‘You are to organize a devastating attack on a convoy of Indian Army vehicles carrying soldiers near Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, which is a big strategic hub. It has a few regimental headquarters, an air force station and a British-era cantonment,’ Abu-Lakhvi explained the mission.

‘Kill as many as possible. The attack should put the fear of death in each Indian soldier’s heart. The ones passing through Bareilly are those returning to their bases from Kashmir. Just imagine the buzz it will create internationally if we are able to kill fifty soldiers returning from Kashmir duty.’

‘Yes, it will certainly make everyone sit up and take notice and show the world we mean business,’ said Babar. ‘What about the two Indian jihadis? Where are they now?’

‘We have settled Sohrab and Janbaaz at Bhairava, the gateway to Nepal at the Indo-Nepal border. Over the last two years, we helped Sohrab establish himself and earn a livelihood there so he could melt into local society. We first bought him two trucks to run a transport business. Later, we helped him set up a manufacturing unit for shoe soles.

‘Twice we tasked him to kill Kanwariyas, who are Shiva devotees and travel great distances on foot to offer holy water to the Shiva linga, but they could not kill a single pilgrim. The plan was leaked, the man ferrying AK-47s from Kashmir was killed in a police encounter in Badaun in Uttar Pradesh, and the security forces increased their presence on the route.

‘Their trucks are currently more valuable to us than the two cousins,’ Abu-Lakhvi laughed. He was someone who hardly ever laughed, yet today he did. What was so special about today, Babar thought.

‘They will meet you today in Kathmandu, at 4 p.m., at our safehouse in Battisputali. Be there on time. I didn’t want to compromise your residential address, so I did not send them there.’

Babar had successfully set himself up in Kathmandu by this time. As part of his cover, he had enrolled himself in an engineering course at Paramount Computer Academy. A small sum of 1,000 rupees had ensured that he was not required to furnish documents for the admission. Using his student ID card, which bore the name of Sanjay Sharma, he had procured a voter’s card with the help of the academy’s guard, who knew somebody in Nepal’s Office of Voters’ Registration. Using the voter’s card, he had rented a two-bedroom flat in Bhimsengola, which was a short distance from the academy.

‘Yes, janaab, fine,’ Babar said.

‘You can get the weapons you will need from Saqlain in Kashmir now. Saqlain checked and found no breach in his setup during the verifications ordered by me after the Mumbai operation to kill the chief minister of Gujarat bombed,’ Abu-Lakhvi said.

‘Abu-Muzammil will send you two Pakistani fidayeen from Baithul for the Bareilly operation.’

‘Ji, janaab. And I will send Sohrab to Commander Saqlain.’

57. THE LAST HURRAH

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