Kashmir Underground 9788124106372, 8124106371

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KASHMIR UNDERGROUND

KASHMIR

UNDERGROUND

SATI SAHNI

Oy

HAR-ANAND PUBLICATIONS

PVT LTD

| HAR-ANAND

PUBLICATIONS

364 - A, Chirag Delhi, New

PVT LTD

Delhi - 110017

E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 91-011-5124868

Copyright © Sati Sahni, 1999

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of the publishers.

PRINTED IN INDIA Published by Ashok Gosain and Ashish Gosain for }lar-Anand Publications Pvt Ltd and printed at Print Line, New Delhi

To All The Mothers On Either Side of The Divide Who Lost Their

_ Dear Ones

In Senseless Violence In

Jammu & Kashmir

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[azao KaSHrAIR’]

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{HE Nonhem Areas

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3

Sketch Map of Jammu & Kashmir indicating areas under illegal occupation of Pakistan

KUPWARA

5 a 5

@ BARAMULLA SRINAGAR

.

© BADGAM *POONCH

@ RAJOURI

@ ANANTNAG

oS KISNTWAR DODA

@ UDHAMPUR HIMACHAL PRADESH KATHUA

JAMMU & KASHMIR

PUNJAB

SKETCH NOT TO SCALE

Sketch Map of South-Western part of Jammu & Kashmir

showing some places mentioned in the book

A Poet's Reflection O! Kashmir if you can’t speak “Speak oh! People of Kashmir Speak Advises the Pandit. If you can’t! Shriek. Your speech bore no response, no fruit Replies you got only through guns and loot You are tongue torn your wounds bleed Tyranny you got in reply to your prayer and deed. Your list-less eyes, your pensive brow Tell a tale of your misery and woe. Your injured feelings your silent sighs Your lowered eyebrows your horrified eyes.

Your dishonoured, molested Rishis, Munis land In its selfrule got aatankwaadi brand.

Your burnt shelters, your scattered stores Cost your lords their honour and crores. For you democracy lost its meaning and hue For whatever you say, only a shot is due You bear your heads for receiving nuclear heads Your lovers will peacefully continue enjoy their beds. O! Kashmir thou art a thing of beauty And a

thing of beauty is joy for ever.

Keats cheats himself when he believes and says so Arif tell him to listen to a beloveds woes. Tyranny for you O! beauty, O! dishonoured land You are a charm for the one that has the upperhand. MIRZA ARIF BEG

(The Kashmir Times)

1 Seeds of Secession Militants and terrorists misuse two commodities which are free of charge:

fresh air and real freedom

It is well-neigh impossible to pinpoint a date or even the year of beginning of militancy in Kashmir. But one thing is clear that it was neither 1989 nor 1987 as many believe. It could be 1984 or 1980, 1975 or 1964, 1953 or 1947, but it could be even earlier.

Use of violence and force to change order of things in Jammu & Kashmir certainly took birth the same day as Pakistan. There is no doubt that with carving out the new Dominion of Pakistan there was a sizable part of population of Jammu & Kashmir which desired to become part of Pakistan. Because of Pakistani aggression and the ultra-nationalist National Conference administration under the leadership of Sheikh - Mohammed Abdullah, the elements that were pro-Pakistani either went over to Pakistan or went underground. The Chairman of Jammu &Kashmir Liberation Front (KLF) Amanullah Khan in his autobiography has talked of underground pro-Pakistani groups in north-western part of Kashmir

Valley, even in some educational institutions in 1948-49.

Radical reforms of Kashmir Government and strict measures to safeguard our territory and the population on this side of Cease Fire Line also added to the ranks of anti-Indian elements. Pakistan had been frustrated in its attempts first to force Kashmir to accede to Pakistan and when it failed to attain its objective, it then decided

to continue its efforts in Kashmir to subvert peaceful life and support

and assist anti-Indian elements. After a lot of effort by such elements, on June 19, 1953, the Kashmir Political Conference was set up in Srinagar. On the political front, Sheikh Abdullah had developed differences

of perception on numerous issues with Government of India and also personally

with

Jawahar

Lal Nehru.

Attempts

were

made

to

accommodate the aspirations and demands of Sheikh Abdullah and the result was an accord which became known as the Delhi Agreement. It

Seeds of Secession

19

was announced in July, 1952. A large number of people in Jammu region were opposed to this Agreement because they wanted the full merger of the State with the Indian Union. This resentment showed up in the form of an agitation spearheaded by Praja Parishad which was almost Jammu unit of Jan Sangh which operated in the rest of the country. This put up the back of the anti-Indian elements and created serious apprehensions in mind of National Conference leadership which widened the gulf between them on one hand and leadership in Delhi on the other. The dismissal of Sheikh Abdullah and his arrest in August, 1953, encouraged

the underground elements who had for long been on the look out for an issue which could stir the Kashmiris emotionally and give their movement adherents in hundreds. The underground pro-Pakistani elements were able to exploit this upsurge in pro-Sheikh sentiment and endeavored to identify the two opposing sentiments as having one and same objective - opposing New Delhi and working together to weaken its hold over Kashmir. Then came along developments inside Pakistan which changed its thinking since it had come under strong Western influence. Directions were conveyed to the underground in Kashmir to channelise the resentment against India in directions which would first assist formation of an underground anti-Indian organisation and secondly, to create incidents and foment trouble for the J&K Government to impede its efforts at consolidation on administrative and political fronts. Thus was

born the J&K Plebiscite Front on August 5, 1955. Former Revenue Minister Mirza Afzal Beg was made its President, and Sheikh Abdullah’s

son-in-law and later Chief Minister (1984-86) Ghulam Mohd. Shah was nominated the General Secretary. The Plebiscite Front did not accept Jammu & Kashmir’s accession to India. Instead it demanded holding of plebiscite as per 1948 Resolution of UNCIP to decide the future of the State. During the hearings of Kashmir Conspiracy Case (1957-64) the Prosecution had alleged that members of this Front and others involved in subversive activities having links across the Cease Fire Line from where it received encouragement, support and assistance.

The underground showed its presence in Kashmir with a bang on June 28, 1957. An explosion took place at Srinagar in Lal Chowk in the Palladium Cinema building. The authorities failed to attach the importance this incident deserved. The resignation as J&K Prime Minister of Bakshi Ghulam ° Mohammed on October 4, 1963 and in his place assumption of this high office by Kh. Shams-ud-Din, a well-meaning politician but a weak leader of men, provided another opportunity to anti-Indian elements which they had been waiting for nearly two years. Taking advantage of a weak

20

Kashmir Underground

administration more concerned to protect its flanks from assault by dissidents within the National Conference and political opponents, the underground got an opportunity when the Holy Relic disappeared from the Hazratbal Shrine on December 27, 1963. Emotional upsurge of public was whipped up into anti-Indian feeling. Since Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed had for over a decade symbolised Indian presence, his family members and their properties were made targets of their fury. Soon supporters of Sheikh Abdullah (who was in jail undergoing trial in Kashmir Conspiracy case) and his arch rival Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohd. Faroog and Plebiscite Front workers were out on the streets. For next 7 days till the Relic was placed back in the Shrine, efforts were stepped up to unhinge Kashmir from India. Fortunately, there was no violence. The underground used this opportunity and played its role of creating doubts and disbelief in the minds of the people about the genuineness of the new found Relic. However, the standing and the stature of the well-known moslem divine, Syed Mirak Shah and the senior political leader, Maulana Mohd. Syed Masoodi, frustrated these attempts and finally the Relic was authenticated and certified by a group of Moslem scholars and Imams. Notwithstanding this unhappy happening having been resolved satisfactorily, the anti-Indian elements had unnerved the Administration. Kh. Shams-ud-Din was replaced as Prime Minister, by Kh. Ghulam Mohd. Sadiq. Having been a left-leaning politician all along, he wanted to be liberal towards his opponents. Curbs on political opponents were relaxed. The Government also withdrew the Kashmir Conspiracy case. Sheikh Abdullah and his co-accused colleagues were released from custody on April 5, 1964. Once again anti-Indian feelings received a boost and the underground became more active. From early 1965, Pakistan had given enough indications that she was preparing for a duel with India. With Kashmir in its head, Pakistan used Raan of Kutch in Gujarat to divert Indian attention. In the meantime, its contacts in Kashmir had identified areas, places and installations which could be Pakistani targets. By the beginning of August 1965, Pakistan had recruited, trained and equipped thousands of “Razakars” in Pakistan

occupied Kashmir (PoK). They were soon to be infiltrated into Kashmir Valley to forment

trouble, incite violence and sabotage to “prepare the

ground for an uprising”. This was Pakistan’s “Operation Gibraltar”. Pakistan set up a Mujahid Force of 1.5 lac “volunteers” who were given 2 weeks militancy training with special course on guerilla tactics, alongwith intensive religious and political indoctrination. Training camps were set up in PoK from where they were infiltrated into Kashmir Valley. Once across the Cease Fire Line, the infiltrators were to spread

rumour and disaffection, political confusion and communal hatred. After’

making contact with Pakistani agents in different locations, they were to

Seeds of Secession

21

instigate local population to rise in revolt. They were to indulge in sabotage and help in acts of subversion. They had been told that Pakistani agents in Kashmir had prepared the ground for their operations. They were further told that at the time they entered Srinagar, Pakistan Army would cross the Cease Fire Line “in your support”. They were directed to “capture” the Radio Station at Srinagar and immediately announce formation of a new Government which would “appeal” to Pakistan for “assistance and armed help”. A number of Pak agents in Kashmir developed feet of clay and did not “perform their duty”. Before the Mujahid infiltrators could converge on Srinagar their ingress was noticed on August 5, near Gulmarg. Counter measures were taken and attempts at major sabotage and capture of vital installations, were frustrated. However, they were able to register their presence at a few places. They managed to damage a few bridges and set fire to some residential localities. The Pakistanis blamed Kashmiris for not organising a big uprising, hope of which had been given by the anti-Indian upsurge following the disappearance of Hazratbal Relic. On the other hand, those Kashmiris who had committed themselves, blamed Pakistan for not mounting an attack on Kashmir.

They felt “completely let down”. A prominent leader said the Kashmiris

were cheated. The Pakistani aggression in 1947-48 gave its organisers many useful lessons in waging low-cost war against India by using irregulars and warlike tribals. The General who organised and directed the Pakistani attack, Lt. Gen. Akbar Khan later recorded:

“On our side, we gained the

knowledge that in certain physical conditions a small number of disciplined troops, properly combined with the Azads and the tribesmen could stop a much larger force provided we had some compact positions around which the tribesmen could operate offensively”. In 1965 Pakistan repeated same techniques with some modifications. Trained guerillas were infiltrated across the Cease Fire Line. By any standard it was a misadventure.

Indian response and attitude of vast

majority of Kashmiri moslems were contrary to Pakistani expectations. In Pakistan at Peshawar in August 1965 gathered some anti-Indian Kashmiris who had recently arrived in Pakistan by crossing the Cease Fire Line. They decided to form an organisation to coordinate and direct activities of infiltrators into Kashmir, armed struggle against India and subversion here. The organisation was named Jammu & Kashmir National Liberation Front (JKNLF). In November 1965 it decided to send

two groups secretly across the Cease Fire Line into Kashmir Valley. The

political group was headed by Mohd. Magqbool Butt while the training group was led by Major Amanullah (not Khan). The two groups crossed

22

Kashmir Underground

over to Kashmir in June 1966 and stayed for over two months. During this period they toured different parts of the Valley where they successfully established underground cells. While trying to return to POK, Magbool Butt in an encounter with a Police party killed a SubInspector. Soon after Maqbool was arrested. After trial he was awarded death sentence. He managed to escape from Central Jail, Srinagar in December, 1968.

In the meantime, in Pakistan it was decided by JKNLF to hijack an Indian plane to establish their presence and get “big publicity”. A Kashmiri youngman Hashim Quereshi and his brother were motivated, then indoctrinated and finally trained for the hijacking. They were soon infiltrated into Kashmir Valley. They successfully hijacked an Indian Airlines Fokker Friendship plane “Ganga” with 32 passengers on January 31, 1971 on its Srinagar-Delhi flight. The plane was diverted and made to land at Lahore Airport. The passengers were later sent back to India. The plane was later blown up on the tarmac by hijackers instigated by Pakistani supporters. In Kashmir Valley the pro-Pak elements had established an underground organisation known as “Al Fateh” group. This anti-Indian outfit was busted on January 13, 1971 and many of its members were arrested. Later, some of them were released and absorbed in Government

service. After interrogation of the arrested persons Pakistan Government's complicity and even direct involvement was established. On January 24, 1971 the Indian Government expelled for alleged “involvement

in this subversive

outfit” Zafar

Iqbal Rathore,

Secretary of the Pakistan High Commission at New Delhi.

First

Then came the Pakistani attack on Jammu & Kashmir on December 3, 1971. Besides, formal attack by its Army and Air Force, Pakistan

activated its agents in Kashmir for sabotage and subversion. But Pakistan’s defeat in the war disheartened its protagonists in Kashmir. The fact of loss for ever of East Pakistan and over 90,000 Pakistani POWs being in India came as a blow to pro-Pak elements in Kashmir. The signing of the Simla Agreement in July, 1972 forced them to lie low for many months and to reorient their strategy. In the meantime, the rethinking among the leaders of Plebiscite Front in Kashmir dashed their hopes. The gradual shift in the attitude of Sheikh Abdullah further unnerved them. The dialogue between his emissaries and New Delhi forced them to reconsider their stand and they sought guidance from their Pakistani mentors. When this dialogue with New Delhi resulted in Indira-Sheikh Accord, the underground lost a big chunk of its adherents

and supporters.

There were some elements in the Plebiscite Front who

were opposed to this Accord and they continued to lend support to the

Seeds of Secession

23

Pakistani lobby. An important Kashmir leader Sofi Mohd. Akbar of Sopore, broke away. He soon formed Mahaz-I-Azadi (Front for Freedom) which questioned Kashmir’s accession to India. In 1972, the pro-Pak Jamait-I-Islami changed its strategy and decided to enter the electoral fray. They participated in the elections to J&K Legislative Assembly in February 1972. Its 5 elected members swore to uphold Indian and State Constitutions. Among them was Syed Ali Shah Geelani, currently Chairman of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. When they took the oath of allegiance to Constitution, was it political expediency or hunger for power? Notwithstanding all this, Pakistan decided to sustain the Kashmir underground. The Lok Sabha at New Delhi was informed on April 17, 1974 that 96

Pak spies and operators had been arrested in Jammu & Kashmir in the past two years. In September 1974 the Kashmir Legislative Assembly was told that 104 pro-Pak persons had been apprehended in past 6 months for being involved in subversion and sabotage. The Indira-Sheikh Accord

was finalised on November

13, 1974.

Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah became the Chief Minister on February 25, 1975. This was a major setback to the secessionists. Next blow to the underground came on July 5, 1975 when the J&K Plebiscite Front was dissolved. In Pakistan there was political turmoil, coup against Prime Minister

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, his trial and his execution, coming into power of General Zia-ul-Haq. Because of these happenings little attention was paid by it to the underground in Kashmir. Another reason was that all 3 prominent leaders spearheading this movement from Pakistan were out of action. Amanullah Khan had gone to the United Kingdom. Hashim Quereshi was in jail for hijacking the Indian plane in 1971. Maqbool Butt was in jail in Kashmir. With a couple of colleagues he had crossed over into Kashmir Valley in May 1976. Because of his escape from

Srinagar jail in 1968, Kashmir Police was on the lookout for him.

Here,

he got involved in a bank robbery and while making a get-away he killed the bank manager.

Later he was arrested, then tried and sentenced to

death. Because he had escaped earlier from Srinagir” Central Jail, he was sent to Delhi’s high security Tihar Jail to await execution. Concerned

on account of increased spy activity, subversion and

sabotage, the J&K Government after due consideration promulgated on November 6, 1977 the Public Safety Ordinance, to detain persons

indulging in these and other anti-national activities, without trial and to

put curbs on newspapers when required. Two days later the Chief Minister, Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah justified the PSO by saying that

Pakistan infiltration had increased considerably raising the level of

subversion.

24

Kashmir Underground Soon after the Islamic Revolution in Iran, its influence and impact

on underground activity in Kashmir, was felt. The students wing of the

Jamait-I-Islami, the Jamait-e-Tulba had become active in 1979-80 when

a firebrand youth worker Sheikh Tajamul-I-Islam was made its Chief. In March 1980 he publicly described the Indian Army as “Army of Occupation”. On August 5, 1980 he told a Press Conference at Srinagar that Kashmiris did not consider themselves Indians and would soon

“create conditions for an Islamic revolution like Iran and Kashmir will

have Nizam-e-Mustafa”. Sheikh Abdullah, Chief Minister, on September 1, 1980, accused Jamait-I-islami of formenting civil strife and violence. He also alleged that the Jamait and it’s front organisations were receiving large amounts

of money from oil rich West Asian countries, for subversion and anti-

national activities. In the meantime the underground in Kashmir received encouragement from Pakistan which had already launched itself on process of Islamisation under Gen. Zia-ul-Haq. The United States and Pakistan supported war in Afghanistan against the Soviet Armed forces

was a morale booster for the secessionists elements in Kashmir. The death of Shiekh Abdullah— the Colossus who strode for more than half a century - on September

8, 1982, was considered as removal

of a major roadblock by the secessionists in their plans. With assistance from Pakistan these elements made new plans, devised new strategies and decided upon increased activity in Kashmir. First major manifestation showed up on the Independence day celebrations at the Bakshi Stadium at Srinagar on August 15, 1983. There were three bomb explosions in the public stands but fortunately there was no death. Five days later Police arrested 4 activists belonging to JKLF. They included 2 brothers Iqbal and Altaf of Hashim Quereshi who in 1971 had hijacked the Indian Airlines plane to Lahore. Then came the one-day international cricket match at Srinagar on October 13, 1983. This fixture was played between Indian XI led by Kapil Dev and the West Indies XI. Large size posters of Pakistan cricketer Imran Khan were displayed in the jampacked public stand of the Amar Singh Club Stadium. Anti-Indian slogans were raised frequently from different stands as if by plan. Indian players were hooted and abused. While fielding if any Indian player came close to the boundary line, rotten fruit, pebbles and paper balls were thrown at him. During lunch break some miscreants entered the playfield and attempted to dig the pitch. And since the Match was being telecast live by Doordarshan, these scenes were seen by millions all over the country and in Pakistan.

Seeds of Secession

25

Following the killing of Indian diplomat Ravindra Mhatre at Birmingham in UK allegedly by JKLF activists, their leader Maqbool Butt who was lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail following the death sentence awarded to him, was hanged on February 11, 1984. The secessionists and the underground in Kashmir vowed to avenge his death. Since then

they observe this anniversary every year.

Three months later, in May 1984, in Srinagar a procession by youth

and secessionist elements, was taken out in Srinagar ostensibly to protest

against the communal riots in the Indian town of Bhiwandi which had taken place many days earlier. The processionists raising provocative pro-Pak slogans attacked number of vehicles belonging to the Army and

BSF. Five jawans received injuries. Next month, in June, the secessionists

took out in Srinagar a procession ostensibly to protest against the Blue Star action at Golden Temple at Amritsar. In this procession agitated Sikh youth brandishing naked swords and moslem youngmen took part together. The processionists turned violent and set fire to a couple of buildings and stoned some passing vehicles. Faroog Abdullah was dismissed on July 2, 1984 and G.M. Shah

Ministry installed. On August 1, 1984, there were anti-government protest meetings in different parts of Srinagar. Police resorted to firing to dispense them. Three persons died on account of the firing. In 1983 and 1984 there were a series of explosions and bomb attacks in Srinagar and other towns in Kashmir Valley. In February 1986 communal rioting started in Anantnag resulting in destruction of many Hindu temples in the District. This also resulted in

substantial migration of Kashmiri Pandits from the District.

On March 7, 1986 the G.M.Shah ministry was reduced to minority when Congress Legislature Party withdrew its support. The State came under Governor's Rule. The situation was already bristling with difficulties and the Governor, Mr Jagmohan by ordinance amended the

Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) in August 1986 to give Armed Forces

power to deal with law and order situation. Two days later by another ordinanace he got amended the Constitution (Application to J&K) Order 1954 for creating a security belt to contain terrorism.

After the Jamait-I-Islami decided to contest elections in 1972 and in

Pakistan the drive towards Islamisation had already started, many secessionist bodies came into being and they lent encouragement and support to the underground movement. Among them were Anjuman-I-

Ittehad-I-Musalmen; Jamait-I-Tulba; Islamic Students League, Peoples

League; Peoples Conference, Mahaz-I-Azadi; Islamic Study Circle.

In

March 1986 Dr Qazi Nissar, Mirwaiz of South Kashmir founded Umat-

[-Islami.

26

Kashmir Underground

In March 1987 elections were held for Legislative Assembly. All secessionist elements collected by Jamait-I-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, joined hands to jointly contest elections under the banner of Muslim United Front (MUF). Its election campaign was based on Islamisation of Kashmir and enforcement of Nizam-I-Mustafa (Quranic

dispensation). Only 4 of its candidates got elected and in 3 other constituencies their candidates lost by narrow margins. In all MUF polled over 18% votes. Some of their candidates and large number of their supporters alleged large-scale rigging. Most of them decided to give up electoral struggle and instead take to violence and subversion. A good number of them managed to go across to Pakistan. After indoctrination there and training in use of arms and in subversion, they sneaked back to Kashmir to intensify “peoples’ struggle”. In early eighties a nascent locally organised group was formed. Its

members were openly anti-Indian. It became known as TULA Party. Its important members were : Ashfaq Majid Wani, Mohd. Yasin Malik, Javed Ahmed Mir, Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, Mohd. Iqbal Gandroo and Noor Mohd. Kalwal. Later some more activists joined them. They included Shakeel Ahmed Bakshi, Mehmood Sagar, Nayeem Khan and Syed Urfan Shah. The enlarged organisation was renamed Islamic Students League

(ISL).

Members of the ISL actively worked for the MUF candidates in 1987 Assembly elections. When most of the MUF candidates lost elections the ISL members felt frustrated and got embittered. They turned antiGovernment and then anti-national. Later, they took part in the agitation to protest against increase in electricity tariff. The agitation did not yield desired result of whipping up peoples resentment. The ISL group was egged on by Pakistan’ to take up arms. They were faced by the twin problem of arms training and then procurement of arms and ammunition in substantial quantities. They seemed to have determination but no money. Through intermediaries Pakistan ISI authorities made contact with some of them. After the channels had been fully established a sizable group of youngmen in ones and twos went across the LOC. Most of this first major group later became leaders

of various militant outfits in Kashmir. Among this group were : Ashfaq

Majid Wani, Mohd. Yusuf Shah, Yasin Malik, Mustaq Ahmed Zargar, Hilal Ahmed Beg, Javed Ahmed Mir, Aijaz Ahmed Dar, Maqbool Iahi,

Bilal Ahmed Sidiqi and Mohd. Abdullah Bangroo. After receiving training in handling of arms and in subversion techniques, the Group members returned to Srinagar in August-September 1988. They were reported to have made “substantial and dependable contacts” in Pakistan

with ISI]. They were also reported to have brought with them large amounts of Indian currency, printed subversive literature, arms,

Seeds of Secession

27

ammunition and explosive material and wherewithall for blowing up bridges, buildings and vital installations. Back in the Valley, they started a drive for recruitment of volunteers by motivating them on ideological grounds and communal basis. A new batch of volunteers was soon sent across to Pakistan for training. While they were crossing back into Kashmir, many of the group were apprehended on the LOC. Their sustained interrogation yielded lot of important information and the Police started looking for the members of the first Group. Sensing unrest many went underground and some went out of Kashmir. Within a few months, they regrouped. They then got in touch with “friends in Pakistan”. In June 1989 a small group headed by Mushtaq Zargar and Urfan Shah went across again to Pakistan. There they

strengthened their contacts, finalised new channels of communication,

routes to be used for infiltration and exfiltration. They brought back with them additional supplies of arms and ammunition. It has now been established beyond doubt that “armed struggle” was started in Kashmir from Srinagar in July 1989. In the next few months many

members of this group were arrested and detained in Srinagar’s Central

Jail. Two to escape. finally 12 the Jail on Chalku.

small batches are reported to have made two separate attempts Both attempts were frustrated by Jail authorities. However, hardcore well-trained senior militants managed to escape from March 28, 1990. The jail break was master-minded by Khurshid

Mohd. Adullah Bangroo, who later became one of the founders of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, went across to Pakistan in 1987. There he was

introduced to Afghan Mujahideen leadership. He was put in touch with their leaders Gulbudin Hykmatyar and Dr. Masood. He was reported to be the first Kashmiri youngman to have joined the Afghan Mujahideen ranks and to have taken part in some raids and action in Afghanistan.

In the meantime, more Kashmiri

youngmen had gone across and there they joined the Mujahideen ranks and received training in arms and “baptism of fire”. They were informed of happenings in Kashmir in middle of 1989 and they were sent back by Pakistan authorities. Members of this Group then masterminded the militant activities in Kashmir Valley.

28

Kashmir Underground Militancy Related Incidents in 1988 & 1989

Attacks & Explosions Year

1988 1989

Total Incidents

. Attacks on

Security Forces

390 2154

Explosions &

Others

6 49

Arson

1 73

142 840

Killings Year 1988 1989

Total

Security

31 92

1 13

Forces

Govt.

Politicians

Judiciary

1 3

3

3

Officials

Others 29 70

Destruction of Property Year 1988 1989

Total

Govt.

Incidents

Buildings

128 806

4 191

Educational

Institutions 4 172

Private

Bridges

Houses 19 427

1 16

In early days there was no coordination among different armed groups. One group on its own, made a symbolic beginning by an attack on the residence of DIG, Police, Kashmir Range, Mr Ali Mohd. Watali

on September 18, 1988 in Rajbagh, Srinagar. A Pakistani-trained militant Aijaz Ahmed Dar got killed when the police guards at Watali residence fired at the intruders. Bangroo on return to Kashmir was able to motivate a large number of youngmen. They were sent in batches across the LOC for training in camps established in POK and Pakistan. Openly the bus conductors is Srinagar, Baramullah and Sopore used to invite passengers for Handwor,

Kupwor te Apor — to Handwara, Kupwara and Across.

Authorities

did not take notice of this public call for passage to Pakistan.

The

authorities not only of the State Government but also of the Centre failed

to take notice and act. Was it a deliberate act or failure of the intelligence

agencies?

Seeds of Secession

29

Bangroo was also the first militant in Kashmir to have fired a rocket which according to claims made by the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, destroyed

POL

worth

Rs 44 lacs, when

it struck

Khunmoh - a few miles out of Srinagar.

the Army

Supply

Dump

at

As has been related earlier, attacks and assaults at different locations

and on selected persons had started by militants in Kashmir Valley many years ago but from middle of 1988 these took a serious turn. They fell into a pattern which would create fear and send signal to people and

authorities that “we have arrived” and to mentors in Pakistan of the

“beginning of the War”. Given below are some important incidents which took place in about 18 months before militancy engulfed Kashmir in

winter of 1989-90: 1.

2. 3. 4. 5.

6.

7.

July 31, 1988 - the Chinar Petrol Pump on the Maulana Azad Road, Srinagar was attacked by an armed gang at night. It took away Rs

3000/- at gunpoint and escaped.

July 31, 1988. At night a bomb was thrown on the Srinagar Club building, opposite Doordarshan Kendra. Same night a bomb was hurled on the Sentry Box outside the Central Telegraph Office on Maulana Azad Road, in Srinagar. On August 31, 1998 a big bomb exploded in a SRTC bus in General Bus Stand at Anantnag resulting in one death. On the night of September 18, 1998 an armed group attacked the Rajbagh residence at Srinagar, of Mr Ali Mohd. Watali, DIG Police of Kashmir Range. When the Security Guards opened fire one militant Aijaz Ahmed Dar was killed. OnSeptember 19, 1998 armed intruders at night entered Rani Mandir

in Magharmal Bag locality of Srinagar and opened indiscriminate firing on nearby residential quarters. On September 22, 1988 late at night, two armed militants riding a motorcycle fired on the sentry guard outside the Karan Nagar residence of Nilakanth Ganjoo, retired Session Judge, who had earlier tried and sentenced to death, Mohd. Magbool Butt, one of the

8.

9.

founders of JKLF.

On the evening of September 23, 1988 some shots were fired on the

backside of the Srinagar office of DIG Police, Kashmir and the Police

Headquarters. The police claimed that the shots had been fired from a Kalashinikov rifle. On September 24, 1988 shots were fired from a moving motorcycle around midnight on the Sentry Box outside the Sri Pratap Museum,

Lal Mandi at Srinagar. . 10. On October 25, 1988 an attempt was made to blow up the Budshah Bridge in the busy commercial centre of Civil Lines in Srinagar. The

Bridge was not damaged but a house nearby was badly damaged.

30

Kashmir Underground

Courtesy - Paresh Indian Express of May 7, 1990

Seeds of Secession

31

11. A powerful blast took place on October 26, 1988 on the rearside of Khanyar Police Station in downtown Srinagar. 12. Same night there was a loud explosion near a Tourist Video Coach parked on a road behind the Exhibition Ground in Srinagar. 13. A strong explosion also took place near the Guardroom of the Doordarshan Kendra at Srinagar. 14. October 27, 1988 was the anniversary of the landing of Indian troops at Srinagar in 1947 to defend Kashmir against Pakistan attack. Call for a hartal on this day had been given by JKLF and the Peoples League. That day in Srinagar 5 explosions took place. One was in Lal Chowk - a very crowded shopping centre - where a parked Maruti Van was blown up. Many passersby were seriously injured. Among them were a lady Advocate Miss Dilshada and a Judicial Magistrate, Miss Sudesh Warikoo. Before these manifestations of the activities of the militants surfaced,

the State Police had pieced together a plan hatched by a group of youngmen from different parts of Kashmir Valley, for large-scale subversive activities, violence, killings and also to create lawlessness on large-scale. The Police had also registered a case under Enemy Ordinance Act and Unlawful Activities Act on basis of reports that a group of youngmen had developed contacts with Pakistan Intelligence officers, to organise underground outfits for extensive subversive activities. During investigations it came to light that a criminal conspiracy had been hatched in Pakistan with active participation of senior ISI officers, by important members of the JKLF in September 1986. From JKLF the Chairman, Amanullah Khan, the General Secretary, Dr Farooq Haider,

and Raja Muzaffar Khan took part in the meetings. There it was agreed that first to establish JKLF’s credibility and capacity to undertake the

task, it should get to Pakistan from Kashmir Valley a large group of

motivated and committed youth who would be ready to indulge in subversive activities and to organise killings, kidnappings, arson, violence and to create fear psychosis. The first batch which was sent from Kashmir under this arrangement, included Azam Ingalabi (Srinagar); Mohd. Ahsan

Dar

(Pattan);

Nazim-ud-Din

(Keran)’Ghulam

Nabi

Bhat -

Magbool Bhat’s younger brother (Trehgam - Kupwara) and Muzaffar

Shah (Bandipor). The second batch which soon followed the first one, consisted of Abdul Ahad Waza (Kupwara), Bilal Ahmed Sidiqui

(Srinagar); Ali Mohd.

