7 semesters for terror trainees

Recruitment camps in Pakistan prepare tougher courses for spreading hate. Devise commando training manual to take on Indian security forces

Recruitment camps in Pakistan prepare tougher courses for spreading hate. Devise commando training manual to take on Indian security forces

If the image of Ajmal Amir Qasab raining bullets at the CST station with a smirk on his face shook you, then you should know Qasab is among the new breed of terrorists being prepared by Pakistan to carry out attacks on India.


Terrorists are chosen for specific mission based upon their performance
in the academy representative photo

Highly-placed sources in the intelligence agencies have told MiD DAY that the terror masters are putting in a lot of thought in designing modules for training new recruits much like the special forces of many countries. Apart from the basic training, which is imparted to every member, a recruit is chosen for a particular mission based upon his strengths and then sent for special training.

In the aftermath of the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai, MiD DAY had reported how those who carried out the attack learnt sea-tricks at a Pakistani Navy facility in Badin where Islamabad trains its best marine commandos.
"The training programmes have become extensive and aim-specific. The training was already divided into batches and semesters but now it has become more mission and purpose oriented. It has become selective in nature with the entire focus on preparing commandos who can bring an entire city on its knees for a few days," said an Intelligence Bureau (IB) official, requesting anonymity.

Past practices
Earlier, the terrorists were given two-tier training for using arms and explosives, infiltration, avoiding detection and carrying out mass killings. But under the new training regime only those youngsters who prove their mental and physical fitness are allowed to go for advanced training.

The training begins with the basic foundation or Tasis course, which is more into religious teachings and gives a very basic insight of further training. While the stipulated time for this stage is one month, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) insists on completing it in three weeks (21 days). The first round is followed by a three-month capsule course called Al-Raad that aims at making the terror cadet physically fitter and mentally tougher. "An important aspect of this stage is continuous brain washing of the cadre through propaganda. They are shown video tapes and given material to read about their enemy to fuel their imagination," the sources said.

The specialistsu00a0
Almost all the terror cadres are made to go through these two stages, but beyond this, cadets are divided into groups for specialised training keeping in mind the requirement for specific missions. "For example, in case of Ajmal Amir Qasab, the group was specially trained for marine operations which are amongst the most difficult military operations. The third training programme known as Guerrilla is meant only for those who have to perform actual operations in sea, land, jungle or an urban scenario," said the officer.

After Guerrilla training, recruits are then initiated into another advanced course. It teaches the terror cadres to operate all kinds of modern weapons. "During this stage, the terrorists are given a brief of their coming mission which could be based anywhere. Groups are divided for land and sea-based operations and further training is carried out under extreme secrecy. The groups are smaller in nature where every person is trained to maximise his skill. At this stage every terrorist is an expert shooter besides having an individual skill like assembling bombs or tackling security forces in a pre-decided scenario," said an IB official.

Survival of the fittest
The terrorists are taught the art of surviving in worst case scenarios to maximise the loss of life and property as it happened during the Mumbai attack.
Further training takes place in the similar environment and candidates are selected for lessons into bomb- making, mining and firing shoulder-carried weapons like rocket launchers.

The sixth and seventh stages are considered extremely difficult and have been rated as most dangerous by the Indian security agencies. In these, the terrorists are taught the skills of negotiating with aerial targets. Sources

Weapons of terror

Lashkar-e-Toiba uses rifles of AK series, Kiran Kope, Kala Kope, rocket projectile guns, grenades, improvised explosive devices and machine guns. The most potent weapon is its fidayeen attack or suicide operations, which are different from other suicide militancy attacks across the world. Since Islam prohibits suicide, Lashkar's fidayeen do not go on missions where death is certain, but select assaults where they do have a chance, however slim, of returning alive.

hinted towards 9/11 attacks in USA where the terrorists brought down the twin towers by hijacking civil aircraft. "Very few terrorists reach this stage. While it needs extremely determined people, being accustomed with latest technology and qualities like fluency in English are some of the prerequisites," said the officer.

The seventh and the last stage has not changed in all these years and though it was adopted from the Talibans operating in Afghanistan, they are aimed at creating top-ranking commanders in the terror groups.
"Unlike the earlier terrorists who were trained with arms, the new breed is extremely determined and mission oriented. They are at par with the commandos operating in most countries; the only difference is that they are trained for a single mission and they are like killing machines," said an officer attached to the Union Home Ministry.u00a0

Propaganda
Jamat-ud-Dawa runs an Urdu monthly journal, Al Dawa, which has a circulation of 80,000, an Urdu weekly, Gazwa, a children's monthly, Nanhe Mujahid, and an English monthly, Voice of Islam. Besides, there is also a multi-lingual website.

Objectives of Jihad

In May 1999, Lashkar-e-Toiba published a booklet, Why we do Jihad, written by Abdul Salam bin Mohammad. It listed eight objectives: ufffd Muslims should fight as long as a dispute persists ufffd It is obligatory for Muslims to fight till Allah's kingdom is established in the world ufffd It is obligatory for Muslims to fight till they overthrow all infidel governments ufffd Wherever there is oppression, Muslims are bound to fight it ufffd If any infidel kills a Muslim, it is to be avenged ufffd If any nation breaches a contract with Muslims, it is obligatory to fight that nation ufffd Muslims should fight against aggression by any other nation ufffd If infidels encroach upon any part of a Muslim land, it is obligatory to fight them and restore it