How Almonds Are Funding Cross-border Terror in Kashmir

New Delhi: The humble almond may be funding terror in the Kashmir Valley.

An FIR based on The National Investigation Agency's probe into terror funds, accessed exclusively by CNN-News18, has pointed to an unholy trinity of almond traders, valley separatists and terrorists.

According to the investigation, Pakistan's ISI and Lashkar-e-Taiba are using cross-border trade of California Almonds, which is duty-free, to transfer funds to terror organisations.

The NIA has found a definitive terror money trail that is meant to fund unrest in India via proceeds from this cross-LoC trade. Top sources told CNN-News18 that that a major portion of these proceeds were diverted to fund terrorist activities in the valley.

Almond traders are helping Pakistan generate and distribute money meant for terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. (Photo: CNN-News18 TV grab)

Thus, almond traders are helping Pakistan generate and distribute money meant for terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Over 70 traders are being probed for being on the ISI’s payroll and working as terror conduits.

After the recent NIA raids, the agency is now looking into the terror funding received by Hurriyat leaders and their association with terror outfits Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba. CNN-News18 has learnt that several crores may have been handed over to terror and separatist elements to fuel protests and violence in the Valley.