Operation Sindoor | Ajmal Kasab, David Headley had confessed about training at Muridke, where India launched airstrikes

Mumbai: Situated around 40 kms away from Lahore, the Muridke town was one of the targets of the Indian armed forces, which carried out 'Operation Sindoor', hitting multiple terrorist sites across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The targets include bases of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).

The focus of the strike in Muridke was Markaz Taiba, the headquarters and training centre of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Established in 2000 by LeT founder Hafeez Saeed, the complex also received funds from Osama bin Laden’s al Qaeda.

After the November 26-29, 2008 fidayeen terror attacks in Mumbai, Indian intelligence agencies and security apparatus garnered minute details of what happened in the complex.

The 26/11 terror attack, as it is referred to, has claimed 166 lives and injured over 300 others.

In fact, Pakistani fidayeen Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab alias Abu Mujahid and Pakistani-American agent David Coleman Headley alias Daood Sayed Gilani, who at different points of time worked for LeT, JeM, and al Qaeda, had spoken about Muridke, which is a sort of “terror nursery”.

In its chargesheet before Esplanade Metropolitan Court, the Detection Crime Branch-CID of of Mumbai Police had mentioned various details of the training and indoctrination of terrorists in various camps across Pakistan and PoK.

Kasab was found guilty and hanged till death while Headley entered a plea bargain to turn approver and was deposed before the Mumbai trial court.

“It was revealed during investigation that the terrorists were trained at various locations inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The training modules, on a graduating scale, were held at Muridke, Mansehra, Muzaffarabad, Azizabad, Paanch Teni in Pakistan and PoK,” it said, pointing out that Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi oversaw the training.

The chargesheet further said, “The ten terrorist accused underwent a gruelling training schedule, graduated with flying colours at every phase, ultimately to be hand-picked for the execution of this audacious and bold mission. They were trained for physical fitness, swimming, weapon handling, tradecraft, battle inoculation, guerilla warfare, firing sophisticated assault weapons, use of hand grenades and rocket launchers, handling of GPS and satellite phones, map reading. They were also indoctrinated in the tenets of Jihad and the recitation of Quran and Hadis.”

What did Kasab say?

Kasab had revealed how he entered the LeT camp. “…he told us about a place called Marqaz Taiba, Muridke, and told us to go there. It was an LeT training camp. We went to the place by bus. We showed the receipts at the gate of the camp. We were allowed inside... Then we were taken to the actual camp area,” he had said during his confession before the police. Initially they underwent a 21-day training camp at Daura-e-Sufa and then another 21-day-session Daura-e-Aam.

“After the training, we were told that we will begin the next stage involving advanced training. But for that, we were told, we had to do some khidmat for two months (khidmat is a sort of service in the camp as per trainees' liking). We agreed. After two months, I was allowed to go to meet my parents. I stayed with my parents for a month,” he told the court and pointed out that later they were sent to an LeT camp in Shawai Nala, Muzaffarabad, for advanced training.

“At Muridke, we were taught swimming and made familiar with the life of fishermen at sea... We were given lectures on the working of Indian security agencies. We were shown clippings highlighting atrocities on Muslims in India,” he told interrogators.

On the interactions with Saeed, Kasab had said: “Amir Hafeez Saeed told us – “All Mujahideen have to fight for freedom of Kashmir…Time has come for jihad. For the last 15 years we have been fighting in Kashmir. But the Indian government is not freeing Kashmir. Now we have to go to India and achieve Kashmir after fighting there.” He then went to us to ask – “are you all ready for this cause”. We all expressed our willingness. Then Abu Kama told us – “We have to attack big cities of India. We will start our war inside India. We will bleed India. Those who die, will get jannat (heaven)”. We told them – “We are ready to attack India”.

On the 13th day of Roza, Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Muzammil alias Yusuf, Abu Al Kama, Abu Hamza, Abu Kaahfa and Abu Umer Saeed called us to the office of Baitul Mujahideen. Hafeez Saeed told us – “The financial strength of India is in Bambai (Mumbai). It is hence imperative to attack Mumbai. You all have been well trained in operating in a marine environment. We will use the sea route to attack Mumbai.”

What Headley said?

David Headley, who was linked to LeT and JeM, during his deposition before Judge G A Sanap, had also mentioned Muridke. From February 8-13, 2016, Headley’s examination-in-chief was conducted by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and from 23-26 March, 2016, his cross-examination was done by advocate Abdul Wahab Khan. Before the court, in which he appeared through video-conferencing from the United States, Headley explained different phases of Lashkar training – Daura-e-Sufa, Daura-e-Aam, Daura-e-Khas, Daura-e-Ribat and leadership course.

Asked who were the leaders who lectured during the leadership course, he said it was Hafeez Saeed and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the LeT chief of operations. When asked what they said about “jidhad”, he replied in positive and explained that “jihad is to fight against enemies of Islam…I was told to assist the people of Kashmir in fighting the Indian Army.”

He also identified his trainers as Abu Furkhan, Sanaullah, Abu Hamza, Abu Usman, Abu Saeed and Abu Fahdullah.

He said that Daura-e-Sufa was a “study course” held in Muridke outside Lahore, Daura-e-Aam and Daura-e-Khas were held in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Daura-e-Ribat was held at Masera near Abbottabad. “Muridke, Muzaffarabad and Mansera are protected by Lashkar,” he said to another query.