Handoo (Goonipur — Kupwara); Humayun

(Srinagar); Shahzad (Kupwara); Maqbool Ilahi (Namdroo)

and Sheikh

Kamal (Srinagar). These groups made their trips to and fro across the LOC through Dumari Gali (Pass) in Rawanpora forest of Kupwara District. These members were put through intensive training in Pakistan. There they were made to take oath with their hands on the Koran of

32

Kashmir Underground

loyalty to JKLF and Pakistan. They “vowed to use all means to liberate Kashmir from the Indian yoke” and then to “request Pakistan to annex it’. Then they returned to Kashmir Valley. They spread themselves out to different parts of the Valley from where they motivated hundreds of youngmen to cross over to Pakistan for training in use of arms and in acts of subversion. They indulged in various activities in 1998 as related

earlier.

This was to register their presence and to send signal to all

concerned including those in Pakistan, that the armed struggle had started in Kashmir in right earnest. In 1989 the number of militants in Kashmir, went up with more and more returning from Pakistan after training and being equipped with weapons and ammunition. Their activiites here therefore registered sharp increase. In the first 8 months of 1989 there were : Explosion 142 Police had to resort to firing to disperse 15 times anti-national elements Number of cross-firings 15 Strikes called by militants 48 days The number of killings by militants also went up. They selected their victims, followed them closely and shot them dead. Among the important ones were : August 19 In Srinagar - Mohd. Yusuf Halwai ~ a middle-rung functionary of the ruling National Conference. September 13 In Srinagar — Pt. Tikka Lal Taploo —a leading lawyer November 4

and BJP Vice President of J&K State unit.

In Srinagar — Pt. Nila Kanth Ganjoo, a retired Sessions Judge December 1 In Srinagar — Saifullah, Inspector Police, Station House Officer of Maisuma Police Station December 27 In Anantnag — Pt. Prem Nath Bhat - a lawyer and a well-known writer The militants by their unchecked activities, were able to create a sense of fear among large sections of public. In November 1989 Parliamentary elections were held in all 3 constituencies in Kashmir Valley alongwith the rest of the country. The militants directed people to boycott elections. Those who dared to participate were warned with serious consequences. In Srinagar Constituency no person came forward to contest against the National Conference candidate Mohd. Shaffi Bhat, Advocate, who was declared elected without contest.

In Baramulla and

Anantnag constituencies the National Conference put up its candidates

but no other recognised party fielded any candidate. Only independents (13) in these two constituencies entered the contest. The National Conference winning candidates Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz (Baramulla) and

Seeds of Secession

33

Piyare Lal Handoo (Anantnag) polled around 20% of total votes. In Pattan Assembly segment (of Baramulla Constituency) only 1 vote was polled. In Anantnag town only 47 votes were polled. In the main Square of this town, on the polling day the militants had placed a TV set opposite the Polling Station. A big placard had been fixed above it. In Urdu it said “Cast your vote and take away the TV set”. There were no takers for the Television Set. This is how terrorism and militancy crept into Kashmir and took

roots, over the years with both Srinagar and Delhi as passive witnesses.

People will most likely forget this but history will never forgive them for their pusillanimity. One of the leading militants Azam Inqalabi in 1989 in an Urdu newspaper article published in Srinagar had disclosed: “After Pakistan failed in 1965 war to get Kashmir, it set up a

guerilla body under the name of Moslem Liberation Front. This

was active for some time. The MLF wanted to start armed struggle. I personally got involved in making of crude bombs. India did not understand language of peace. So we went underground in 1974. That movement has now flowered for last one year as culture of Kalashikinov gun”. The biographer of Mr Jinnah, Stanley Wolpert who later wrote a book on Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, has also said that. Bhutto papers and documents were placed at Wolpert’s disposal by Benazir Bhutto. Wolfpert arrived at the conclusion that Foreign Minister Bhutto’s hand behind Pakistani infiltration into Kashmir in 1965, is more than proved. His book also unmistakably produces enough evidence to prove that it was an unending process, which culminated in an open insurgency from

1990.

But it should not be forgotten that “However great the tide — it ebbs.”

Men from the Valley The deeds they did if unjust, Should they be pitied in disgust? For harmed we may had been, Shot, killed, doomed, for oft time I ween

They did it why, none knows A candle lit for them, by their foes? Downed like dogs in broad daylight, No one cried at the soulless sight?

Martyrs for some, for some traitors maybe Pushed across the line, for death, could be?

Hunger, malice, greed called by some; Carnage, valour, struggle, quoted by some. The ideal, morale they served right, But failed miserably to reach the intended height. No carol composed for their name; Sleeps quietly after playing the required game Returns to the vile dust from whence they spring The heros in name, unhonoured and unsung.

SAMEER SAPRU

(The Daily Excelsior - March 31, 1996)

2 Teams & Turf For any kind of planned, sustained and coordinated action or operation,

an organisational set-up is important. The importance of planning strategy, logistics, communication, provisioning, distribution of weapons and ammunition,

direction and command

structure cannot be denied.

This only highlights the imperative of a lean organisation with tight discipline and control. In case of underground movement in Kashmir, the decision to have an organisation, its strength, its goals and objectives, area of operation, weapons to be provided, funding and communication equipment and its coordination has been decided by authorities across the LOC. The decision to have different organisations formed at specific time has been dictated by frequent changes in strategy of the ISI in Pakistan. It helps to float new outfits, decides to merge two or more, change their objectives and appoint commanders at different levels. To start with, there were one or two organisations. With eruption of armed militancy the number of organisations increased fast. At one stage, the co-ordination among them was rather poor and sometimes a few outfits seemed to be working at cross purposes. This also led to fall in discipline and entry into smaller outfits of undesirable elements lacking commitments creating their own problems. At one stage ISI seemed to have felt that some outfits were either becoming more popular than good from its point of view or were “straying away” from the main objective of securing Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan. Foreign militants were inducted into some outfits. In some others foreign and fully trained militants were sent as commanders to take charge. In a few cases the percentage of foreign elements was more than others and these were outfits having headquarters in Pakistan. A stage came when only a handful of the outfits were active, fully backed by elements from across

the LOC.

Because the militancy was inspired by fundamentalist Islamists, the nomenclature by and large was drawn from Islam's early history and

Islamic heroes and warriors. The names had Arabic flavour instead of Kashmiri, in most cases.

36

Kashmir Underground The command structure of the outfits was based on military pattern.

There are ‘Supreme Commanders’ Chief Commanders;’ ‘Divisional Commanders;’ ‘District Commanders;’ ‘Area Commanders;’ ‘Battalion Commanders,’ ‘Launching Commanders and the like. We have, ‘Generals’ and ‘Air Marshals’. Then we have ‘Ameer-e-Alla’; ‘Ameer’ etc.

For co-ordination among the different secessionist organisations and militant outfits many efforts were made to have umbrella set-up both in Kashmir and in Pakisan. Nome of them seem to have lasted except All Parties Hurriyat Conference and the Shoora-e-Jehad. We have identified 154 secessionist organisations, militant outfits

and others. Their fortunes have been traced from their beginnings.

Teams & Turf

37

Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front The Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) is the most important,

most indigenous and most acceptable in Kashmir, out of all secessionist and underground organisations. Its peak period was reached in December 1989 when it successfully got released five of their detained colleagues, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Sher Khan, Javed Ahmed Zargar, Noor

Mohammed Kalwal and Mohammed Altaf Butt in exchange for Dr. Rubaiya Sayeed taken hostage on December 8, 1989 in Srinagar. This abduction brought it worldwide publicity focussing attention on Kashmir. It made heroes of the released young men and it made JKLF the cynosure of all eyes in Kashmir. The JKLF became a household word in Kashmir and the big processions that followed their release showed beyond doubt that JKLF had caught the imagination of the people. Pakistan tried to ride piggyback in Kashmir appropriating to itself credit for JKLF’s “achievements” and its popularity. There is little doubt that the base of JKLF operation was in Pakistan which was providing not only a safe haven and training but also providing it with arms, ammunition and funds. As soon as Pakistan found that JKLF had become

very popular in Kashmir Valley, it decided to “own fully’ the Jamait-eIslami and to set up new organisations totally dependent on it. Thus were born Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and many others. This effort of theirs got a boost when on April 16, 1990 Governor Jagmohan declared it an unlawful association and banned its activities alongwith a few other Kashmir based organisations. Pakistan then launched scores of new outfits tightly controlled and directed by it. Another reason for Pakistan’s new strategy was that JKLF was always talking of Jammu & Kashmir as an independent entity, not tied down to Pakistan whereas its main objective in helping JKLF to grow and to provide it with wherewithal was to “use it to secure Kashmir’s annexation through blood and tears of Kashmiris”. The Pakistani support was being given to it in small doses and infrequently. Its President, Amanullah Khan was no longer a favourite of Pakistan but he had grown conscious of Pakistan Government's changed attitude towards him and the JKLF. Today he is in Pakistan and is one of the many “who are taking part in Kashmir struggle”. It has lost its primacy across the LOC and in Kashmir its role in 1989-90 is almost forgotten. Its cadres has mostly disappeared though

its President, Mohammed Yasin Malik claims that the organisation “will

come live whenever need arises”. The JKLF has spawned four factions now, headed by Yasin Malik and Dr. Masood Alam in Kashmir Valley, Amanullah Khan in Pakistan and Hashim Quereshi in Netherlands.

38

Kashmir Underground

Till 1988 the JKLF had no organisaional set-up in Kashmir Valley. It

seemed to “have arrived” in Kashmir when on July 31, 1988 there were

two different explosions — one outside the Central Telegraph Office and the other on the outer wall of the Srinagar Club building. The JKLF has said that though they had made preparations for nearly 1% years, the “action” was premature. It was claimed later that Abdul Hamid Sheikh hurled these bombs. It was proposed to launch the struggle later with strikes at different locations, simultaneously.

In Kashmir in 1986, the

Islamic Students League was formed by Shakeel Ahmed Bakshi, Ashfaq

Majid Wani, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Javed Ahmed Mir and Mohammed

Yasin Malik. Many others joined them soon. In 1987 at the time of Legislative Assembly elections the ISL members

helped the candidates of Muslim United Front(MUF).

Most of the MUF

candidates lost the elections and the ISL members were feeling frustrated when JKLF offered them a new opening of “pursuing the game”. Quite

a few joined it and formed the nucleus of JKLF in Kashmir Valley.

In

1988 by turn these activists went to Pakistan for indoctrination and training, meetings with Amanullah Khan, Dr. Farooq Haider and others as also the Pak authorities. While there they were able to get the attention of Pakistan President, General Zia-ul-Haq. The JKLF got his patronage and support in starting an armed struggle for “liberation of Kashmir”. Following this development the Pakistan Government was “liberal with assistance”. However, General Zia’s sudden death in August 1988 affected the fortunes of JKLF also. The new Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her advisors decided that JKLF alone would not serve

this purpose in Kashmir because it claimed to be secular and stood for

an independent Kashmir.

Pakistan’s ISI reduced its support to JKLF

and at the same time floated a number of new outfits - more Islamist,

more strident and more dependent. I would rather have Amanullah Khan speak about this. In a lengthy interview to Urdu Daily Jang of Lahore published

in July 1991, Khan

said he was disillusioned with

Pakistan Government which first supported his organisation when it began terrorist activity in Kashmir in 1988 but “then raised other terrorist groups to counter physically and ideologically”. According to him these organisations have created much confusion. “These groups are fundamentalist who present Kashmir as a boundary dispute between India and Pakistan and want Kashmir for Pakistan. Our JKLF is, on the

other hand, secular and wants an independent Kashmir” he added. . Its members who had earlier gone to Pakistan for training and

directions, returned to Kashmir in 1989 and the violence related activity

increased considerably. For this purpose in May 1989 the JKLF set up 10 Hit Squads to carry out assigned tasks. These squads were :

Teams & Turf

39

1. Al Jehad

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

under Javed Mir

Hamza Squad Al Fatah Squad Al Maqbool Squad Victory Commandoes Shaheed Zia Tigers

7. Sadai Janbaaz Commando Force

8. Musalmeen Commandos

9. ‘Azad Janbaaz Commandos

under under under under under

Abdul Gaffar Javed Ahmed Mushtaq Ahmed Ghulam Hassan Lone Mohammed Ashraf

—_ under Abdul Hamid

under Safed Rasul Aqdam

under Ghulam Hassan Lone

10. Pak Commando Force under Rauf Islam The Home Minister informed the J&K Legislative Assembly that in

first 7 months of 1989, 72 blasts took place in which 5 persons were killed

and 52 injured. He further informed the House that during this period 157 persons were arrested out of which 80 had been trained in Pakistan and POK. Some of the more known activists were arrested in connection with some major incidents. At the time of Parliamentary elections in November 1989, the JKLF

was able to create in Kashmir an atmosphere of fear which resulted in very low polling — between 5 or 6 percentage. As the new Government

was installed in Delhi in early December 1989, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, a Kashmiri leader of Janta Dal, was made the Home Minister. His

daughter Dr. Rubaiya Sayeed working as a Doctor in Lalded members led by Mohammed her hostage and then demand the Government, in exchange good clockwork.

lived in Srinagar with her mother while Government Hospital. Some of the JKLF Yasin Malik planned to abduct her, hold release of five of its activists detained by for her safe return. The plan went off like

Due to mediation of some government doctors, a local

pressperson, a judge of a High Court and pressure from two Union Ministers, the State Government had no other choice except to agree to release off five detenues in exchange for her release. The activists who got released were:

Abdul

Hamid

Sheikh, Sher Khan, Javed

Ahmed

Zargar, Noor Mohammed Kalwal and Mohammed Altaf Butt. Processions were taken out in Srinagar in which the released persons were driven through crowded streets lined with joyous cheering crowds. The media attention in Kashmir and rest of the country established JKLF as a force to be reckoned with in Kashmir. They formed the vanguard of the secessionist movement which had already surfaced in Kashmir. For the next three months or so JKLF cadres commanded respect and affection, awe and fear. In their name many persons were killed. Big processions were organised. Number of confrontations with the Government took place. Use of force, firing and spilling of blood seemed to add to the vigour and strength of the movement. Hatred of Governor

Jagmohan was another bond between the public and militants led by

40

Kashmir Underground

JKLF. And Pakistan Prime Minister lent her support and prestige to this

campaign.

Since autumn of 1989 the JKLF had stepped up its violent activities to averawe the Administration and to tell the public that JKLF was the master of the situation in Kashmir. They were involved in and allegedly responsible for : 1. Abomb hurled on a jeep in Budshah Chowk Srinagar on October 2.

3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 0. 11. 12. 13.

14.

15. 16.

18, 1989

Killing of Abdul Rashid Malik, Srinagar on December 16, 1989

Killing of Ajay Kumar Kapoor, Srinagar on December 1, 1989 Killing of Syedullah, SHO, Maisuna, Srinagar on December 1,

1989

Killing of Prem Nath Bhat, Advocate, Anantnag on December

27, 1989

Bombing of Passport Office, Srinagar and Rural Development Office on January 1, 1990 Killing of 4 IAF personnel in Srinagar on January 25, 1990 Killing of 1 BSF jawan in Srinagar on February 2, 1990 Killing of V.K. Razdan, IB Official, Srinagar on February 12. 1990 Killing of Lasa Koul, Director, Doordarshan, Srinagar on February 13, 1990 Shooting dead Ashok Kumar, Srinagar on February 23, 1990 Throwing of a bomb on GPO, Srinagar on February 28, 1990

Killing of P.N. Handoo, AD, Information, Srinagar on March 1,

1990

Killing of 1 CRPF jawan in Srinagar on March 3, 1990

Killing of M. Sharief Dar, Srinagar on March 5, 1990 Killing of Avtar Kishen Raina, Srinagar on March 20, 1990

17. Killing of Praneet Sawhney, Srinagar on March 27, 1990 Indications had become available of Pakistan’s declining interest in and support to JKLF, it was therefore decided to reorganise the set-up in Kashmir to meet new situation created by propping up of rival outfits by Pakistan ISI. It was announced on April 5, 1990 that: Mohd. Yasin Malik - be the new Chief Commander Abdul Hamid Sheikh - be the Deputy Chief Commander Javed Ahmed Mir - be Chief Publicity Officer Mohd. Iqbal Gandroo - be Military Advisor to guide guerilla war in Kashmir “Air Marshall” Noor Khan - be the Chief Organiser Showkat Bakshi - be Chief Area Commander, Srinagar (in place of Ashfaq Majid Wani who was killed on March 30, 1990 while throwing a grenade on BSF party)

Teams & Turf

41

Mohammed Rafiq

)

Mohammed Irfan

)

Bashir Ahmed Wajahat Quereshi

) )

Noor Mohd. Kalwal Mohd. Gauhar

Mohd. Saleem

) 7 Area Commanders were appointed for ) different sectors of Srinagar City )

Spectacular action seemed to be high on their agenda. Four of its members on April 6, 1990 kidnapped Kashmir University ViceChancellor, Prof. Mushir-ul-Haq and his Secretary, Abdul Ghani. While

in custody they were moved from place to place disregarding all pleas

for their release. On April 10, 1990 they were shot dead and their bodies were thrown on a roadside in Srinagar city. Party Chairman Amanullah Khan was in New York. On April 9 he announced there that the two hostages had been shot dead, when they were still alive. It is conjectured that this was a signal to his cadres in Kashmir to kill the hostages though

Amanullah denied it later.

However, JKLF was criticised all over for

killing a highly respected Arabic scholar Prof. Haq.

From its headquarters at Rawalpindi the JKLF issued a formal

explanation and detailed sequence of events leading to their death. The Press Release is timed 10.00 am on April 26, 1990.

It disclosed that the

plan to abduct Prof. Mushir-ul-Haq, Abdul Ghani and H.L. Khera was

drawn up at a meeting held in POK capital Muzaffarabad, called by

Brig. Imtiaz and ISI. JKLF was represented by Dr. Farooq Haider. The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen view aired by others prevailed and it was decided to execute the plan. The JKLF had agreed to go along in the case of Khera but was against the abduction of Prof. Haq and Abdul Ghani. Brig. Imtiaz threatened that if JKLF did not support the operation the “ISI and Cell no. 202 would stop all assistance to it”.

The JKLF then

agreed to support the operation on the condition that “no harm would be caused to them” (abductees). The Press Note further disclosed that “JKLF was completely taken by surprise by the news of the hostages, which was completely in violation of the agreement reached during the discussion at the office of the Liberation Cell in Muzaffarabad. On making inquiries we were shocked to learn that Imtiaz had on his own,

used the name of Mr. Amanullah Khan and conveyed instructions to freedom fighters through Prof. Ashraf Saraf and Shafi for the execution

of the hostages.

At the same time, he informed Mr. Amanullah

Khan

through a Pakistani diplomat in New York that the freedom fighters on their own, without consulting him and

executed the hostages”.

Prof. Ashraf Saraf and Shafi,

“We strongly condemn this duplicity and perfidious role of Imtiaz.

We are surprised that Prof. Ashraf Saraf and Shafi should have allowed

42

Kashmir Underground

themselves to be used in this manner by Imtiaz and the ISI for killing two innocent Moslems” the Press Note continued. “It has also been brought to our notice that before he crossed over to Azad Kashmir, Prof. Ashraf Saraf had some personal differences with the Vice Chancellor of the Kashmir University and that was why he suggested his name for the . operation. By manipulating the freedom fighters in the Valley for having another brother Moslem, against whom he had personal enmity, killed, he has sullied the reputation of the freedom struggle and betrayed the freedom fighters”. “We call upon the freedom fighters to be aware of the mischievous role being played by the leaders of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen on the instructions of the IS] and Cell no. 202. Our aim is an independent greater Kashmir consisting of the territories presently under the occupation of India, Pakistan and China.

Thousands of freedom fighters, who have

already given their lives in their determined fight against the brutal Indian

forces, have shed

their blood

for the achievement

of this objective.

Anyone who tries to betray this struggle by allowing himself to be used by the Pakistani intelligence authorities for promoting their own narrow purpose of bringing all Kashmiri territory under their control would be looked upon as a traitor by the Kashmiri people and would have to pay for his act of treason”. This by itself was indictment enough. However, based on the confession of an activist Showkat Bakshi in Srinagar alleging involvement of Amanullah Khan in abductions and killings in Kashmir, the Indian

Government moved the US Government for arrest and then extradition of Amanullah Khan.

It took some days but Khan’s visa was cancelled

and Amanullah hurriedly left for the Netherlands, returned to Pakistan on May 28, 1990.

from where

he

Before he left the US, Khan had organised a press meeting in the UN | Headquarters on April 10, 1990. There he announced that the armed struggle launched by JKLF in Kashmir had the objective of “independent Kashmir reuniting areas currently held by India, Pakistan and China”. He repudiated the Simla Agreement saying that since the people of Kashmir were not a party to it they were not bound by it. On April 20, 1990 he also addressed a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington. There he claimed that most of those among Congressmen and other public figures he had met in US were sympathetic to “the cause of Kashmiris as projected by JKLF”. Two days later he claimed that JKLF struggle for independent Kashmir had received support of the Governments of Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia. On May 21, 1990 in Srinagar, Kashmir’s Minwaiz,

Moulvi

Mohd.

Farooq was assassinated in his Nageen house by “unidentified armed gunmen” and later there was firing on a procession of his followers killing

Teams & Turf many.

43

On behalf of JKLF, from Pakistan a week later, Amanullah Khan

blamed the Indian Army of “plotting his murder with the help of Hindu fundamentalist organisation Shiv Sena”. The same day — May 28", he stunned Pakistan by declaring that JKLF considers “Pakistan has no locus standi in Kashmir”. According to him “Kashmir can never be a part of Pakistan for JKLF is committed to achieve independence for all territories of Jammu & Kashmir”. When Amanullah Khan on June 18, 1990 in POK capital

Muzaffarabad, announced establishment of “Provisional Government

of independent State of Jammu & Kashmir” he not only stunned Pakistan

but created confusion in JKLF as well. A meeting of its Executive and

Central Committees was held in Islamabad on July 2, 1990 termed Khan’s

action as “unilateral, inopportune and unauthorised creating confusion in JKLF leadership”. The meeting presided over by Party’s Vice Chairman, Dr. Farooq Haider suspended Amanullah for “indefinite period” and annulled the announcement of foundation of the provisional government of “Independent State of Jammu & Kashmir”. India called it ridiculous. A few months later Amanullah justified the establishment of the provisional government by saying that he forestalled establishment of a government-in-exile by some Kashmiri fugitives in Saudi Arabia. The State Administration of Governor Jagmohan on April 16, 1990 declared JKLF an unlawful body and banned all its activities. The leading lights went underground. Hunt for them was stepped up by the Administration. On August 3, 1990 one of the Area Commanders, Mohammed Irfan was killed by the Security Forces. Three

days later, on August 6, its important functionaries were in a meeting in

a “safe house” in Barzala locality of Srinagar. The Security Forces were

able to arrest from there Mohammed Yasin Malik - its Chief Commander, Abdul Hamid Sheikh - Deputy Chief Commander, and Kaka Hussain,

Chief of Operations, of Jammu region.

From Karachi, JKLF Chairman Amanullah Khan on October 28, 1990

issued a Statement which was called “An Urgent Appeal to World

Conscience”, and copies of it were sent to United Nationa; NAM; Arab League; Organisaton of Islamic Conference; Organisation of African Unity’ Amnesty International; International Commission on Human

Rights; International Red Cross Society; World Moslem Congress; Rabita-

al-Alam-al-Islami; SAARC; Heads of diplomatic missions in Islamabad

(Pakistan) and Opposition Leaders in India. Through the Appeal, the JKLF called upon “all those Governments and International Organisations which believe in the right of selfdetermination of nations to prevail upon Indian Government to immediately stop this inhuman physical and mental torture to Kashmiri patriots and to concede to Kashmiris their inherent, inalienable, pledged

44

Kashmir Underground

and internationally recognised right of self-determination. I may also remind the governments of the world that they are morally bound, as signatories to UNCA resolutions no. 1514 and 2621, to support people struggling against forced foreign occupation”. The statement demanded that “arrested freedom fighters should be treated as Prisoners of War and should not be subjected to any kind of physical or mental torture”.

The JKLF had been feeling low with the upper crust of its leadership

either killed or arrested.

tightened

the screw.

On the other hand, Pakistan authorities had

So when

Islami Jhamoori Ithehaad

(Islamic

Democratic Unity) Government headed by Mian Nawaz Shareef took office in Pakistan in November 1990 the JKLF sought greater help and assistance from the new Government. Its Acting Chief Commander Javed Ahmed Mir sent a telegram to Mian Nawaz Shareef hoping that the new Pakistani Government will improve upon the efforts put in by previous Pakistani regimes and come out with solid results regarding the Kashmir issue. The telegram further implored Pakistan “in this period of out continuing crises we hope that we will not be let down by our brothers”. It further said that “people of Kashmir are waiting for the hand of cooperation from the people of Pakistan and the freedom loving world in general”. The Government of India offered dialogue with anyone in Kashmir within the framework of the Indian Constitution.

The JKLF reacted

sharply and rejected the offer outright. Its Publicity Incharge Dr. Ghulam

’ Qadir Wani,a post-graduate scholar from Jawaharlal Nehru University, on December 24, 1990 turned down the offer and reaffirmed JKLF

commitment to continue to struggle for an “independent and sovereign state of Jammu & Kashmir”. He said now “1990 has given rebirth to Kashmir issue which was lying in cold storage for decades. The people

of Kashmir have become conscious of their rights, which were deprived

to them for so long and now they are ready to make any sacrifice for this cause” he stated. For the first half of 1991 the JKLF abstained from all kinds of terrorist

activity as claimed by Amanullah Khan.

Regarding the abduction of

Nahida Soz in February 1991, he said that was the handiwork of its youth

wing, Students Liberation Front. He disapproved activities of the students wing by declaring it so on July 28, 1991. He felt that students wing Chief, Hilal Ahmed Beigh, was working under instructions of “somebody in Pakistan where he had spent 3 months recently”. In fact Beigh had announced

conversion of SLF

to Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen,

a

few weeks earlier. Amanullah Khan alleged that 8 of JKLF senior activists had been killed by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen on the “behest of their Pakistani

mentors”.

He called Hizb-ul-Mujahideen a protege of Pakistan.

Teams & Turf

45

In the meantime its Deputy Chief, Noor Mohammed Kalwal was arrested in Srinagar on October 8, 1991. Two months later his place was taken up by Zain-ul-Abdin on December

13, 1991.

The same day, the

outfit Mahaaz-I-Azaadi was made the political wing of JKLF. It was felt necessary to make a few changes in the organisation to face the changing situation. Yasin Malik, who was in jail and in poor health, was made the President and Abdul Hamid Sheikh was named

the Vice President (because of Malik being in jail, he virtually was Acting

President) on April 14, 1992. In September 1992, a senior activist Mohd. Magbool Malik was killed by Security Forces under their “Operation Tiger”. The State Police presented two challans in a Jammu Court on October 7, 1992 against Amanullah Khan and others for inciting and giving training to Kashmiri youngmen for indulging in killing and subversive activities in Kashmir. Others arraigned with Khan were Mohd. Yasin Malik, Farooq Ahmed Dar alias Bitta Karate, and Wajahat Bashir

Quereshi. In November 1992, Javed Ahmed Mir claimed that JKLF has over

15,000 armed activists in Kashmir Valley. He said they had only one objective : National independence. Our “fight for freedom cannot be on religious grounds. No Pakistan-no India. We want freedom” he stated very clearly. JKLF Vice President Abdul Hamid Sheikh had been very active and was trying to make party units active and purposeful. Frequently he used to move from place to place. The Security Forces were on his trail for many months. On November 19, 1992 they caught up with him. In downtown Srinagar he was having a meeting with some of his confidantes. The Security Forces received correct report about it and quickly surrounded the house. Sheikh managed to leave the house, got into a boat waiting to cross over to the other bank of Jehlum. He had some aides with him. As they were rowing across the river the Security Forces opened fire. He was hurt badly and so were 8 others. He fell into the river in injured condition. His dead body was recovered 3 days later on November

21, 1992.

Because of his popularity,

there were

demonstrations and curfew was imposed by the Administration, in many areas.

To fill the void the Chief Commander, Javed Mir, was made the

Party President and Rafiq Dar was named as the new Chief Commander on December 15, 1992.

The JKLF stands for a united Jammu & Kashmir, independent both

of Pakistan and India. In this context it does not recognise the Line of Control separating the two parts of Jammu & Kashmir. It was also

fortified in this view by a judgement of the High Court of POK in 1969 that “it is no crime to go from one part of Kashmir to the other”. Two

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Kashmir Underground

Kashmiri youngmen Magbool Butt and Altaf Khan (later known as Azam Inqualabi) had crossed the LOC from Kashmir Valley and were arrested in POK and later detained in Muzaffarabad. After some time a writ petition was filed in the local High Court which later ordered that they be set free because movement between two parts of a state was not a

crime.

