War on terror has entered into a crucial phase after the army wiped-out almost entire top Pakistani leadership of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in volatile north Kashmir.
Five top commanders of LeT and Jaish-e-Mohommad were killed by a joint team of army and police in a fierce gun battle that started on Thursday evening and ended on Friday night when security forces blasted off the house in which the ultras were hiding at Dar Moholla in Maidanpora area of Lolaab valley. A soldier was also killed in the gun battle
The slain terrorists have been identified as Saqib alias Sohail of Kasur in Pakistan, divisional commander of LeT for North Kashmir, Hamad alias Haneef alias Alfa Islam, divisional commander for Kupwara, hailing from Abbottabad in Pakistan, the place where al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed by US navy seals.
Others were identified as Qari Saifullah, divisional commander central Kashmir, Chotta Saad, battalion commander of LeT and Umair alias Hafiz, battalion commander, of Jaish-e-Mohammad.
“While Saqib was the backbone of Lashkar in Lolaab and was active since 2009, Hamad was one of the most wanted terrorists in North Kashmir and was active since 2008.He was injured in an army operation in December. Qari Saifullah was active in Ganderbal district and Harwan areas of Srinagar”, said Lieutenant Colonel JS Brar, defence spokesman at Srinagar.
Army claimed with the killing of five top commanders, almost entire leadership of Lashkar-e-Taiba has been wiped out at least in Lolaab and Sopore areas of north Kashmir. “This is a major success and has almost wiped out the entire Lashkar leadership in Lolaab and Sopore area,” Lt Col Brar said.
The operation started on Thursday evening when security forces received specific intelligence about the presence of terrorist commanders in a house at Dar Moholla in Maidanpora of Lolaab valley.
