The Pakistan Army has been hand-in-gloves with terrorists for the past 30 years, said senior fellow of ORF, Sushant Sareen, as intel sources identified Hashim Musa, who is believed to be the Pahalgam attack mastermind, receiving elite para-commando training in Pakistan.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Pakistan Army's Hand Exposed in Pahlgahm Attack
00:09Pakistan's Direct Role in Targeting Innocent Civilians
00:20Pakistan sent Special Forces Commando to Kill Tourists
00:39Ex-Pakistan Commando Key Suspect in Pahlgahm
00:48Hashim Musa, a Park Army Regular
00:51Hunt for Pahlgahm Butchers Intensifies
01:00Top Focus on Newstrak
01:03Good Evening, you're watching Newstrak here on India Today. I'm Akshra Tananda Gopal.
01:12This evening, as we get you all of the updates on the hunt for the terrorists involved in the Pahlgahm terror attack,
01:19we're also going to be decoding for you the clear link that's been established between these terrorists and the Pakistan Army.
01:26The fact that you've got the mastermind of the Pahlgahm terror attack directly linked to the Pakistan Army was a part of the Pakistan Army.
01:34We're going to be getting you more on that, even as reports are coming in on the Pakistan Army chief.
01:41Where is he? Seems to be MIA at this point. Missing in action.
01:45We'll be getting you all of those updates.
01:47Here are the headlines first.
01:48Prime Minister Modi chairs key security meet with Defence Minister NSA, CDS and Tri-Services chief.
01:59Sources say force has given operational freedom on India's response.
02:09Horrific new video of Pahlgahm massacre.
02:11Another video of zipline emerges.
02:13Moment when terrorists fired on tourists captured on camera.
02:18Politics erupts over Congress's headless Gaia poster jibe at Prime Minister Modi.
02:30BJP says Congress dog-whistling for Muslim votes after backlash.
02:34Congress now deletes post.
02:41President of India appoints Justice B.R. Gawai as the next chief justice of India
02:46to take charge from May 14th.
02:55Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party celebrates stunning win in general election.
03:00Prime Minister Modi congratulates Carney.
03:02I'm at endless questions about what India's response will be.
03:16How will the Modi government hit back at Pakistan after the Pahlgahm terror attack?
03:22There's a clear message sent out by the Prime Minister to our forces saying they have 100% complete operational freedom
03:30after the Pahlgahm terror attack.
03:32Essentially, the message is this.
03:34That our forces can act in whichever manner they deem possible as a response to the Pahlgahm terror attack.
03:40Now, this happened in a meeting that the Prime Minister chaired.
03:44It was a high-level security review meeting which took place at his residence.
03:47The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Dawal, the Chief of Defence Staff.
03:53You also had the Army Chief, General Upendra Dweddi, and also the Navy Chief, Air Force Chief, all present for this meeting.
04:01So, it was a high-level security huddle.
04:04Now, sources say during the meeting, Prime Minister Modi granted full operational freedom to the forces
04:10to decide their response on the mode, the target, the timing, all of it up to our forces.
04:16This is the Prime Minister's message on India's military response to the Pahlgahm terror attack.
04:22Prime Minister Modi also reaffirmed, reportedly, the nation's resolve to deliver a decisive blow to terror,
04:29saying he has complete faith, complete confidence in the Indian military.
04:33Let's bring in Gaurav Samanth, who is joining us live from our newsroom,
04:38with more, really, on the message that the Prime Minister has put forth.
04:41Gaurav, good evening.
04:43You know, what do you make of the Prime Minister's message, Gaurav?
04:46And he says that forces have complete freedom, have full, and he has full faith in them in responding to Pakistan.
04:57Akshita, the timing of India's response is the most crucial aspect now.
05:02Prime Minister Narendra Modi's body language, the body language of the Raksha Mantri,
05:07the National Security Advisor, the three chiefs, and the CDS.
05:10Very clear indication that India intends to respond.
05:13And when you see some of the responses, whether it's holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance,
05:19it's already having an impact in Pakistan.
05:22Their foreign minister and deputy prime minister, Ishaq Dar, has said this is an act of war
05:27if the water is actually held.