The Front’s two factions in Pakistan headed by Amanullah Khan and Dr. Farooq Haider, decided to unitedly cross the LOC on February 11, 1992 — the death anniversary of the Party founder Maqbool Butt. The

objective was

to create a situation where blood is spilt due

to firing,

Kashmir issue gets internationalised and embarrassment is created both for Pakistan and India. Indian authorities were determined not to allow any crossing from the other side. Orders were given to Indian Army to foil any such attempt along the 780 kms long LOC. The POK Administration under Sardar Abdul Qayoom, was opposed to the crossing. The Pakistan Government was put ina fix. They did not want to take the responsibility of allowing violation of LOC because of its commitment to Simla Agreement and yet, it did not suit it to be seen as opposing an act which appeared to be a link in the chain of the struggle for freedom of Kashmiris.

The JKLF wanted to wrest leadership from

the Islamic militants. The sober Pakistani newspapers like “The Nation” asked the Federal Government not to allow the crossing of the LOC by the JKLF because “it will be counter productive”. On February 11, 1992 Amanullah Khan with a large contingent of supporters marched along the last stretch of Muzaffarabad-Uri Road,

towards the LOC. Short of the Pak border post of Chinari the authorities asked them to disperse and withdraw. On their refusal Amanullah Khan

and 790 other marchers were arrested and later released many miles

away. In the firing by Pakistani forces to persons were reported killed and 149 injured, The previous evening the US Administration India to avoid confrontation and “reduce the borders in Kashmir”. Amanullah Khan was bitter about the Minister, Sardar Abdul Qayoom

Khan.

disperse the marchers, 12 according to Pakistan press. had called on Pakistan and level of tension along their volte face of POK Prime

On February 14, 1992 he told

BBC that Qayoom had encouraged him to stage the march hoping that it “will be a flop”. Qayoom had promised JKLF that no hindrance will be

put to make the march a success.

The JKLF called for a total strike in POK on February 16, 1992 to

protest against the killing of marchers on February 11, 1992.

The local

administration had to resort to firing in the air and use tear gas to disperse

protestors in many POK towns. JKLF spokesman Raja Muzaffar declared

in POK that another attempt will be made to cross the LOC on March 30,

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47

1992, the death anniversary of Ashfaq Majid Wani, a co-founder of the organisation. As a run up to it a large number of party workers were arrested in POK. Amanullah Khan also was arrested. Also arrested were five workers who had recently crossed over form Kashmir Valley. The Pakistan authorities pressurised Khan to call off the march but he refused to oblige them. In Srinagar, the JKLF Acting Chief, Javed Ahmed Mir, on March 27, 1992 severely criticised authorities in Pakistan and

POK for use of force against the pro-independence political activists. He announced in Hazratbal Shrine that JKLF may be “forced to launch an agitation in both parts of Kashmir to achieve our objective”. He called

for immediate release of Amanullah Khan.

In Islamabad, Pakistan, Raja

Muzaffar who became Acting Chief after Amanullah’s arrest, announced that the “march will take place under all circumstances”. Sardar Abdul Qayoom Khan however said the “march will create misunderstanding among Kashmiris and also create more problems for Pakistan”. The slogan of “independent Kashmir is against the interests of Kashmiris” he stated. On March 30, 1992 Pakistan deployed a large number of its security forces at all possible points of crossing the LOC. This, coupled with largescale arrests of about 500 workers in POK frustrated the proposed march. In Srinagar JKLF plans to send marchers from this side to cross the LOC, was abandoned with Javed Mir announcing on the morning of the march, “We have decided to defer the peace march”. Another attempt was made on October 24, 1992 when marchers tried

to cross the LOC at three different points but the Pak authorities opened fire to prevent them from doing so. Two marchers were killed and a score were injured. Amanulah and many of his supporters were arrested but let off later. JKLF President Amanullah Khan on January 26, 1993 demanded that

Kashmir be placed under UN for ten years and then a plebiscite be held. At that time three options may be given to people of Jammu & Kashmir. These would be: to stay with India, become part of Pakistan or be allowed independence from both. Two weeks later he declared that Simla Agreement was not binding on Kashmir. He said “no self-respecting Kashmiri can accept the nonsense called the Simla Agreement. It is an insult to the Kashmiris. It does not even mention the right of selfdetermination for the Kashmiris”. About this time the rivalry between the JKLF and Hizb-ulMujahideen had taken a sharper edge. The differences in ideology and

strategy to continue struggle against the Indian authority had “weakened

the movement” according to ISI. Pakistan was worried and made efforts to bring them closer and iron out differences. The ISI arranged meetings between representatives of the two organisations in April.1993. The two groups agreed “to respect and honour each other's ideology and

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Kashmir Underground

refrain from criticising each other”. They were of the view that “right of self-determination could not be made conditional or restricted”. It was further agreed that “if people voted for accession to Pakistan the JKLF will accept the verdict and if their vote was for independence, the Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen will bow before it”. This agreement was signed by senior leaders of the two groups. The Hizb was represented by Prof. Ashraf Saraf, Shams-ulHaq and Abdul Majid Dar while the JKLF representatives were Raja Muzaffar Khan, Dr. Farooq Haider and Dr. Haider Hijazi. It was agreed that this Agreement needed to be ratified by leaders of the two groups in Kashmir and then sincerely implement its provisions. Although muted criticism of Pakistan had been heard off and on but open and blunt words were used by JKLF only in August 1993. Sardar Kader Khan, Central Chief Organiser on August 6, at Gujranwala (Punjab) expressed his resentment. “We made Pakistan our advocate to plead our cause in the international arena but instead, Pakistan exploited our helplessness by constructing bans around us”. Giving his Party’s views, he said “JKLF is of the view that Pakistan has failed to liberate Kashmir and now Kashmiris have taken up the task of liberating our homeland”. In Kashmir, the tussle between JKLF and HUM

created ideological

divide between protagonists of Kashmiriyat and Pakistaniyat. For JKLF “Azaadi” seemed to have been pushed back by Pakistan. This created more apprehensions in the minds of the JKLF cadres. The Security Forces in the Valley had sustained their pressure on

militants.

JKLF Area Commander, Jan Mohammed

and Regimental

Commander Farooq Ahmed Butt and three others were killed in Budgam District on September 17, 1993.

JKLF showed its human face when it donated money and blood for the sufferers of the earthquake in Latur in Maharashtra in October 1993.

It’s President from jail, Mohammed Yasin Malik, decided to donate Rs 1

lac. 100 units of blood would be given by JKLF Blood Bank named after its slain leader Abdul Hamid Sheikh. The Bank draft for full amount

was sent to the Red Cross Committee Jammu.

Malik in a statement said

that the donation was a token contribution to the relief effort for the quake victims on behalf of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Hashim Quereshi, a co-founder of JKLF, now living in the Netherlands, had been critical of JKLF and Amanullah Khan for quite

some time. On October 18, 1993 he was disowned by JKLF by describing him as an Indian agent and a protégé of Dr. Faroog Abdullah. He came to Muzaffarabad in September 1993. The tension around the Hazratbal Shrine had been building for some months.

There were reports that some armed militants had entered the

Shrine and intended to stay put. On October 15, 1993 the Security Forces

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49

cordoned off the Shrine and no one was allowed to go in thereafter. Three important members of JKLF, Mohammed

Idrees, -its Military Advisor

and Intelligence Chief, Basharat Raza - Divisional Commander and Shabir Siddiqui — its Publicity Incharge, were held up inside. Idrees became one of the two principal negotiators on behalf of the holed up militants. After 32 days they surrendered and came out of the Shrine complex. The Hizb criticised JKLF for this “abject surrender”. Party’s District Military Advisor for Budgam, Yawar Khan, was killed

in an encounter on December 7, 1993. An Area Commander, Mohammed

Yusuf Khan alias “Chatterjee” was killed in an encounter in Kathi

Darwaza area of Srinagar on February 4, 1994. A commander who had gone to Gujarat on an errand, Mushtaq Ahmed Shah was arrested by

Gujarat Police from a hideout in Surat District on February 13, 1994. In Srinagar its Publicity Chief Shabir Siddiqui was arrested on March 12, 1994. He was released on May 25, 1995. In May 1994 its Area Commander, Mukhtar Ahmed, was killed by Hizb activists in a group clash when he had gone for peace talks with Farooq Ahmed Wani, a Hizb Commander. Idrees Khan was gunned down on February 10, 1995 near Hazratbal allegedly by Hizb activists. JKLF offered Rs 50,000/- for the killers, dead or alive. The Supreme Revolutionary Command Council on May 3, 1995 met and considered new situation with Government forces mounting increasing pressure. Reorganisation was decided to meet the new situation. The present Secretary General, Bashir Ahmed Bhat was made Vice President. The current Vice President, Mohammed Zaman Mir was

made Principal Secretary. Shakeel Ahmed Bakshi was made new Secretary General. Ghulam Abbas Beg and Altaf Qadri were reappointed as Chief Organiser and Chief Spokesman, respectively. Altaf Qadri, Mohammed Shafi Misgar and Hamid Nasir would constitute the Press

Cell. Yasin Malik, President announced unilateral ceasefire with Security

Forces. Differences had developed between Amanullah Khan and a few of his colleagues in Pakistan on one hand, and Yasin Malik and others in Kashmir on the other. Misunderstandings had assumed proportions which were difficult to bridge. Matters came to a head in September 1995.

First salvo was fired by Amanullah Khan on September 21, 1995,

who expelled Yasin Malik, Kashmir based President of the Party, from the organisation. In his place Khan appointed Javed Mir as President but Mir decided to throw his lot with Malik.

The next day in Kashmir

this faction removed Amarullah Khan from Chairmanship of the Party and Rafiq Dar was made Chief Commander.

50

Kashmir Underground This led to a vertical split all the way. Even in London, the President

and the General Secretary of the UK wing of the JKLF, Mohammed

Younus and Shabir Chaudhury respectively, denounced Amanulah Khan and instead accepted Malik as head of the Party. In astatement in London they said “Mr. Amanullah Khan has been indulging in opportunist, undemocratic and dictatorial style of functioning. He has been making financial gains in the name of Kashmir and compromising the position of JKLF at the behest of his masters”. The statement supported the decision of the Party Central Committee to appoint Yasin Malik as Chairman.

In retaliation the Amanullah

faction appointed Shabir

Siddiqui as President. “General” Basharat Raza was named Chief Commander and Salman Yavar “Nikka Bhai” as Deputy Chief Commander. Mohammed Azim and Riyaz Ahmed Lone were nominated as Advisors. This faction had its stronghold just outside the Shrine at Hazratbal. On June 28, 1995 the TADA designated Court at Jammu granted interim bail for 2 months to 4 leading members of the party who had been in detention for varying periods. Mohammed Rafi alias Nannaji, Wajahat Bashir Quereshi, Mehraj-ud-Din Sheikh and Ali Mohd. Mir were re-arrested as soon as they stepped out of Central Jail in Jammu. Mohd. Rafi Nannaji was released in July 1995. However, he was taken into custody on August 12, 1995 by BSF for interrogation. He was released the same evening. The militant outfits generally had turned very “intolerant” to any kind of criticism and threatened newspapers which dared to criticise or point out even their weaknesses. TheJKLF in a statement on August 8, 1995 asked all outfits to “show restraint and accept healthy criticism for it would decrease the criminalisation of the movement”. After the split in the JKLF, the Sidiqui faction accused Malik faction of having given up armed struggle in return for money from the Government by ordering unilateral ceasefire a few months ago. This charge was refuted by the Chief Commander Rafiq Dar saying that cessation of hostilities was to give a chance to the Government to seek a negotiated settlement of the problem. “But the ceasefire has not succeeded” he added. The JKLF reacted sharply to offer to have dialogue with Indian leaders, made by 4 militant leaders led by Babar Badr Rafiq Dar, Chief

Commander of Malik faction on February 9, 1996 said “the four (persons)

have no right to take such a step as they were expelled by their

parties”.

The Chief of Amanullah

faction, Shabir Ahmed

Sidiqui,

said “only solution to the Kashmir problem was the right of selfdetermination or that of tripartite talks between India, Pakistan and people of Kashmir”.

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51

A week later Yasin Malik and Javed Mir also opposed any bilateral talks with Delhi. The faction led by Shabir Ahmed Sidiqui in February 1996 claimed to have conducted a “referandum’” in Kashmir on what people favoured. On February 17, 1996 Sidiqui announced that over 95% people had wanted tripartite talks between India, Pakistan and representatives of people of Jammu & Kashmir. He said neither Tashkent nor Simla Agreements had yielded any results because people of Jammu & Kashmir were not a party to them. On February 26, 1996, Chief Commander of Sidiqui faction Basharat Raza called upon people to strengthen militant activities for “it alone can deliver the goods”. The Yasin faction seemed to be concentrating on the political aspect of the movement. It was content with supporting the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. The gun-toting cadres gradually shifted their loyalties to the Siddiqui group. In the meantime,

Shabir Sidiqui faction had consolidated

itself

around Hazratbal area. Ata press conference on March 18, 1996 Sidiqui severely criticised the Hurriyat leadership for its “failure to represent the aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir”. He alleged that Hurriyat Conference was riven with serious differences. He also denounced the Yasin Malik faction saying that they had nothing to do with JKLF, recognised by its Chairman, Amanullah Khan and supported by all 83 branches all over the globe. Just 6 days later on March 24, 1996 many members of Sidiqui faction,

with arms, forced their entry into the Hazratbal Shrine. The J&K Armed Police contingent on duty resisted and an encounter took place. One Sub-Inspector and 9 militants died. These included its Chief Commander Basharat Raza, his deputy Salman Yawar ‘Nikka Bhai’, Srinagar District

Commander Dilawar, and the District Commanders of Baramulla and

Budgam Districts. “Colonel” Tipu and “Colonel” Waseem, respectively.

Also included were Zakir Hussain, Abdul Rashid Shah, Sajjad Ahmed.

and Mohammed Akram. The stand-off lasted three days during which negotiations took place. On March 27, 1996 seventeen militants, including Sidiqui, came out and with their arms were allowed to return to their office nearby. Dr. Alam Masood was made the new Acting Chief Commander. He assumed the code name of Masood-I-Alam. Next day reportedly there was firing from its office and the State Police personnel on duty outside returned fire. In this exchange of firing, the building caught fire because of the ammunition stored inside and all inmates seemed to have perished in the conflagration. The leading lights of Sidiqui faction perished in an encounter in March 1996.

JKLF’s Pakistan-based Chief Amanullah Khan nominated

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Kashmir Underground

new office-bearers on April 24, 1996. N.A.G. Khawja was to take Sidiqui’s

place as Chief in Kashmir.

made Vice Presidents. Secretary General.

Mohd. Muzamil Mir and S.S. Shaheen were

Rasheed-ul-Hassan was nominated to be the

The Indian Government on March 28, 1996 once again declared JKLF as an unlawful organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention)

Act 1967. Later, on August 20, 1996 the Special Tribunal set up for the review of the ban, confirmed the ban. The Tribunal noted that the JKLF

“has been active in militant activities, disturbing peace in Jammu & Kashmir”.

Earlier, it had been notified as an unlawful association on February

17, 1994 and two years earlier on February 18, 1992 by the Indian Government. Originally, JKLF was declared unlawful by the J&K Government under Criminal Law Amendment Act 1983 on April 16, 1990, when

the State was under the Governor’s Rule.

The JKLF was

granted an opportunity to represent its case against the Notification, before a Special Tribunal. The JKLF refused to accept its jurisdiction but

in 1991 Yasin Malik on its behalf, from Agra Central Jail, did submit a

statement to it refuting various allegations and accusations. Later, an interesting situation developed. The Government at Delhi failed to issue a new Notification when the old one expired. The Government seemed

to have overlooked the implications. On January 12, 1992 the State Governor G.C. Saxena told Press “as of now JKLF is a lawful organisation”.

Next day, the Indian Home

Minister, Mr. S.B. Chavan

confirmed this and said “it is technically so because the Special Tribunal

which periodically reviews the status of banned outfits had run out of its time to decide the JKLF case”.

The Union Home Ministry by notification on February 18, 1992 declared JKLF an unlawful association for 2 years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967. The ban was extended in 1994 and again in 1996. For the next two years the JKLF by and large kept itself away from violence but it continued to question the accession to India

and reiterated the demand for right of self-determination. The Government of India even in early 1998 decided to continue the ban and

a new Notifications was issued on February 17, 1998 to last for 2 years. On April 7, 1998 the Special Tribunal issued notice to JKLF to show-

cause why this order should not be confirmed. The JKLF contested the grounds for banning and asked the original Instrument of Accession to be produced. The Tribunal after hearing Counsels for JKLF and the

Government, confirmed the ban on August 14, 1998. In July 1988 the Chairman of Friends of Kashmir in UK, Lord Eric

Avebury told the JKLF that armed struggle in Kashmir has not brought the Kashmiris any nearer to their goal. He advised them to try their luck

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53

in the political field. He asked them to opt for dialogue and participation in elections. There was hardly any worthwhile response. The leadership of the organisation felt that it had grown weak because of factional divisions. For many months efforts were made in Kashmir, in POK, Pakistan and in Britain to unify different factions. Some success was achieved without association of Amanullah faction. On August 25, 1998, it was announced that various factions of JKLF and the

JK National Liberation Front had decided to merge with JKLF headed

by Yasin Malik. Besides other two important leaders based in Rawalpinid

(Pakistan). Dr. Farooq Haider and Raja Muzaffar Khan threw their lot

with Yasin faction. JKLF decided to have a 42-member Supreme Council with 7 members

each representing Kashmir Valley, Jammu,

Ladakh,

Azad Kashmir, Gilgit & Baltistan and Kashmiri Mohajirs (migrants) in Pakistan and overseas. There would be a Central Committee consisting of 34 members. A 6-member Constitution Committee was also set up to improve the “management affairs” of the party. In this there will be three from Jammu

& Kashmir,

two

from “Azad”

representing the Kashmiri migrants outside.

Kashmir and one

A Zonal Committee for

“Azad” Kashmir, Gilgit, Baltistan and Pakistan was also formed and Dr.

Farooq Haider was made its President. Other office-bearers of this Zonal Committee were also named. These were two Vice Presidents, one General Secretary, one Deputy Secretary, one Assistant Secretary, Chief Organiser, Deputy Chief Organiser, Secretary Finance, Secretary Publicity and Secretary Planning. Raja Muzaffar Khan was made Special Representative to handle important issues. The office of Urdu daily “Afaq” in Srinagar was ransacked by armed intruders on October 6, 1998. Next day the JKLF (AK) owned the responsibility. In a statement, its Chief Commander of Operations, Khalid Zubair said JKLF wanted the Kashmir Press to be free,

He said “Our

war is against the slavery of press”. When the Indo-Pak foreign secretary level talks were announced to

be held at New Delhi from November 5 to 13, 1998, the JKLF reacted

strongly. A statement issued at New York on October 22, 1998 by Raja Muzaffar Khan, Incharge of Foreign Affairs in JKLF, called these parleys a “diplomatic fraud”, since these were being held without any

representative of Kashmiri people. Because Kashmir is the central issue

in Indo-Pak talks and its solution without taking into account the interests,

desires and wishes of Kashmiris was a political deception. Before the statement was issued an emergent meeting was called by Haleem Khan, JKLF President for North America. This was attended by Raja Muzaffar Khan, Inayat Mir. Er. Qasim Khokhar, Haji Shafi, Raja Nawaz, Mehmood

Bhatti, among others. Haleem Khan told the meeting “Kashmir is not a

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Kashmir Underground

territorial dispute. We cannot allow Delhi and Islamabad to decide our future”. The JKLF also demanded that Gilgit and Baltistan be made part of Jammu & Kashmir and people inhabiting those areas be given constitutional rights like others. A big public meeting was organised at Gilgit by it on November 2, 1998 to observe the 51“ anniversary of “establishment of Republic of Gilgit on November 1, 1947”. The meeting was called jointly by JKLF and Mutahida Quami Party (MQP) of Gilgit. JKLF Chairman

Mr. Amanullah

Khan, who was the Chief Guest, told

the gathering that the areas of Gilgit & Baltistan which were a constitutional and integral part of Jammu & Kashmir State “could not and should not be kept deprived of the basic political, civil and constitutional rights of a civilised society and separate from Jammu & Kashmir”. He asked why “there has been no representation (of people) in any legislative or constitutional assembly and were being ruled by Pakistan bureaucracy in a colonial way treating the area as their colonial territory”. He demanded that “people of Gilgit & Baltistan be given political and constitutional rights of a modern society with due constitutional arrangement with Azad Kashmir, pending final settlement of Kashmir issue”.

The JKLF called upon US President Bill Clinton and the Pakistani Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharief “to take concrete steps for resolution of Kashmir issue peacefully and permanently”. In identical letters to the two leaders sent on December

1, 1998, Mr. Amanullah, JKLF

Chairman described the Kashmir issue as the “most dangerous threat to peace in South Asia and India’s refusal to accept Kashmir’s right to opt for complete independence of Kashmir had further complicated the issue”. The letters stressed that "bilateral talks between India and Pakistan to solve Kashmir problem is a waste of time”. Displeased with the independent line adopted by JKLF, Pakistan had been slowly but surely sidelining this organisation, first in favour of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and later for Lashkar-I-Toiba which was Pakistanbased and totally under Pakistani control and direction. Credible reports were received in the first week of January 1999 that 4 important training camps of JKLF were taken over and handed over to LET. The Camps were Gojran, Athmuqam,

Chaklala

and

Palandri.

Right from

their

inception these Camps had been under JKLF operational command.

In

these Camps were trained some female militants belonging to DukhtaranI-Millat. The Camp at Palandri was set up in 1987 and in these years

trained nearly 11,000 militants. According to reliable reports, nearly 300 young men and women were undergoing rigorous training in guerilla warfare and subversion, in these 4 Camps.

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55

The objectives of JKLF all these years have not changed. As stated earlier Yasin Malik (from Agra Jail) had submitted a statement in 1991 to the Special Tribunal while refuting charges against the JKLF.

This

statement very clearly set down the objectives of the organisation : “It believes in ‘Liberation’. It represents those people who believe that Kashmir State should be ‘liberated’ from its occupational

forces. It does not stand only for ‘liberation’, but also believes in

re-unification of the two territories of the State of Jammu

&

Kashmir. Its abbreviation JKLF stands for “Jammu, Kashmir, Ladakh, Frontier”. The political objective of the Party, is to strive

for complete and total independence of Kashmir. According to it, its territories comprise an area which constituted ‘Kashmir State’ as on August 16, 1947. It believes in preserving ‘Kashmir nationalism’, ‘culture’ and all those factors which constitute

bonds of commonality between the people.” “Kashmir State being disputed, its solution must be found and the solution must come from the people of the State. No solution can be imposed on the people of Kashmir without ascertaining their wishes. We cannot allow the Kashmir dispute to continue.”

“The Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front demands that plebiscite

be held in Jammu & Kashmir as promised by Government of India.

The Front intends to bring to an end, the status quo.”

Today the JKLF is well-known in this sub-continent and in the United Kingdom. It claims to have branches or offices in 87 locations in different countries all over the world. It is surprising that it originated in Pakistan, not in Kashmir. It will be interesting to trace its roots. In late fifties and the sixties many Kashmiri youngmen in POK and in Pakistan were influenced by the armed struggle for freedom by Algerian youth. They seemed to have been convinced that the only way to make Kashmir free and independent is to resort to armed struggle. The Plebiscite Front organisation existed in POK, on the same lines as in

Kashmir Valley. The POK Plebiscite Front Executive Committee Meeting was held in Mirpur on July 12, 1965, proposal to take up arms was moved but was rejected by an overwhelming majority. About that time Pakistan Government had planned largescale infiltration for subversive activities by trained Mujahideen across the Ceasefire Line. It is learnt that even anti-Indian elements on Pakistani side of the Ceasefire Line were not taken into confidence lest it leaked out to India and they might abort the whole effort. The anti-Indian elements among the Kashmiris in Pakistan

held a meeting in Peshawar on August

12-13,1965, when

the decision

was finally taken to form a National Liberation Front for Jammu

&

Kashmir (JKNLF) with avowed object of seeking for the people of Jammu

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Kashmir Underground

& Kashmir, the sole right to decide the future of the State. This was to be achieved through work on various fronts including armed struggle. It was decided

further to copy the Algerian FLN

pattern

for

organisational purposes. Four Central wings were set up : a) Armed Wing - headed by Major Amanullah (of Azad Kashmir b) c) d) The of NLF.

Regular Forces)

Political Wing - headed by Amanullah Khan Finance Wing — headed by Mir Abdul Qayoom Coordination Wing — headed by Maqbool Butt four heads of the Central Wings formed the Central Committee, It was further decided that whosoever became a member of this

underground organisation, would take oath to lay down his life for the

NLF objective and as token, had to sign the membership form with his own blood. These four founder members signed the oath with their own blood at a secret ceremony. They also drew up and owned a new ‘tarana’ — the party anthem : “Ek Haal, Ek umang

Guerilla Jang, Guerilla Jang Azadi ka ek hi dhang

Guerilla Jang, Guerilla Jang”.

This freely translated would be:

One condition, one desire Guerilla warfare, Guerilla warfare

Only path to freedom,

Guerilla warfare, Guerilla warfare

These four members toured different parts of West Pakistan and POK in October and November 1965 to enroll members. In November 1965 a meeting of the Central Committee

was held in Karachi, when

among other things it was decided that two groups of dedicated activists be sent across the Ceasefire Line to Kashmir Valley. One group was to enroll secretly members including Kashmir Government employees. The other group was to select handpicked local persons and then to train them in subversive activities including use of explosive material and use of firearms and tactics of guerilla warfare. The political group was to be headed by Maqbool Butt while the training group was to be headed by Major Amanullah (not Khan). Due to certain reasons these two groups were not able to cross the Ceasefire Line over to Kashmir Valley till the beginning of June 1966. In the meantime, many employees of the POK Administration and the Pakistan Government had secretly become members of the NLF. Among,

them, it is now

known, were Mir Hidayat Ullah, Defence Secretary of

POK Government and an SDM Ghulam Din Ashai.

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57

The two groups, with the help of Ayub Khan of Hyhama (Kupwara)

as guide, crossed the Ceasefire Line on June 10, 1966. The NLF team consisted of Maqbool Butt, Major Amanullah, Subedar Kala Khan,

Subedar Habibullah Butt and Aurangzeb. Major Amanullah and Subedar Habibullah Butt, staying close to the Ceasefire Line in Kupwara District in thickly wooded

areas, imparted

arms

training to select groups of

Kashmiri youth. Maqbool Butt and associates travelled all over Kashmir Valley for over two months and established underground cells in important towns. While returning from Srinagar to the appointed place

in Kupwara District to cross over to POK, Maqbool Butt and party was

involved in an encounter with a Police Party. An Inspector, Amar Chand

was killed. Kashmir Police launched a massive search operation and soon was able to zero itself on a house in a village near Sopore where it was suspected that the fugitive group was holed up. In the exchange of fire one militant was killed while the second one was seriously wounded. Finding escape from the house not possible, Maqbool Butt and his associate surrendered. Since this was the first major case of this nature,

the State Police took a Press Party from Srinagar to witness the encounter and surrender. This writer was an eyewitness as member of the Press Party. Least did anyone realise that this could become a major turning point in Kashmir’s recent history. When Major Amanullah learnt about the encounter, his group and he escaped to POK. In Kashmir, later Maqbool Butt was charged with the murder of Inspector Amar Chand and for waging war against the State. On account of this mishap and for other reasons the POK Plebiscite Front did not approve of the armed struggle “at this stage”. It asked the

NLF to disband itself.

In August 1968, a Kashmir Court sentenced Maqbool Butt and Mir

Ahmed to death for the murder of Inspector Amar Chand.

Kale Khan, the third associate, was awarded life imprisonment.

were lodged in the Central Jail, Srinagar.

Subedar

All three

In December 1968, Maqbool

Butt, Mir Ahmed and Chaudhury Yasin, who had been arrested 3 years

earlier, made a daring escape and later managed to cross over to POK. There they were arrested for allegedly being Indian agents but were released 3 months later when their credentials had been fully established. In the meantime in Kashmir, the police was able to arrest quite a few

of those who had become members of NLF.

Various elements in POK and in Pakistan had been feeling that something spectacular needed to be done so that their cause receives publicity. In early 1970 the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) had

used hijacking of planes to get international publicity.

The NLF also

started thinking of undertaking similar “adventures” but could

not

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Kashmir Underground

identify any person intelligent, bold and committed to stake his life. Towards the end of 1969 a young Kashmiri Hashim Quereshi was visiting Peshawar in connection with his sister’s marriage. There in Peshawar he met Maqbool Butt who found him the right man for the hijacking of a plane. During his stay in Pakistan, Quereshi was fully indoctrinated with NLF ideology and was given some rudimentary training in plane hijacking. He was told to return to Kashmir and while waiting for the right opportunity to enroll youngmen for NLF underground units in the Valley.

On January 31, 1971, Hashim Quereshi and Ashraf Quereshi

hijacked the Indian Airlines Fokker Friendship plane “Ganga” to Lahore while it was on a regular Srinagar-Delhi flight. After it landed at Lahore Airport and the passengers had disembarked, the Pakistan authorities provided them with wherewithall to blow up the plane in a blaze of publicity. The Quereshis were feted as super heroes. But later they were arrested on suspicion of being Indian agents. They were arrested and later put on trial alongwith some important members of NLF. Hashim was sentenced to 13 years rigorous imprisonment. However, on account of his appeal to Lahore High Court he was released after spending 7 years in jail. In May 1976, Maqbool Butt (inspite of warnings from his colleagues) and two associates once again crossed over to Kashmir Valley. He dared knowingly that he would be spotted and arrested. In Kashmir he got involved in a bank robbery in Kupwara. The Bank Manager was killed

and Butt was arrested. He was tried in Srinagar and the Sessions Judge,

Mr. Nilakanth Ganjoo, sentenced him to death. Since he had earlier escaped from high security Central Jail in Srinagar, the Government decided to lodge him in Delhi's Tihar Jail.

In the meantime Amanullah Khan had also gone to Great Britain.

With all the three leaders of NLF - Amanullah Kahn, Maqbool Butt and

Hashim Quereshi out of circulation, the NFL activity came to a grinding

halt.

Because of displacement of large numbers from the region of Mirpur in POK, on account of the construction of Mangla Dam to impound waters

of river Jehlem,

most of them migrated to UK in the seventies.

