Akshardham attack mastermind Farhatullah Ghori appears in new video, calls for war against India
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Islamabad, Mar 14: In a shocking development, terrorist Farhatullah Ghori, wanted by Indian agencies as the face behind several terror attacks including the attack on Akshardham temple in Gujarat's Gandhi Nagar in 2002, has resurfaced by releasing a video urging war against India.
Ghori, a prime target of Indian intelligence agencies, emerged back into the spotlight after his fingerprints were traced in multiple terror incidents. Delhi Police's special cell revealed last year that Ghori, posing as an Islamic State recruiter, was behind an ISIS-inspired module. It is also pertinent to mention that Ghori has ties to organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Ghori appeared to have vanished until 2019 when he was found active on Telegram and other encrypted chat applications, releasing a string of videos to radicalize youths, all the while remaining invisible.
Who is Farhatullah Ghori?
Ghori who goes by the aliases of Abu Sufian and Sardar belongs to Hyderabad. He was designated an individual terrorist by the Indian Home Ministry in 2020. Maintaining a low profile, he continued to work from Lahore in the shadows and never came to the fore. Even the US and the Interpol could never get a photo of him.
Ghori is actively engaged in terror financing, utilizing a network of social media accounts to incite Indian Muslim youths to rebel against their country. The recruitment process reportedly involves transferring small amounts through hawala channels.
New video of Ghori emerges
The release of the latest video featuring Ghori is seen as an attempt by the ISI to distance itself from any allegations regarding Ghori's involvement in terrorist activities within India. By showcasing Ghori as an individual operating outside Pakistani jurisdiction, ISI seeks to shield itself from accountability.
Moreover, Pakistan has always sheltered terrorists like Ghori when they come under scrutiny from India. They often claim that such individuals are not Pakistani citizens but residents of India, thereby absolving themselves of any responsibility. His sudden video appearance is suspected to be part of an ISI plot aimed at disturbing communal harmony ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
In the last two years, Indian intelligence agencies have blocked Facebook pages and Telegram channels being used by Ghori. Telangana's counter-intelligence unit intensified efforts to apprehend him, as Ghori not only radicalized youths under the guise of IS but also promoted pages linked to JeM and al-Qaida.