Aided Infiltration 35 Times, Bringing About 300 Militants Into Kashmir

I sacrificed my family, precious years of my life for conflict created by Pakistan in name of jihad

I am from Rashanpora village in the Kupwara district. I am 50 years old. My father went to Pakistan in 1990 for arms training when I was about 20 years old.  He stayed on there. I too went to Pakistan for arms training in 1997 when I was 27 years old.

I was greatly inspired by jihadi and freedom songs which I heard on Pakistan Radio. I felt that I should be part of this freedom struggle. I was looking for someone who would take me to Pakistan. One day I came to know that a group of youngsters are going to cross the border from our locality. I contacted Waheed Bhat of Keran on the Indian side. Waheed was supposed to lead this group to cross the border.

I requested him to take me to Pakistan. He agreed and told me that he would meet me in Rashanpora on a given day after Zuhr Namaz. I found Waheed with other 12 youngsters offering Namaz-i-Zuhr in Jamia Masjid, Rashanpora. We all left for the border via the Ghoda-Gap route in the Kupwara district (Gujjars and Bakarwals used to take this route while searching for pastures for their animals). We started at 4 pm. It took us three days to cross the border. We were received by Pakistan Army at their first picket close to the border. We stayed there for two complete days there as we were very tired. They gave us food, clothing and shelter.

ARMS TRAINING PURELY FOR JIHAD

We were handed over to team of officers of Pakistan Army, whom they called FIU. They keenly verified whether we were in Pakistan for arms training or any other purpose. The Army team had maulvis also with them, who asked us many questions about Islam to make sure that we are Muslims and are here for jihad only. They checked our private parts and satisfied themselves about our religion.

Once they were satisfied, they handed us over to some unit called Det Office. In Det Office we met an officer from ISI, who they called Captain Ali. We stayed for five days at Det Office. They got full confirmation that all the youngsters in the group had crossed the border only to get arms training, and purely for jihad.

Then the ISI allowed us to move forward. The ISI office is at Athmuqam (the headquarters of Neelum district in POK). After spending five days in Joora, we left for Gojra, which is close to Muzaffarabad in POK. Here we were given new clothes and other items of daily need. Our medical check-up was conducted.

This is a camp for militants. I found militants stationed in hundreds here. Some of them had received training in handling guns, grenades and other ammunition. Others were yet to be given arms training. The camp where we were given room to stay was under the leadership of Bilal Rahi, a commander from Hayan in Kupwara, India. We were free to move around this place. There were no restrictions.

GIRLS HOSTEL NEAR MILITANTS’ CAMP

We saw a girl’s hostel near this camp. From this hostel, girls were often called to this camp by senior commanders of the camp. These girls spent nights with these commanders. We all got to know of these activities.

One day some barracks were raided. Six girls were found sleeping with these commanders. Bilal Rahi was arrested with other people. We learnt that he was punished and jailed.

Salim Malik aka Burhan Hajazi was given charge of our camp. We stayed here for one month. Then we moved to some unknown place to some other training camp. We were made to sit in trucks which were covered on all sides. The journey took three days. We were not allowed to open the canvas covering the truck. Food and other items were served inside the truck.

After three days we reached the training camp. There was complete army rule imposed in this camp. Retired army officials were engaged to give us arms training. This basic arms training was for three months. Here some Islamic scholars gave us the lesson of jihad. One has to attend 30 classes here for as part of the training to be a Mujahid (those who fight for the faith). In this camp, all the militants were Kashmiris. About 400 militants were in this camp. They were awaiting their turn either for arms training or to infiltrate into India.

Some days after our training, a four-member team of Pakistan army came to this camp. We had a roll-call. The Pakistan Army team spoke to the Ameer of the camp and the main leader, Burhan Sahab. Among all these militants, some were selected to get additional training for three months. Actually this extra training was given to those who were chosen to be Guides to help militants infiltrate into India. I was among those who were chosen to be a Guide.

The militants around me congratulated me for this special status. The next day I was separated from my militant friends. It was mandatory for Guides to get married locally. For all the young men from Kashmir chosen to be Guides, the ISI arranges the girl for marriage. Nobody can refuse the ISI for this purpose. People over there feel happy that our daughter is married to a Mujahid, and that too with the consent of the ISI.

PAK MILITARY STRATEGY: GUIDE’S MARRIAGE WITH PAKISTANI WOMAN

I was told to get married to a girl named Shaheena from Pakistan. I also got to know why ISI is so keen that Guides should marry Pakistani girls and settle there with family. It is because a married man will have roots with his family. He will be tied to Pakistan because of his attachment with his family. He will keep the militants in his charge safe so that his own life is not endangered when he takes the militants across the border. Guides are important for ISI. They don’t want to lose them early. They provide all comforts to Guides but also keep a close vigil on them round the clock.

