A troubling report from intelligence sources affiliated with NDTV reveals that three terrorist groups banned by the Indian government—Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Jaish-e-Mohammed—have set up a joint training facility in Abbottabad, Pakistan. This site is notorious as the former hideout of Osama bin Laden, the late al-Qaeda leader. The camp’s location on Pakistani Army property, near a military installation, raises serious concerns regarding government involvement or at least tacit approval.
The strategic placement of the training camp in a ‘safe zone’ within the Army compound offers significant protection, making it nearly impossible for unauthorized individuals to approach without military clearance. This suggests a degree of complicity from Pakistani authorities. Reports indicate that young men and women are receiving training at this facility under the supervision of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the ISI. While it remains unclear whether this camp is built on the remnants of bin Laden’s former hideout, the historical context adds another layer of concern.
This revelation comes in the wake of recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, including a deadly ambush on an Army vehicle in Baramulla district last Thursday. This attack, near the popular tourist destination of Gulmarg, resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and two porters, totaling four casualties. The terrorists opened fire on the Army vehicle as it was en route to the Nagin post in the Afrawat range, prompting a retaliatory response from the soldiers.
The establishment of this joint training camp in Abbottabad raises serious alarms about the potential for increased terrorist activity in the region. It underscores the urgent need for international pressure on Pakistan to dismantle these terrorist training facilities and take concrete action against the groups operating within its borders. The Pakistani government must be held accountable for its role in providing safe havens for these groups and for failing to curb the spread of terrorism.