05:29Now, remember, Pakistan is predominantly an agrarian society.
05:33And if in the sowing season, in May and, you know, mid-May, early June,
05:39they don't have water, adequate water, they'll be in trouble.
05:43That's point one.
05:43Point two, in monsoon, if they have surplus water or excess water,
05:48then there is added trouble, especially when India is not going to share information
05:52should Pakistan, you know, not act against India-centric terror, which it hasn't so far.
05:57So that's only the beginning of action to be taken.
06:00Look at the kind of military exercises that Pakistan Air Force is carrying out
06:04from the northern areas down to Karachi through Khyber, Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab province,
06:12and of course in Sindh.
06:13It just goes on to show Pakistan is very apprehensive that there will be an aerial response.
06:18And whether that happens at the LC, all along the international border,
06:22it's moving its forces closer to the border in terms of its radars and air defense system.
06:28So perhaps this is the government assessing how Pakistan is responding to whatever India has said
06:35and what India intends to do.
06:37At the line of control, again, the LC is hotting up.
06:41There are frequent exchanges that are taking place on either side of Peer Panjal.
06:44So in the days and weeks ahead, we will see the intensity of India's response.
06:51You know, Gaurav, also on the fact that we're seeing all of these meetings happening.
06:55Today you had the Prime Minister in the security huddle.
06:58There was also a meeting with the RSS Chief Moham Bhagwat.
07:01And tomorrow, four meetings that the Prime Minister will chair.
07:05How do you read into that?
07:06Do you think that, you know, this is perhaps meetings before something big is planned,
07:11before something big is coming?
07:14If you hear the Prime Minister's statement, whether it was in Bihar,
07:19where he said,
07:20to what he said today, full freedom to deal a decisive blow to terror.
07:29The indication is, India is not talking about Lashkar-e-Taiba,
07:33India is not talking about Jaisya Muhammad,
07:34India is not talking about Hizmul Mujahideen.
07:36It is the state sponsor of radical Islamist terror and that is Pakistan Army.
07:43All indications, the target remains Pakistan's military.
07:48So whether it's certain garrisons that are taken down,
07:51whether it's certain installations in Pakistan that assist its warfighting capabilities,
07:57or its ability to wage war against India,
07:59whether that is taken down,
08:01whether it's a single force operation or a multiple force operation.
08:04And India is also keeping in mind,
08:06look, there will be a response from Pakistan.
08:08Pakistan, we've seen that in swift retort.
08:10They responded, but then their response was very measured.
08:13Also, there's a lot of intelligence input that Pakistan does not have the kind of weapons
08:18and ammunition that are required for a prolonged engagement.
08:22So perhaps there would be an initial engagement.
08:25Now, it may escalate.
08:27There would be a response from Pakistan.
08:28And then India will respond at a place and time of our choosing.
08:31So can Pakistan sustain it for long?
08:34Or will it think that it's better to get rid of people like Asim Munir,
08:38who are, you know, that military jihad complex, who spearheaded?
08:43They are the problems.
08:44It remains to be seen how Pakistan responds,
08:46because a lot of this would be very dynamic,
08:48depending on how Pakistan responds to India's actions.
08:51You know, one thing is very, very clear.
08:54In light of all that's happening in India,
08:57you've got Pakistan completely rattled.
08:59They don't know what's going to hit them.
09:00So they're trying to ensure that they have, you know,
09:02backup plans, a plan B in place for whatever happens, really,
09:07as far as India's retaliation goes.
09:09Thanks very much, Gaurav, for joining us with those details.
09:11What I was referring to earlier with Gaurav
09:13was the fact that you're going to be seeing back-to-back meetings taking place.
09:18Today, Prime Minister met with the top security officials, as you see there,
09:22and then you also had the meeting with the RSS chief.
09:26Tomorrow, Prime Minister Modi will be chairing the Cabinet Committee on Security.
09:30Top Modi ministers will be a part of this meeting.
09:33This is the second CCS meeting that's taking place after the Pehal Gham terror attack.
09:38Is this a sign of something to come?
09:40Well, remains to be seen.
09:41But right after that, the second meeting that the Prime Minister will be chairing
09:45is the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs.
