At least 15 terrorists are being trained in Pakistan occupied Kashmir to target the 450 MW Baglihar power project in Jammu and Kashmir and a secret tunnel is being dug from Sialkot to connect PoK with India's border state, two arrested LeT militants said on Sunday. "At least 15 terrorists are being specially trained in POK for an attack on Baghliar dam across Chenab at Chanderkote-Ramban, 150 kms from Srinagar", Mohammad Shafakat and Mohammad Adnan, the two Lashkar-e-Tayiba miltants arrested on Saturday told media-persons.
The two were arrested from the forests of Shamashabari range in the frontier district of Kupwara, 120 kms from Srinagar. Baghliar power project in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir hit the headlines last year when Pakistan raised objections to it claiming that it would obstruct flow of water into that country as the size of the dam was above the normal size. However, the issue was resolved with international court of arbitration asking India to decrease the height of the dam by 1.5 meters. The two ultras, both residents of Chinchawatni tehsil in Sahiwal district of Punjab in Pakistan also said that a secret tunnel was being dug from Sialkot to connect PoK with Jammu and Kashmir which must have been completed by now. "I have worked for at least ten days in the tunnel before I crossed over to this side", Shafakat said, adding, "by now it must have been completed".
Shafakat, one of the two arrested LeT terrorists, said after completing their training in a militant camp near Muzaffarabad, the capital of PoK, they infiltrated through Lipa valley with an aim to carry out attacks on the Indian security forces. "We were told that task would be given after linking up with other LeT militants already in Kashmir", Shafakat said.
Under the Indus Water Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in the 1960s, water of rivers of the state flow into Pakistan without interruption and Jammu and Kashmir is barred from constructing dams to store water. The duo said they joined militancy as they were told that Kashmiri Muslims were not being allowed to practice their religion. However, after interacting with locals in the upper reaches on their arrival, they realized that they had been misguided by their mentors in Pakistan as all religious activities were taking place freely in Jammu and Kashmir. Both the terrorists said they had undergone three months' training on handling of arms, ammunition and grenades. "We were asked to carry out fidayeen (suicide) attacks on Indian army camp should our mission fail", they said. Army personnel who arrested the two ultras said two AK 47 rifles, a pistol with seven magazines, ammunition, grenades, global positioning system, two radio sets, water bottles and other material have been recovered from them.