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Harakat ul-Ansar Formerly known as the Harakat ul-Ansar, the HUM is an Islamic militant group based in Pakistan that operates primarily in Kashmir. Originally established to fight in Afghanistan against the Soviet occupation, the HUM has become an international network of fighters for Islamic causes all over the world. Its headquarters is at Raiwind in Punjab, where it holds its annual conferences. The HUM is a member of Osama bin Ladin's "Islamic World Front for the struggle against the Jews and the Crusaders" (Al-Jabhah al-Islamiyyah al-`Alamiyyah li-Qital al-Yahud wal-Salibiyyin). The Front was declared in an announcement on February 1998 at a press conference in Pakistan. Fazlur Rehman Khalil, one of the HUM's leaders signed bin Ladin's fatwa in February 1998 calling for attacks on US and Western interests. The organization operates terrorist training camps in eastern Afghanistan and suffered casualties in the US missile strikes on Bin Ladin-associated training camps in Khost in August 1998. Fazlur Rehman Khalil subsequently warned that HUM would take revenge on the United States. In 1997 the US Government placed the HUM on its list of foreign terrorist groups. This prompted Pakistani security agencies, which covertly back Muslim insurgents in Kashmir, to distance themselves from the organizations. But Pakistan has not cracked down on the group's militant activities in Kashmir fearing a backlash from Islamic fundamentalist groups. Indian security forces in Kashmir confront at least a dozen major insurgent groups of varying size and ideological orientation. The more prominent groups include the secular pro-independence Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and the radical Islamic and pro-Pakistani groups Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Hizbollah, Harkat-ul-Mujahedin, and Ikhwanul Muslimeen. According to the leader of the organization, Maulana Saadatullah Khan, the group's main objective is to continue the armed struggle against non-believers and "anti-Islamic forces." The organization seeks Kashmir's accession to Pakistan. The Harakat ul-Mujahedin was initially established in central Punjab in Pakistan in the early 1980s by Islamic religious elements. A few months after its formation, the HUM began sending volunteers to Afghanistan in order to assist the Afghan Mujahidin groups. Volunteers were recruited from Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK). The HUM was estimated to have recruited about 5,000 volunteers and sent them into Afghanistan. The recruitment was funded by money from supporters in Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia (including Osama bin Ladin). As the war in Afghanistan dragged on, the HUM recruited volunteers from the Muslim communities in other countries. About 6,000 volunteers were recruited from Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Jammu & Kashmir of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and the Philippines. The initial batch of HUM volunteers was trained in the use of arms and ammunition and explosives in training camps in the Paktia province of Afghanistan run by Jalaluddin Haqqani, the leader of the Hezb Islami (Khalis) Afghan Mujahidin group. Haqqani has since joined the Taliban. Subsequently, the HUM set up its own training camps in Afghan territory just across Miran Shah in the NWFP. Some of the best fighters of the Afghan war came from the HUM training camps. After the Afghan Mujahideen captured power in Kabul in April 1992, the HUM converted itself into an international network of fighters for defending the rights of the Muslims all over the world. The name of the organisation was changed as Harakat ul-Ansar in 1993 and the Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami, another organisation of Afghan vintage, merged with it. From 1992, the HUM spread its activities to Jammu & Kashmir of India, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Bosnia, Chechnya, Tajikistan, Myanmar and the Philippines. The training camps of the Harakat
ul-Mujahedin bore the brunt of the American cruise missile attacks on 20
August following the bombing of the U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.
Fazlur Rahman Khalil claimed that nine HUM members died in the US attack on
its camps in the Khost area. On August 23,1998 Azizur Rahman Danish, the
head of the Sindh branch of the HUM, warned, “The US air strikes have drawn
a clear dividing line between the Muslim Ummah and non-believers and this is
the beginning of a crusade. The USA will be paid back in the same coin.” The HUM is a Sunni organisation, ideologically close to the Deoband school of thought and to Wahabism. It's ideology is similar to that of the Markaz Dawa Al Irshad and the Taliban. It holds to a very strict interpretation of Islamic law and denounces pluralist, parliamentary democracy and equal rights for women as the corrupting influence of the West on Islamic societies. Initially, the HUM's objective was stated to be the organization of humanitarian relief for the Afghan refugees in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. However, since the end of the Afghan war it has set itself up as a supporter of Islamic Jihad against the secular Muslim governments and against the West.
