Hizbul Mujahideen

Hizbul Mujahideen
Name	Hizbul Mujahideen
Dates	1989 – present
Founders	Mohammad Ahsan Dar
Area	Jammu and Kashmir
Opponents	Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police
Battles	Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir

Hizbul Mujahideen. It is one of the largest and most prominent militant groups operating in the Kashmir region. Founded at the outset of the Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, the group has been a principal actor in the armed struggle against Indian rule in Kashmir. Its operations and ideology are deeply intertwined with the political landscape of South Asia, receiving alleged support from elements within Pakistan.

History

The formation of the group was announced in September 1989 by Mohammad Ahsan Dar, a former member of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front. Its emergence coincided with the intensification of the Kashmir insurgency following the disputed 1987 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly election. Initially enjoying broad support from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, the group quickly grew to dominate the militant landscape, eclipsing secular-nationalist factions like the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front. A significant early internal conflict arose in 1990, leading to the expulsion of its founding leader and the ascent of Syed Salahuddin, who remains its chief. Throughout the 1990s, it engaged in fierce combat with the Indian Army and rival factions, including the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.

Ideology and objectives

The group's foundational ideology seeks the accession of the entire region of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan, framing its struggle as a jihad for the region's Muslim majority. This objective is articulated through the lens of Islamic fundamentalism, distinguishing it from groups advocating for an independent Kashmir. Its political vision aligns closely with the stance of Pakistan-based political parties like the Jamaat-e-Islami Kashmir, which supports the region's merger with Pakistan. The group rejects the legitimacy of the Indian Constitution and the authority of the Government of India over the territory.

Organizational structure

The organization maintains a hierarchical military structure, with a supreme commander overseeing various operational and logistical wings. Its leadership, primarily based in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, coordinates with district and area commanders active within the Kashmir Valley and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir. The group has historically relied on a network of overground workers for recruitment, intelligence, and financing. Its organizational cohesion has been periodically tested by internal dissent and the targeting of its mid-level commanders by Indian security forces, including the Research and Analysis Wing and Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Military activities and tactics

Its militant campaign has involved a wide range of activities, including guerrilla warfare, ambushes against security forces, and targeted killings. The group has been implicated in numerous high-profile attacks, such as the 1999 assassination of human rights lawyer Narendra Singh and the 2006 bombing in Srinagar. Tactics have evolved from large-scale engagements in the 1990s to more targeted operations and the use of improvised explosive devices. It has frequently clashed with other militant organizations, most notably the Lashkar-e-Taiba, over operational control and ideological differences within the insurgency.

Designation as a terrorist organization

The Government of India banned the group under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2004, and it is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States Department of State. The European Union and the United Kingdom have also designated it as a terrorist entity. These designations cite its involvement in violent acts that threaten the stability of the region. Conversely, the group has not been proscribed by Pakistan, a point of continual diplomatic contention between Islamabad and international capitals, including Washington, D.C..

Leadership and notable members

The group has been led since 1990 by Syed Salahuddin, who also serves as the chairman of the United Jihad Council, an alliance of militant groups. Other significant commanders have included Burhan Wani, whose death in 2016 triggered widespread protests across the Kashmir Valley. Former senior operative Riyaz Naikoo was killed in a 2020 encounter with the Indian Army. The leadership cadre has historically been drawn from both sides of the Line of Control, with many top figures operating from safe havens in cities like Muzaffarabad.

Category:Militant organizations in Kashmir Category:Organisations designated as terrorist by India Category:Organisations designated as terrorist by the United States