Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief and Pathankot terror attack mastermind Masood Azhar has asked the Pakistani government "to open the path" for terrorism and jihadist groups against India so that they can escalate their operations against the country.

The Pakistan Media reported, an appeal published in the current issue of al-Qalam, the Jaish weekly magazine, Azhar had said that "a lack of decisive decision-making" could rob Pakistan of a "historic opportunity" to take control over Kashmir.

The report quoted Azhar as saying, "If nothing else, the government simply has to open the path for the mujahideen. Then, god willing, all the bitter memories of 1971 will be dissolved into the triumphant emotions of 2016."

“Consider India before and after the jihad in Kashmir. You will see a dramatic difference. In the course of this journey, which I have been an eyewitness to, I have seen India reduced from a serpent to an earthworm,” Azhar further said in the appeal.

"Apparently, a barrage of online abuse, and three official denials were not enough to assuage tempers riled after Mr Almeida's exclusive story in Dawn, detailing an unusual exchange between the very same civilian and military top brass that yesterday issued forth a statement on the violation of 'universally acknowledged principles of reporting on national security issues'," the editorial said.

"The report by Mr Almeida has been called 'fabricated', and 'speculative reporting'. But the government and military top brass in yesterday's meeting delivered no explanation for why government MNA's are protesting the visible presence of banned outfits in Pakistan. Or why possible action against Masood Azhar, or Hafiz Saeed is a danger to 'national security'. Or why Pakistan faces increasing isolation? We're all ears."

"Instead, how dare the government and military top brass lecture the press on how to do their job. How dare they treat a feted reporter like a criminal. And how dare they imply that they have either the right or the ability or the monopoly to declare what Pakistan's 'national interest' is," it said.

"And for Mr Almeida, nothing but solidarity. More power to you, and to your pen. The press stands with you," it added.

Also Read: India-Pakistan border to be sealed by December 2018: Home Minister Rajnath Singh

Nandini