Based in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, the group's members conduct insurgent and terrorist activities primarily in Kashmir. The HUM trains its militants in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The HUA has several thousand armed supporters located in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, and in the southern Kashmir and the Doda regions of India composed of mostly Pakistanis and Kashmiris, and Afghans.
Membership is open to all who support the HUA’s objectives and are willing to take the group’s 40-day training course. It has a core militant group of about 300, mostly Pakistanis and Kashmiris, but includes Afghans and Arab veterans of the Afghan war.
The HUA has several thousand armed supporters located in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, and in the southern Kashmir and the Doda regions of India. Senior Pakistani intelligence officials estimated that Harkat commands at least 500 well-trained militants. HUA is composed of mostly Pakistanis and Kashmiris, but including Afghans and Arab veterans of the Afghan war. The HUA uses light and heavy machineguns, assault rifles, mortars, explosives, and rockets.
The HUM draws its volunteers from the Tabligi Jamaat (TJ), which ostensibly carries on missionary and charitable work among Muslims, not only in Pakistan, but also in other countries.
The HUM's funding comes from donations from
sympathizers in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf and Islamic states and from
Pakistanis and Kashmiris. The source and amount of HUM's military funding
are unknown. The organization may recieve an unknown amount of monetary
support from Pakistan. It is a member of the United Jihad Council [Muttahida
Jihad Council - MJC] set up in 1994 by Pakistan's Inter Services
Intelligence agency. Among the other member organizations:
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, Al-Jihad, Al-Barq,
Ikhwan-ul-Mussalmin, Tariq-ul-Mujahideen. HUM has carried out a number of operations against Indian troops and civilian targets in Kashmir. It has been linked to the Kashmiri militant group Al-Faran that kidnapped five Western tourists in Kashmir in July 1995; one was killed in August 1995, and the other four reportedly were killed in December of the same year.
In June 1994 the HUM kidnapped two British citizens in India. The HUM captured Lt.Col. Bhupinder Singh in January and demanded that Indian forces turn over an HUM commander in return for Singh’s release. When the Indian authorities refused, the militants killed Singh. In mid-May 1994, HUM militants conducted two attacks in Doda district in which they stopped buses, forced the passengers off , then singled out individuals for execution—the last victim was a 14-year-old Muslim boy. Harakat ul-Mujahedin members have participated in insurgent and terrorist operations in Kashmir, Burma, Tajikistan and Bosnia. The HUA’s Burma branch, located in the Arakans, trains local Muslims in weapons handling and guerilla warfare. In Tajikistan, HUA members have served with and trained Tajik resistance elements. The first group of HUA militants entered Bosnia in 1992. The source and amount of HUM’s military funding are unknown, but are believed to come from sympathetic Arab countries and wealthy Pakistanis and Kashmiris. The HUM has been linked to the Kashmir militant group Al Faran that which kidnapped four Western hostages in July 1995. One of the hostages was killed in August 1995, and the other four reportedly were killed in December of the same year. This information is
based on an article from the Information Division, The Hizballah is an umbrella organization of various radical Shi'ite groups and organizations which adhere to a Khomeinistic ideology. The organization was established following the 1982 Peace for Galilee War in Lebanon (and an increased Iranian presence and influence in Lebanon). The Hizballah organization was established as an organizational body for Shi'ite fundamentalists, led by religious clerics, who see in the adoption of Iranian doctrine a solution to the Lebanese political malaise. This included the use of terror as a means of attaining political objectives. Toward the end of 1982 Iran sent fighters from its 'Iranian Revolutionary Guards' in order to assist in the establishment of a revolutionary Islamic movement in Lebanon whose members would participate in the 'Jihad', Holy War, against Israel. These forces, which were located in the area of Ba'albek in the northern Beqa'a valley, bestowed on the area an Iranian-Islamic character and constituted the core of the Hizballah organization in Lebanon. The organization maintains a training apparatus in Lebanon throughout the villages and their surroundings, as well as outside of Lebanon. Training is aimed at building a reliable manpower source for its