09:47Again, in this, you'll see an extended Cabinet present, ministers present.
09:53Those who weren't a part of CCS will be a part of the Political Affairs Committee meet as well.
09:58This too, the Prime Minister will chair.
10:00Then you have the Economic Affairs Committee,
10:02the Cabinet Committee for Economic Affairs,
10:04also coming together for a meeting, the CCEA.
10:07Now, key economic decisions will be taken.
10:09Why is this crucial?
10:10Because for Pakistan also, India is looking to ensure, economically too,
10:15Pakistan is punished for backing terrorism.
10:19Now, there's also the Union Cabinet meeting.
10:21And this is important.
10:22Why?
10:23Because it's the first Cabinet meet that's taking place since the Pehal Gham attack last week.
10:28And again, of course, as always, the Union Cabinet huddle is chaired by the Prime Minister.
10:33So, that meet too is taking place tomorrow.
10:36You look at all of these four meetings, they're power-packed.
10:39They have all of the biggest ministers.
10:42And, of course, the Prime Minister is chairing this particular meet.
10:46So, it's led to a lot of buzz that at the end of the day tomorrow, in 24 hours,
10:50once these meetings conclude,
10:52are we going to be seeing some big announcement by the Indian government?
10:56We'll watch out for that.
10:57But let's get you a news break coming in.
11:07Now, the Congress's controversial Gaia post on social media,
11:12the one of Prime Minister Bodhi, which they had shared,
11:15and a headless image which led to the BJP lashing out of the Congress,
11:19it's been deleted.
11:20The Congress has deleted it, and sources tell us
11:23that the High Command is extremely miffed over that particular post.
11:28Many deemed it unsavory.
11:30You had Congress leaders actually coming out and defending it.
11:33But now, after the High Command's intervention,
11:35that post has been removed.
11:37Currently, the social media head for the Congress is Supriya Srinid.
11:41And she's been asked to delete that post.
11:43She was also reportedly pulled up for putting up this kind of a post.
11:47The top leadership reportedly is upset
11:49because they believe that these kind of posts on social media
11:53is out of party line.
11:56And so, they've put, in fact, their foot down on this issue,
12:00believing that these kind of posts are in bad light,
12:04throw the party in bad light, and is unsavory.
12:07So, the leadership has made it very clear
12:09that they are unhappy with these kind of posts being put out.
12:13It's now been removed.
12:1424 hours after being posted on the official Congress handle,
12:18it's now been deleted after all of the outrage over that particular post.
12:24And interestingly, you had Congress leaders even defending
12:26this particular post on social media.
12:29Now, the top leadership, the High Command has stepped in,
12:32saying we will speak in one voice on this issue.
12:35From having to cut off some of their leaders
12:38for the kind of comments they've made,
12:40distensing themselves from those remarks,
12:41to now social media posts as well,
12:43but Congress's High Command has left firefighting.
12:46One comment after another, one controversy after another.
12:50Okay, let's focus now on the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.
13:02Seven days on, the hunt continues for those four terrorists
13:05who carried out the strike in the Bessaran Valley
13:09on innocent Indians, on these tourists.
13:12So, let's tell you about what's been revealed, really, by agencies.
13:15Fresh Intel reveals that the mastermind of the Pahalgam attack,
13:20Hashim Moussa, is actually a former Pakistan Army regular
13:24with elite combat training.
13:26Sources say, therefore, he's using military tactics
13:29to actually dodge capture.
13:31We'll break down all the details in our report.
13:34The sketch of terrorists on your screens
13:39is that of Hashim Moussa,
13:42a trained Pakistani army commando
13:44sent by Pakistan to butcher innocent tourists in Pahalgam.
13:48Hashim Moussa was a regular of the Pakistan Army
13:51and is trained in armed combat.
13:54Agencies believe that he and at least three other terrorists
13:57shot innocent tourists in the head from point-blank range
14:00using M4 carbine assault rifles.
14:04Investigators believe that Moussa,
14:06with an expertise in unconventional warfare,
14:08survival tactics and mountain combat,
14:11has so far been evading one of the biggest manhunts
14:13launched by the armed forces in the jungles around Pahalgam.
14:17The hiding terrorists have so far stayed away from villages,
14:21even for food and water.
