Lashkar-e-Jhangvi

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Name	Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Foundation	1996
Founders	Riaz Basra, Akram Lahori, Malik Ishaq
Ideology	Deobandi Jihadism, Anti-Shi'ism, Takfir
Area of operations	Pakistan, Afghanistan
Status	Designated as a terrorist group by several states

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. It is a Sunni extremist and militant organization based in Pakistan, founded in 1996 as a violent offshoot of the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan. The group is designated as a terrorist organization by numerous countries and is notorious for its sectarian violence primarily targeting Shia Muslims, as well as attacks on Sufi shrines, religious minorities, and Pakistani state institutions. Its operations have significantly contributed to sectarian conflict in Pakistan and it maintains links with regional jihadist networks, including the Taliban and al-Qaeda.

History and origins

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi was established in 1996 in Jhang, Punjab, by former members of the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, a Deobandi anti-Shia political party. Key founders included Riaz Basra, Akram Lahori, and Malik Ishaq, who sought to pursue a more violent and militant agenda than their parent organization. The group emerged amidst the sectarian conflict in Pakistan that intensified following the Iran–Iraq War and the Soviet–Afghan War, which fueled proxy rivalries between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Early activities involved targeted killings of Shia religious scholars and professionals in Punjab, establishing its reputation for brutal sectarian violence.

Ideology and objectives

The group's core ideology is a radical Deobandi interpretation of Sunni Islam that espouses intense anti-Shi'ism, considering Shia Muslims to be heretics. This belief is coupled with a rigid practice of Takfir, declaring other Muslims as apostates, which justifies violence against them. Its primary objective is the eradication of Shia influence from Pakistan and the establishment of a Sunni theocracy. The group also opposes Sufism, Western culture, and the Pakistani government, which it views as a collaborator with Shia powers and the United States.

Organizational structure and leadership

The organization has operated as a clandestine network with a decentralized, cell-based structure to enhance its resilience against law enforcement. Leadership has historically been vested in a central emir, with early heads including Riaz Basra and, following his death, Malik Ishaq. Key operational commanders have included Qari Abdul Hayee and Asif Chotu. The group has drawn recruits primarily from Deobandi madrasas in Punjab and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, often integrating with other militant groups in regions like Balochistan and Karachi.

Major attacks and activities

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has been responsible for hundreds of deadly attacks across Pakistan. Significant operations include the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team in Lahore, the 2013 Quaid-e-Azam Residency attack targeting Sheikh Abdullah Ali Al-Salmi, and numerous bombings of Shia processions during Muharram. The group was also behind the 2013 Ayun Mosque attack on the Ismaili community in Gilgit-Baltistan and played a role in the 2014 Jinnah International Airport attack in Karachi in conjunction with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.

Relationship with other militant groups

The group has maintained extensive operational and ideological ties with other jihadist organizations in the region. It functions as a close ally and often a facilitator for al-Qaeda within Pakistan, and has fought alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan. In the mid-2000s, many of its members integrated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, particularly in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. It has also collaborated with Baloch-based sectarian groups like Jundallah and has received support from elements within the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province.

Designation as a terrorist organization

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is officially proscribed as a terrorist organization by the Government of Pakistan under its Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. Internationally, it is designated by the United States Department of State, the United Kingdom's Home Office, and the United Nations Security Council. The European Union and countries including Australia, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates have also listed the group, freezing its assets and imposing travel bans on its members due to its role in global terrorism.

Category:Militant organizations in Pakistan Category:Anti-Shi'ism Category:Organizations designated as terrorist by the United States Category:Organizations designated as terrorist by the United Kingdom