Nearly

1.5 lacs from POK were settled in UK and to cater to their needs a few political organisations had come up. Among them were : Kashmir Independence Movement and Kashmir Moslem Conference. In 1973 two more organisations, United Liberation Front and Kashmir Plebiscite Front, were set up.

The expatriate Kashmiris had felt there

that UK could be made into a strong base for Kashmir’s freedom struggle

and would also secure international support for it. Notwithstanding its name - Kashmir Plebiscite Front, it was not able to catch the imagination

of expatriate Kashmiris.

It was felt that the name should be catchy and

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59

have a revolutionary connotation. In any case, the J&K Plebiscite Front had been disbanded in Kashmir because of Sheikh Abdullah’s accord with Mrs. Indira Gandhi.

Ata convention of Kashmir Plebiscite Front in UK on May 12, 1977

the Jammu

& Kashmir Liberation Front was born.

Plebiscite Front

members and those of NLF joined it. In February 1978 Amanullah Khan

was made its General Secretary. and POK, and in UK.

Its branches were set up in, Pakistan

Later branches were set up in Denmark Holland,

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Germany, France and in USA in October 1979. It held its annual conventions in UK in Birmingham in 1978, again in Birmingham in 1981, in Luton in 1982. In 1983 a subsidiary body under the name of Kashmir Liberation Army was set up. The JKLF in 1984 abducted an Indian diplomat. The Assistant High Commissioner posted at Birmingham, Ravindra Mhatre was abducted on February 3, 1984. The JKLF demanded that Maqbool Butt be released — from New Delhi jail in exchange for his life. Before the negotiations

were successfully concluded, some hotheads in JKLF killed Mhatre on

February 4, 1984. Maqbool Butt, who had been awaiting execution on murder charge, was hanged in Tihar Jail in Delhi on February 11, 1984.

In UK, Amanullah Khan and Hashim Quereshi were arrested after

Mhatre’s abduction but were released soon. The UK Police arrested 6

members of the JKLF after Mhatre’s assassination. Two out of them got

life imprisonment, third got 20 years rigorous imprisonment while the other 3 got lesser punishments. In 1979 JKLF office had been opened in New York. Four party activists managed to get admission into visitors gallery while the UN

General Assembly was in session on October 13, 1979. They managed to shout a few anti-Indian slogans, throw some leaflets, before they were

taken out by the Security Staff. From 1986 to about 1991 the JKLF enjoyed the total support of the Pakistan Government and its agencies. When it was realised that it was likely not to allow itself to be manipulated completely from Islamabad, Pakistan created other outfits in Kashmir and has given support and assistance in restricted volumes so that they are always dependent on it and show no sign of their own independent thinking and action. Pakistan decided to control and direct the insurgency from there. In the first few months of 1997, the JKLF seemed to be involved in

refashioning of its strategy. In Kashmir Mohammed Yasin Malik and Javed Ahmed Mir were laying full force on human rights violations in Kashmir. While Mir was arrested and detained for a few days in Srinagar for public protest and obstructing traffic, Malik went to Delhi and

undertook an indefinite fast till human rights organisations agreed to investigate allegations of human rights denial in Kashmir. He gave up

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Kashmir Underground

his fast when two Human Rights organisations assured that a team would be sent to Kashmir.

Within a week, in the end of May

a six-member

team visited Kashmir, toured various areas and met the aggrieved

persons.

The JKLF founder General Secretary Ghulam Qadir Wani (43) asked

Kashmiris not to fall in the trap and make Kashmir another Afghanistan.

He told the Press on March 14, 1997 that the gun was alien to Kashmir

but their movement was hijacked and the “gun is being utilised for selfinterest and for narrow political gains or suppressing the political

opponents”.

He said, “Pakistan rulers distrust Kashmiris” and in support

he cited the fact that for the past 48 years neither the President or Prime

Minister of POK has been allowed to visit the Northern Areas of Gilgit

and Baltistan. From London Mr Shabir Choudhury (Head of Diplomatic Section of JKLF (Yasin Malik Group)) in April 1997 said that Pakistan and India both fashion their Kashmir policy based on their territorial interests. Both

want to get Kashmir with very little regard to the interests of the Kashmiri

people. He said rigid stand of India, Pakistani and Kashmiri people will

not solve the problem.

“India, Pakistan and the Kashmiris have to give

some concessions to each other in order to get the ball of negotiation rolling” he added. After new Labour Government assumed power in Great Britain in May 1997, the JKLF appealed (9/5) to the Prime Minister Anthony Blair to persuade both India and Pakistan to find a lasting and equitable

solution of the Kashmir conflict”.

Zafar Khan on behalf of JKLF in

London said that “the vision and freshness which Mr. Blair has brought into the British politics has given hope not only to large expatriate Kashmiri settlers in Britain, but also to people in Kashmir. We hope and pray that the new British Government under Mr. Blair’s enlightened and dynamic leadership will see the Kashmir conflict as one of its priorities in foreign policy and unlike the previous government, will bring in a more pro-active, principles and moral approach to the issue”. Continuing, he asked Britain to play “an active and dynamic roles for a just and durable solution of Kashmir issue”. In a statement from Srinagar on May

3, 1997 the JKLF Chairman

Mohd. Yasin Malik hoped that Labour Party would fulfill all promises its leaders made to Kashmiri people. He also reminded the new Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook of his visit to Kashmir in 1996 and the assurance he gave to them. Pakistan had all along been against the concept of “Independent Kashmir” but JKLF consistently propagated its objective in Pakistan and outside.

The JKLF Central Committee

at its meeting at Muzaffarabad

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61

(POK) on April 27, 1997 decided to launch a struggle to achieve complete independence for Kashmir. The party President Amanullah Khan on April 30, 1997 at a Press Conference at Islamabad, declared that before his Party “Independence”

was the only option for Jammu & Kashmir. He went on to declare that if

Pakistan and India did not accept this demand by May 29, 1997, a struggle

would be launched. Neither Pakistan not India took serious notice of this demand. On

May 29, 1997 the JKLF organised a public rally at Muzaffarabad, captial of POK, where its Chairman Amanullah Khan reiterated his demand

and made the declaration for complete independence for Jammu & Kashmir. The “Muzaffarabad Declaration” in the form of a resolution was adopted by the gathering. The resolution was as under : “Whereas Kashmir issue which has caused two bloody wars between India and Pakistan and unimaginable miseries to Kashmir, deserves to be solved equitably and peacefully in the best interest of all the three”. “Whereas the Father of Pakistani nation Late Mohammad Ali Jinnah, through his policy statements issued on June 17, July 11 and July 30, 1947 and carried by national and

international

media, declared that the princely states of the sub-continent including Kashmir could join India or Pakistan or declare complete independence”. “Whereas according to internationally recognised principles governing the right of self-determination of enthralled peoples, this right cannot be limited, conditioned or circumscribed nor can these nations be deprived of their right to opt for independence”. “Whereas continuous strain in relations between India and Pakistan caused by the Kashmir issue has been adversely affecting the political, economic and diplomatic interests of all the nations of the region and solution of the issue on the basis of complete independence of Kashmir will be politically, economically and diplomatically very beneficial to them all”. “Whereas India and Pakistan took no notice of the declaration of JKLF made on January 5, 1995 and April 27, 1997 that if they did not recognise independence of Kashmir as the third option open to Kashmiris, besides the options of State’s accession to India or Pakistan, JKLF would start a movement from May 29, 1997”.

“Whereas the present state of affairs prevailing in the subcontinent and on international level clearly indicates. that plans

that would either push Kashmir issue into the cold storage again

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Kashmir Underground or cut the very Kashmir into pieces, are afoot, it would be criminal

on the part of patriotic Kashmiris to turn deaf ears and blind eyes to the fatal dangers that this situation poses for future generations of Kashmir”. “And whereas in the light of the abovementioned facts, demanding out-right independence for the entire Jammu Kashmir State is not only in full conformity with the declarations made by fathers of Indian and Pakistani nations, with the guiding principles of the concept of right of self-determination, with the overall interests of the South Asian nations specially of India, Pakistan and Kashmir and with the declarations made by JKLF

but

is,

in

fact,

circumstances”.

the

need

of

the

day

in

the

prevailing

“Now therefore, we (JKLF), the pioneers of the on-going freedom

struggle and the torch-bearers of the independence and integrity of the Jammu Kashmir State, do this 29" day of May 1997, which also marks the 20' birthday of the organisation, announce this Muzaffarabad declaration” “The launching of a concerted and coordinated movement on national and international level for complete independence of the entire Jammu Kashmir state as the only solution of the Kashmir issue.” “We appeal to the freedom loving, democratic and justice loving people, organisations and institutions (including governments) of India, Pakistan and of Jammu

Kashmir State in general and

to patriotic and freedom loving people of our motherland in particular, to extend full support to this movement so that Kashmir changes from a bone of contention to a bridge of friendship between India and Pakistan and the future generations of the entire region live a peaceful, prosperous, dignified and free life”. “We appeal to all those nations, organisations and institutions, the world over, which believe in peace-with-justice and in human

rights and humanitarian values, to do all they can to persuade and even pressurise, India and Pakistan to solve this issue which has been eating into the very vitals of all concerned for the last half of a century, on the basis of complete independence of the entire Jammu Kashmir State. We hope all concerned will

respond favourably”. For the next 3 months this movement could not gather much support. On August

1, 1997, the JKLF once again called upon India and Pakistan

to accept Kashmiris right to opt for complete independence of whole of Jammu & Kashmir. Ina statement issued in Rawalpindi (Pakistan) Mr.

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63

Amanullah Khan said “Indians were badly mistaken if they thought they could get away with Kashmir or crush Kashmiris’ freedom totally and for ever”. Reiterating JKLF stand he said “best and the practicable way to solve the Kashmir issue peacefully, equitably, honourably and permanently was to re-unite the parts of Jammu & Kashmir now under the control of India and Pakistan and to let that reunited State emerge as a fully independent country having friendly relations with both India and Pakistan”. Further he wanted “India, Pakistan and China to guarantee not to violate its geographical borders and not to interfere in

its internal affairs”.

In a separate statement JKLF Chairman castigated Pakistan for harping on “out-dated and unattractive slogan of Kashmir being the jugular vein of Pakistan”. He asked “politicians, bureaucrats and other concerned circles in Pakistan to avoid the type of misdeeds which resulted in separation of Pakistan’s eastern wing following a most humiliating defeat, which have taken Pakistan to the brink of bankruptcy, which

had made it one of the corrupt nations of the world, which deprived it of moral values and which have also divided it into factions on the basis of language, race, region, religious sects and this division has become the most damaging cause for law and order”. A wind of change seemed to be affecting JKLF attitude to changing mood of the people in Kashmir. In 1997 summer a Shankaracharya from South India was visiting Kashmir. Through some mediators it was arranged that he have a meeting with top leadership of JKLF in Srinagar. Shankaracharya Swami Adyog Anand Babu Jagat on July 1, went to JKLF office in the crowded locality of Maisuma in Srinagar. There he met

JKLF (Yasin) Chairman

Mohammed

Yasin

Malik, his Deputy Javed

Ahmed Mir and other senior workers. Matters about violence and gun culture were discussed. ISI in Pakistan set up a new umbrella organisation — J&K Solidarity Front ~ on August 31, 1997 with headquarters at Muzaffarabad (POK).

It was announced that Jamait-I-Islami and JKLF had joined it. It was said that JKLF would be represented by Raja Muzaffar. Soon JKLF reacted strongly and totally disowned the JKSF and its Secretary General Dr. Haider Hijazi at Rawalpindi said JKLF does not subscribe

to JKSF

demand for UN Resolution on Kashmir being the only solution. He also said Raja Muzaffar was not a JKLF representative. After Harkat-ul-Ansar was declared a terrorist organisation by US

Administration, there was a demand that JKLF may also be included in the list of such organisations. The US Administration refrained from declaring JKLF a terrorist organisation but issued a warning. The State Department spokesman

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Kashmir Underground

James Rubin on October 10, 1997 said “The non-inclusion of the JKLF in

the list announced by the Secretary of State Albright by no means indicates that it has been absolved”.

Addressing JKLF, he said “Because you are not on the list does not

mean you have been given a clean bill of health. You are on the list. We have put together the administrative record necessary to withstand a court challenge”. Reports had come in late in 1997 that ISI had put different training camps run by JKLF in POK, under its strict surveilance. In the middle of February 1998, JKLF alleged that ISI had made many attempts to break up their training camp at Sehensa in Kotli District of POK. ISI Commandos raided the Camp but the inmates resisted the outsiders and were made to retreat in the face of stiff opposition. JKLF Secretary General strongly condemned the Pakistan Government, ISI and the “Puppet” POK Administration and said such acts were against its freedom movement which will not be allowed whatever the cost. The nuclear tests by India and Pakistan in May 1998 evoked subdued reaction from its leadership. Its Chairman in Kashmir, Mohammed Yasin Malik believed that the tests have infused tension in the entire South Asia “It is high time for global community to stress the need to solve the Kashmir problem according to the wishes and aspirations of the people

of Kashmir or otherwise grave dangers exist of a nucleur holocaust”, he added. The Pakistan-based Chief Commander Mohd. Rafiq Dar in May 1998 decided to revive the militant wing in Kashmir. He deputed Manzoor

Ahmed Bakshi to undertake the task. Some arms and ammunition were

brought from across the LOC and dumped in Srinagar hideouts. Before the plan could be implemented Bakshi was arrested by BSF on June 16, 1998 and arms and ammunition seized. On the political front the JKLF (Amanullah) faction based in Pakistan took initiative and called upon the United Nations and other world bodies to help in resolution of long-pending Kashmir issue to “save South Asia from probable nuclear and conventional wars”. JKLF Chairman Amanullah

Khan

on June 28, 1998 sent identical letters to heads of

Governments of major world process, Secretaries-General of UN; OIC, OAU;

NAM;

ASEAN

and

the European

Union;

the letter said

that

international community owed it to its own moral responsibility to save the world in general and South Asia in particular from irreparable destruction to be caused by nucleur conflagaration between India and Pakistan. According to the letter, the only way to do was to solve the Kashmir issue for tension between them.

formula of 5 steps which were : a) Divided State be reunited

The letter also indicated JKLF

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65

b)

Be made a fully independent country with democratic, federal and non-communal system having friendly relations with both India and Pakistan

c)

For this there should be negotiations with India, Pakistan and

d) e)

the people of Kashmir and keen and serious interest by the community of nations in general and by the United States and China in particular Then Independent Kashmir will conclude an agreement with her neighbours about guaranteeing non-violation of her

territorial integrity

After 15 years there should be a referendum under United Nations to determine the future of the State, leaving all the three

options open The letter then made a request to the Governments and the world organisations to which it is addressed “to appoint an International Kashmir Committee (IKC) comprising one representative each of the UN Secretary General, P-5, Germany, Japan and of OIC and two of NAM”. This Committee should discuss the matter with the Governments of India and Pakistan and representatives of Kashmiri political organisations and persuade them to accept the formula and to participate in its implementation. Asan annual feature Pakistan observed February 5, 1999 as “Kashmir Solidarity Day”. JKLF Chairman, Amanullah Khan was invited to address a gathering in Sindh Governor’s House at Karachi. He was not allowed to address the gathering and instead alongwith some party activists Khan was arrested. The party General Secretary Dr. Haider Hijazi strongly condemned the arrest calling it “height of duplicity on the part of the Government of Pakistan”. He said that on the day when Pakistan was observing Kashmir Solidarity Day, it was shameful to arrest Amanullah Khan, the pioneer of the ongoing struggle and the torchbearer of the wishes and national aspirations of Kashmiris”. The JKLF in Pakistan decided to organise a two-day conference from April 11, 1999 at Mirpur (POK). Its senior leader Dr. Farooq Haider said on March 12 that heads of all political parties, intellectuals and journalists from all parts of Jammu & Kashmir State. He said invitations to the Conference were being sent by Party Chairman, Mohd. Yasin Malik (Srinagar) to participants on the Indian side. According to him the Conference was expected to discuss ways to arrive at an “honourable, acceptable and permanent solution of Kashmir issue”. He said this would be one way for the people of the State to have consensus on an agreed

solution and express themselves. He felt that Lahore Declaration of India and

Pakistan

Prime

Ministers

had

adversely

affected

the ongoing

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Kashmir Underground

movement because it seemed to have eased international pressure to

solve the Kashmir issue.

In Srinagar on March

7, 1999 the JKLF

organised

a Seminar

“Future of Kashmir in World Order and our Responsibilities”.

on

Party

Chairman, Yasin Malik addressing the Seminar said “time has come to shed our silence. If we will remain silent at this critical juncture, a decision

will be thrust upon us. Kashmir accept any solution which is not intellectuals to participate in the don’t know our stand and where

is not a bilateral issue and we will not approved by the people”. Urging the ongoing movement he lamented “We we are heading”.

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67

All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) (Liberation Conference)

This is an umbrella organisation set up in Kashmir of various secessionist elements whether underground or overground. It has an 8-member Executive Committee which meets when required and takes the major decisions and directs its activities.

It claimed to represent 34 political,

religious and underground organisations when it was established in

September 1993. No proper elections were held except for its Chairman. Two elections for Chairmanship followed in April 1996 and again in April 1998. The Executive Committee is controlled, directed and activised by a handful of its members. The Chairman for the first 5 years was gentle teenaged Moulvi Mohd. Omar Farooq, Mirwaiz of Kashmir and President of Awami Action Committee, not seen asserting himself at any time. The necessity of a broad political platform had been felt even by the militant outfits since the erruption of insurgency in 1989-90. Somehow

no serious effort was made towards its realisation till December 1992.

Moulvi Omar Farooq called a meeting of representatives of various

organisations on December 27, 1992 but nothing concrete came out of it.

It was decided that informal discussions will be carried on. The second attempt was more successful.

Moulvi Omar Farooq

convened another meeting which took place on March 8, 1993, with the

intent of formulating “a common strategy” to face the new situation that had emerged in Kashmir. The meeting decided to set up All Parties Liberation Conference which will have representation from Awami Action Committee; Jamait-I-Islami; Itehad-ul-Musalmeen; People’s Conference; Tehreek-I-Hurriyat Kashmir; Jamait Ahale Hadees; Moslem

Conference; Anjuman Tableeq-ul-Islam; Jamait-e-Hamdania; Peoples

League; Jamait-e-Ulema-!-Islam Kashmir; Bazm-I-Tuheed; Anjuman-IShari-I-Shian; Anjuman Augaf Jamia Masjid; Umati Islamia; Liberation Council; Moslem Khawateen Markaz; Political Conference; Human

Rights Committee; Kashmir Bar Association; Basic Rights Committee and two factions of Employees and Workers Confederation. Others could join subsequently. The objectives of the new organisation would be: to preserve and maintain the Islamic and majority character of the Valley and to help the three parties — India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir - to solve the Kashmir dispute as per the aspirations of Kashmiri people; informing the world community about the situation in Kashmir would be another objective of the Conference.

At the meeting a 7-member sub-committee was set up to draft a Constitution of the new organisation. Its members were to be: Mr. Justice

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Kashmir Underground

Mufti Balaudin Farooqi, former Chief Justice; Mian Abdul Qayoom, President of Kashmir Bar Association; Nazir Ahmed Rongha; Pir

Hafizullah Makhdoomi; Shahid-ul-Islam; Shabir Siddiqui and Firdous Asmi. The 8-member

Executive Committee would

consist of 8 major

political parties sending one representative each. One of the important members of the Executive Committee and President of the Peoples Conference, Abdul Ghani Lone explained that the new organisation will supplement the armed struggle but “not replace the gun”. For the next six months consultations were carried on among various groups and the Constitution of the Conference was also finalised. From the platform of Hazratbal Shrine the new organisation to be known as All Parties Hurriyat (Liberation) Conference was launched on Friday, September 9, 1993.

It was announced

that thirty religious and

political parties had joined it and the Conference will be headed by

Moulvi Umar

Farooq, President of the Awami

Action Committee.

It

was learnt later that there were serious differences on who should head the new organisation. The Jamait-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani staking his claim, said “Jamait-e-Islami which has had a consistent stand on Kashmir since 1947, has a place of pre-eminence. Realism demands that this position should be accepted by all”. He said that they had accepted the choice “in the larger interest of unity”. While assuring full cooperation he quickly added that the cooperation would be conditional and emphasized that “the moment we feel that it is going in the wrong direction we will withdraw”. The first meeting of the Executive Committee was held on September 22, 1993. The Jamait-e-Islami leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani was a notable

absentee though he was in town. Though the new organisation has its members from parties and groups whose objectives were either pro-Pak or pro-independence, Gilani reportedly felt that the latter is the dominant

ideology of the Hurriyat Conference.

Moulvi Farooq, after the meeting,

said that the major task before the Conference was to work for securing the right of self-determination and leave people to decide about their political future. According to him “we are at the take-off stage. Our initiative has received a good response from all underground organisations. No organisation has opposed the move”. Moulvi Omar Faroog said he proposes to set up a strong secretariat for the organisation during his term of one year as President. The ideologue of the Conference, Prof. Ghani asserted that Hurriyat now represented “whole community

of Kashmiris including genuine Hindus and Sikhs”. While Prof. Ghani talked of changes at global level” Abdul Ghani lone drawing from world history said that “every freedom movement elsewhere in the world had

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69

succeeded and it would be so also in Kashmir. Whole of Kashmir is up in arms fighting for liberation and since freedom demands sacrifices of the highest order people are already offering”. To start with, the underground militant groups were hesitant in lending total support. So Hurriyat leadership prevailed on influential outfits to offer public support. Leaders of 7 major groups after a meeting, in a joint statement on November 7, 1993 appealed to people to extend support and all possible cooperation to Hurriyat Conference. The 7 groups were: JKLF, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Al Jehad, Al Umar Mujahideen,

Tkhwan-ul-Musalmeen, Al Burg and Operation Balakote. Separately, the Islamic Students League also offered cooperation to the Hurriyat Conference. In the middle of October 1993 a godsent opportunity came the way of Hurriyat Conference. There was a crisis surrounding the world known Shrine of Hazratbal. By lack of imagination, factional rivalry, inept reflexes and responses and incorrect appreciation of the developing situation day after day, the Hurriyat leadership failed to capitalise the groundswell of public support. Reports had been circulating in Srinagar for some time that armed militants had taken refuge inside the Hazratbal Shrine and had established a nerve centre to control and direct the “struggle for freedom”. On October 15, 1993 it was known

that an attempt had been made

to

tamper the locks of the door of the room in which is housed the Safe containing the Holy Relic of the Prophet. The Government fearing that some harm may not come to the Shrine and the Holy Relic, asked the Security Forces to surround the Shrine complex and not allow anyone to leave the complex or to enter it without authorisation. On October 16" with the holed up militants torching the barracks inside the complex meant for Security Forces the situation became more tense. The Hurriyat leadership took some time to respond. After consultations among themselves and with some underground leaders, the Hurriyat Conference issued an ultimatum to the Government

on October 18 to withdraw armed security forces from around the Shrine complex by the next afternoon, the Hurriyat leaders alongwith thousands of their supporters would march from different parts of Srinagar to the Shrine, defying the restrictions imposed in the City. Their spokesman Abdul Ghani Lone said they planned to assemble in the Civil Lines area and march to the UN Military Observers Headquarters, submit a memorandum Kashmir.

Shrine.

seeking the world body’s immediate intervention in

Thereafter, they will continue their march

to the Hazratbal

He alleged that the “siege of the Shrine is direct interference in

the religious affair of Moslems. Such acts would never be tolerated by Kashmiri masses and they will lay their lives for preserving the sanctity

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Kashmir Underground

of the holiest of the holy places”. The same day the Conference announced its intention of intensifying its campaign against the government by organising a peoples’ march from Lal Chowk to the Shrine on October 21 if the siege is not lifted by then. On October 19, Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Lone was injured in the police lathicharge on a defiant mob near Budshah Chowk. For better medical attention the Government flew him to Delhi. The Hurriyat Conference condemned the use of force resulting in injury to a few individuals. Mr. S.A.S. Gilani alleged that Lone was beaten mercilessly before being arrested along with Nayeem Khan and Ghulam Nabi Sumjji. He also condemned imposition of curfew in the City areas and evacuation of over 3000 persons from the Hazratbal area. He justified the entry of the armed militants into the Shrine by asserting that they were within their rights to use places of worship for their just and sacred cause and claimed that “we believe in unification of religion and politics” and in any case mosques had been used as sanctuaries since Islam’s

inception”.

On October 22, a large number of people responded to the Hurriyat call to march to Hazratbal Shrine despite the curfew. After Friday congregational prayers people formed processions and then got together to form one big one. Near Fatehkadal area the police tried to disperse the procession. A Hurriyat leader, Moulvi Abbas Ansari and a few others were injured. Another leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani was leading a procession from Burzala area. He was arrested by the Security Forces. There were protest processions out in many towns of Kashmir Valley and police had to use force to disperse the crowds defying restrictions. That evening some 29 persons were reported dead and over 200 injured from all over Kashmir. For the next three weeks the Government officers were negotiating with militant leaders inside the Shrine and the Hurriyat leadership seemed to have no role in this. On November 16 the holed up militants agreed to come out of the Shrine and surrender to the authorities. The Hurriyat Conference felt it had been marginalised and the people had failed to secure dividends from this operation. On November 19, the Hurriyat Conference gave an ultimatum to the Government to remove “all security forces and bunkers around the Hazratbal Shrine within 6 days or face serious consequences”. The deadline passed with

Government showing no sign of relenting.

In the meantime,

Hurriyat

leaders held hectic meetings among themselves and with some underground leaders, and formulated a plan. On November 26, Hurriyat leader Prof. Ghani told press of the line of action decided upon. He said people were advised to march peacefully towards the Shrine on December

7, with white shrouds on their persons and

then break the

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71

security cordon around the Shrine Complex to have the “Deedar” of the Holy Relic. Thereafter the congregation was advised to undertake the “Migration March to Azad Kashmir”. This march was to be known as “Operation Hijrat”. Prof. Ghani reiterating the resolve of people to continue their struggle, stated “the Government can kill people, destroy the property, but cannot change the resolve of the Kashmiris”. Prof. Ghani did not leave anyone in doubt about Hurriyat’s disappointment regarding the “tame outcome” of the Hazratbal crisis when he admitted that the “end of the episode was not according to the wishes of the Hurriyat Conference”. He also charged the Government of “trying to break the Hurriyat Conference”. It will be worth recalling what Prof. Ghani had told the media after the demonstrations of October 21, 1993, “if the armed forces storm the shrine we win, if they withdraw we win,

and if they flush out the militants we still win”.

With authorisation from t he Hurriyat Conference, the Moslem Augaf

Trsut (which administers the Hazratbal Shrine) negotiated with

Government nominees in the first week of December regarding removal

of bunkers and security forces from the Shrine complex. Hurriyat had laid the condition that should an agreement emerge it would be subject to acceptance by the Hurriyat Conference. No agreement could be

reached because Government insisted that the Auqaf Trust give the

guarantee that no militant shall enter the Shrine. Prof. Ghani said “no body can stop a Moslem from entering any place of worship, be it a mosque or a shrine”. Strict enforcement of prohibitory orders by the Administration did not allow the people to form processions on December 7, 1993. The Hurriyat Conference on December 31 appealed to the Pakistan

Government to raise the Hazratbal issue during Secretary-level talks starting in New Delhi the next day. A spokesman of the Conference alleged that the Shrine “is under siege for last 77 days in which no azaan could be said or prayers offered”. The Hurriyat called for a “civil curfew”

on January 9, 1994 on the eve of Idd-I-Miraj — Prophet's birth anniversary,

as peoples protest against security arrangement around the Shrine.

On December 27, 1993 All Parties Hurriyat Conference welcomed

the Indo-Pak talks scheduled for January 1, 1994 but warned that these - would not yield any purpose if the “genuine representatives of Jammu & Kashmir people were not involved” and a reference is not made to United Nations. Its Chairman, Moulvi Umar Farooq, releasing a

document, said the current phase of the struggle of Kashmiri people started with “massive unarmed demonstrations”. The document said

any deal between the two countries would fail to yield any credible result as had happened in the past without practical measures to restore

an environment of non-violence and end to State terrorism. It further

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Kashmir Underground

said that “any sincere response to the gravity of the situation in the

Valley would call for an immediate and complete cessation of military

action, dismantling of all bunkers, watch towers and barricades set

up in towns and villages and stopping torture and killings in custody. Besides, the military and paramilitary presence in cities, towns and villages must be completely withdrawn and all political prisoners released unconditionally. The Governments of India and Pakistan

should facilitate Kashmiri leadership on both sides of the Line of Actual Control to confer and submit their own proposals fora peaceful settlement”. The All Parties Hurriyat Conference also demanded that Abdul Ghani Lone, Shabir Ahmed Shah, Syed Ali Shah Gilani and Mohammed

Yasin Malik should be released forthwith. The APHC leaders also demanded that India and Pakistan issue a joint declaration that they do not contemplate a military solution to the Kashmir problem, that the two Prime Ministers are ready to meet to set the peace process in motion, that the genuine representatives of the people of Kashmir will be fully associated with the process and that in the event of a stalemate, both

India and Pakistan would be willing to invite or accept impartial mediation or to make a reference to the UN.

On January 13, 1994, the APHC ruled out any direct talks with the Government of India. After meeting of the Executive Committee, party

Chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Faroogq, told press that there was no question of entering into a dialogue with New Delhi without participation of Pakistan, which was “not only necessary but unavoidable” for a lasting and peaceful solution of the Kashmir dispute. JKLF observes the death anniversary of Maqbool Bhat on February every year. This year it got endorsement from the Hurriyat Conference which on February 10, announced its full support to the JKLF strike call on the anniversary. In a statement the APHC also paid handsome tribute to Maqbool Bhat who “laid down his life for the cause of freedom”. The recent comment of an American official that people of Kashmir had to project a strong leadership set the underground to make the Hurriyat Conference strong and the sole polilical representative body to “speak on behalf of Kashmiris”. Recently when a group of European Ambassadors visited Kashmir, various groups of Kashmiris who met them were reported to have projected different and often contradictory points of view.

