|
Kashmir Terrorism |
Terrorism
Groups |
Hizbul
links info |
|
| |
hizbul
Mujahideen |
|
| |
a.k.a.
Party of God, Islamic Jihad, Islamic Jihad for the Liberation
of Palestine |
|
|
|
Back
Ground Information: Terrorists or Freedom Fighters?
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen
(HM) is one of the largest terrorist groups operating in
Jammu and Kashmir and seeks for the territories to become
part of Pakistan as well as the islamization of Kashmir.
Formed in 1989 in Kashmir with Master Ahsan Dar as its
leader. Dar was later arrested by security forces in
mid-December 1993. It was organized as the militant wing
of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) in large part due to the
influence of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI),
Pakistan’s external intelligence agency. The purpose of
this militant wing was to counter the Jammu and Kashmir
Liberation Front, which sought complete independence of
the State.
In 1990 the
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen adopted their charter that appointed
Mohammed Yusuf Shah, better known as Syed Salahuddin, as
it's leader. He left the democratic political system in
1989 when polls according to him were rigged by the Indian
government to stop the election of an opposition party to
power. Hizbul Mujahideen is headquartered at
Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
Hibul
Mujahideen is closely linked to the Jamaat-e-Islami, both
in the Kashmir Valley and in Pakistan. Overseas, it is
allegedly backed by Ghulam Nabi Fai's Kashmir American
Council and Ayub Thakur's World Kashmir Freedom Movement
in the USA. Early in its history, the Hizbul Mujahideen
had established contacts with Afghan Mujahideen groups
such as Hizb-e-Islami, under which some of its cadre is
alleged to have received arms training. Seyed Salahuddin
as well as Pakistan denounce that they have been labeled
as a terrorist organization by India, the European Union
and the United States. They contest that they are freedom
fighters for the Kashmir cause that is centered around
Muslims being under Muslim rule and not any other
religion. Separation of state and church in this part of
the world is non-negotiable. |
 |
| |
|
Seyed Salahuddin:
Leader of Hizbul Mujahideen as well as
the United Jehad Council |
| |
|
"Lots
of things have changed after the attacks on America.
We have seen the fall of the Taliban regime in
Afghanistan. We have witnessed the way Saddam
Hussein's rule in Iraq ended. But the relationship
between Pakistan and the mujahideen is of a different
nature. Ours is an indigenous movement, not a
terrorist movement. It is a struggle for freedom.
Pakistan has always extended [the Kashmir struggle]
its moral and diplomatic support, and will continue to
do so. But it has never helped us cross the LoC which
we do not consider a border - Kashmir is our
territory, our land. With the blessings of Allah, the
mujahideen are self-sufficient. We know how to make
explosives. This is evident in the recent increasing
attacks against Indian security forces in Kashmir"
Salahuddin in June 2003 interview. |
|
| |
|
Leadership and Organization |
| |
|
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen , as mentioned earlier is led by Syed
Salahuddin. Estimated strength of membership is at least
1500 militants. Ghazi Nasiruddin is
the commander of operations' in the Kashmir. He succeeded
Saif-ul-Islam who was killed in a major counter-insurgency
operation on April 2, 2003. Saleem Hashmi is the
spokesperson of the organization.
Hizbul Mujahideen is
organized into five divisions: central division for
Srinagar, northern division for
Kupwara-Bandipora-Baramulla, southern division for
Anantnag and Pulwama districts, Chenab division for Doda
district and Gool in the Udhampur district, and Pir Panjal
Division for the Rajouri and Poonch districts. Hizbul
Mujahideen is reported to have a close association with
the Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence and the United
Jehad Council, and other terrorist organizations operating
out of Pakistan and other overseas supporters. Hizbul's
chief, Syed Salahuddin, is also the head of the United
Jehad Council |
| |
|
Major Acts of Terrorism |
| |
|
The Hizbul
Mujahideen has conducted a number of operations against
Indian military targets in Jammu and Kashmir. The group
also occasionally strikes at civilian targets in Jammu and
Kashmir but has not engaged in terrorist acts elsewhere.
It appears that this organization has a very narrow agenda
that only uses it's resources for the total control of
Kashmir. Foreign mujahideen fighters have also enlisted
in this cause as they have in Islamic confrontations
elsewhere around the globe. |
|
|
 |
| Kashmir refers to a larger area that
includes the Indian administered regions of Kashmir
valley, Jammu and Ladakh, the Pakistani administered
regions Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir, and the Chinese
administered region of Aksai Chin. |
| |
|
Hizbul
Mujahideen Links on the Web: |
|
Pakistan The
roots of Pakistan’s reputation as a haven for jihadists
run deep. It was, after all, in the city of Peshawar that
Al-Qaeda was born after ISI, Pakistan’s military
intelligence, started to recruit Arabs to fight in the
Afghan jihad |
|
Pashtunwali: The way
of the Pashtuns
Who are the Pashtuns and what is their role in the
Afghanistan conflict and relationship with the Taliban and
Osama bin Laden? |
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen
Of
the terrorist outfits currently operating in Jammu and
Kashmir (J&K), the
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen
(HM) is the one of
the largest, with a cadre base drawn from ...
|
Counterterrorism Blog:
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen:
Reaching Beyond Kashmir
Hizb-ul -Mujahideen (HM or the party of freedom fighters),
considered to be the “mother” of Kashmir militancy, is
spreading its tentacles beyond the troubled Northern
Indian State. Its supreme leader, Syed Salahuddin, once
said that HM is only operating in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)
and fights for the liberation of Kashmir.
|
|
|
|
|
Recommended Reading |
|
|
|
| I bought
this book after I read an article in some Indian newspaper
regarding the threat China and Pakistan nexus poses to India. The
article mentioned this book for fictionalizing the very possible
scenario of nuclear conflict due to conflicting ideology and
foreign policy- Islamic Fundamentalist and Communist Regime
against the democratic nation. |
|
|
|