14:23The NIA investigation has revealed chilling details
14:31of the horrific Pahalgam killings.
14:34Investigation revealed that two of the terrorists
14:36were in traditional Kashmiri ferrins,
14:39while two were seen in track suits.
14:42According to eyewitness and survivor accounts,
14:44terrorists split the tourists into Hindus and Muslims,
14:47asking them to recite the Islamic verses or the Kalma.
14:52The ones who could not had fire opened on them,
14:55especially from the Hindu community.
14:57The initial investigation reports that India today
15:00has exclusively accessed reveals two terrorists shot
15:03at fleeing tourists right at the exit gate.
15:06Most of the targeted killings were at the local tea
15:10and the Bhelpuri stall near the exit and entry gates.
15:12After the massacre, the terrorists fled into the forest areas
15:17after the attack and jumped over a boundary wall.
15:29Meanwhile, this viral video could prove to be a crucial evidence
15:32for the National Investigation Agency.
15:34The zipline operator who was caught on camera
15:37chanting Allahu Akbar while the gunshots are being heard
15:39is under the NIA lens and has been called for questioning.
15:43You asked your brother when the zipline was running,
15:47why did you put a gun?
15:48Sir, that's not a gun.
15:50Because when the sound came,
15:53he was coming for him.
15:54He didn't even know the zipline.
15:56When he was driving, he was leaving.
15:58Because he didn't know himself.
15:59Look at it in a minute.
16:01Because he's going on himself.
16:03He's sitting alone.
16:04He's sitting alone.
16:06When my girl and my wife reached the zipline,
16:10I was sitting on the zipline.
16:10I was first firing.
16:11And after 20 seconds,
16:14I realized that the people were firing down.
16:17And the people were dying.
16:19So, as I was reaching down,
16:21I saw that my wife,
16:23two people were asking religion.
16:24They killed the gun.
16:26One question remains.
16:28How long before India brings the Pahlgaam attackers
16:31to face law for killing 26 innocent people?
16:35With Arvind Ojha, Meir Farid,
16:37and Kamaljeet Sandhu in Jammu Kashmir,
16:39Bureau Report for India Today.
16:41Okay, let me introduce here on NewsTrack,
16:48Sushant Serene, Senior Fellow of ORF,
16:50Strategic Affairs Expert,
16:51who's joining us on this broadcast.
16:54Sushant Serene, good evening.
16:55Thank you for your time.
16:56You know, the fact that there is a clear
16:59Park Army link to these terrorists
17:01isn't something new.
17:02We're talking about right now,
17:04Hashim Moussa,
17:04who carried out the Pahlgaam attack,
17:06being an ex-commando
17:07of the Pakistan Army para-forces.
17:10But he's not the only one, is he, Sushant?
17:12Tahavur Rana was someone who was part of the Pakistan Army as a doctor.
17:16You had Major Iqbal,
17:18a key plotter of the 26-11 attacks,
17:21was an ISI officer.
17:23You had Rahman Pasha,
17:25again 26-11,
17:26Park Army officer,
17:27Sajid Mir,
17:28a Park Army officer.
17:29So that list is long.
17:31And it clearly shows the direct link between these terrorists
17:34and how they were trained,
17:36trained very, very well by the Pakistan Army.
17:39Yeah, Akshita,
17:40that list is very, very long
17:42because there was this dreaded terrorist called Ilyas Kashmiri.
17:45He also had served in the Pakistan Army
17:47at one point in time.
17:49And there have been others who were then involved with the Al-Qaeda
17:53who had Pakistan Army links.
17:55And in fact, even the attacks which took place in Pakistan
17:59at one point of time
18:00when their naval base in Karachi was attacked
18:04had a Pakistan Army link.
18:06So Pakistan Army and its flirtation with terrorism
18:10in which very often what has happened is
18:12that while the Pakistan Army was trying to control the terrorists,
18:16a lot of their own officials also got turned by the terrorists
18:19and became actually made common cause with the terrorists.
18:22So this has been happening for the last almost 30 years now.