The Hurriyat however had failed to assert during the Hazratbal crisis

and later failed to secure the restoration of the Shrine complex. Even the agitation called for and the “Operation Hijrat” proved a non-starter and

fully exposed the inherent weakness of this patchwork setup. And yet

for the underground the Hurriyat seems to be the only political hope.

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73

Many important militant outfits started work to secure active support for APHC. Three groups Al Burq, Al Umar Mujahideen and Ikhwan-ulMuslameen issued separate statements asking all militant groups to extend full cooperation and support to Hurriyat While Al Burg insisted that memoranda and other material to various visiting diplomats and representatives of other international bodies be routed through Hurriyat

Conference, Ikhwan said no strike call should be given without seeking concurrence of APHC. Al Umar on the other hand asked Hurriyat leadership to close their ranks and provide effective and well-organised programme for highlighting the Kashmir issue. A senior member of British Labour Party and its Shadow Foreign Secretary, Dr. Jack Cunningham paid a 3-day visit to Kashmir and Jammu in the last week of March 1994. In Srinagar he met APHC Chairman Moulvi Umar Farooq and its spokesman Prof. Ghani, and in Jammu he met Syed Ali Shah Gilani and Abdul Ghani Lone in jail and discussed the Kashmir situation. At New Delhi on March 28, on the eve of his return to London, Dr. Cunningham told the press “I did not get the impression that they were willing to stand up against violence”. He also disclosed that the suggestion made by him for a ceasefire only evoked a negative response from Hurriyat leaders. He also said that there was evidence of extensive external support for the militant activity”. It is obvious that militants are getting support from Pakistani side across the line of control” he added. Worried by increasing rivalry among the militant groups and intergang violence, the APHC on April 1, 1994 after the Friday prayers in Jamia Masjid set up a two member Committee to go into “infighting” among the militant outfits in the Valley and appealed to them to agree to a “ceasefire”. Pir Hafizullah Makhdoomi (of Peoples Conference) and Ghulam Rasul Wani (of Liberation Council), both members of the

Executive Committee have been asked to remove misunderstandings among various outfits. They were also authorised to award punishments to those found involved in hostilities. The Hurriyat sent a 4-member delegation to Delhi on April 7, 1994 on what was described as a “goodwill mission”. The delegation was led by Prof. Abdul Ghani and Moulvi Abbas Ansari, Mr Ghulam Mohammed Bhat and Mufti Baha-ud-Din Faroogi, retired Chief Justice, were other

members.

The delegation went to Delhi at a time when

an official

delegation from US States Department of Mr. Strobe Talbott, Deputy Secretary of State and Ms. Robin Raphael, was in Delhi. The APHC delegation met two important members of Asian Society of New York

on a visit to Delhi, Ms. Carla Hills and Arther Hartman but didn’t meet

the American officials.

However on Arpil 8 the delegation had a long

meeting with Dr. Karan Singh, the former Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir.

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In Kashmir some of the Hurriyat Conference constituents raised objections and criticised the delegation for their allegedly having described India as a friend. The JKLF said the delegation had overstepped their authority in meeting people other than the American delegation. The JKLF accused the 4 Hurriyat leaders of “indiscipline” and asked them to return posthaste to Srinagar before more damage is done to the Hurriyat image. The Hizbullah spokesman said that by equating India with Pakistan the four leaders had “ignored the killing of 40,000 Kashmiris at the hands of the Indian troops” and this had hurt the sentiments of Kashmiri people, he added. Six weeks later almost a similar situation developed. A Hurriyat leader Fazal Haq Quereishi went to Delhi in the end of May 1994 and held meetings with officials, nonofficials and some political leaders ostensibly to find a solution to the difficulties in Kashmir. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen asked the Hurriyat Conference to clear its stand about these New Delhi confabulations. The Hizb said explanations should be got on whose authority they discussed Kashmir in Delhi. The Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen also asked Hurriyat to take the masses into confidence about the New Delhi talks. The Tehreek President, Prof. Aslam in a statement said Hurriyat should clarify if Abbas and Quereishi had been given any brief. But talks to find a solution of Kashmir problem can be only between India, Pakistan and the representatives of the people of Kashmir. To establish that Hurriyat Conference was the apex body in Kashmir, it decided to enforce a “civil curfew” to prevent Moharrum procession to be taken out in Srinagar on June 19 and 21, 1994. Hurriyat leader Moulvi

Abbas

Ansari, who

represents Shias, said for the first time

Moslems in Kashmir had decided not to take out the procession to protest against the authorities. Two senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani and Abdul Ghani

Lone were released from detention in early October 1994. At their first

press meet on October 17 they said Hurriyat would not participate in any elections held on Jammu & Kashmir, if organised by India. They were of the opinion that such elections were no answer to the problem of Kashmir. They further said that Hurriyat would advise people to

participate only if they were held under the auspicies of UN and after

India concedes that Kashmir is a disputed territory. A US Congressional delegation visited Kashmir in the middle of November 1994 to meet Hurriyat leaders as also representations of other shades of opinion.

The delegation led by Mr. Gary Ackerman came to

assess the Kashmiri situation and seek Hurriyat views on ending of violence and participation in the electoral process. The US delegation

was less than satisfied with the Hurriyat response. Hurriyat leaders could give no reply as to how they could prove their being representatives

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75

of Kashmiri masses unless people in an election elected them. To the question that they would not participate in elections conducted by India if in the seventies both Gilani and Lone and their parties Jamait-e-Islami

and Peoples Conference had no hesitation in participating in elections

in Kashmir organised by Indian Election Commission. Both these leaders were elected to the J&K Legislative Assembly then and Lone also became a Minister. Mr. Ackerman also hinted at support being extended by Pakistan to militants in Kashmir when he said that “all hands in Kashmir militancy are not local”. The APHC held its General Council meeting in December 1994. At this meeting an important proposal was made by Shabir Ahmed Shah Chairman of Peoples League. He proposed that all parties and political groups committed to Kashmiris’ right to right of self-determination may merge and form one strong united party having one objective, one leader, one constitution, and one flag. He also suggested that APHC may have representation from Jammu and Ladakh regions also. Most of the constituents of Hurriyat Conference were opposed to this proposal.

In the first week of January 1995 their reactions and

responses became public. While Prof. Ghani of the Moslem Conference announced that the thesis was impracticable and demands be rejected in the very first thought, Peoples Conference Chairman Abdul Ghani Lone was of the view that the proposal deserves a serious thought. The major component, Jamait-e-Islami made no bones that it was totally opposed to it. Most important leader of JEI and its nominee in the Executive Committee Syed Ali Shah Gilani said his organisation was “intrinsically a missionary organisation, dedicated to the cause of Islam” and because of its distinctive character, cannot merge in any arrangement. “It is not possible to cease the existence of the Jamait-e-Islami”, he

asserted.

Elaborating it, he said “the Jamait-e-Islami is an Islamic

organisation with international character striving for establishing the Din - the religion of Allah which provides guidance and leadership to be followed by entire mankind and its absorption into any other organisation was, for all practical purposes, impossible”. He also added that “all the constituents of the Hurriyat Conference as also the propounders of merger acknowledge this fact”. Another reason advanced against this merger proposal was that the APHC has many constituents which are purely of religious, social and political motive and their merger into any faction into any party is not easy. These include Anjuman-e-Tableeg-ul-Islam, Jamait-I-Ahal-eHadees and Anjuman-e-Nusrat-ul-Islam, the Muslim Augaf Trust, the

Government Employees Conference and the Kashmir Bar Association. The APHC also shot down a proposal to give membership to

individual leaders in addition to parties. Prot. Ghani explaining it argued

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Kashmir Underground

the “Hurriyat Conference is a collective forum of parties operating in the body politics of Jammu & Kashmir. In our scheme of things, it is therefore, the parties which will have to be represented in the forum,

not individuals”. “It is All Parties Hurriyat Conference, not All Persons Hurriyat Conference”, he stated. The Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Moulvi Umar Farooq and a senior Shia leader Moulvi Abbas Ansari had gone abroad to attend the OIC Summit at Casablanca in Morocco in December 1994. They toured some other countries as well. At Casablanca they met a large number of world leaders to whom they explained their point of view on Kashmir. It seems that they were not able to convince different Moslem countries whose representatives they met judging from the result of the Summit. The reference to Kashmir in the main Resolution was just routine. However, the Kashmiri leaders saw for themselves that Pakistan was not able to catch the OIC member countries by the nose and turn it whichever side it wanted. This realisation influenced the APHC thinking and future plans. Although APHC does welcome every meeting of OIC where Kashmir is put on the agenda, but they no longer bank on that alone and have ceased to be enthusiastic about it. Inearly 1994 the Hurriyat Conference toyed with the idea of seeking membership of OIC but it was pointed out that only sovereign governments could become its members. If the APHC could form a government-in-exile only then would it become possible. It did not seem to be ready for that then. Even Pakistan did not encourage it. As part of their foreign tour, the two Hurriyat leaders went to UK also.

There, in the first week of February 1995, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar

Farooq told BBC Radio that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait had decided to send funds directly to APHC in Kashmir through the OIC. Later elaborating he said, the funds would be used “for relief and rehabilitation

of suffering Kashmiris”. No mention however was made of the method of distribution and the monitoring mechanism. Some Kashmiri elements have started asking questions about the funds received so far and their utilisation. In February 1995 Hurriyat leader Prof. Ghani participated in a meeting in Delhi to find solution of Kashmir issue.

Subsequently, he

addressed a Press Conference where he spoke about Kashmir. Ikhwanul-Musalmeen

took objection to it and condemned

Prof. Ghani

for

sabotaging the freedom struggle. It issued a “death warrant” against him. The APHC considered it outside interference in internal matters of Hurriyat and asked Ikhwan to withdraw the warrant.

Both sides stuck

to their stands and the matter fizzled out in due course. But once again

an outfit had successfully challenged

the authority of the Hurriyat

Conference and also its supremacy, for Ikhwan refused to accept Hurriyat

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77

decision that role of militant organisations was limited to providing protection to political leaders. It declared boldly that Ikhwan would neither give protection not support to any political leader. The Hurriyat leadership was shaken up. The SAARC summit took place in New Delhi in the first week of May 1995. The Pakistan President, Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, came to attend it. The AHPC had sought permission from Pakistan High Commission to enable a Hurriyat delegation to meet him in New Delhi. A delegation headed by its Chairman, Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq went to New Delhi for the meeting. Three other members of the delegation were Abdul Ghani Lone, Moulvi Abbas Ahmed Ansari and

Shabir Ahmed Shah. They met in Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on May 5, 1995. The Pakistani Foreign Minister, Sardar Aseef Ali Khan, was present in the meeting. After the meeting declining to share what transpired, Abdul Ghani Lone told press that “we don’t want to say anything at the moment. We had very extensive talks”. Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani in 1995 went to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj but it turned out to be more than that. The visit was utilised for political purposes to meet various leaders of Moslem world and to put across the Hurriyat points of view on Kashmir. He also briefed them about the “Kashmir dispute”, prevailing situation in the Valley and alleged gross violatations of human rights by the security forces. He met Nawabzada Nassarullah Khan, Chairman of Kashmir Committee

in Pakistan and Sardar Abdul Qayoom Khan, Prime Minister of POK.

Gilani also had a long meeting with Dr. Mohammed Ahmed, SecretaryGeneral of World Islamic League and urged him to set up a special cell in the League Secretariat to keep tab on the Kashmir situation and also use its good offices to pressurise India to concede the right of selfdetermination to Kashmiris. So far the League does not seem to have taken any step in this direction. Gilani in Mecca also met the Vice President of the League Dr. Abdullah Al Naseef. Later he called on Dr. Mani, Secretary General of World Assembly of Moslem Youth. On return to Srinagar because of rivalry assuming alarming proportions, Gilani appealed to various militant groups to sink their differences and to extend support to Hurriyat Conference. Addressing a press conference on June 22, 1995 he alleged that having failed to crush the peoples movement,

the Government had “misled persons like Kukha Paray, Samad Khan and Naba Azad” to side with Government to become counter insurgents. Hurriyat Conference in 1994 started feeling handicapped because it did not have any representation from Jammu and Ladakh regions and also because no non-moslem

was part of the Conference.

The matter, it

seemed, was discussed among its leaders but nothing clear cut emerged.

On June 30, 1995 in a press interview its Chairman, Mirwaiz Moulvi

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Kashmir Underground

Umar Farooq said Hurriyat needed to be broadbased platform of political

constituents from Ladakh and Jammu regions. He disclosed that some Jammu leaders and some Kashmiri Pandit leaders had shown interest in

the AHPC. He said they were in touch with the Moslem Action Committee of Ladakh and some Buddhist organisations as well. He

said he would welcome the return of the Kashmiri Pandit migrants to

Kashmir Valley, but it was a fact that though all over the world “atrocities on Kashmiris have been condemned by all and sundry minus the Kashmiri Pandits. Still we accept them as our part”. When asked why he accepted Indian security and travelled on an Indian passport, he replied that security guards provided to him were “an official vigil against my wishes” and justified his Indian passport on the ground that because of it he was able to travel abroad and was able to participate in OIC’s Casablanca summit. In early July 1995, the Indian Government deputed a high level delegation to Kashmir for talks without condition with leaders of different political complexions. The delegation was headed by Mr. Bhuvnesh Chaturvedi, MOS

in the Prime Minister’s Office.

They met leaders of

various parties but the APHC leaders refused to meet them on the ground that the meeting would be “useless and meaningless”. Its spokesman said the offer of talks was aimed “to buy time and fulfill the military goals in Kashmir on one hand to mislead the world community on the other”. The AHPC had always felt that without the JKLF participation the moslem world would not accept the Hurriyat Conference as a “truly representative body of Kashmiris”. In a meeting of its Executive Committee held on August 3, 1995 a 3-member Committee was set up to “persuade the JKLF President (Mohd. Yasin Malik) to take part in its meetings”. The member of this Committee were : Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Shabir Ahmed

Shah

and

Prof. Abdul

Ghani

Bhat, Yasin Malik

had

withdrawn from APHC activities since November 1993 when APHC leadership described Malik’s “fast-unto-death” as un-Islamic. It was said that Malik’s Gandhian approach had no place in the current struggle. A letter was sent to Mr. Yasin Malik by the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference. The text of the letter is given below since this was the first and only case where APHC was so particular about participation of an organisation:

“Jenab Mohammed Yasin Malik Sahib,

President JKLF

Dear Friend,

The APHC Executive Council in an extraordinary meeting

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79

held here today the 3" of August, 1995 considered your prolonged absence, once again with a deep sense of anxiety and

sorrow, decided unanimously that a request be made to you, in

the larger interests of the movement that you make it convenient to attend the forthcoming meeting of the APHC Executive Council. As for your accusation the members of the Executive Council believe that an enunciation of Islamic principles should not be misconstrued as derogatory to your status as a Muslim. However, if you still feel pained about it or take it otherwise,

we would like to assure you that we hold you and regard your services to the cause of people We assure you that the repetition of the past acts to create misunderstanding shall be avoided in

in high esteem very valuable. that amounted future.

Sd/-

Chairman, Hurriyat Conference

This letter had its effect and Yasin Malik agreed to participate in APHC deliberations. A parcel bomb was thrown in the office of local stringer of BBCon September 7, 1995. Next day the APHC announced a 3-day strike all over Kashmir for September 9 to protest against the attack which it alleged was by activists of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. The APHC Chairman, Moulvi Umar Faroog told press that it was to protest against and “attract attention towards the state terrorism in Kashmir”. He blamed the security agencies and a particular group which he said was being patronised by the Government for the explosion. He alleged that this attack was engineered because the “government wanted to suppress the voice of Kashmir press as it has presented the true picture of the situation. Since it was unhappy with the role of the press so the Government wanted to crush its voice by killing the journalists”. The Hurriyat Conference had been against any kind of Autonomous Council for Ladakh region and expression had been given to this many atime. On August 16, 1995 the APHC alleged that setting up of the Leh Autonomous Hill Council was “a deliberate attempt to disrupt the territorial integrity of the State”. After a meeting of the APHC Executive Committee

a statement

was

issued

which

said, “neither India

nor.

Pakistan has the right of changing the disputed nature of the State, constitutionally or administratively under the UN Resolutions”. The Chairman of the newly elected Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Mr. Thupstan Chewang on September 10, 1995 accused the Hurriyat Conference of being communal, and termed it as unfortunate, its opposition to the formation of the Council. He told Press

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Kashmir Underground

that “present attitude of the Hurriyat Conference to the formation of the Hill Council exposed its communal attitude”. According to him “Hurriyat reach was confined only to Kashmir Valley which was also under great stress”. The APHC leaders had threatened to disrupt the supply of essential commodities to the Ladakh region passing through the Kashmir Valley. The Ladakhi leader described it as “unwarranted

and unfortunate”.

The Hurriyat Conference sent a 2-member team to the US to create favourable atmosphere for acceptance of the secessionist viewpoint by

public and the US Administration. Jaleel Ahmed Andrabi, Chairman of Kashmir Commission of Jurists and Ghulam Mohd. Bhat, Chairman of

the Institute of Kashmir Studies spent time in New York and Washington meeting officials and various delegations at the United Nations and later with officials of the State Department. They also had meetings with members of the Congress especially Dan Burton and Dana Rohrabacher

- the well-known

India-baiters.

They

also called

on Ken

Jensen,

representative of the US Institute of Peace. These meetings were arranged by Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Executive Director of the Kashmiri-American Council, who accompanied them in most of the meetings. Before going to the US, the two-member delegation had been to Geneva,

where

they participated

in the UN

Sub-Commission

on

Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities Conference. A few days later the Hurriyat Conference sent its Chairman, Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq to meet UN officials and members of delegations of different countries attending the UN General Assembly. On October 6, 1995 he participated in a Seminar on Kashmir organised by the “Asian Society” in New York. It was attended by some jurists and intellectuals from India, Pakistan and US, some representatives from United Nations

and members of the Editorial Board of New York Times. He apprised them of the situation in Kashmir and the abuses of human rights. He called on the participants to work for durable peace in the South Asian region by helping to find a peaceful solution of Kashmir solution. Next day the Hurriyat leader met the UN Security Council President, Ibrahim Gambari, Nigerian Ambassador to UN, Moulvi Faroog told Mr Gambari to see that UN became more actively involved in solving Kashmir and to ensure that “UN honour its commitment to the Kashmiri people made over 50 years ago which was to grant the people of Kashmir their right to self-determination”.

In this meeting also Moulvi Umar Farooq was

accompanied by Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai.

Here in Kashmir expectations were rising and pressure was also

being built up on the APHC to strain every nerve to get the 4 foreign

hostages released from Al Faran custody. On October 7, 1995 the APHC

Acting Chairman

Syed

Ali Shah Gilani told the Press that this

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81

organisation was “not in a position to take active part in resolving the hostage crisis”. He told the press that it was the Government who were in communication with Al Faran. “We do not have any contact with Al Faran”, he stated.

He accused

the government

of continuing

this

gameplan to “defame the ongoing movement at an international level”. He claimed that Hurriyat was dead against the abduction of innocents and it strongly condemned the abduction and even called for a Valley wide bandh. At this press conference he stated that the Hurriyat Conference had sent an appeal to the 52-member organisation of Islamic countries to “snap economic and diplomatic ties with India” to bring pressure on it to stop its “attritive and opressive hand in Kashmir and grant the right of self-determination to the people here. Gilani said the appeal had been conveyed to the OIC members at New York that day by APHC Chairman Moulvi Omar Farooq. The Hurriyat Conference was severely criticised by a strong militant group Hizbullah, for double standards adopted by them. A spokesman of the group on October 7, 1995 in a statement said while Hurriyat had stopped militant groups from giving calls for bandhs without APHC permission but the Hurriyat has been calling for bandhs frequently. The statement said Hizbullah was against bandhs because they do not affect the Government and instead pushes Kashmir economy further towards destruction. With a punch the statement recalled that the “militants in Kashmir have taken to the gun with only one objective, either to be victorious or achieve martyrdom. While 40,000 people have laid down their lives, to observe bandh on the killing of any one in

unnecessary. A week after this, on October 14, 1995, the APHC accused the Government for “resorting to worst kind of state terrorism to crush the ongoing movement”. Addressing a Friday congragation in Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid, senior leaders Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Abdul Ghani Lone

and Mohammed Yasin Malik alleged that government was sabotaging the movement through its agents. “The security forces are busy committing inhuman acts across the Valley, killing and arresting people and destroying their property at their will and outraging the modesty of women” they stated. On October

16 Mr. Abdul Ghani

Lone, a senior Hurriyat leader,

alleged that an attempt had been made on his life the previous day. Addressing the press at Srinagar he alleged that Government had plans to eliminate the top Hurriyat Conference leadership. He said “We are not children. We are mature politicians. We know that India is the third military power in the.world.

But we are ready to sacrifice our lives for

the ongoing movement as it would be a great honour for us. Our blood

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Kashmir Underground

will reinforce the forces of freedom against India” he added. About the Government offer to provide Hurriyat leaders government security he said “We will sacrifice our lives but will not accept the government security. We do not want people of intelligence agencies who want to see us dead,

to enter our houses.

It will be more

dangerous”.

The

Government spokesman same day told press that Hurriyat leaders including Mr. Lone had been approached and offered state security a number of times but it had been rejected. The Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Faroog from USA after meeting officials at UN and in Washington travelled on to Colombia in South America to meet world leaders gathered at Contegena for the 40" NAM Summit. On October 19, 1995 the Hurriyat leader met 15 NAM

leaders

including

those from China,

Pakistan,

Iran Turkey,

Indonesia and a few more OIC countries. Moulvi Farooq informed them of his view on Kashmir and the “gross abuses of human rights taking place in Kashmir at the hands of Indian forces”. On another front the Hurriyat Executive Committee decided to keep its channels open with Indian political parties, intellectuals, human rights

activists, press and diplomats. It was decided to open an “Awareness Office” in New Delhi. This was opened in New Delhi on November 5,

1995. The Hurriyat leaders made frequent trips to Delhi and met important members of opposition parties, well-known Indian journalists and foreign correspondents, diplomats of major countries. They decided to use its New Delhi office to disseminate information from Kashmir . giving the “real picture” of happenings in Kashmir. For more than a year the APHC had been more active outside the State than in Kashmir where people had started doubting its representative character on one hand, and its ability to pursue any concrete programme of action, on the other. Its first venture out of the State was in April 1994 when a 4-member delegation went to Delhi. This was followed by many visits to Delhi, to Rawalpindi in September 1994 at the time of OIC Foreign Ministers Conference then and later to Casablanca, USA and Columbia. The Al Faran had been holding four western hostages since July 4, 1995. Claiming to be the sole representative organisation of Kashmiris, the western world expected it to use its good offices and its clout to get the hostages released. The Al Faran also sent an appeal to Hurriyat Conference to mediate with the government to get 15 jailed militants released in exchange for the 4 hostages. After due consideration Hurriyat

Conference turned down the plea.

Instead the Hurriyat leadership

appealed to Al Faran to release the hostages without further delay and without any conditions. The appeal entreating them said “If you are moslems and sympathisers of the freedom struggle, please let the

hostages go”. Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Acting Chairman of APHC said “It

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83

is out of question for the APHC to mediate with a government which has been committing all sorts of atrocities on the people of Kashmiris”. Back from an extensive foreign tour the APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, in December 1995 at Srinagar took stock of the situation in Kashmir, with leaders of the constituent parties. It was” decided that new contacts made abroad should be fully exploited by giving them detailed information from time to time. The Hurriyat leaders compiled facts and figures which were presented to press on December 21, 1995. Moulvi Omar Faroog told press that Hurriyat had invited attention of UNO, the OIC and the Amnesty International among others to “reign of terror let loose by the Government and its secret agencies in Kashmir”. APHC Chairman alleged largescale custodial killings and houses blasted through explosives in Srinagar District. He also alleged that security forces were resorting to “terror-striking tactics”. Another Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Lone alleged that Government was “employing renegade militants to liquidate the Hurriyat leaders”. He further alleged that “entire people of Kashmir were under threat of annihilation”. These allegations were strongly denied by the Government three days later. A week later another senior leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani alleged that an attempt on his life had been made a day earlier. He said it was a “Government plot to kill the genuine voice of Kashmir people”. It is the Government which wants to see us dead and for this purpose it is using some Kashmiri renegades militants”, he added. “No pressure from the Government can bring one under subjugation. I am ready to die rather to bow before the Government pressure”. The Hurriyat Conference decided in January 1996 to send a delegation to Pakistan. On January 16, its spokesman Prof. Abdul Ghani

told a Press Conference in New Delhi, that they had sought permission

of the Union Government for this.

Explaining it, he said such a

visit

would facilitate a meeting of leaders from both sides of Kashmir and intellectuals from India and Pakistan to sit across the table to arrive at a solution on Kashmir. “Once such a dialogue is set in motion, guns would be silenced in the Valley”, he added. In Kashmir resort to strikes and bandhs had become very frequent towards the end of 1995. Militant outfits, even small ones, give call for strike on “small matters”

according to APHC,

which

had

to express

concerns on February 6, 1996, over frequent calls for strikes. Its spokesman said that no hartal call may be given without APHC permission for “day to day strikes are creating problems for the masses _besides affecting the economy of the State”. ,

The Hurriyat Conference which was considered quite pro-American for the first two years or so of its existence gradually grew cold because

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Kashmir Underground

the US Administration was no longer saying things that suited Hurriyat

politically.

Ambassador

The

four day

visit to Kashmir

in June

1995, of the US

to India, Mr. Frank Wisner marked the watershed.

In

Srinagar he met Hurriyat leaders among others as also the representatives of Kashmiri Pandit migrants. After the visit Mr. Wisner said US supported holding of elections in Kashmir at the earliest. He also clarified that US had no formula for resolving the Kashmir problem and it had no intention to mediate unless asked by both India and Pakistan. About a possible solution he said it should be sought by peaceful negotiations as provided in Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan. The senior Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Gilani reacted strongly to Mr. Wisner’s suggestions. He said “The Ambassador’s statement has hurt the sentiments of the people of Kashmir”. According to him the US also was guided mainly by its national and trade interests. Continuing he said “In any case the contradiction is clear. On one hand the US says that there is no change in its stand in Kashmir dispute. On the other hand it expresses itself in favour of elections”. This disenchantment with Mr. Wisner has continued since. In the meantime the Hurriyat Conference pleaded for US mediation in Kashmir. Two of its representatives, Jalil Anmed Andrabi and Ghulam Mohammed Bhat who were in USA met Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gib Lanford and two Congressmen, Dan Burton and Dana Rohrabacker in September 1995. Mr. Wisner seemed to be unfolding some shifts in US policies towards the Indian sub-continent.

He went to Pakistan in July 1996, to address a

meeting of senior officers of Pakistan Army. He spoke to them at Quetta on July 10 where he told them to adopt a more pragmatic view of the Kashmir situation and all assistance to Kashmiri militants should be stopped. Consequently, Hurriyat attitude also changed. When Mr. Wisner visited Kashmir after his visit to Pakistan Hurriyat leaders refused to meet him.

When one of its leaders, Shabir Ahmed

Shah decided to

defy the ban and visited Mr. Wisner for a long meeting, Shah was asked to render an explanation. When he refused to oblige, Shah was suspended from Hurriyat membership. The Hurriyat seemed to have entered a “cold era” of its attitude towards US Government. The Hurriyat got a jolt when four former militant leaders Babbar

Badr, Bilal Lodhi, Imran Rahi and Ghulam Mohidin Lone opted for a

dialogue with New Delhi. In Srinagar at a Press Conference on February

6, 1996, the four leaders accused the Hurriyat Conference of having failed

people of Kashmir. They accused Hurriyat leaders of being involved in conspiracy against militancy, engineering internecine fighting for petty personal interests, spending money lavishly on unproductive things and miserably failing in scoring a single point on the political front.

The

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statement released said “the APHC lacked initiative and it restricted itself to staging dramas to get maximum media attention or resorted to the only other option of calling for strikes”. According to it “the APHC has failed in responding to every emergency that erupted here. The hartal is the lone weapon in APHC arsenal which has brought havoc to the Kashmir economy and has made the position of APHC ridiculous”. The statement described the Hurriyat leaders as self-centred and said

“they always practiced escapism. Instead of political vision these people

were lured by leisurely lifestyles. They have acquired 5-star culture and move in fancy cars. In the process they have lost the peoples’ mandate”. People in general viewed this as a first major revolt against the Hurriyat Conference. The APHC Executive decided to have an extraordinary meeting to formulate its plan for fire-fighting operations. After the meeting on February

10, 1996,

the APHC

called upon

its constituents

to “rid

themselves of elements who are bent upon to sabotage the ongoing freedom movement”. The statement released to press after the meeting reiterated its stand on Kashmir and said that “a solution to the lingering

Kashmir problem lies in the grant of right of self-determination to the

people of Kashmir. If other ways to resolve the issue were found then participation of India, Pakistan and people of Kashmir was absolutely necessary”.

