian army are reportedly in disagreement over who should claim credit for repelling the attack. The CRPF has also rebuffed Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's claim that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were not followed.