Social media posts supporting a Pakistan-based terror group linked to al Qaeda have surfaced recently, featuring videos from a mosque that was targeted by Indian airstrikes. Sky News has identified multiple videos on platforms like TikTok and YouTube that appear to originate from the Markaz Taiba Mosque in Muridke, Pakistan. These videos include captions and usernames that express support for the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and a group referred to as ‘313’.
Some of the videos show armed men in the streets, while others display children participating in martial arts training inside the mosque, with captions declaring, "we are little soldiers, and we fight the non-believers." The hashtag #جہاد313 translates to "313 jihad," pointing to the 313 Brigade, a designated terrorist organization in Pakistan.
In one TikTok video linked to the mosque’s Google page, a man is seen walking down the street with a firearm. The user who posted this video identified themselves as a supporter of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Mujahid Force, and ‘313’, indicating a clear alignment with these groups.
India’s airstrikes on May 7 targeted the Markaz Taiba Mosque, which has long been suspected of being a terror training site associated with LeT. This military action followed a deadly attack by gunmen on tourists in Kashmir that resulted in 26 deaths. India has accused LeT of involvement in that attack.
Experts have noted an increase in social media activity promoting the ‘313’ hashtag, with many accounts interconnected. Muskan Sangwan, a senior analyst at a terrorism research group, explained that the number ‘313’ references the companions who fought alongside the Prophet Mohammed in the Battle of Badr. She emphasized that the online presence of these groups is significant for recruitment and gaining local support.
Despite the evidence presented, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif dismissed the videos as random clips with added background music, calling the claims of terrorist activity at the mosque a "false, social media-made hoax."
The situation remains tense, as the Indian subcontinent branch of al Qaeda condemned the airstrikes and urged its supporters to engage in jihad against India. With rising tensions and conflicting narratives, the implications of these developments could have profound effects on the region’s stability.