The APHC also gave a call for observance of Friday, February 11, 1996 as ‘Martyrs Day’ to coincide with the death anniversary of Maqbool Butt. In a statement it said that on that day “the sacrifices of all those who laid down their lives in the cause of azaadi since 1931 will be remembered and people will reaffirm their pledge to continue with the struggle till the ultimate goal is achieved”. The APHC urged upon the Imams and Khatibs of all mosques to “take oath from the people that

their struggle for azaadi and Islam will continue despite all odds from

the occupation forces”. The Hurriyat Conference got a setbak in Jammu region on February 27, 1996 when fourteen important activists of Moslem Janbaz Force decided to dissociate from APHC and support their former Chief, Babbar Badr in giving up the gun for a dialogue with the Central Government. In the meantime, the Union Government decided to hold a meeting in New Delhi with 9 leaders of different militant groups who had given up the gun for dialogue. It also invited the Hurriyat leaders to join the meeting. The APHC however decided to reject Union Minister S.B. Chayan’s invitation. The APHC General Council meeting was held on March 16, 1996 at which it was alleged that Indian Government was “terrorising the Hurriyat leadership to face it to make a new accord with it on the pattern

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of 1952 or 1975 accords. It’s Chairman Moulvi Umar Farooq said the Government was mistaken if they think “we will surrender”. He alleged that in concert with Government the Indian mass media and the intelligence agencies had launched a disinformation campaign against the Kashmiri leadership with the intention to defame them and cause doubts in the minds of the people”. While the APHC was blaming New Delhi for its woes, the JKLF

(Shabir Siddiqui faction) was busy blaming APHC of “failure to represent

the aspirations of people because it was itself a divided house”. Shabir Ahmed Siddiqui told the press on March 18, 1996 that “Hurriyat Conference did not represent the people of Kashmir and it should involve © other militant and political outfits to chalk out a future strategy and a broad-based forum to fulfill the dreams of the people of Kashmir”. Following the attempt of the JKLF (Siddiqui) group to send in armed militants into Hazratbal Shrine in the third week of March, which resulted in the death of a number of their activists, including its leader Shabir

Ahmed Siddiqui, the Indian Government decided to deploy elite National Security Guards personnel in Kashmir for security and protection of 4 selected shrines and some religious places. The Hurriyat Conference felt very upset and vehemently opposed the move describing it as “brazen interference in our religious matters”. The APHC Chairman told a press conference on April 1, 996 that this was motivated to “wrest control of some important stage-centres from us”. He asserted that the “protection of these places is primary concern of devotees and lawful custodians like Waqf Trusts”. The talk of holding of talks in Jammu & Kashmir was dominating the political scene and the APHC was somewhat worried about its consequences. The APHC spokesman Prof. Abdul Ghani fired the first salvo from the Jama Masjid before Friday prayers on April 5, 1996. He declared that Hurriyat “consider election process as a gamble which will most probably shed the blood of the people of Jammu & Kashmir”. He dismissed this as a “game plan which is aimed at dividing the people of Kashmir with an ulterior motive to break us”. Since the Government has not been “able to kill us with bullets directly, they have not been able to break our nerves, particularly, they want us to fight between ourselves now”. He said APHC was prepared for “an open referendum against Hurriyat Conference stand. I dare anyone to share the stage with us anywhere in Kashmir”. The same day Prof. Ghani announced that Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq had been chosen as Chairman of APHC and he (Prof. Ghani) as spokesman for another term of two years. He also announced a decision

of far reaching importance that General Council had asked APHC constituents to.“suspend their organisational activities till our goal is

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achieved. Everything will flow down from APHC. We will open APHC units in every tehsil and District”. The Hurriyat Conference decided to send a delegation to Geneva to participate in the Conference of the UN Human Rights Commission in March 1996. Its two members Dr. Hamida Abdul Majid Bandey and Mumtaz Ahmed Wani (Secretary of Kashmir Bar Association) met members of delegations and NGOs from various foreign countries and gave them the Hurriyat point of view of Kashmir situation. Later they visited UK for the same purpose. The APHC decided to “protest against government sponsored killings of innocents in Kashmir” by organising a march to the Army’s Srinagar Headquarters on April 18, 1996. The six leaders started their march from Lal Chowk areas and walked about 1% kms carrying banners reading “Quit Kashmir” and “Indian Army Go Back”. The slogans they raised “Bharat Zalim Faujio, Yehan se Chaley Jao”- Indian oppressor soldiers should leave this place. The police took them into “protective custody for they were trying to march into restricted area “and there was apprehension of breach of peace. Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Moulvi Abbas Ansari, Abdul Ghani Lone, Shabir Ahmed

Shah, Mohd.

Yasin

Malik and Prof. Abdul Ghani were arrested and released a few hours

later. Atmosphere in Kashmir towards end of April was thick with reports of early elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The APHC decided to give a boycott call even before the elections were announced. They seized the opportunity of Eid congregation to make the announcement. On April 29, to a very large congregation in Edgah in Srinagar, APHC Chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Umar Farooq asked the people of Kashmir to boycott the forthcoming polls on the plea that “there was no substitute for the right of self-determination”. He also called upon the Government employees “not to associate themselves with the process so as to express their solidarity with oppressed people of Kashmir”. The Hurriyat Conference set up a Central Office in a posh residential colony of Raj Bagh in Srinagar. It was well furnished and properly equipped modern office. On May 2, 1996 a part of the second storey of the building was damaged due to a fire. While the government said it seemed to be accidental, the party activists suspected foul play. The APHC spokesman Prof. Abdul Ghani Bhat said “these things will not deter the Hurriyat Conference to continue the struggle”. The Hurriyat Conference had already given a call to people to boycott the polls for elections for 6 Parliamentary Constituencies. On the eve of the first phase-of polling on May

7, 1996, APHC

renewed

its call for

boycott. It also called for a total strike. It alleged that at some places government had used force to get closed shops opened. One of its leaders

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Yasin Malik said “Government in forcing Kashmiri employees to take part in election duty and the employees leaders have gone into hiding to save themselves from the wrath of the Government”. Next day the Hurriyat leaders launched their boycott campaign against elections from Sopore. The seven leaders went from door to door to ask people not to participate in elections. Shabir Ahmed Shah

told them “there will be threats and attempts will be made by the security

forces to force you to join these farcial elections, but you must resist it to the last extent”. Syed Ali Shah Gilani told them that the Indian authorities want to hoodwink the global opinion about Kashmir by holding these elections which do not have any credibility at all. Other leaders who

went around were Abdul Ghani Lone, Prof. Abdul Ghani, Yasin Malik and Javed Ahmed Mir.

Next day the six leaders went to Bommai village to continue their campaign. There they were confronted by a handful of activists of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon (Kukha Paray outfit) who objected to Hurriyat campaign. An altercation followed in which a couple of shots were fired by Ikhwan activists which was returned by police personnel accompanying Hurriyat leaders. On return to Srinagar the APHC leaders told the press that two attempts had been “made to eliminate us”. The role of Hurriyat leaders in Sopore area in the boycott campaign was criticised by a senior separatist leader Nayeem Ahmed Khan (Peoples League). He told the press that APHC leaders were not coming upto the aspirations of the people. On May 11, 1996, first anniversary of the Charar-I-Sharief tragedy,

the Hurriyat leaders went to the Charar town to participate in the foundation stone laying ceremony of the burnt down shrine. On the 30 kms stretch of Srinagar-Charar road two separate land mines went off but no one was injured. The Hurriyat Chairman Moulvi Umar Farooq could not leave Srinagar because of curfew in parts of Srinagar. From his residence he told press that APHC did appreciate the Government announcement the previous day that the Government will rebuild the Sheikh’s Shrine and the entire gutted town. He said the announcement

“adds insult to injury of people of Kashmir in particular and the Islamic

world in general”. He declared that reconstruction would be undertaken by the people themselves. He announced setting up of a “Hurriyat Alamdar” Fund and appealed to the people in the Valley and also to Kashmiris living in foreign countries to donate for the Fund. It is learnt that in the first few weeks large amounts were received. In the month of May all three phases of Parliamentary elections were completed despite the boycott call of the Hurriyat Conference. There was no major law and order problem. The percentage of poll was over 46% all over which came as a surprise to APHC. About their predicament

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the State Government Chief Secretary Ashok Kumar on May 25 said “the All Party Hurriyat Conference is a divided house and is in a very bad condition. It’s leadership can’t stand on its two legs. There is no idealism in them, no guts, they are not people who are prepared to sacrifice. The election is one more nail in the coffin of militancy or the Hurriyat’s movement in State”. Although some reports had been circulated about APHC having

received large amounts of money as donation from the Saudi

Government, the reports got some credence on June 22, 1996 when former

Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah publicly alleged that Hurriyat Conference

had

received

Rs 85 crores from Saudi Government,

for

rehabilitation of the fire-ravaged Charar-I-Sharief. The APHC did not react till three weeks later when on July 12, Abdul Ghani Lone denied that APHC had received this big sum from Saudi Arabia. Earlier in February 1996 the Central Government had issued to few Hurriyat leaders notices under the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Act 1976, to furnish details of money and other donations received since

January 1, 1990.

Delhi.

It is not known if any replies have been sent to New

The Hurriyat Conference usually is indifferent to political developments in the rest of the country and happenings in different States. But on July 26, 1996 it reacted very strongly to the ban imposed on People’s War Group (PWG) by the Andhra Pradesh Government a few days earlier. An APHC spokesman described it as against the democratic norms. He said that only previous month the ban had been lifted but it seems “reimposed after PWG had publicly supported our demand for right of self-determination”. He disclosed that PWG had invited Hurriyat leaders to Hyderabad where they participated in some seminars and rallies organised by PWG. He said the ban was “unwanted and unwarranted”. With elections to Legislative Assembly being proposed to be held soon, the Governor, Gen. K.V. Krishna Rao asked the Hurriyat Conference

to participate in elections and prove its representative character. The senior leaders of the APHC on July 12, 1996 rejected the proposed political process. Moulvi Umar Faroog told the congregational gathering in Srinagar’s Jama Masjid that “ongoing struggle is not aimed to get the internal autonomy, but the right to decide about our own future”.! A resolution was read out by him which asked for tripartite talks for “lasting and durable solution to the crisis”. Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Abdul Ghani Lone, Prof. Abdul Ghani, Moulvi Abbas Ansari also spoke in favour of the resolution. Shabir Ahmed Shah however said that he was against making political speeches in mosques. He further said “let us accept realities. This is not the time of playing with the emotions of people by

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speeches”. He alleged that a number of agencies were working overtime to divide the unity of Kashmir’s political leadership. Six days later two APHC leaders Gilani and Lone announced that Hurriyat would be prepared to participate in elections “provided they. are held under the supervision of the United Nations”. They said that first thing that they would do after winning a majority in UN supervised polls, would be to adopt a resolution in the assembly to nullify the State’s accession to India. The OIC’s Contact Group on Jammu & Kashmir was to hold its Ministerial meeting at Islamabad in Pakistan on August 13, 1996. The Hurriyat Conference deputed a 3-man delegation to interact with them on the invitation of OIC Secretary General Hamid Al Gabid. Besides its leader Moulvi Mohd. Abbas Ansari, other members were Firdous Asmi and Abdul Latif Bhat. The OIC meeting was inaugurated by Pakistan Prime Minister, Ms. Benazir Bhutto. The Kashmir delegation had meetings with Pakistani leaders as also with Foreign Ministers of Guinea, Niger, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan. The delegation members were reported to have presented a “graphic picture of Indian excesses

and deteriorating situation in Kashmir”. New Delhi allowed the visit as

part of its policy of transparency on Kashmir, but considered the presence of APHC delegation to Islamabad for OIC as “anti-national activity”. While one group of APHC was in Pakistan giving vent to its anti-

India feeling, another group was in Delhi to demand withdrawal of

Indian troops. On the Independence Day, about 25 activists led by Syed Ali Shah Gilani were marching to Boat Club on Rajpath in New Delhi to hold a protest meeting against holding of elections in Kashmir. On the way they allegedly were stopping traffic to demand withdrawal of armed forces from Jammu & Kashmir. The police advised them to hold a protest meeting near Jantar Mantar since meetings near Boat Club had been prohibited. They sat down on Rafi Marg and police removed them from there to ensure free flow of traffic. Back home in Srinagar the APHC Executive Committee suspended Shabir Ahmed Shah from its membership “for indiscipline”. On August 17, 1996 APHC

Chairman

Moulvi Umar

Farooq told Press that Shah

had defied Hurriyat decision not to meet American Ambassador Frank Wisner on his recent visit to Kashmir. On Hurriyat reluctance to extend its activities to two other regions of the State - Ladakh and Jammu Faroog said they were afraid that may lead to communal tension. The Hurriyat Conference not content with the response to its boycott poll not to participate in Assembly Elections, called for a two-day stike in Kashmir Valley from September 6, 1996 for the first phase of polling scheduled from September 7. The polling was held and Government

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claimed over 50% voting. The APHC disputed the claim and said “it is acooked story”. After the third phase of polling concluded on September 21, the APHC called it “an army operation”. It claimed Hurriyat boycott was successful but government forced people to come out and cast their

votes.

For the Parliamentary elections in 1998 the APHC again decided upon its boycott. JKLF President Mohd. Yasin Malik said elections under the Indian Constitution were no solution to Kashmir problem. From January 2, 1998 the organisation launched its anti-election campaign with

a series of meetings held in different towns of Kashmir Valley.

A month later the Union Home Secretary at Jammu said that APHC

leaders and others who asked people not to participate in elections could be prosecuted for obstructing electoral process. The Kashmir Government in Legislative Assembly elections in September 1996 had

also arrested Shabir Shah Gilani, Abdul Ghani Lone and Mohd. Yasin

Malik, Javed Mir and Shakeel Bakshi for anti-poll campaign. Once released they restarted their campaign. Three of them including Yasin Malik. Moulvi Abbas Ansari were arrested in Doda later in September.

After Farooq Government took over office on October 9, 1996 Gilani, Malik, Shabir Shah, Abdul Ghani Lone, Javed Mir were released.

In the next few months Hurriyat leaders were not able to create any major problem for Farooq Government and the impression grew that it had lost whatever relevance it had gained in Kashmir. Chief Minister Dr. Farooq described it as “Hartali Conference” because now it confined its activities to give calls for strike. Delhi's political circles talked of it as “Kashmir’s Fund Raising Conference” because alleged involvement in Hawala transactions of some of its leaders.

The Hurriyat leadership seized every opportunity of meeting visiting

diplomats or flying to Delhi to meet any visiting foreign dignitary. In June 1997, a delegation of diplomats of European Union countries came

to Kashmir to study the situation. They were led by Mr. Geevar, Head

of the European

Commission

and included Gastano

Zucconi,

Ambassador of Italy; James Flavin, Irish Ambassador; H_J. Jeovissen,

Ambassador of Netherlands; Sarah Tiffins, Political Secretary of UK High Commission and B. Van Loosdrecht, First Secretary in Netherlands Embassy. On June 11, 1997 Hurriyat Conference delegation led by its Chairman, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Faroog had a two-hour long meeting. Hurriyat leaders described the Kashmir issues as a “major threat to global peace, especially in South Asia”. The delegation sought the intervention of European Union in resolving the tangle. They also alleged that following the installation of Farooq Government, the situation has further

deteriorated. “People are being killed, women molested and raped, and property is being destroyed at the will and command of the Security

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Forces” alleged Hurriyat. When asked to provide documentary evidence, they promised to forward it later. Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Shamshed Ahmed was in New Delhi in September 1997 for Secretary-level Indo-Pak talks. A 4-member delegation of Hurriyat Conference led by its Chairman Moulvi Omar Farooq went to meet him. On September 15, 1997 the delegation had a long meeting with him. According to Hurriyat spokesman Prof. Abdul Ghani Bhat, the delegation impressed on the Pakistan official for an urgent need to solve the Kashmir problem. Pakistani Foreign Secretary was reported to have told the Hurriyat delegation that Pakistan would try its best to find a permanent solution of this problem. A day earlier, the delegation also met the Pakistan Information Minister, Mushahid Hussain, who was visiting New Delhi. Since he is a close confidante of

Pakistan’s Prime Minister, the delegation reportedly received Pakistan’s

assurance of continued support.

Hurriyat Chairman Moulvi Omar Farooq at Delhi was reported in

the Press to have said that he was ready for “unconditional talks with Delhi”. The Pakistani leaders disapproved of this policy announcement and Hurriyat leadership hurriedly countered by alleging that Omar Farooq was not quoted correctly. It pointed clearly to Pakistan’s opposition to any direct dialogue between the Indian Government and the secessionist leaders of Kashmir. Soon after the US Administration had declared Harkat-ul-Ansar as a terrorist outfit, the Hurriyat leaders met senior American diplomats visiting Srinagar and protested against it. They were assured that Clinton Administration had presently no intention of adding JKLF to the list of terrorist outfits. Hurriyat leaders under Syed Ali Shah Gilani complained about the alleged atrocities committed by the Security Forces in Kashmir. US Secretary of State, Madelline Albright, came to Delhi in the third

week of November 1997 during her tour of some parts of Asia. A Hurriyat delegation sought an interview with her. US Embassy instead asked it to hand over a Memorandum for her. The memorandum asked US to take initiative for a peaceful and permanent settlement of the Kashmir problem. The Hurriyat Memorandum said nothing short of tripartite negotiations for an agreed solution between India, Pakistan and the “legitimate representatives” of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, would be acceptable to them. The Hurriyat delegation returned without any response. The next couple of months they kept waiting but international response was not encouraging from its point of view.

In February 1998 APHC decided to depute its Chairman, Mirwaiz

Moulvi Omar Faroog to New Delhi to meet some selected Ambassadors to inform them of the “real situation in Kashmir” and alleged atrocities

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of the Indian Forces. In mid-February Omar Farooq called on Ambassadors of Malaysia, Indonesia, Norway and Turkey. The OIC 8" Annual Summit was scheduled to be held at Tehran from December 9,1997. The APHC had been invited as Observer. The Hurriyat decided to send a four member delegation under the leadership of its Chairman,

Moulvi Omar

Farooq.

issued visas to the delegation members.

APHC

claimed

that Iran had

However, Indian Government

decided not to allow the Hurriyat leaders to leave the country, because Pakistan was reported to have decided to table two resolutions on Kashmir and to use Hurriyat leaders to gather support from member states.

The OIC Ministerial Conference was to be held at Doha (Qatar) from

March

15, 1998.

The APHC

was invited to attend as Observer.

The

Indian Government refused permission to the delegation members to

leave the country.

The Hurriyat Conference calls for Bandh - closure of business and transport services — on any pretext. Success of bandhs is not construed as a measure of support it commands, but it is taken as acquisance of general public to protect themselves from the ire of various outfits and to ensure that their property is safe. Hurriyat gave calls for total strike on May 12, 1997 the day Civil Secretariat offices reopened in Srinagar for summers; on October 19, 1997 on the official visit to Srinagar of Indian

Prime Minister Mr I.K. Gujral; on October 27, 1997 being golden jubilee

of landing of Indian troops in Kashmir; on November 15, 1997 on visit of

Indian President Mr. K.R. Narayanan to address the Kashmir University Convocation. In November 1997 the Hurriyat Conference, in one fortnight took out protests in different parts of Srinagar against alleged excesses by the State Government and its Police force of SOG. To break the protestors meetings their activists were arrested, taken away and lodged in some police station. Later they were released. For the first time in 8 years of insurgency the separatist leaders arrested in Srinagar Civil Lines were produced before an Executive Magistrate who sent them for detention to Rangret-Sub-Jail on November 13, 1997.

The APHC decided to stage protest meetings against “gross violation

of human rights in Kashmir” from June 1997.

While announcing this

decision senior Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Lone told Press on May 22 that the campaign is “aimed at raising the morale of the people and give them the confidence to come out against reign to terror”. He said they would tour not only parts of Kashmir, but also all over India and inform

people about the real situation. Later some of their leaders visited Delhi and Calcutta.

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The Hurriyat Conference considers itself as the representative movement organisation of all Kashmiris. As such it has always been against attempt of any group wanting to have a dialogue with Delhi. They opposed the bilateral talks proposed by former militant leaders who gave up gun earlier. Hurriyat Conference organised three rallies in the Valley in February 1996. They wanted to mobilise public opinion against the talks even when it accepted the importance of dialogue for peaceful resolution of the differences. A year later they reacted strongly to a suggestion of direct talk with Delhi made by Hurriyat Chairman and he was made to say that he had been misquoted by the Press. Even in March 1998, the APHC Chairman Moulvi Omar Faroog said “The APHC is ready to talk with any Government provided the disputed nature of Kashmir is accepted by them”. The antipathy of APHC towards the elected Government headed by Dr. Faroog Abdullah has been there not only from the day it assumed office in October 1996, but from the day Hurriyat Conference came into existence. Dr. Abdullah in the past has been the severest critic of Hurriyat leaders. The day Faroog Government assumed office, the APHC Acting Chairman Ghulam Mohd. Sumji called it an “extension, instrumentality and illegitimate brainchild of India neo-imperialists”. He told the Press on October 9, 1996 that “people of Jammu & Kashmir have neither given any credance to it nor will they cooperate with the thrusted regime”. Using strong language he described the elected legislators “traditional traitors, brokers of national honour”.

Soon after assuming office, the Chief Minister, Dr. Faroog Abdullah made an offer of talks to “end the misery of people”. The Hurriyat leaders while addressing a Friday congregation in Jamia Masjid, Srinagar of October 11, 1996, rejected Farooq’s offer saying that since they had rejected the recent elections so there “is no question of holding talks with him. Farooq Abdullah is no authority with whom talks can be held”. The Chief Minister retaliated by describing the APHC as “antinational and enemies of people”. He also held them responsible for the widespread destruction and loss of life during the last seven years of strife and mayhem. He even asked them to leave Kashmir and go to Pakistan as “their dreams of Azadi as well as merger with Pakistan are not going to be fulfilled either in their life or after they die”. He told the Legislative assembly in October 1996 that “on gun point he is not going to hold talks with enemies of the people who enjoy every facility in India but continue to swear by Pakistan”. Not had the Hurriyat Conference always condemned killing of

innocent persons by armed militants. The APHC Chairman Mirwaiz. Moulvi Omar Faroog condemned the massacres at Wandhama on

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95

January 25, 1998 and one at Marwah in Doda a week later. He told Press

on February 3 that Wandhama massacre was “dastardly, inhuman and a terrorist act”. He however accused the Government of being unsympathetic to victims at Marwah. He said since the crime was similar

in both, both needed equal condemnation. Another leader, Syed Ali Shah Gilani, said response of Indian establishment towards the

developments in Kashmir were “purely colonial and communal”. The Muslim Augaf Trust had been established by Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah in the Forties and looked after and administered all major Shrines, mosques and other properties in Kashmir Valley. He was made

President for life. Following his death, Dr. Faroog Abdullah more in his

capacity as President of the National Conference, was made a lifelong Trustee and its Chairman. The MAT looked after the Shrines of

Hazratbal, Charar-I-Sharief and numerous Sub-Auqafs besides real estate of nearly Rs 100 crores. The MAT had members mostly individuals close

to the Sheikh family or members of the National Conference. With spurt of militancy in 1990 the secessionist elements had taken control first of different shrines and then also of the administration of the Trust.

On July 15, 1994 the Deed of the Trust was got amended as

per its rules. On January 20, 1996, the new Deed was endorsed by Trust’s

general body which consisted of representatives of all Sub-Augafs of

the Valley. Dr. Abdullah was “thrown out because of his absence from Kashmir since 1990 leaving the Trust unattended”. Though Hurriyat Conference did not have anything directly to do with it, the MAT had their “protection and patronage”. Mr. Ghulam Qadir Drabu was its Chairman. With activisation of National Conference and its Government headed by Dr. Farooq Abdullah being in office since October 1996 it was a question of time when MAT would return to its fold. On July 7, 1997 the Muslim Augaf Trust reverted to the old regime. The Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Lone alleged that Ghulam Qadir Drabu was “forced to resign” as Chairman and further alleged that MAT Secretary Sheikh Abdul Rashid was detained by police to “enable take over”. The APHC described the take over by Dr. Faroog Abdullah as illegal, unethical and unjustified”. Addressing the Press on July 9, 1997

at APHC

headquarters Lone, Moulvi Ansari and Javed Mir described

the take over as “great tragedy for Moslems of Kashmir” and alleged that it was part of “concerted conspiracies by Government of India to prevent the people from continuing with their Islamic identity”. Hurriyat Chairman Moulvi Omar Farooq had been sent abroad to present “real picture of Kashmir”. Alongwith two others he attended the OIC Summit held in Casablanca (Morocco) in October 1994 as an observer. Second delegation was sent to Islamabad in May 1996 to OIC

Contact Group on Kashmir meeting. Moulvi Omar Farooq and Firdaus

+

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Asmi were sent to New York in September 1996 to participate in OIC Foreign Ministers meeting on October 2. While in US Omar Farooq met with some likeminded persons and sympathisers” and later issued what came to be known as “Washington Declaration” which renounced the option of Independence. The delegation also submitted Memorandum to United Nation which demanded right to accede either to Pakistan or

to India.

This stand of Hurriyat Conference was severely criticised by JKLF,

Kashmir International Front and Jammu &Kashmir National Liberation Front. JKLF Chairman Amanullah Khan, in a statement in London on

October 13, 1996, said by renouncing option of Independence, Hurriyat Conference had “lost any claims to represent people of the State”. “The Hurriyat have now come out with its true colours of being puppets, stooges or mercenaries of others and left with no right to claim it represented the wishés and aspirations of the people of Jammu & Kashmir”, he added.

Tahir Afzal of Kashmir International Front said “By bartering away the aspirations and wishes of the people of Jammu & Kashmir, the APHC stood exposed as playing to the tune of its masters in Islamabad”. He further said “Hurriyat never stood for United Kashmir or Independent Kashmir. Their policy is only to maintain politics of conflict and

confrontation to play the agenda set by their masters, the Pakistan Inter-

Services Intelligence(ISI)”. Chaudhury Mushtaq Hussain, Convenor of Jammu &Kashmir National Liberation Front (IKNLF) described the Hurriyat as a “major shift which does not echo the voice of the people of Jammu &Kashmir on both sides of the border”. Decrying Hurriyat claim he said “Hurriyat is only confined to Kashmir Valley and cannot claim to speak for the whole undivided State”. The differences between hardliners in Hurriayt Conference and other separatists, had been widening, for many months. It was Ikhwan-IMusalmoon, J&K Ikhwan, Tehrik-I-Wattan, Azam Inquilabi and many

others including Babbar Badr, then it was the turn of Shabir Ahmed Shah of Peoples’ League. He had not seen eye to eye with Hurriyat leadership on various issues. He had defied their direction to him not to meet US Ambassador Wisner when he visited Srinagar in summer of 1996. He was asked to explain and on his refusal he was suspended from APHC. The situation was allowed to drift but when danger of this infection spreading stared the Hurriyat in its face it had to take the decision to expel him. In the middle of September 1997, the matter was

discussed at length at APHC

out. It created no ripples.

Executive and finally Shah was thrown

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It was no longer a secret that Omar Faroog had not come up to the expectations of the hardliners in the Hurriyat Conference. His trips abroad were not to their liking and in muted criticism he was even described as an “Indian agents who is playing in the hands of New Delhi”. Like previous years in September 1997 he was due to fly to New York to be there to lobby in UN during General Assembly meeting. It was known all over Srinagar that Abdul Ghani Lone and Mohd. Yasin Malik opposed his New York visit therefore he was forced to call it off. Lone and Malik in this tirade were supported by 5 other members of the Executive Committee and were members of the Shoura-e-Jehad as well.

The heat kept on building but the Hurriyat hardliners decided not to force the pace of events. They decided to wait for normal election of

new Chairman due in April 1998.

The meeting of the Executive

Committee was convened on April 22. Two days later Moulvi Omar Farooq told Press that Syed Ali Shah Gilani had emerged as the “consensus candidate” for Chairmanship at the meeting attended by six members only representing 27 constituent groups. Gilani became Chairman of APHC for the next 2 years. Moulvi Omar Farooq pledged his full support. The Executive Committee adopted a resolution deciding to “continue its relentless fight to liberate the State from India”. Gilani said he knew this was not an easy task but “with mercy of Allah and the cooperation of the Executive members and other constituents of the Conference — Bar Associations, traders federations and employees unions - I hope to do my duty. Ultimately, the truth triumphs, not might”. Moulvi Omar Farooq was made Head of the External Affairs section which was charged to look after diplomatic interaction within and outside India. Prof. Abdul Ghani Bhat (Moslem Conference) would continue to be the Chief Spokesman. Abdul Majid Bandey was sent to Delhi to replace Firdous Asmi, as Head of the Awareness Bureau, there. All the same, the Hurriyat Conference seemed to stand

at the

crossroads. Gilani’s reputation as a hardliner and totally committed to pro-Pak politics would either isolate it from moderate and proIndependence elements or become stridently anti-Indian organisation. Moulvi Omar Farooq was now expected to pay full attention of his own Awami Action Committee so that it becomes a strong political organisation and make it the principal regional opposition party. At the very first occasion he demonstrated his popularity and support he had in Srinagar on the 8" death anniversay of Mirwaiz Mohd. Farooq. The procession taken out from Mirwaiz Manzil to Iddgah and the meeting were impressive in the present political atmosphere in Srinagar. Director General of Police, Mr. Gurbachan Jagat in early November

1997 said that instead of carrying on any political activity Hurriyat Conference was “merely making frivolous changes against the local

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police” by alleging custodial deaths the APHC was quick to react strongly. Ata Press Conference on November 4, 1997 Hurriyat leaders presented list of 12 names of youth who were allegedly killed in custody. They demanded a high-level judicial probe into these deaths. Abdul Ghani Lone said if judicial probe proved their allegations wrong “we will publicly apologise for it”. About Hurriyat strike calls, Lone said since Government had already

banned all forms of agitations,

strike is the only means “available to us

to register the protests against any injustices inflicted on the people of Kashmir”. The Defence Minister in Vajpayee Government Mr. George Fernandes paid a short visit to Kashmir in April 1998. He advocated unconditional talks with militants though later this offer was modified. The Hurriyat leadership waited for a positive indication from Delhi but what came was a declaration in the Lok Sabha (Parliament) on June 2,

1998 by the Indian Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani that “Centre has not initiated any move for talks with the Hurriyat leaders”. About this time Kashmir was agog with the aftermath of nuclear tests in May 1998 by Pakistan and the meetings of P-5 in Geneva, G-8 in Birmingham and UN Security Council besides the strident stand on Kashmir taken by US Administration. The Hurriyat Chairman Syed Ali Shah Gilani about the tests said

“these mark beginning of a race and instead of enforcing sanctions against

India and Pakistan, the international community should force them to solve the Kashmir

problem

so that an atomic war

in South Asia, is

averted”. The Hurriyat appealed for total strike in Kashmir towns on June 4, 1998 to coincide with the P-5 meeting in Geneva in order to attract their attention to Kashmir and asked P-5 to seek a “permanent settlement of the Kashmir issue”. Gilani said unless the “representatives of Kashmir are involved in the negotiations these will be purposeless”. He further said “whenever there was international pressure, New Delhi agreed to go for bilateral talks but when these were held, New Delhi made these

exercises purposeless by repeating that Kashmir is an integral part of

India”.

