Terror goes hi-tech: Lashkar-e-Toiba develops app for its operations

Pakistani terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba has now developed an exclusive mobile application for its operatives active in J&K.

Jammu: Dreaded Pakistani terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) has now developed an exclusive mobile application for its operatives active in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere to make their communication secure, a report said on Wednesday.

As per a report published in the Hindustan Times, the new mobile application will help the LeT operatives in keeping their communication highly secure.

The application allows the user to make phone calls and send text messages to other users who have the same application installed on their devices.

This was confirmed by a central counter terror official who said that captured LeT terrorist Mohammad Naved had revealed during his interrogation that his commander in the Valley, Abu Qasim, was using an app on his mobile to stay in touch with his handlers and other operatives.

Naveed also confirmed that the app was specially developed by LeT for its operatives.

The official also said that they suspect that the app is running on a separate server that may be installed in Pakistan. Technical experts at NIA are trying to get more details about the application, added report.

Naveed was arrested after an attack on a BSF convoy in Udhampur on August 5. Three people, including two Border Security Force (BSF) troopers, were killed and 11 others injured as Naveed and his associate Noman opened fire on a BSF bus on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. Noman was killed in retaliatory fire but Naveed was overpowered in a nearby village as he tried to take villagers as hostage.

It is not the first time Lashkar has shown innovation in using communication tools.

During the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, Lashkar commanders sitting in Karachi used Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service to stay in touch with their attack squad in India’s financial capital.

Later, there were also reports of Lashkar developing an exclusive VoIP for its field operatives.