Why anti-India jihadis met openly in PoK

Jamaat-ud-Dawah's conference of anti-India jihadi groups in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was intentionally held in world glare, say Indian Intelligence agencies.

IB sources have told rediff.com that although the meeting was held under the guise of observing the Kashmir solidarity day, it was focussed at regrouping forces.

Moreover, the statements given by terrorists caught recently pointed out that the ISI along with the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and other groups were putting together a strike team to carry out a massive attack on India.

These groups have bogged down to a certain extent and the news regarding their closed-door meetings had become routine. Terror groups thrive on the fear factor and this meeting was only aimed at creating a sense of panic and fear among the people of India, IB sources add.

Meanwhile, intelligence agencies are also assessing whether the jihadi meeting was held to discuss the Karachi plot. The Karachi plot is the next big thing for the ISI and the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, and they have been working aggressively on the same.

The Karachi plot basically involves a fidayeen attack (suicide attack), but only with Indian citizens in the squad.

Off late, especially after the 26/11 attacks, terror groups have gone relatively quiet and this has created a doubt in the minds of the cadres. If one looks at the recruitment process or the manner in which some of the arrested terrorists have spoken, they always address organisations such as the Lashkar or the Al-Qaeda as outfits with guts to take on the world.

This meeting also acted as a mechanism to instil the faith in the cadres across India and Pakistan that they are not down, but still have the guts to do things in the open. The IB says that the slogan of Kashmir was only eyewash.

American terror suspect David Headley has also spelt out details regarding the Karachi plot. He told interrogators that the Lashkar was putting together an Indian team of fidayeens to carry out strikes on Indian soil and they were particular about the Indian team since they wanted no Pakistan connection.

The IB says that the men, who are to take part in such an operation, are already in Karachi and are awaiting orders. These men were pushed through the border a couple of years ago and have now been picked for the Karachi plot.