military forces as well as for its terror arm. The spiritual father of the movement in Lebanon is Sheikh Muhammed Hussein Fadlallah who acts as chief Mujtahid - arbiter of Islamic law - of the Shi'ite community in Lebanon. With the passage of time, Hizballah has turned into an organization of secondary level groups working on the local level led by regional functionaries. The current Secretary General of Hizballah is Hassan Nasrallah. At the start of the 1980's he was responsible for the Beka'a area on behalf of the AMAL movement. He left the organization in 1982 and affiliated with Hizballah, taking with him many of his followers. Following the death of Abbas Musawi, he was unanimously elected as his successor as commander of operations. The Spread of Hizballah into Southern Lebanon As the organizational infrastructure developed, Hizballah, with Iranian and Syrian assistance, began to establish an extensive military network in the Ba'albek area. Its militias have since spread into the Shi'ite neighborhoods in southern and western Beirut as well as into southern Lebanon. This network is the principle base of Hizballah activities as well as for those of other radical Shi'ite groups. Thousands of Hizballah activists and members are located in the Beqa'a valley, Beirut and southern Lebanon. These areas also offer a base for the recruitment of additional activists and fighters among the local Shi'ite populations. Following the IDF withdrawal from Lebanon in 1985 the Hizballah organization consolidated itself. The consolidation included the establishment of storage depots for weapons, recruitment of activists and fighters, and widespread aid to residents in S. Lebanon, such as the donation of money, equipment, medical supplies, etc. The purpose of the aid was to gain the support of the local population in favor of the organizations activities in the South. The ideological basis of Hizballah is Khomeinism and its principle goal is the establishment of a pan-Islamic republic headed by religious clerics. The organization's world view was first published in its political platform in February 1985, as follows:
The solution to Lebanon's problems is the
establishment of an Islamic republic as only this type of regime can secure
justice and equality for all of Lebanon's citizen's. Part of this radical ideology is the group's militant approach using terror as a means of attaining its goals. Hizballah decries the existence of Israel ('the little Satan'), viewed as foreign to the region and which constitutes a threat to Islam and Muslims. The destruction of Israel and the liberation of Jerusalem is deemed a religious obligation. The Hizballah organization justifies the use of terror against these enemies as a weapon in the hands of the weak and oppressed against the strong aggressor. In an effort to act upon and realize the predetermined ideological lines the group's leaders actively plan and perpetrate terror attacks against IDF and SLA forces, preach religious extremism against Israel and disseminate Iranian ideology. The Hizballah extends the conflict into Israeli territory and does not restrict its struggle to areas in Lebanon.
With the signing of the 'Ta'if Agreement' (1989) and the beginning of the 'Syrian arrangement in Lebanon, the Hizballah has been forced to conform to Syrian dictates. The Syrian interest in the continuation of terrorist attacks in South Lebanon has enabled the Hizballah to maintain its unique status in the Lebanese arena as the only major military force yet to be disarmed. The Syrians have prevented the Lebanese government from harming the military capabilities of the Hizballah, under the pretext of opposing the Israeli occupation, while at the same time enforcing their dictates upon the organization during periods when they are interested in calming the situation in southern Lebanon (as was the case following 'Operation Accountability' in July 1993 or the period coinciding with the Assad-Clinton meeting in January 1994). Using cover names such as 'Islamic Jihad', 'The Revolutionary Justice Organization' and 'The Islamic Resistance', with the blessings of its religious leaders, Hizballah has carried out a series of high profile attacks against Israeli targets in southern Lebanon and American and Multinational Forces targets in Lebanon. Only later did their attacks become more intensive as well as demonstrating better planning, especially immediately prior to the opening of the peace process. In 1991, the Hizballah was responsible for 52 attacks, as compared to 19 attacks the organization carried out in 1990. In 1992, the Hizballah launched 63 attacks and in 1993, 158 attacks, when during the course of 'Operation Accountability' they fired hundreds of Katyusha rockets into the Security Zone and Israeli territory. In 1994 a total of 187 attacks against Israeli