The APHC Chairman conveyed Hurriyat’s wholehearted support

to UN Secretary General and P-5 and G-8 leaders for their efforts to “find an acceptable, honourable and durable settlement fo the Kashmir dispute

in the interest of international peace”. The letter which was faxed on June 3, 1998 from Srinagar said, “nuclear explosions carried out recently by fndia and in response to that by Pakistan, have set in motion a

dangerous arms race in South Asia. Insensitivity could end up in an atomic holocaust. However, it is gratifying that that the permanent

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members of Security Council and the G-8 member nations in pursuance for the urge for peace, have imaginatively taken on the responsibility to address the most sensitive and vexed problem of Kashmir. The problem, linked as it is explicitly inseparably with the nuclear weaponisation in India and Pakistan , constitute a potential threat to peace and security in the region and perhaps, beyond too. Peace can never come in a vacuum. The problem will have to go first. If the CTBT and the global disarmament is to be translated into a reality, the Kashmir dispute as a stumbling block will have to be resolved first”. In an interview to a New Delhi English daily on June 16, 1998 he said it is clear now that the world had realised that Kashmir was the root cause of tension between India and Pakistan. He claimed that history of past 50 years bears testimony to the failure of the bilateral approach. About failure of any foreign country supporting the Hurriyat stand he said “we are realistic that on global level no country can openly support us.

Every country has their own interests to guard in international

diplomacy”. When asked if Hurriyat had any control over militants, he said categorically “APHC is a political platform. Our youth are not with India and they have picked up arms against it. We are not in a position to stop the use or misuse of the gun. There is no rapport between the APHC and the gunmen”. Looking into the future he said “in twenty years from now Kashmir will be out of the clutches of India — it will be a free land or part of Pakistan”. A few days earlier at a public meeting at Handwara, Gilani had justified use of the gun in Kashmir. On May 15, he said “we have always pleaded through peaceful means but when it was described as cowardice, there was no option but to resort to the gun. Gun was thrust on the people of Kashmir”. The Hurriyat was in the process of reorienting its thinking when the nuclear tests in the sub-continent made them reconsider their strategy. It was evident at a Seminar held in Srinagar on May 19, 1998 which was dominated by APHC constituents and some intellectuals. The subject was “Kashmir Dispute - Past, Present and Future”. Gilani termed Kashmir as the core issue between Pakistan and India. In this context he disagreed with India that what was being witnessed in Kashmir was a proxy war initiated by Pakistan. He declared, “It is freedom struggle launched by Kashmiris for achieving our inalienable right”. The theme was picked up by Yasin Malik who observed “our past is replete with slavery and accidents. We launched a freedom struggle in 1931 which became a victim in 1947. Again a movement was launched in 1953 which

culminated in a debacle of 1975 accord. confused with electioneering process”.

And the present struggle is

Moulvi Omar

Farooq, while

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supporting the continuance of the struggle, lamented that intellectuals had kept away from the movement by and large. Prof. Bhat asserted that Kashmir “was a dispute, is a dispute and will continue to be a dispute until resolved”. Moulvi Abbas Ansari asked Kashmiris to rely on their own strength and put punch in the struggle. He said depending on USA and other foreign countries would be futile.

A month later, another seminar on Kashmir was held in Srinagar. It

was organised by J&K High Court Bar Association on June 19, 1998 on “Kashmir Issue in the Changing Global Scenario — Impact of Nuclear Tests conducted by India and Pakistan on its Resolution”. Speaking in the Seminar Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Hurriyat Chairman, said the tests had

confirmed that Kashmir was an international issue. “The international resolutions are still valid and the recent discussion in UN Security Council

testifies to it”. JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik thanked P-5 and G-8 countries

for taking interest in the solution of the Kashmir problem and appealed to them to ensure its solution without delay. Prof. Bhat thanked India for conducting the nuclear tests and pushing Kashmir to the top of international agenda. According to him “Our movement is now in the final stages and the coming days will be very crucial for Kashmiri people”.

JKLF leader Javed Mir felt the nuclear tests had given a new lease of life

to the Kashmir issues in which international interest seemed to be waning. The Seminar at the end adopted a couple of resolutions. One resolution sought the intervention of world community in solution of Kashmir problem. “In view of the failure of India and Pakistan to resolve the issue, it has become imperative for both the countries to accept third

party mediation, particularly the UN. Both the countries should involve genuine representatives of the people of J&K in these negotiations”, it said. By another resolution determination of the future status of Jammu & Kashmir State was sought “in accordance with the will of its people on the basis of universally recognised and governable principle of people’s right of self-determination”. It further said “it is an international problem observing international intervention”. About this time the Hurriyat Conference decided to step up political activity. On June 19, 1998 APHC Chairman Gilani declared that the time had come to launch “an organised struggle in view of the changing global scenario following the nuclearisation of the Indian sub-continent”. The Hurriyat leadership seemed to have decided to turn on the heat on the ruling National Conference. It planned to hold public meetings all over the Valley. A big rally was planned to be held at Iqbal Park in Srinagar for which it was to seek permission of the District Magistrate

since processions and meetings were banned. In the meantime the APHC staked its claim to be the real representatives of Kashmiri people. Addressing press on June 29 at

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Srinagar, Gilani said, “Unless Kashmiri people are given representation

in the process of (Indo-Pak) dialogue, the problem will not be resolved”.

“There is dire need that Kashmiri people be involved in the dialogue. And only APHC can represent one crore, forty lakh Kashmiris”, Gilani asserted. A large group of Hurriyat supporters led by Mohd. Yasin Malik on July 10, 1998 tried to make forced entry into the Hazratbal Shrine though ostensibly for prayers. The Administration fearing a repetition of 1993 hole-up, swung into action. The Police tried to disperse the crowd shouting pro-azaadi slogans. Having failed they resorted to lathi-charge. They arrested leaders of the demonstratous including Yasin Malik, Javed Mir, Dr. G.M. Hubbi, Mohd, Ashraf Sahrai and Shahid-ul-Islam.

Later¥

members of Peoples’Conference were arrested. These included Nayeem Ahmed Khan and Mukhtar Ahmed Sofi. July 13 every year is observed as Martyrs Day in Kashmir to mark the death anniversary of 21 persons who died in firing in 1931. Hurriyat Conference gave a call for total strike while ruling National Conference observed it with floral tributes being paid followed by fateh-khwani. Party President and Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah addressing the gathering there criticised Hurriyat leadership for arrogating to itself the role of sole representatives of people of Kashmir and in that capacity to take part in Indo-Pak talks on Kashmir, said that Hurriyat minus the gun was nothing. He wanted to know “Who the hell are you that we should talk to you people?”

The Hurriyat leadership had sought permission to hold a public

meeting in Iqbal Park at Srinagar on July 18, 1998. The District authorities had denied the permission fearing breach of peace. The Hurriyat leaders had threatened to violate the ban and reach the Iqbal Park. The Administration posted police contingents around the organisation’s headquarters at Rajbagh and around residences of important leaders on the evening of July 17. The APHC Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Gilani alleged to the Press on July 22 that Army soldiers had gang raped a young girl in Safapor village near Manasbal. Three days later an Army spokesman termed it “totally false allegation”. Before visiting mediapersons the supposed victim Razia Firdous was presented who denied the rape story. When confronted Gilani said he had not met the victim but he had been“reliably informed” on basis of which he had made the allegation. The Human Rights sub-commission of UN was to meet at Geneva from August 3 for three weeks. The Hurriyat Conference deputed a two-member delegation to represent the “case of people of Kashmir”. The two members Ghulam Nabi Shaheen (General Secretary of Kashmir Bar Association) and Ghulam Rasul Dar (JKLF) were prevented from

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leaving New Delhi by air for Geneva on August 12, 1998. The Immigration authorities at Indira Gandhi International Airport said they were not allowed to leave the country because their names figured in the Exit Control List. Many POK leaders and some Kashmiri organisations abroad also questioned the representative character of Hurriyat leadership.

Chairman

of Kashmir Institute at London, Shabir Choudhury

(former

General Secretary of JKLF) said he did not agree with Gilani’s assertion that Kashmiris’ struggle is for accession to Pakistan. “We are not fighting for accession to any country. We are all clear on this and there can be no

compromise on this” he said. Chairman of JKLF (A) Amanullah Khan described the Hurriyat Conference as a creation of Pakistani authorities,

who were propping it up for their own ends. Speaking at a meeting at

Mirpur (POK) Amanullah quoted by Pakistani media there as dismissing

the Hurriyat Conference as “totally non-representative with its leaders being self-styled” on August 14. The Hurriyat conference urged the UN Security Council to take concrete steps for speedy resolution of Kashmir dispute. On August 22, 1998 this umbrella organisation of 17 separatist groups, sent a memorandum to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. A furore was created when a senior leader of the Hurriyat Conference, Abdul Ghani Lone invited the Afghan Talibans to come to

Kashmiris as foreign mercenaries.

Many polical leaders took Lone to

task for the invitation. Hashim Quereshi, Chairman of Jammu & Kashmir

Democratic Liberation Party described it as shocking because Lone had forgotten that chapter of tragic history of Kashmiri’s enslavement under Afghan oppression (Kashmir was under Afghan rule from 1753 to 1819 A.D.) Afzal Tahir, Chairman of POK

Kashmir International Front said

“You couldn’t expect better from Hurriyat leaders”. He further said “Pakistani mercenaries by their depravity and barbaric indiscriminate

killings have already left deep wounds on Kashmiri people and, to top

it, it appears Hurriyat leaders would like to invite Taliban bandits to

sow killing fields in Kashmir”.

Hurriyat Conference office at Jammu

was closed by Police on

September 4, it was alleged. This was reopened three days later when two Hurriyat leaders Yasin Malik and Abdul Ghani Lone visited the office. The Hurriyat Conference filed a writ petition in the State High Court on January

29, 1999.

The petition claimed

that APHC

was a

political organisation and was not “associated with any illegal activity entailing penal action”.

Demanding return of furniture and records

missing from the office when police had closed the office, the petition said “the right to hold property is a fundamental right under the

Constitution and the Police has no right to interference in its functioning”.

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Besides seeking return of its property and compensation, the petition also sought a direction to the authorities not to interfere in its functioning in Jammu. Political observers were surprised because Hurriyat leaders neither consider themselves Indians nor do they accept Indian Constitution but here they were claiming fundamental rights as Indian citizens. In the past couple of years the rigorous application of militants diktats against liberal use of television, and putting up dish antennas to receive numerous channels, seemed to have been relaxed. Some fundamentalist

outfits thought of reimposing the restrictions. In August-September 1998 a couple of outfits were believed to have got two grenades thrown ona cable-operator at Batamaloo in Srinagar. Most of cable-operators got scared and appealed to Hurriyat leadership to intervene for otherwise lacs of rupees invested by them would be sunk. The cable-operators decided to suspend service from September 11, 1998. Their delegation met with Mr. Gilani who told them that Hurriyat was not against cable operators. He told them they should not project obscene postures. There were 40 cable operators in Srinagar with nearly 35,000 subsribers in 3 months. Nearly 6,000 pesons were dependent on this business, it was stated. With the UN General Assembly meeting in New York towards end of September 1998, the Government of India decided to allow a Hurriyat delegation to go to New York. On September 22, from Delhi a 7-member delegation headed by former Hurriyat Chairman, Moulvi Omar Farooq, left for New York. At UN

HQS members of the delegation met UN

officials, representatives of countries which are members of the Security Council and representatives of OIC countries. They were reported to

have pressed for inclusion of Kashmiri representation in Indo-Pak talks

and also about alleged repression in Kashmir. Here in Kashmir, some senior leaders of Hurriyat Conference on September 23 presented a memorandum to UN Military Observers Group office for being forwarded to UN General Secretary. The memorandum described the ongoing movemen: in Kashmir as “freedom struggle based on right of self determination,” it urged UN to take active part in solving the dispute and “forcibly persuade India not to use its

armed forces to crush the ongoing legitimate freedom struggle”. Because

the leaders defied the ban on processions and demonstration, 17 of then

including Geelani, Malik, Prof. Ghani and Shahid-ul-Islam were arrested.

Next day they were released by a court on bail. The Hurriyat Conference sent a delegation under Javed Mir to Jammu to visit various jails in the region and report on the condition in those jail. They visited jails at Kathua, Hiranagar, Udhampur and Kot Bhalwal

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near Jammu. On return here, on October 12, 1998 they said, basic facilities

in those jails were deficient. The J&K Moslem League organised a seminar on “Freedom struggle and our Responsibilities” at Srinagar on October 24, 1998. Addressing it, Hurriyat Chairman Geelani described the ongoing movement as “freedom struggle of Muslims which has its roots in Islam”. He called upon New Delhi to accept the “reality of the two-nation theory as it will help solve many problems”. Geelani refused to believe that creation of Bangladesh was failure of two national theory. According to him, “It was an international conspiracy and the leaders of West Pakistan were to be blamed for it”. Yaseen Malik told the Seminar that secessionist leaders in early years of militancy had made many mistakes that “caused irreparable loss to the freedom struggle”. Lord Eric Avebury, Vice-Chairman of UK Parliamentary Human Rights Group paid a visit to Jammu & Kashmir in November 1998. He

visited Jammu,

Leh and Srinagar besides New

Delhi. He met a

large

number of persons to apprise himself with the prevailing situation. His long meeting with Hurriyat leaders did not make much impact on him.

Later, at Delhi on November 29, 1998 he told Press that Hurriyat leaders

are “expecting a big bang which is never going to come. This well known “friend” of the secessionist leaders described the Hurriyat stand on Kashmir as “totally fantastic”. He said, “If democracy has to function properly in Kashmir, all violence and threats of violence irrespective of their origin or target must come to an end. This includes the violence perpetrated by individuals from outside the State”. The APHC turned down Avebury suggestion that Hurriyat should participate in the democratic process. The Hurriyat spokesman, Prof. Abdul Ghani Butt remarked,

“Lord Avebury’s kisses then never excited us and his

bites now would not cause any pain to us”. He said that the British Parliamentarian had got an award from Pakistan and now he wants one from India to balance his image. To mark the 50" anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Hurriyat leaders decided to stage a protest demonstration at New Delhi on December 10, 1998. Nearly a hundred activists led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani staged a sit-in and went on a 48-hour token hunger strike near the ramparts of historic Red Fort. Geelani told the Press that human rights violations were linked to the Kashmir dispute. “If you address human rights violations but not the resolution of the basic disputes, you will be building castles in the air, which is impossible”, he added. The National Conference on the other hand criticised the APHC for being “self-styled champions of human rights while being agents of

Pakistan”. In a joint statement on December 11, 1998 NC committee of

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most affected areas of Rajouri, Poonch,

Reasi, Gool-Arnas, Kishtwar,

Doda and Udhampur alleged that Hurriyat activists were also harbouring armed militants. The statement called upon the world opinion to end terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Hurriyat Conference had earlier claimed the status of an observer at UN General Assembly. Now it asked its branch in Pakistan to secure support for this demand. A Hurriyat delegation led by its Convenor, Yousef Nassem on December 11, 1998 at Islamabad met Ms Benazir

Bhutto, the Leader of Opposition. The APHC claimed that besides

reiterating Pakistan People Party’s unequivocal support for Kashmiri struggle she was all for APHC being given observer status by UN in the same way as Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) had been given this, years ago. . Early in new year 1999 a report emanating from Mirpur (POK) was published by widely circulated Pakistani Urdu daily “Jung” that Hurriyat Conference was being pursuaded by ISI to set up a “parallel government” in Kashmir Valley. This report was not contradicted by anyone. Instead, Hurriyat leaders are reported to have said “If the Dalai Lama managed to form Tibetan Government-in-Exile at Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, why can’t we have a similar form of government in Kashmir”. The Jung report appeared only days after Pakistan Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharief had told the Budget session of the Council of POK at Muzaffarabad that Pakistan Government would extend “all out support to the struggling people of Kashmir”. Hurriyat leadership had repeatedly said that they had nothing to do with gun-culture and had no direct link with underground outfits. The new Army Commander

for Jammu

& Kashmir, Lt. Gen. H. M.

Khanna, a few weeks after assuming Command and familiarisation with the ground situation, addressing his first press conference at Jammu on

February 3, 1999 said, “APHC is, in fact, the parent organisation of the

militants and pro-Pakistan elements active in the State. Militants and the APHC

are two sides of the same coin and if one side, the militant

side is washed out the coin is useless”. Following the submit meeting between Pakistani and Indian Prime Minister on February 21, 1999 a Lahore Declaration was issued jointly which committed the two countries to resolve all outstanding bilateral issues peacefully and through dialogue. The Hurriyat Conference rejected it out of hand. Its spokesman at Srinagar on February 23, 1999 described it as “fruitless”. He called the Lahore Declaration “a modified text of Simla Agreement. It will be forgotten like earlier Agreements and J&K people have to suffer in the future as they have done it in the past”. The spokesman said the highlevel meeting of Hurriyat leaders decided that

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come

out of this Declaration

unless Kashmiri

representatives were not involved in the Indo-Pak talks.

Next day at Jammu, Hurriyat Chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani called the Lahore meeting “an exercise in futility”. He maintained that everlasting solution to Kashmir problem can be found only when India and Pakistan make Kashmiris a party to any dialogue. A group of Hurriyat leaders in early March 1998 toured Rajouri and Poonch Districts and Jammu

city, before returning to Kashmir, set up

Jammu Provincial Committee to enroll members for the organisation and propagate its policies and programmes. D. R. Sharma was nominated Provincial President and Amir Mohd. Shamsi its General Secretary. The Hurriyat Conference received a jolt on March 13, 1999 when 22 different organisations disregarding its stand, set up “J&K Peoples Forum for Justice”. The principal motivation came from Kashmir Bar Association which had lent valuable support to APHC since its inception in 1993. Another member of Hurriyat Conference and General Secretary of Peoples’ League Nayeem Khan, was made its Convenor. The Forum was expected to overshadow the APHC as the umbrella organisation because it will take up issues concerning peoples everyday problems.

Sections of Congress Party in Jammu & Kashmir for over a year had been advocating “unconditional dialogue” with militants in general and Hurriyat leadership in particular. This idea was aired in J&K Legislative Assembly by Leader of the Congress Legislature Party, Ms. Mehbooba Mufti in March 1999 in another way. The Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah told the Assembly on March 22, that he and his Party members would be prepared to resign their seats and contest again if the “gunwielding militants join the mainstream and battle of ballots”. He charged Hurriyat Conference with bringing only destruction and miseries for the people of Kashmir and said that Hurriyat had lost whatever base it had. “They had promise the people, Pakistan and Azadi. None of them

came. What came was only barbadi (destruction)” he added. Two days later the Hurriyat Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani turned down Farooq’s offer. In a statement on March 24, 1999 he said APHC

was not constituted for gaining power in the State. “It is fighting for securing the right of self-determination for the people of the State irrespective of colour, caste, creed and religion. By contesting polls the disputed status of Kashmir cannot be negated as proved by a number of elections held since 1947,” the statement added.

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Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen Master Ahsan Dar of Pattan had gone across the LOC to Pakistan in 1988. He was trained in Pakistan and with detailed instructions, he came

back to Kashmir in 1990 to establish a “hardhitting fighting organisation” to spearhead the freedom struggle. In Srinagar he was joined by another veteran - Mohammed Abdullah Bangroo. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HUM) came into being by April 1990. Bangroo was named the Military Advisor while Dar was made Chief of Operations. There was no dearth of funds and arms and therefore no problem to get recruits. Within a year Hizb reportedly had over 10,000 armed cadres, mostly trained in Pakistan/

POK.

The first major strike was alleged to be against Mirwaiz of Kashmir, Moulvi Mohammed Farooq. According to police, Bangroo and his two associates conspired to kill Moulvi Faroog on May 21, 1990. Subsequent disorder resulted in firing which left 26 killed. Popular belief was that it was the handiwork of government agents. It is well-known that Hizb is an ally of Jamait-e-Islami and advocates Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan. It also stands for Islamisation of Kashmir. It is public knowledge that Moulvi Farooq had not taken any public stand openly on such contentious

issues.

In June 1990 Hizb asked fruit growers and dealers in Kashmir not to export their produce through “Hindu Lalas” thereby severing the link between the “local rich class” and their counterparts “in India”. It also accused the local rich merchants of playing a “dubious role in the present struggle”. Delhi Police picked from the walled city on March 25, 1991 the Hizb Deputy Intelligence Chief, Ashfaq Hussain Lone. It was learnt later that allegedly he was the conduit for passing money to militant groups in Kashmir, which came to India through Jain Havala operation.

In the spring of 1991 the HUM set up a Supreme Advisory Council. Shams-ul-Haq was made the Ameer (Chief). The Hizb had also set up a Youth wing under the leadership of Nasar-ul-Islam. On June 29, 1991 its activists kidnapped Mohammed

Food and Supplies.

Iman Khan, Kashmir’s Director of

A month later, on July 26, 1991, the Youth wing was separated and

given a new name “Jamait-ul-Mujahideen” and Nasir-ul-Islam was named its first Chief. The Hizb decided to spread its wings to Jammu Province and in February 1991 it appointed Aurangzeb and Mohd. Daud as Provincial

Chief and Commander of Operations, respectively. Also appointed were Chief of Intelligence (Commander Akram) and at different places Field

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Intelligence Units were located. They were asked to collect information useful to Hizb. It was announced that Hizb Chief had asked Moslem Augaf Trust and Custodian of Evacuee — Property to make reports of all property “owned by and under your possession” by the end of March 1991. The outfit also asked the revenue authorities in Jammu, Udhampur and Kathua Districts to publish details of Permanent Resident Certificates issued in the past 40 years. The HUM asked all non-residents to leave the State within one month or face the consequences. Difference in ideology between Hizb and others started appearing in the open in the spring of 1991. Hizb was very critical of all those who stood for independence as the third option. JKLF had said that UN Resolutions was not the only opening which would lead to the solution of Kashmir tangle. On July 30, 1991 the HUM ina handwritten statement described the JKLF stand as “childish and highly irresponsible”. It even accused the JKLF of helping India indirectly. “Separating UN Resolutions from Kashmir dispute is like inflicting a severe blow to the movement”,

it stated. In the meantime, its Patron, “General” Mousa was arrested on September 23,1991. He was replaced by Nissar Mohd. Gujari alias “General” Shoaib. A faction of Allah Tigers announced its merger with the Hizb on October 8, 1991.

With a change in its strategy, a re-organisation was necessitated. The Supreme Advisory Council met for two days and on November 11, 1991

announced

stepped down.

the changes.

Chief Commander,

Master Ahsan Dar

Syed Salahudin was named the Patron as also the

Supreme Commander.

There would be three Divisional Commanders,

each having charge of two Districts in Kashmir. For Srinagar District three Deputy Commanders were also appointed in view of stepped up activity. Hizb had felt for quite some time that the Press was not giving it publicity in relation to its activities. On March 31, 1992 it banned in Kashmir the sale and circulation of the Indian Express and asked its Staff Correspondent at Srinagar, George Joseph to leave Kashmir within 48 hours for “anti-movement reporting and news”. Security Forces arrested a Senior Divisional Commander, Ghulam Mohammed Khan, from a taxi near Ganderbal on August 7, 1992. Syed Salaludin, its Supreme Commander and Abdul Majid Dar, its

Advisor-General said that their movement will achieve success early if all guerilla outfits come under one unified command. In an interview on September 5, 1992 they said that a United Jehad Council would be set

up immediately by five guerilla groups. Syed Salaludin had returned to

Kashmir after a long sojourn in Pakistan.

He categorically denied that

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Hizb was the armed wing of the Jamait-e-Islami and asserted that his organisation was a separate set-up and had no links with JEI “except fraternal”. He said the movement belongs to the entire population of Kashmir and “to make it property of any particular party amounts to treason”. Similarly, the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen belonged to the whole of Kashmir. He felt that because of black sheep in different guerilla groups the movement was being labelled as a “terrorist movement”. He identified these black sheep as such elements who indulge in condemnable

acts like harassing innocent persons, looting of banks,

extortion, kidnappings, and the like which give a bad impression both

within Kashmir and outside.

In early 1992 the HUM had become a member of the “Popular International Organisation” (PIO) under the leadership of Sudan’s Dr. Hassan-al-Turabi. This made the Hizb eligible for direction and guidance, training, expertise, funds and arms.

The State Police launched its “Operation Tiger” in middle of 1992. It certainly paid greater attention to bigger and better organised units. In September 1992 the Chief Organiser Mohammed Saleem was killed in an encounter. On December 24, 1992 Sikandar Azam, a District Commander was killed. Three months later, its Divisional Commander Magbool IIlahi was killed in an encounter with Security Forces, in

Budgam on April 19, 1993. The State Governor, General K.V. Krishna Rao gave a call for surrender to armed militants in March 1993. The first Union Minister to invite the militants to participate in elections, was the Home Minister S.B. Chavan. Hizb was the first major outfit to reject both the offers. A spokesman of HUM on March 11, 1993 rejected Home Minister's offer and termed it admission of Delhi’s defeat. While rejecting the conditional offer for dialogue after shunning the path of violence the statement said “unconditional negotiations among, India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir are key to the solution of the problem”. A week later, on March 18, HUM

Chief Syed Salaludin stated that “no agreement was possible

with Government after thousands have laid down their lives’. He warned the Government that Hizb would not allow official machinations to succeed to “create dis-unity among the freedom fighters”. He also declared that the principal aim of their movement was “establishment of an Islamic Caliphate the world over, starting with Kashmir”. From such high flown ideals the Hizb also came down quickly to matters of daily life. The HUM took upon itself to fix the price of mutton

to be sold in Srinagar. On April 19, 1993 it ‘advised’ the meat sellers in Srinagar to sell mutton at not more than Rs 46/- per kg. They were

asked to disregard all government directive in this regard.

Kashmir Underground 110

Areuodeam r1ay} Aejdsip uaapryelnyy-[n-qz1y Jo saiped

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In Sopore town on May 3, in a fire two big buildings, 51 residential houses and 29 shops were gutted. The Hizb owned the responsibility of having fired rockets (named Zarb-i-Haider) on to one big building housing BSF personnel. HUM claimed that ‘several BSF personnel’ were

killed.

Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta, President of State BJP unit had been very

strident in his criticism of the militants and violence “unleashed” by them on general public. The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen decided to warn him of serious consequences.

The Hizb Divisional Commander

Saifullah

Khalid in a statement at Srinagar on June 26, 1993 asked Gupta to desist from “anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic activities”. Fearing that Hindus might react strongly, the statement said “our fight is with India and not

with Hindus or any other community. We will provide them full protection”. The Hizb organisation in Jammu region was being expended for larger operation. Before it could act in a big way, the Police on May 5, 1993 at Jammu arrested its Provincial Deputy Chief, Shakeel Hussain. Police claimed that he had confessed that with two other colleagues they were plotting to kill the Governor, General Rao; Dr Farooq Abdullah, former Chief Minister; Congress State President Ghulam Rasul

Kar and BJP leader Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta, among others. He said, they had also been assigned the task of throwing bombs at religious places. In Kashmir Valley, Riyaz Rasul, the Divisional Commander for Srinagar and Budgam Districts, and Akbar Bhai, an Afghan National,

who claimed to have fought alongside Hekmatyar there, were killed in an encounter on June 15, 1993. Same day the Hizb appointed Burhanud-Din Hijazi, its Deputy Chief Commander. About this time there was an influx of foreign mercenaries into this outfit.

On July 15, 1993 the

Group justifying this said “the presence of foreign nationals in our ranks is an eye opener for those who dub the movement as the handiwork of misguided youth. The involvement of the guests from different countries showed that people of Kashmir were not alone in their struggle and enjoyed the support and confidence of so many countries of the world, especially the Moslem world”. About their role the statement said “they are providing Kashmiri youth necessary assistance and guidance in their struggle”.

A well-known mercenary organisation of Afghans, Harkat-

e-Jihad-e-Islami, presently based in Pakistan was actively collaborating

with HUM, by providing guidance, leadership, direction and material

assistance. The Hizb claimed that on an average, it was spending Rs 45 lacs every month to maintain its cadres. Regular flow of funds was imperative to keep it going.

112

Kashmir Underground Its District Commander for Srinagar, Nisar Ahmed Mir alias Yunus

Saleem alias Zulkarnain, was killed in exchange of fire with BSF in a Srinagar suburb on July 24, 1993. From 1993 three of its most important functionaries Sysed Salaludin,

Supremo; Ghulam Mohammed

Sufi, the Chief Coordinator of training

and Ashraf Saraf, the Chief Coordinator of Arms Supplies, live in Pakistan and operate from there. They do make occasional visits to Kashmir. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was one of the few underground set-ups which expressed grief over large number of deaths and destruction by earthquake in Latur in Maharashtra in September 1993 and conveyed sympathies of its members saying “We have no enmity with the people

of India. Our struggle is against the Government of India for its illegal occupation of Kashmit”. Shams-ul-Hag, its Chief of Teaching and Training Wing, and three of his associates were killed in an operation mounted by Security Forces in Budgam on December 16, 1993.

It was a big jolt to the Party because

Haq was considered to be the chosen successor of Syed Salaludin. Fourteen days later from the same area Army jawans captured its Military

Advisor, Wahid Sheikh and his bodyguard.

The District Administrator,

Mohammed Shaffi “Haroon Rashid” was killed by Security Forces on December 30, 1993. Shaffi was allegedly responsible for a number of attacks on security forces vehicles on the National Highway. Also killed with him was Abdul Ahad Mir “Saleem” alias “Road Commander”. During 1993 the HUM suffered heavy casualties. According to Annual Report for 1993 made to the Military Command Council in early January 1994 by its General Secretary Maqbool Alam, Hizb lost 675 of its members in different encounters.

Among them were Acting Chief

Shams-ul-Haq, top functionaries like Dr. Drabi, Zulkarnain, Abdul Rauf,

Raja Khalid Manhas and over 40 Area and District Commanders. Several of its top militants were arrested. The Group claimed to have made over 1500 attacks on the Security Forces. Its Jammu unit was also receiving attention of the authorities. On

January 4, 1994 in Jammu, the Police arrested Zulfiqar Ashraf, the Deputy

Chief of Doda District.