18:27Again, it should not surprise us also
18:29because when the Jammu attacks happened,
18:31given the way those attacks had taken place,
18:34there has been a lot of analysis
18:37of who were the people behind those Jammu attacks,
18:41whether it was in Riyasi, whether it was in other places.
18:44And the conclusion that was being reached
18:46is that the way the ambushes had been mounted,
18:49the way these guys disappeared,
18:51the kind of discipline they showed in firing
18:53meant that these were regular soldiers.
18:55These are not TRF guys.
18:56Mostly the TRF fellows have been, you know,
18:59local Kashmiri guys who are fronting for the Lashkar-e-Taiba
19:03and the Pakistan Army regulars,
19:06irregulars, ex-soldiers who come in.
19:09The TRF guys work mostly like, you know,
19:12agents or guides and stuff like that.
19:15Their own actions have been mostly limited
19:19to killing unarmed, you know, civilians,
19:23somebody who's working in the field,
19:25somebody who is a tour operator,
19:28somebody who's sitting in a shop,
19:30somebody who's a construction worker.
19:32So these TRF goons feel that, you know,
19:34they are showing a lot of masculinity
19:36and jazwa-e jihad by going and killing unarmed people.
19:39But the real horrific killings
19:44have inevitably been carried out by the Pakistanis,
19:48especially the Punjabi Muslims
19:49who are recruited by the Pakistan Army.
19:53Because let's face it,
19:54the Pakistan Army also does not trust the Kashmiri.
19:57If you hear what the Punjabis in Pakistan,
20:00especially from the Lashkar-e-Taiba,
20:02and I've seen this myself,
20:04or the Pakistan Army,
20:05the words which they use,
20:07I can't use on your channel
20:09simply because, you know,
20:09then I'll get doxxed and cancelled.
20:12But they're using derogatory words
20:15for the Kashmiris.
20:16So I don't think they trust the Kashmiris completely,
20:20which is why they have to send in their own people.
20:24You know, look at what the Pakistan Army chief
20:26said on April 16th,
20:28days after which you had the Pahalgam terror attack.
20:31So right now there's all of this buzz, Sushant,
20:33that in light of Pakistan being extremely scared
20:37that there'll be retaliation from India,
20:39that there's a possibility
20:40they'll get rid of Asim Munir
20:43as the Pahk Army chief
20:44to kind of, you know,
20:46make India,
20:46assuage India's concerns.
20:48Do you see that happening?
20:49That Asim Munir will be shown the door
20:51almost as if an indication
20:53by the Pakistan administration
20:54that look,
20:55we'll keep India happy
20:56and we won't expect
20:57any sort of retaliation or strike?
20:59I don't think immediately
21:01that's going to happen.
21:02I think if maybe,
21:05you know,
21:06some kind of action
21:07is taken by India
21:08and then things
21:10potter up a hell of a lot
21:12between the two countries
21:14and then there is a lot of pressure
21:15on Pakistan,
21:16perhaps at that point of time
21:18the Pakistan Army might,
21:20you know,
21:20ask the chief to step down.
21:22As of now,
21:24I think this is partly wishful thinking
21:26and partly speculation.
21:27I don't see an easy,
21:30you know,
21:31path to remove
21:33the Pakistan Army chief
21:34at this point in time,
21:36especially because
21:37the ISI
21:38and all the other fellows
21:39have been drumming up support
21:41and one of the reasons
21:42for this particular attack
21:43was that the moment
21:45it leads to a kind of
21:46Indo-Pak standoff,
21:48the Pakistan Army
21:49whose name is NAD,
21:51whose popularity
21:52has reached a NAD,
21:54nobody likes them,
21:56people joke about them,
21:58people lampoon them,
21:59people mock them.
22:01Their stock
22:02has suddenly risen
22:03in Pakistan
22:04and this was one
22:05of the objectives
22:06for this attack
22:07that, you know,
22:07the Pakistan Army
22:08wanted to raise its profile,
22:10rally the country behind it
22:12because whether it was Sindh
22:14where they were being abused
22:15for their plans
22:17to green the deserts
22:19and make Sindh
22:20into a desert
22:21in which Bilawal Bhutto
22:22and his father
22:23were totally backing
22:24the Pakistan Army
22:25until they realized
22:26that their own
22:27political ground will go.
