New Delhi, Oct 1: Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has reportedly launched a massive drive to recruit retired army and navy personnel into terror outfits to bypass training delays and lead operations in Jammu and Kashmir, according to intelligence officials.

The tactical shift follows acute recruitment shortages faced by terror groups, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen after Operation Sindoor.

It is well known that following Operation Sindoor in May last year, terror outfits such as the Lashkar, Jaish and Hizbul Mujahideen have faced difficulties in recruiting new cadres.

Although recruitment has picked up pace, the challenge remains that these recruits require extensive training before they can be considered ready to carry out terror operations against India.

An official said that in order to overcome this gap and to make these groups operation-ready faster, the ISI has been looking for retired Pakistani army personnel.

While Pakistan has extensively used its former army personnel in the past, this time it is looking to recruit a much bigger number into the terror groups.

“Former soldiers and commandos are the preferred choice. They are operation-ready and would require a bare minimum amount of training before they can be sent out to carry out terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir,” the official said.

Another official said that the ISI used former army and navy personnel to be part of terror operations. The focus had, however, been on them imparting training when it comes to terror operations, fidayeen attacks, and also logistics.

The 26/11 Mumbai attacks also highlighted the extensive role allegedly played by Pakistan’s military establishment. Individuals such as Major Iqbal were reported to have been involved in the training of the attackers. They were also said to have been present alongside the handlers in Karachi, providing instructions to the 10 terrorists who entered Mumbai on the night of November 26, 2008.

The official added that the ISI, with the assistance of Pakistan’s army, has been preparing a list of personnel who have retired or have resigned from the Pakistan army.

“They are being offered huge incentives to be part of the terror groups that have focused their operations largely on Jammu and Kashmir,” the official said.

An Intelligence Bureau official said Pakistan was not planning a major attack in the immediate future. However, the country wants its terror groups to remain fully operational and prepared to carry out attacks when required.

Once these retired personnel are picked, they would be sent to the launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

“Currently at the launchpads, the terrorists are divided into batches of three. There is one terrorist each from the Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen in each batch,” the official said.

The ISI, according to the official, intends to include a retired and fully operationally ready soldier in each of these groups. Such personnel could lead the attacks more effectively because of their experience. Having served in the field for several years, they are also familiar with the terrain and other logistical aspects involved in such operations.

“Further, a retired soldier will command more respect in the respective batch he is posted in. Those operatives under him will derive a lot from his experience on the battlefield,” the official said.

The focus is more on the Lashkar at the moment, and such personnel are being recruited into this group.

“Compared with the Jaish and Hizbul Mujahideen, the Lashkar appears to be better prepared to carry out an operation in Jammu and Kashmir. The outfit has, for now, resolved its leadership issues, with Hafiz Saeed’s son, Talha Saeed, taking complete control,” officials said.

By recruiting former army personnel, the ISI can bypass one crucial stage, namely radicalisation, officials said.

Such individuals, they added, may already have undergone extensive ideological conditioning during their training and service, making them more readily deployable for violent operations. The strategy is also seen as part of Pakistan’s long-standing reliance on the “bleeding by a thousand cuts” doctrine against India.

With very basic training required and radicalisation not needed, it makes perfect sense for the ISI to rope in retired army personnel to be part of these terror groups, another official said.

New Delhi, Oct 1: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his “extraordinary bravery” in preventing what he described as a potential mid-air catastrophe after the pilot was allegedly attacked during a flight but continued to act to safeguard passengers and crew.

In a statement posted by the Office of the Israeli Prime Minister on social media platform X, Netanyahu said Captain Machchhar displayed exceptional courage despite being seriously injured.

“My salute to the Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery,” Netanyahu said.

According to the Israeli Prime Minister, Captain Machchhar was stabbed and seriously wounded during the incident. However, he fought back, resisted the attacker, opened the cockpit door and enabled passengers and crew members to overpower the assailant.

Netanyahu said the pilot’s actions prevented what could have become a major aviation disaster.