I was married to Shaheena from Pakistan. I was given a two-room set in a muhajir (migrant) camp, where I stayed with my wife. I had two children. The name of my son was Waseem and the name of my daughter was Ulfat. My father had been in Pakistan for long. He also stayed with us in the Muhajir camp.

TRUSTED GUIDE FOR INFILTRATION OF MILITANTS

One morning I was called by the camp leader that I had been chosen to lead a group for infiltration. I was called to the office. A map was placed before me. I was told to study it carefully.

Once I said yes, I was given a weightless stick. This stick helps the Guides to identify any wire on the border. Next day I was told to board a truck and was sent to the first picket of Pakistan Army. I reached there in two days. Here I was introduced with 15 trained militants. I also met the Ameer of the group. The Guide’s job is to show the way. The Ameer is the commander of the group. We ate light dinner here and started moving to the border. Five porters accompanied us. They were carrying ammunition. Sonullah Shah, a militant commander, was waiting for our group. I handed over all the boys to him, and also the ammunition carried by the porters. He gave me the receipt for the boys and the ammunition.

I had come back to Rashanpora seven months after I went to Pakistan for arms training. I stayed here for a week. I met my mother and other relatives. Then with five porters, I went back through the same route

This time I did not have to go through the process which I had to follow when I had come to Pakistan for arms training. I reached the resident camp in eight days and stayed with my family. After two months, I was again ordered to lead a group for infiltration. This was again a successful trip. The route was different. It was from Jamma Gund in the Kupwara district. I crossed the border at least 35 times from different routes including Kenthawali, Domrigah, Goodagap, Shunthi, Domari, etc. I escorted more than 300 militants from Pakistan to Kashmir. They were all Kashmiris. I was a trustworthy guide of UJC (United Jihad Council). I was rewarded with cash four times by Pakistan ISI for the successful infiltration of militants.

After bringing militants here and staying for about five months, I went back to Pakistan with eight new boys for arms training. I reached there safely and stayed with my family. I was included in the Border Action Team (BAT) of Pakistan Army, as I knew the maximum routes for infiltration. The BAT aids infiltration of militants into India.

ENCOUNTER AND NEAR-DEATH

After one year, I was again ordered to infiltrate into India with eight militants. The route was through Keran. This was a short-distance route. It took us only eight hours to cross over into India. We were attacked by the Indian Army on the border. All eight militants were killed. I was hit by nine bullets and remained half-dead for four days. I was lying in a grave in a graveyard in Keran on the Indian side. After four days the local farmers found my half-dead body and called JK Police. I was arrested and jailed for two years.

I sacrificed my family and the precious years of my life for the conflict created by Pakistan in the name of jihad. I again got married here and have three children. My father also came back to India as part of a rehabilitation program initiated by the Government of India. Now I am a completely changed person. I have a happy life now in my country. I want to live and die for India.

PAKISTANI MILITANTS RAPED KASHMIRI WOMEN

Around 2006, I guided Pakistani militants into Kashmir. I stayed with them for months for about five months in Lolab forests. But I felt a different thing in these Pakistani militants. When Kashmiri militants undertake jihad, they feel that it is wrong to exploit women. But I knew that Pakistani militants have normalized the sexual exploitation of Kashmiri women. I was pained by this but I could not tell anybody about it. I knew that if I said anything, they would kill me here or in Pakistan when I go back.

We have an OGW in Lolab valley in the Kupwara district. He was working with us under the fear that the militants may not harm his family because his brother was a soldier in CRPF. We used to stay in his house. We knew that the security forces will not doubt his family. Their women washed our clothes and served food to us. One day we sent this OGW to the market to bring a gas cylinder for our hideout. These foreign militants caught the three women – the wife of the CRPF soldier, their unmarried sister the wife of this OGW, and sexually exploited them. I was also offered to do so, but I refused. I remember the names of these militants. They were Zahid Molvi, Ali Hera, Usman, and Dr. Najeeb.

THEY KILLED MY ENTIRE FAMILY IN PAKISTAN

ISI thought that I am an informer of the Indian Army because eight militants were killed during an infiltration attempt but I was alive, even though I had received nine bullets on my body. They declared me to be an Indian agent. My son Waseem, who was about 16 years old, was lynched to death. My wife and daughter were also killed. They were not given any land for their funeral. Even while recounting this story, I cry for them.