22:28In Balochistan,
22:29the Army's name is Mudd.
22:31In Khyber Paktoonkwar,
22:33the Pashtoons say that,
22:35you know,
22:35the entire terrorism
22:36in that province
22:37is because of
22:38the Pakistan Army.
22:39So that is the reputation
22:40the Pakistan Army has.
22:41But suddenly,
22:42you see over the last week
22:43or so,
22:44you see how the stock
22:45of Pakistan Army
22:46has started rising,
22:47how the media
22:48has been trying
22:49to drum up support
22:50for the Pakistan Army.
22:52So I think,
22:53as of now,
22:55to expect that
22:56Aasem Muneer
22:58will be asked to quit,
22:59I don't think
23:00that will happen.
23:01And even more importantly,
23:03do you think
23:04India will be satisfied
23:05just with the head
23:06of Aasem Muneer?
23:07I'm not so sure.
23:08Of course not.
23:09Of course not.
23:10There's no question
23:11of India really settling down
23:13just because of
23:14Aasem Muneer
23:14being pushed aside.
23:16But there is
23:17there is a revolt
23:18that Pakistan
23:19and the Pakistan Army
23:20is staring at right now,
23:22which Sushant Surin,
23:22you also spoke about,
23:23about the fact
23:24that, you know,
23:25there is a growing anger
23:26and a sentiment
23:28against the Pakistan Army
23:29that they're trying
23:30very, very hard
23:31to combat right now.
23:32Thank you very much,
23:33Sushant Surin,
23:34for joining us
23:34here on NewsTrack
23:36with your expertise
23:37really on what's
23:38really playing out
23:39right now in Pakistan.
23:41And the fact
23:41that there's an
23:42undeniable link
23:43right now
23:44of so many terrorists
23:45to the Pakistan Army,
23:47including a clear,
23:48clear imprint
23:49of the Pakistan Army
23:51in the Pehelgam attack
23:52as well.
23:53But let's just
23:54break down for you
23:55the big powerhouses
23:56of Pakistan
23:58who perhaps also
23:59have a say
23:59on these terror attacks
24:01in India.
24:02Aasem Muneer
24:03who we've been talking about
24:03is the Pakistan Army chief
24:05and just days
24:06before the Pehelgam
24:07terror attack
24:08made that comment
24:10about Kashmir
24:10being the jugular win
24:11and made anti-Hindu
24:13remarks as well
24:14while invoking
24:15the two-nation theory.
24:16He made these comments
24:17on April 16th,
24:19April 22nd,
24:20the Pehelgam
24:20terror attack
24:22took place.
24:22And the message
24:23seemed to be very clear
24:24that he was signaling
24:24support to terror proxies
24:26and the Pehelgam attack
24:28clearly couldn't be
24:30carried out
24:30without the Pakistan
24:31Army's tacit support.
24:32You look at how
24:33they were armed,
24:34you look at how
24:34these Pakistani terrorists
24:36infiltrated into India.
24:38Now, we're also seeing
24:39right now
24:40increased activity
24:41around LOC
24:42after Pehelgam
24:43and the instructions
24:44of Aasem Muneer.
24:46Let's talk about
24:47also currently
24:48who is
24:49the ISI chief
24:51of Pakistan
24:51and another
24:52powerful position
24:53in Pakistan.
24:55It's currently
24:55Aasem Malik.
24:56He is the director general
24:57of the
24:58Inter-Services Intelligence.
25:00This was a position
25:01interestingly held
25:02by Aasem Muneer
25:03previously.
25:04So,
25:04Aasem Malik
25:05is overseeing
25:06Intel Ops.
25:07The ISI
25:08plays a big role
25:09in infiltrations
25:10in choosing
25:10just the right time
25:12in helping terrorists
25:13cross over into India.
25:14So, along LOC,
25:15it's this man
25:16who is ensuring
25:17that terrorists
25:18are aided.
25:19So,
25:19COVID support
25:20to terrorists,
25:21he's the boss
25:22of that.
25:22He takes care
25:23of that.
25:24He's also advising
25:25on Pakistan's
25:26next step.
25:27How should
25:27they respond?