“He saved the lives of 174 people, including Israeli citizens and other nationals,” the Israeli Prime Minister stated.

Expressing concern for the injured pilot, Netanyahu wished him a “speedy and full recovery” and described him as “a true hero”.

The remarks came amid growing international recognition of Captain Machchhar’s role in averting the threat aboard flydubai flight FZ1073.

Joining the praise, Israel’s Ambassador to Cyprus, Reuven Azar, also paid tribute to the Indian pilot and the passengers and crew members who helped neutralise the threat.

In a post on X, Azar said he was praying for Captain Machchhar’s recovery and described him as an experienced and gifted pilot.

“Together with nations, I pray for the life of Captain Smit Machchhar, the experienced and gifted hero Indian pilot of flydubai flight FZ1073,” Azar wrote.

The Israeli diplomat said the courage shown by the pilot, along with that displayed by Israeli and Emirati passengers and crew members, helped save all those on board the aircraft.

“His courage and the courage of other Israeli and Emirati passengers and crew members saved the lives of 180 souls,” he said.

Azar also used the occasion to call for unity against terrorism, declaring: “United against terrorism.”

The statements from senior Israeli leaders highlight the international attention generated by the incident aboard flydubai flight FZ1073 and the widespread praise being directed at Captain Machchhar for his actions during the emergency.

Netanyahu’s remarks focused on the pilot’s role in ensuring that passengers and crew were able to regain control of the situation despite the alleged attack, while Azar praised the collective efforts of the pilot, passengers and crew in preventing loss of life.

The messages also underscore the presence of Israeli citizens among those whose lives were allegedly saved during the incident.

As Captain Machchhar continues to receive treatment for his injuries, messages of support and appreciation have continued to pour in from across countries, with Israeli leaders describing him as a symbol of courage in the face of danger and crediting his actions with preventing a far more serious tragedy.

Kabul, Oct 1: At least nine civilians, including women and children, were killed, and 11 others were injured after Pakistani military airstrikes hit civilian homes in Afghanistan’s Kunar and Helmand provinces, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Thursday.

Condemning the “act of aggression”, Mujahid said the attack was carried out on Wednesday night in the Chugam area of Shultan district in Kunar, and the Safar area of Garmser district in Helmand, killing and injuring civilians, while destroying three residences.

“Last night, Pakistani aircraft bombed civilian homes in Chugam, Shultan District of Kunar, and Safar, Garmser District of Helmand. Nine Afghan civilians, including women and children, were killed, 11 were injured, and three homes were destroyed. We condemn this act as an aggression and crime in violation of all accepted principles,” Mujahid posted on X.

The latest attack comes amid an escalating wave of Pakistani airstrikes targeting several provinces across Afghanistan in recent days.

On September 24, Pakistani strikes in Kandahar, Paktia and Khost killed four civilians, while strikes carried out three days earlier in Kunar and Paktika left three people dead.

Last week, Taliban spokesperson Mujahid accused Pakistan of launching attacks against Afghanistan to divert attention from its internal problems and evade its obligations under the Mecca Pact, local media reported.

Speaking at a religious seminary in Kandahar, Mujahid alleged that Islamabad was using attacks on Afghanistan to distract the public from mounting political and economic problems in Pakistan, including protests at home.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signed the defence agreement in Mecca on August 7, pledging to strengthen collective deterrence against acts of aggression. Under the agreement, an armed attack against any one of the signatories would be regarded as an attack against all three.

“Pakistan’s recent attacks on Afghanistan were carried out with the aim of escaping the Meeca agreement with Saudi Arabia, while portraying the situation as though Pakistan is engaged in a war in Afghanistan,” Mujahid said.

He further said, “Pakistan, by violating the territory of its neighbouring Islamic country, wants to divert attention from its failures,” Afghan media outlet Ariana News reported.

Mujahid further warned that Afghanistan would give an “appropriate response” to what he described as the Pakistani military regime’s “bullying”.