Lashkar terrorists get sophisticated gun training

The confessions of Sabahuddin, an accused in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and other terror cases in  the country, indicate that the Lashkar-e-Tayiba has been improvising its techniques constantly and terrorists are trained to use 20 different guns. The list of guns used during the training process is only an indication that the Lashkar ensures that the fidayeen attackers have similar training to special foces of some countries.

Investigating officers told rediff.com that Sabahuddin had named the guns that the LeT trained its cadres.

They were:

The AK series: AK-47, AK-56, Ak-74, the most common gun used by terrorists,

Light Machine Guns like the RPD (Russian Degtyaryov LMG),

Heavy Machine Guns like the Grinove Pika, the G-2 used by the Indian Army, G 3 used by the Pakistan Army,

Rifles the .303 rifle (referred to as danda by the Lashkar) and American M-16 rifle,

Pistols like the Mauser and Tokarev, the 7.62 mm Nagant and 9 mm Makarov pistol,

Rocker Propelled Grenade launchers like the  RPG2 and RPG7,

60mm, 90mm and 120mm mortars,

Sinper rifles  like the Draganov and also on anti aircraft guns.

Sabahuddin states that apart from training in the use of these guns, they were also trained extensively to use hand grenades, shells, landmines, anti-tank mines and Claymore mines.

Intelligence Bureau officials say that the Lashkar has been procuring sophisticated weapons over the years. They realise that their war is not only against the police personnel, but they are now looking to take on the army and the attack on Mumbai was only an indication of their intent.

Sabahuddin says that the Lashkar keeps introducing new weapons for its training courses on a regular basis. Security agencies say that a constant tab is kept on the new weapons that are being used by any army that the Lashkar plans to take on. The ISI gathers most of the details regarding the weapons programme of that army and passes it on to the Lashkar.