troops and positions by Hizballah were recorded. There were 119 instances of artillery fire, 31 detonations of explosive charges and 2 frontal assaults on IDF positions. In 1995 a total of 344 attacks against Israeli troops and positions by were recorded. There were 270 instances of artillery fire, 64 detonations of explosive charges and 2 frontal assaults on IDF positions. The Hizb-ul Mujahideen was founded in 1989 as the militant wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, a socio-cultural and religious organisation of Jammu and Kashmir. It was originally termed Al Badr but was soon renamed as the Hizb-ul Mujahideen. The Jamaat-e-Islami is reported to have set up this terrorist front at the prodding of ISI, as an Islamic counter to the JKLF, which is secular terrorist outfit with an indigenous cadre base. The Hizb-ul Mujahideen stands for the integration of J&K with Pakistan. Early in its history, the Hizb-ul Mujahideen had established contacts with Afghan mujahideen groups such as Hizb-e-Islami under which its cadre received arms training. Its present strength is an estimated 800 terrorists with the districts of Poonch, Rajouri and Doda as its principle areas of operation. The group has suffered several setbacks in its history. The supreme chief of the outfit, Master Ahsan Dhar was arrested by security forces in December 1993 and is in custody. A former chief commander, Ghulam Rasool Shah alias Imran Rahi, had given up terrorism in favour of dialogue to end the crisis. A prominent commander Abdul Hameed Butt alias Bombar Khan who was the prime accused in the Wandhama massacre, was killed on March 13, 2000 in Sheikhpora. A report in February 1998 had indicated that the ISI had removed Syed Salaudin from the premiership of the outfit. The authenticity of the report came under doubt after investigations into the Chattisinghpora massacre indicated that Salauddin had in-fact led the joint group which perpetrated the massacre. There are several unconfirmed reports which indicate that the group's parent organisation, the Jamaat-e-Islami was disgusted with the violent actions of its terrorist arm and had therefore, disassociated itself from the actions of the group. The mainstream leadership of the Jamaat had openly come out against terrorism with its chief Ghulam Mohammed Butt declaring in a November 14, 1998 press conference that the organisation was not connected with terrorism in any way and that it was committed to democratic and constitutional means to achieve its goal. He had added that Jamaat members who were part of the Hizb-ul Mujahideen were expelled from the parent organisation. A dissenting voice to this mainstream opinion was that of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, a senior leader and executive committee member of the All Party Hurriyat Conference, who maintained that the Jamaat could not be isolated from the ongoing armed struggle. An irony in India's fight against insurgency is that the Hizb-ul Mujahideen along with the Harkat-ul-Ansar and Lashkar-eToiba are yet to be officially banned by the Indian government. Since 1997, this group has been operating in tandem with the Lashkar-e-Toiba. Among their joint operations include the Wandhama and the Chittisinghpora massacres. In association with the Harkat-ul-Ansar, the group attacked an Army camp in Nathnusha, Kupwara district on August 6, 1999 killing five army-men including a Captain. The Hizb-ul Mujahideen was also responsible for setting on fire the Muslim shrine of Charar-e-Sharif in 1995. Among other major attacks by the group was an Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) blast targeted at a security forces convoy in Tral which killed 11 policemen on February 18, 2000. In promoting Pakistan's agenda, the group has killed several moderate Kashmiris besides attacking a JKLF camp in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan controlled Kashmir. In turn, the group has also been the target of counter insurgent groups whose members are primarily former terrorists of groups that were decimated by the Hizb-ul Mujahideen during the early nineties, in its endeavour to dominate the insurgency in the State. From the nature of activities indulged in by the Hizb-ul Mujahideen, it appears that the outfit provides the local knowledge and support, required by the preferred mercenary outfits of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) such as the Harkat-ul Ansar and the Lashkar-e-Toiba, whose cadre are largely foreign. Indian intelligence sources suspect that the ISI has taken a strategic decision to promote the newly founded Jaish-e Mohammed at the cost of the Hizb-ul Mujahideen. This strategic shift has probably prompted the cease-fire decision. Such a turn of events mirrors the history of the JKLF.
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