Terror chief Salahuddin demoralised over success by Indian forces

The chief of Pakistan-based terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, Syed Salahuddin has said in a video that the Indian security forces are well entrenched in the Kashmir valley.

Salahuddin, who is sheltered by Pakistan and is used as a non-state actor for cross-border terror operations, is designated as a global terrorist by the US State Department.

The video shows Salahuddin addressing a gathering in Rawalpindi, close to Pakistani capital Islamabad, to mourn the killing of top Hizbul commander Riyaz Naikoo by Indian forces earlier this week. Over the last couple of months, Pakistani security forces have been shelling border outposts and helping terrorists sneak into India under the cover of coronavirus.

Though a number of Indian soldiers, including senior officers, have laid down their lives in anti-terror operations, a large number of terrorists too have been eliminated.

A wanted terrorist, Naikoo was Hizbul Mujahideen's Jammu and Kashmir chief and was killed by the Indian armed forces a few days ago in an encounter in Pulwama district.

Salahuddin who is speaking in Urdu with a Kashmiri accent, could be heard saying: "It's a shock for all of us (killing of Riyaz Naikoo)." He adds that since January this year, 80 terrorists were eliminated by Indian security forces. All of these terrorists were highly educated and trained.

Indian intelligence agencies stumbled upon the video where Salahuddin is seen ranting about the Indian forces and singing praises for Naikoo.

Salahuddin admits that the deadly Handwara attack, in which five security personnel and two terrorists were killed on May 2, was planned by them. "Despite the setback in Handwara, Indian forces continued to be in a strong position," he is heard addressing the gathering in Rawalpindi.

Talking about this video, the head of an Indian anti-terror unit said, "This clearly shows Pakistan's involvement in continuing to harbour terrorists." The officer said that despite losing eight men in two different encounters in Handwara, security forces have maintained pressure on the militants across the Kashmir valley. "We are into a hot pursuit mode," he added..