25:28Now,
25:29with India
25:29clearly upping
25:30the ante,
25:31figuring out
25:32what our response
25:32is going to be
25:33to Pahal Gham,
25:34how will Pakistan
25:34choose to respond
25:35to that?
25:36Aasem Malik decides.
25:37Also,
25:38overseeing
25:38disinformation
25:39ops against India.
25:41You see this
25:41very often,
25:42digitally and
25:43otherwise.
25:44A lot of
25:45fake news,
25:45disinformation,
25:46communally sensitive
25:47remarks being made.
25:49All of that
25:49is being done
25:50at the behest
25:50of the ISI.
25:52Let's get you
25:52the other big name,
25:53Khwaja Asif,
25:54Pakistan defense
25:56minister.
25:57The same man
25:57whose social media
25:58accounts are now
25:59blocked in India
26:00because his statements
26:02shape Pakistan's
26:03official response.
26:04And you see all sorts
26:05of loose cannon
26:06statements from him.
26:07So,
26:07it tells you a lot
26:08that this is the man
26:08shaping Pakistan's
26:09official response
26:10as well.
26:11He's warned of
26:12an all-out war
26:13against India.
26:15Empty words
26:16right now,
26:16rhetoric that you
26:17can expect
26:17from Pakistan
26:18and is also denied,
26:20of course,
26:20as expected,
26:21a role of Pakistan
26:22in the Pahal Gham attack.
26:23He's called for
26:24global intervention,
26:26saying that the need
26:27of the hour
26:27is for countries
26:28to step in
26:29in this particular matter.
26:31But no country
26:32really has.
26:33Let's talk about
26:34the Pakistan forum
26:34minister,
26:35the deputy prime
26:36minister,
26:37Isak Dar.
26:37Now,
26:38he's publicly denied
26:39Pakistan's involvement.
26:40You see a very
26:40typical script playing
26:41out here
26:42with all of these
26:43leaders.
26:43They all deny
26:44involvement
26:44in the Pahal Gham
26:45attack.
26:46But,
26:46at the same time,
26:47this is the very man
26:48who called
26:49the Indus pact
26:50suspension
26:51as an act
26:52of war.
26:53He also hailed
26:53the Pahal Gham terrorists,
26:54referring to them
26:55as freedom fighters.
26:57Let's get you
26:58the main man,
26:59the man in the high seat,
27:00Sherbaz Sharif,
27:01the Pakistan prime minister,
27:03announced retaliatory
27:04diplomatic measures
27:05against India,
27:06tit for tat,
27:07which was expected
27:07India was fully
27:08prepared for it,
27:09has referred to
27:10Pakistan's link
27:11to Pahal Gham
27:12as completely baseless.
27:14Like I said,
27:14typical script.
27:15Vows to also protect
27:17Pakistan's water rights
27:18at all costs.
27:19So that was the
27:20official statement
27:20that came in
27:21from the Pakistan
27:23prime minister.
27:24Now let's just
27:25put the spotlight
27:25for a moment
27:26on the Pakistan
27:26army chief,
27:28Asim Munir.
27:29He's got a very
27:29interesting tenure,
27:31not just now
27:32as the Pakistan
27:32army chief,
27:33because it's under him
27:34that now you've had
27:35the Pahal Gham attack
27:36and 26 tourists
27:38have died.
27:38He's currently
27:39the Pakistan
27:39army chief.
27:40Interestingly,
27:41it happened just
27:41days after that
27:42comment that he made
27:43and those anti-Hindu
27:45comments where he
27:45also referred to
27:46Kashmir as the
27:47Jagiel Owen.
27:47In 2019,
27:49when the Pulwama
27:50attack happened,
27:51when 40 CRPF
27:52Javans were killed,
27:54guess who was in
27:54charge?
27:55Asim Munir.
27:56He was then
27:56the ISI chief,
27:58the ISIDG.
28:00So clearly there,
28:01you join the dots,
28:02you see one common
28:03link in some of
28:04the worst terror
28:04attacks that have
28:05happened here on
28:05Indian soil.
28:06That link is
28:07Asim Munir.
28:11That's all we have
28:12time for in this
28:13edition of News Track.
28:14Thanks very much
28:14for tuning in.