New ISI chief may use Hamza for anti-India ops

Those hoping for a change in focus following Zahir-ul-Islam's appointment as the chief of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence could well feel disappointed

Intelligence gathered by Indian agencies point out that Islam would continue to focus majorly on the Kashmir agenda.

In an attempt to stem the growing unrest among terror outfits, the ISI could step up operations in Kashmir, sources told rediff.com

And in Abu Hamza the ISI has just the man who could lead this charge.

Hamza, who started off as a low-level operative with the Lashkar-e-Tayiba, has today become one of India's biggest headaches. He threatens to battle Indian forces not only in the Kashmir Valley, but in other parts of India as well.

Very recently, alleged LeT operative Ahtesham reportedly told the Delhi cops that he was sent in by Hamza, who is currently operating in Kashmir.

Hamza, whose name figures in the several dossiers sent to Pakistan by India, played a very crucial role in the horrific 26/11 attack in Mumbai.

According to Ahtesham, Hamza has been directly involved in the recruitment of youth for setting up modules across the country. He added that the battle in Kashmir would become fiercer in the days to come under Hamza's leadership.

According to intelligence agencies, Hamza has been a wily operative and has managed to give agencies the slip on many occasions.

His stint in India began with the attack on the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru. According to the statement given by Sabahuddin Ahmed, the man acquitted in the 26/11 case but who faces trial in the IISC case, Hamza helped him through the operation.

Sabahuddin states that Hamza was present with him in Bengaluru, both during the run up and also execution of the IISC attack.

However, by the time the police realised who the men were, Hamza had crossed over into Hyderabad and then fled to Pakistan only to resurface once again during the attack on the CRPF camp in Uttar Pradesh.