In a shocking development, it has come to light that the Pakistan High Commission is a major channel of terror funding in Kashmir. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) identified several properties in connection with a Kashmiri businessman named Zahoor Watali and has seized assets to the tune of Rs 6.19 crore belonging to him. As per the probe agency, Watali’s role as a financial conduit has been established.

During the search, ED came across a document which suggests that Watali was receiving funds from Hafiz Saeed, chief of the terror outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba, the ISI and the Pakistan High Commission. Watali was serving as an intermediary for the separatist leaders. After receiving funds from the said sources, he was remitting them into the accounts of the Hurriyat leaders. The separatist leaders used these funds for personal gains, and also to finance stone pelting and terrorist activities.

Earlier, the ED had attached 13 properties worth Rs 1.22 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) through a provisional order. According to the probe agency, these properties belonged to Mohammad Shafi Shah, a resident of Bandipora and six other Jammu & Kashmir residents. The agency came into action after it took cognizance of an NIA chargesheet against Salahudeen, Shah and others under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the IPC. Therefore, the agencies seem to be working in an appreciable synergy with the clear object of cracking down on separatism and terrorism in the valley in every possible way.

The ED had stated, “Headed by Sayeed Salahudeen, its (Hizbul Mujahideen’s) self-styled commander based out of Rawalpindi in Pakistan, it funds terrorism on Indian soil through monies organized by a trust called JKART (Jammu and Kashmir Affectees Relief Trust) in alleged connivance with the ISI and other Pakistan-based entities.” The ED also stated that terror funds were being sent to India through Hawala by skirting banking channels and other modes. It was further stated, “The funds are illegally distributed to the next of kin of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists, active and dead.”

The fact remains that the role of the ISI and Pakistan-based terror outfits in financing terror in the valley had already been established, but it is shocking that Pakistan is using its diplomatic route in order to fund terror and separatism in Kashmir. This goes on to show that the entire Pakistani establishment is working in cohesion with the object of somehow fomenting terrorism in Kashmir. India cannot afford to let Pakistan get away lightly. This might just be the point when India should consider if diplomatic relations with the terrorist country should be cut off. When Pakistan has itself destroyed the decorum and sanctity of diplomatic relations, there is no point in keeping the diplomatic relations intact with the terrorist country.