In Kashmir, the outfit improsed a ban from January 7, 1994 on night

movement of all vehicles all over Kashmir except Srinagar City. This was done because of largescale movement of security forces was taking . place mostly at night. It was stated that the ban also applied to movement on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. As a move to thwart any revival of political process the HUM

on

January 19, 1994 announced seizure of all the organisational assets of

the National Conference and the Congress. Its Deputy Chief Commander Burhan-ul-Din Hijazi said that entry of Dr. Faroog Abdullah and Ghulam

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Rasul Kar, in their respective organisational offices was “banned”.

He

ordered confiscation of the Congress Party’s Khidmat Printing Press where 4 daily and one weekly newspapers of different organisations, were being printed. According to Hijazi, Khidmat Press earns about Rs 30 lacs a month from printing of these newspapers and he alleged, this amount was being used by the Congress Party to undermine the peoples movement.

In January 1994 the Hizb stepped up its activity in Kulgam area of Anantnag District. In an encounter the Security Forces killed outfit’s Coordinator, Manzoor Ahmed Lone “Hilal’ on 17".

The HUM

from January

announced “Operation Top Ten” for the next 10 days

19, 1994.

The announcement

stated that all actions

undertaken in the next 10 days would be dedicated to the memory of top 10 militants killed in 1993. They included Maqbool Ilahi; General Shoaib; Shams-ul-Haq; Khalid Gibran; Jamal Afghani; Khalil-ul-Rehman; Nasir-ul-Islam. The outfit lost its Srinagar District Administrator when Dr. Abrar Ahmed alias Er. Tahir Mehmood was arrested by BSF on February 25, 1994 from SMHS Civil Hospital at Srinagar. The Jammu Provincial unit received a big jolt when its Chief, Abdul Rashid Islahi alias Khalid Saifullah, was killed on February 16, 1994 in

village Shiva of Doda District. The Special Task Force of the State Police was deputed to apprehend as many top functionaries of HUM as possible, in next few weeks. The

STF claimed to have arrested Ghulam Rasul Lone alias “Umar Chacha”

— Divisional Commander North on March 13, 1994. From clues given by him the STF recovered some arms but in doing so they came under intense fire by militants and Lone was killed by a militant’s bullet. HUM however, stated that Lone was killed later in custody.

Deputy Supreme Commander Burhan-ud-Din Hijazi warned all those “sabotaging the ongoing movement” with dire consequences. Ina statement on March 21, 1994 said Hizb would not “allow Farooq, Kar and their stooges” to dance to the tunes of Delhi. They will be dealt with severely” he stated. The HUM deputed two of its trusted and Pakistani-trained activists Ghulam Hassan Lone and Bashir Ahmed Padroo to Jammu to kill Wali Mohammed

Itoo, a National Conference leader and the former Speaker

of Legislative Assembly. When Itoo was returning after Friday prayers he was shot dead from close range on March 18, 1994 in Jammu City. Both the alleged assailants escaped. The Hizb offered a general amnesty on March 26, 1994 to all politicians who had left the Valley and were living in self-exile in Jammu, Delhi or abroad. In a joint statement two Deputy Chief Commanders,

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Kashmir Underground

Burhan-ud-Din Hijazi and Nasib-ud-Din Ghazi asked such politicians to return to the Valley and “join the ongoing Jehad (holy war)”. If they do so their “past misdeeds will be overlooked”. The statement also gave clear warning that should they not accept the offer “these fugitives would -

be meted out the same fate as Wali Mohammed Ittoo, former Speaker of

the Assembly”. There was a lot of talk in Srinagar and in New Delhi about restoration of peace and return of normalcy in Kashmir. The Hizb Chief Syed Salaludin declared that HUM will not allow sacrifices of thousands of Kashmiris to go in vain. “We will foil any attempt to do it”, he stated in May 1994 from his hideout. To ensure that its writ still ran in Doda District’s rich forests and also in the outer reaches of south-eastern parts of Kashmir Valley, the HUM “banned felling of trees and extraction of timber from the forests”. In a statement issued on June 4, 1994, it said “national wealth was being

plundered by civil administration and security agencies”. This must be stopped forthwith, it added. Its Publicity Chief Latif Bhat alias Idrees Khan was arrested form Srinagar’s Press Enclave on August 7, 1994 by Security Forces. The Special Task Force of J&K Police was able to arrest on October 18, 1994

Sajjad Ahmed Bhat alias Shabaaz, also known as Rajan. He was Commander of Civil Lines area in Srinagar. Bhat was in company of two girls when he was apprehended. A Hizb activist Khalid Jameel had gone to Pakistan for training.

There he was told to return to “destroy” the Moslem Shrine at Shahdara

Sharief near Rajouri in Jammu

Province.

On crossing the LOC

on

December 20, 1994 he surrendered to the Poonch SSP. He confessed about the plan to blow up the Shine which attracts lacs of devotees annually. Mast Gul, a mercenary from across the LOC had come to Kashmir

in 1994 and was working in close contact with the Hizb. From February 1995 Mast Gul was in Charar-e-Shareef organising his men for a prolonged confrontation by fortifying the entire township with its surrounding ridges and slopes. The HUM and its commandos were fully committed in this operation. After a two month stand-off most of the town and the holy shrine of the patron saint of Kashmir, Sheikh Noorud-Din, were burnt. Most of the Hizb cadres with Mast Gul were able to escape from the protective cordon laid by the Security forces, on May 11, 1995.

Mast Gul held a meeting with press persons on May 26, 1995

organised by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in a hideout nearby. Hizb Divisional Commander, Riyaz Rasul was present. On behalf of Hizb Chief, Syed

Salaludin, Riyaz announced an award of Rs 1 lac for Mast Gul for his

“heroic deed”.

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In February 1995, the HUM lost two important functionaries. On February 13, its Divisional Administrator Ali Mohammed alias “Munshi” was arrested. Four days later, on February 17, its Divisional Commander for Poonch and Rajouri Districts, Javed Kohistani and his 7 associates were killed by Army in an encounter on the outskirts of Charar-e-Shareef. On June 11, 1995 the Rajouri District Commander Manzoor Hassan was arrested from his village Gonda in Rajouri District. A week later, another important militant Altaf Ahmed Moghlu was killed by BSF in Karfali Mohalla of Srinagar. In August 1995 the Hizb Supreme Advisory Council selected six squads for awards for “best performance” in laying mines and other

IEDs. These were :

Shaheedi Squad - for Jammu Shaheed Ibrahim Squad - for Poonch Al Jafar Battalion — for Lolab

Salah-ud-Din Squad - for Baramulla Hazrat Salman Farsi Platoon - for Bijbehara Hazrat Jafar Tayer Coy — for Kulgam.

Same day Hizb announced

award

of “Hilal-e-Jurrat” (bravery

awards) for 21 persons, to be given on Pakistan Independence Day August 14, 1995. Only one living person - Mast Gul was awarded this medal. Twenty others who were awarded this posthumously were : Abdul Ghani alias Capt. Shifat - of Srinagar

Javed Ahmed

- of Rambagh, Srinagar

Javed Kohistani

- of Poonch

Sajjad Ahmed

- of Wazir Bagh, Srinagar

Bashir Ahmed Manhas Bashir Ahmed Dar Nazir Ahmed Dar

- of Surankote, Poonch - of Shutch, Kulgam - of Techo Khudwani,

Bashir Abdul Nissar Abdul

-

Ahmed Rashid Ahmed Rashid

Beg Chinni Paul Malik

Manzoor Ahmed Sheikh Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh

Anantnag of Nanel, Anantnag of Jalelipora, Bijbehara of Dangarpora, Shopian of Soibug, Budgam

- of Zaloora, Sopore - of Zaloora, Sopore

Ghulam Mohammed Mir

- of Sopore

Mohd. Jawed Bhat Bashir Ahmed Dar Zaffar Ahmed Kawa Hassan Bhai

-

Mohd. Subhan Bhat

- of Khuroo, Pattan

of of of of

Gushe, Kupwara Palhalan, Pattan Charar-e-Sharief Pakistan

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Kashmir Underground

Six militant units were also selected for awards for their good performance including laying of mines. They were : Shaheedi Squad, Jammu Shaheed Ibrahim Squad, Poonch Al Farar Battalion, Lolab Salaludin Squad, Baramulla

Hazrat Salman Farsi Platoon, Bijbehara Hazrat Jaffer Tayar Company, Kulgam In the winter of 1995-96 there was a lot of talk about elections to be held in the near future,

The Hizb Chief Syed Salaludin warned

the

Government employees in Kashmir not to get associated with this process. He also asked them not to become “tools” in the hands of the Government. The outfits also “directed public” not to deposit pending electricity fee. It asked the Government officials not to force people to pay. The Divisional Commander, Riyaz Rasul castigated Government employees for “dual loyalties”. He said “on one hand they take oath of loyalty in private to the ongoing movement” but from their office issue orders against the movement. In the end

of September,

1995

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen

claimed

responsibility of the rocket attack on the MLA Hostel at Srinagar. On October 2, it also took credit for an attack on Sheikh Abdullah’s youngest son and a former minister, Dr. Mustafa Kemal when he was on his way

to attend an election related meeting called by India’s Chief Election Commissioner. Dr. M.S. Gill at Srinagar. Disturbed on account of rethinking about gun culture in the cadres of many militant outfits the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen planned to stop it before it snowballed.

On October 3, 1995 it administered a stern warning to all

those who according to it, were working against the ongoing movement. The warning came a day after an emergency meeting of District Commanders and senior members. The statement declared amnesty for those who wanted to return to “our fold”. It stated that no action would be taken against them. Those who continue to work against the movement would not be tolerated. Because of the inter-gang rivalry many leaders of the Hurriyat Conference publicly expressed fears of attacks by surrendered militants. The Hizb was apprehensive that the blame would be put on its members. By astatement on March 6, 1996 the Hizb warned people of plans to kill some Hurriyat leaders and put the blame on Hizb cadres. It asked people to beware of this and asked them to frustrate such plans. From

a hideout

in Kishtwar

town

in Doda

District on March

11,

1996 the Security Forces arrested Mohammed Aslam alias “Col. Zubair”

who was involved in many subversive activities in recent months.

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The Divisional Commander for North Kashmir, Ghulam Rasul Lone

(Code name Omar Chacha) of Bandipur was arrested in a downtown Srinagar hideout on March 14, 1996 by State Police SOG.

For over two

years he had been the outfit’s ‘Launching Chief’. After the arrest he led the police to a place in a village near Bandipur from where arms were recovered. When the party was returning to Srinagar, a militant group attacked the Police party in which Lone was killed. Jammu Police from a city hotel on March 23, 1996 picked up Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen Area Commander for Pampore in Kashmir, Ghulam Rasul alias ‘Gohar’. He had received arms training in Pakistan and Afghanistan, for more than 6 months in 1990. Early in 1996 he fled to Goa. Now, he was on his way back when he got arrested at Jammu. Before leaving for Goa he was reported to have “extorted” a few lacs of rupees from wellto-do business people at Pampore and Srinagar. He is alleged to have invested these amounts in Goa. In April 1996 the Police arrested Mohammed Ashraf alias ‘Arif’. He was taken in on April 12 from Ramban when he was on his way to Srinagar from Doda. Ashraf specialised in making IEDs while he was in POK earlier for over 30 months. In POK he helped train a large number of Kashmiri youth who were there for training. With forthcoming Parliamentary elections to be held in May 1996, the Kashmir Administration started making its preparations. The Hizb was surprised that the Government employees were prepared to undertake election duties without any protest. On March 1, it issued a warning to all employees to keep away from election work. A spokesman of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen warned bureaucrats of dire consequences if they worked against the ongoing movement. The Hizb also announced its ban on use and playing of audiocassettes produced by the State Information Department because according to it, the cassettes propagated “anti-Tehrik material”. Even possession of the cassettes would be an offence “which will be punished”. Although dead set against elections in Kashmir the Hizb-ulMujahideen was not able to undertake anything big to stall it or to create a situation which would draw focussed attention on Jammu & Kashmir

in May 1996. The election of Parliamentary seats were completed without any major obstruction.

Even in elections to Legislative Assembly in

September 1996 the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was not able to disrupt it or significantly persuade voters to keep away from electoral process. The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen had been under scrutiny of the Government for a long time. The State Government on September 19, 1996 declared it an unlawful association and banned it under the J&K Criminal Law

Amendment Act of 1983. The notifications said that Hizb-ul-Mujahideen

had been indulging in acts of armed violence for more than past seven 4

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Kashmir Underground

years and was in the forefront of the secessionist movement in the State with active support of Pakistan and POK Governments in terms of or arms training, supply of arms and guidance, among other acts. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen had been very critical of excesses allegedly committed by Security Forces. It had been demanding probes, inquiry commissions and investigations into the various allegations leveled by them. About Government disclaimers following investigations that allegations have been found to be baseless, it scoffed these.

It asked the

Indian Commission on Human Rights to look into them. When the State Government set up a J&K Commission on Human Rights, the Hizb described is as a “subterfuge”. Its Deputy Chief on April 30, 1997 said that the Commission was set up to provide a “cover to the ongoing: bloodshed and killings” at the international level. He called it a “bloody gift” to the people of Kashmir. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Supremo, Syed Salahudin asked Kashmiris to celebrate with austerity the Idd-ul-Zuha on April 18, 1997. In a statement issued in Srinagar on April 16 he lamented “Slaves have no Eid and their real Eid is their freedom”. He appealed to people to remember those persons who did not hesitate to offer every kind of sacrifice. He urged Kashmiris to take the movement to its logical conclusion. The Think-Tank of this Group had been at work for some months and quietly worked to produce a web-site which would disseminate “real information about the ground reality in Kashmir”. In June 1997, it launched its web-site, called “Angel Fire”. It would be available to over

400 million cybersurfers around the world, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen claimed. According to present status the internet page introduces Hizb-ulMujahideen with a moderate outlook. With a human face put out, the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen claims to be the largest group of Kashmir Armed Resistance. It obviously is aimed at the western audience because is says “Hizb-ul-Mujahideen has never harmed any unarmed person. Abduction of tourists by Al Faran was condemned by Hizb-ulMujahideen as an outrage against humanity”. The page further claims “Hizb-ul-Mujahideen leadership is open to reason. Once India accepts raison d’etre for the struggle of the people, the organisation will facilitate the peaceful resolution. Essentially Hizb

believes in constructive, productive and meaningful exchange of views”.

“The outfit is spread in all the parts of Indian Kashmir and was instituted to restrict movements of Indian forces”. The page goes on to say “We share 68 percent of total martyrs and have 85 percent of total encounters against the security forces”. In the web-site Hizb-ul-Mujahideen has acknowledged that it has

technical know-how to manufacture small weapons. According to it heavy weapons are purchased from the open market. For the financial

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support, it explains that Kashmiris inside and outside living in different parts of the world, provide financial support to the Hizb. The hard core of Jamait-I-Islami and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen

leadership had started having difference of perception and the means to achieve their objective. Whether it was a tactical move or a continued distancing it is difficult to say presently but, a public announcement of parting of ways did not raise too many eyebrows. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Supremo, Syed Salahudin on November 26, 1997 in an announcement dis-associated his outfit from Jamait-I-Islami. “Our outfit is not affiliated

with any particular group. Ours is an armed resistance movement of all people of Jammu and Kashmir. We have a network from Srinagar to every important capital of the world and our supporters are all Kashmiris and expatriate Kashmiris”. Giving reasons for the uprising Salaludin said “uprising which swayed the Kashmiri youth and broke earlier affiliations only when the democratic and peaceful struggle was plugged by the rulers. After 50 years of Indian rule in Jammu & Kashmir, people have been deprived of their political, economic and other fundamental rights. People were made economically bankrupt and politically worse

than slaves”.

In February 1998 reports from Pakistan spoke of Syed Salahudin having been displaced from the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen leadershop.

Confirmation was not available in Srinagar but a happening in POK in April 1998 threw new light. On the night of April 27 and 28 in the village

Samani some 300 meters on the other side of the LOC, in Bhimber District of POK, 21 villagers were killed.

Pak authorities were quick to blame

Indian agency RAW for the carnage. Subsequent information confirmed that it was the result of intense rivalry between two groups of the Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen — one loyal to Syed Salahudin (a Kashmiri) and the other

headed by the Pakistani, Masood Sarfraz who was appointed by Pak ISI as new Chief to replace Salahudin. The struggle for supremacy is not

yet over.

On May 23, 1998, at Qamarwari on the cutskirts of Srinagar, a

landmine on the National Highway blew up a vehicle in which ruling party legislator and President of Youth National Conference, Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, was seriously injured. Later his left leg had to be amputated. Next day after the blast, the responsibility was claimed by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. The Hizb was bound to react to the nuclear tests conducted by India and Pakistan, in May 1998. But its reaction was different from the Hurriyat Conference. Its Deputy Chief Abdullah Nasir in a statement on June 7, 1998 saw a change in the attitude of Delhi which had opened

negotiations with Pakistan. The statement asked New Delhi to give up

its fifty year old “stubborn attitude towards Kashmir and thus prevent

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Kashmir Underground

your own disintegration”. It congratulated Pakistan “for answering India in the same coin”. The Hizb asked people to celebrate the event. It declared a week of jubiliations. In some areas of downtown Srinagar, militants celebrated nuclear tests by Pakistan by firing in the air. A day later celebrations were with fireworks at a number of places. Reports had been current in Sringar about this time that efforts to set up a few bodies of erstwhile secessionists had succeeded. National Security Organisation floated by Tabrez Hyder was one. Fearing erosion in the Hurriyat ranks the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen advised the APHC to keep a close watch on its constituents and have tighter control over its cadres.

In Doda Districts some activists in the far flung areas had started

acting as “Village elders” and were arbitrating between individuals and different groups. This way they also tried to present a different face of militants. In most of these areas there is no judicial presence and no trace of village panchayats. In some cases “favourable decisions” were pronounced for monetary consideration. People in these remote areas fall in line because there is no other means of getting any justice or settlement of dispute. These cadres only have the authority of gun and fear of its use. Some of the senior-most leaders of the Hizb were in Pakistan for the past 2-3 years, living a life of security and comfort. It was claimed that they were directing and controlling the movement from there. Four of them were known figures of Syed Salahudin, Er. Zaman, Riyaz Rasool and Abdul Majeed Dar. In Kashmir in the recent past, some of its senior members and leading commanders had been eliminated. These included Firdaus Kirmani, Manzoor Ahmed Khan and Naseeb-ud-Din Ghazi. In the middle of 1998 Ali Mohd. Dar (Burhan-ud-Din Hijazi) was in command of Hizb cadres in Kashmir as Acting Chief Commander. Obviously, the Police was working overtime to get him.

Report was received on August 9, 1998 that Hijazi with close associates was having meetings in a house in Nawab Bazar area of Srinagar. The Security Forces surrounded the house and asked the inmates to surrender. Also killed were the owner of the house Ali Mohd. Bhat (of Hamray, Pattan) and his son Tauseef Bhat who was acting as Hijazi’s bodyguard. This left Hizb-ul-Mujahideen headless in Kashmir, for the time being. In the meantime,

Hizb leadership in Pakistan was worried

about

militants wanting to join the counter-insurgent ranks. Plans were made to stem this trend and work out incentives for return of those who had gone out of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In an appeal made on January 16, 1999 from Pakistan by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Supremo Syed Salahudin advised the surrendered militants to give up their present path and to return to militant ranks. He promised them not only freedom but that they would

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be given special treatment. In the recent past many militants and those who had joined counter-insurgency groups, had died in clashes and

encounters. The situation in Kulgam and Anantnag in South Kashmir was worse than the other parts of Kashmir.

The induction of foreign

mercenaries had led to increased killing of surrendered militants and

their family members. The Hizb leadership was undecided how to react to the Lahore Declaration following the summit meeting between the Indian and the Pakistan Prime Ministers on February 21, 1999. The Hizb Chief in a statement on March 3, 1999 said that though they were not against

bilateral talks, these would not yield any result unless representatives of Kashmiri people were involved in the talks. The statement said “neither

can Indian sugar change the taste of Pakistani people, nor can Pakistan power provide light to dark hearts till the Kashmir issue is settled”. On the other hand, Hizb reaction was strong and direct to Dr. Farooq

Abdullah’s call to militants to surrender and contest elections. In a joint

statement issued on March 24, 1999 by Syed Salahudin and Deputy Chief Saifullah Khalid, they ridiculed the Chief Minister for making the offer. The statement questioned the loeus standi of Dr. Farooq Abdullah to make the offer and called hima “paid Indian agent”. It said Hizb cadres had laid down their lives and were determined to carry on the struggle for “complete freedom of the State”.

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Kashmir Underground Jamait-e-Islami

The most fundamentalist and most disciplined organisation in Kashmir, is Jamait-e-Islami. It is not part of or allied to the Jamait-e-Islami-I-Hind. Nor is it an affiliate of the Jamait-e-Islami in Pakistan though it considers it as a fraternal organisation. As if to prove and consolidate these links through long distance telephones Kashmir Jamait leaders have participated in Pakistani conclaves of Jamait-I-Islami in past few years of militancy. It cadres are fully indoctrinated, dedicated and committed.

The

Kashmiri Moslems either love and respect it or hate and condemn it. Its roots have gone deep into the soil of Kashmir. If it has taken over 50 years to reach this level of maturity and influence it will take another 50 years of real hard work to eliminate it from the Kashmiri mind. The seeds of Jamait-e-Islami in India were sown by Maulana Sayid

Abdul

al Maudodi

in the thirties.

In 1938 he founded

Jamait’s

organisation. He also started a chain of Madrassas (schools) where he started training his cadres through the organisation on how to operate and function. He also formulated and refined the concept of Nizam-IMustafa - God’s own administration. He also popularised in India the concept of Ummah and declared that for believers in Koran there were no national boundaries. He was a fiery propagator of Pan-Islamism. The affects of Maudodi thinking also invaded Kashmir at the time of conversion of Moslem Conference into National Conference in 1938 at the hands

of Sheikh

Abdullah.

The

Musalman

in Punjab

was

apprehensive that his both flanks - Kashmir and the NWFP were being taken over by nationalism of the Congress brand. In 1941 was held in

Pathankot in Punjab, the convention of Jamait workers where the formal

announcement of founding of Jamait-e-Islami -I-Hind, was made by

Maulana Maudodi.

The Convention was attended by three Moslem

scholars from Kashmir - Maulvi Ghulam Ahmed, Saad-ud-Din and Qari

Said-ud-Din. After returning to Kashmir they consulted many others. In 1942 at Shopian in the foothills of Pir Panjal range the Kashmir branch of Jamait-e-Islami was formed. For the first 10-15 years it did not make much impact because its fundamental concept of Islam was not acceptable to the liberal Kashmirian Islam, which was very deeply influenced by the Sufi thought and practices. The second reason was the towering personality of Sheikh Abdullah, which did not allow anything else to grow. Maudodi who was opposed to carving out a separate state of Pakistan initially, but later decided to make it a theoretic Islamic State. The Jamait-

e-Islami-I-Hind accepted secularism and decided to function within the confines of Indian Constitution. This did not suit the Kashmir Jamait.

.

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It was decided in 1953 to delink itself from the all India body and

have a separate existence.

Although

it has no organisational link, it

considers Pak Jamait-e-Islami an ideological parent. Advanced communication facilities has made constant communication and consultations possible between the two set-ups. The Kashmir Jamait

receives directions, literature or even funds for undertaking various

organisation activities and to run its schools. It has pyramid-like organisational set up all over Kashmir and also in Doda District of Jammu region since it has a sizeable population of Kashmiri origin and it is contagious to Anantnag District of Kashmir Province. It is headed by Ameer-I-Jamait. It has a General Secretary who supervises all organisational matters. It has set ups at District and Tehsil level and their chiefs are called Ameer-I-Zila and Ameer-I-Tehsil. The Jamait has a General Council of 31 members. It is known as MajlisI-Shoora. The current Ameer-I-Jamait is Ghulam Mohd. Bhat while the

General Secretary is Mohd. Ashraf Sehrai. But in reality the leader is Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who has been it’s most vocal and authoritative

spokesman for past two decades or so. On the Executive Committee of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Geelani represents the Jamait. The JEI is against socialism and secularism. It stands for Islamisation

of Kashmiri society and is for establishment of Nizam-I-Mustafa. It does not accept the idea of nationalism or nation states. It is committed to the concept of Ummah and Pan-Islamism and has scant respect for national boundaries. It does not accept Kashmir’s accession to India. Instead it considers that India is in forcible occupation of Jammu and Kashmir against the wishes of the people. It considers it a disputed territory. Although it pays lip service to Kashmiris’ right of self-determination, its objective is Kashmir’s merger in Pakistan. All the same it demands holding of a plebiscite as per UN Resolutions. Let us see how it grew into a well-oiled machine in 45 years or so. When Bakshi Ghulam Mohammed assumed power in August 1953 he wanted support from whatever quarter it came. JEI seized this opportunity and gave him full support to demolish the image of Sheikh Abdullah. Its adherants were able to get jobs in various Government departments including Government schools. Lots of teachers were required to man schools that were opened under the State policy of free education. After Ghulam Mohd. Sadiq fell out with Bakshi he charged Bakshi on the floor of Legislative Assembly in 1957 of having made big monetary payments to the Jamait. Qari Saif-ud-Din who had gone to Hyderabad was recalled to help enlarge Jamait work. In the next 10-15 years a large number of schools became functional. Later the Jamait set up a chain of well-stocked libraries and study centres. In addition to over 250 Darsgahs — Madrasas (schools) these centres became beehives

of activity to spread philosophy of the Jamait-e-Islami and gain adherants

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Kashmir Underground

and sympathisers. Boys were fed on distorted views of history, on anti -Hindu and anti-Indian sentiments. Attention was also paid to making mosques the centre of dissemination of suitable information. The current Imams and Khateebs were cultivated and taken under its influence. As far as possible new appointees were Jamaities. Since the number of mosques being constructed in Kashmir far outnumbered the available trained Imams, large number of Imams were imported from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. During the Seventies and the Eighties in Srinagar, Baramulla, Sopore and Anantnag a large number of shops owned and run by Moslems from UP and Bihar, were opened. The Kashmiris normally are not fond of sweets but many new shops came up near mosques and well-known Sufi shrines. All mosques also got fitted with public address systems. These were used to great advantage in JanuaryMarch, 1990 period, firstly to instill fear in the minds of the non-Moslem

population and secondly to create mass hysteria which was needed to raise the pitch so that the secessionist movement could be sustained till it started receiving adequate outside support and Kashmiri youth trained across the border were back to strengthen the movement and to lend it the required momentum. The Jamait does not have much to boast on the political front till the Chief Ministership of Syed Mir Qasim in 1971 but it assiduously worked to spread itself right down to even remote villages without the Government getting alarmed. By then they had their sympathisers in positions at various levels of the Administration and the political leadership did not bother because Jamait had no political ambitions till then. In the Relic agitation of 1963-64 the Jamait had no role to play. After Sheikh Abdullah’s return froma foreign trip and his incarceration in Kodaikanal, he organised two separate conventions in 1968 and 1970

to find a “broad based consensus for dialogue with the center.” In the

1968 convention the Jamait representative Qari Saif-ud-Din objected to

the proposed setup being broadbased. This point of view did not receive any support. In the 1970 convention their objection was to the word “secular” in the resolution. The Qari said that the participants seem to have committed to India already therefore there was no need for the

convention. The message seemed to be clear and loud that

the Jamait

had changed track and had not only become interested in politics but would start working on attaining power. Later when Al Fatah underground outfit was launched many adherents of the Jamait formed part of it. Mr. Ghulam Mohd. Sadiq during first three years as head of

Administration tried to restrict the Jamait influence. He put some restriction on the Jamait schools. With passage of time and to face the emerging problems at home and from New Delhi he came to terms with

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them and eased the restrictions. With the assumption of office as Chief Minister by Syed Mir Qasim the scene changed further. The Jamait got closer to him and to widen his political base he needed the Jamait cadres. The new rural elite that had emerged on the political scene was heavily influenced by Jamait ideology. And it wielded lot of power in the Qasim Government. The subsequent events unfolded the real intent of the happenings of those days. Many Jamait activists were brought into Congress by Qasim to strengthen his own position. A prominent Hurriyat leader of today Abdul Ghani Lone was Education Minister in Qasim

Government. A former Minister of Sadiq Government and Vice President of State Janta Dal present, Peer Ghiyasudin recalls : “Lone packed educational institutions, universities besides administration and judiciary with Jamait cadres. These cadres exercised a powerful influence on media, radio and cultural Academy”. In the meanwhile, the Jamait was busy spreading its ideology through weekly meetings in different parts of the Valley. Since the Congress and

the Plebiscite Front could not come to terms Qasim was successful in

persuading the Jamait leadership to participate in Assembly elections. The Plebiscite Front was banned.

The Jamait was able to secure 5 seats

in 1972 Assembly elections —- Syed Ali Shah Geelani — was one of them.

In May 1973 JEI was in the forefront of the agitation launched from

Anantnag which later spread to Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir, against the Book of Knowledge published abroad, which allegedly carried an objectionable illustration. The JEI said it hurt the sentiments of Moslems of Kashmir. The Government of India had already banned the entry of the Book into India. A frenzied mob in Srinagar burnt down the Anglican Church. The Jamait was opposed to Indira-Sheikh accord of 1975 because it would mean ascendancy of Sheikh who considered Jamait the biggest single enemy of Kashmir and Kashmiriyat. The Sheikh used the Emergency to arrest Jamait leaders and closed their schools. When the Emergency was lifted the Jamait leadership bounced back to activity. They also got back the control of their schools. Surprisingly, the Jamait allowed Syed Ali Shah Gilani to contest the Lok Sabha elections in 1977 from Baramulla constituency, as an Independent candidate. He lost the election but romped home with nearly 24% votes against the winning National Conference candidate who received little over 30% votes. In the Kashmir Assembly elections in 1977 the Jamait fielded 19 candidates but won only one seat. This however, did not deter Jamait from pursuing its political plans. In the 1983 election to Legislative Assembly, the Jamait put up candidates in 26 constituencies. Though it secured higher percentage of votes than 1977, it failed to win a single seat. For 1987 elections the Jamait changed its strategy. With other

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Kashmir Undergron nd

political elements not accepting Kashmir’s accession to India as final, the Jamait floated the Moslem United Front (MUF). It put up 41 candidates in Kashmir constituencies and 1 from Doda District. They were allowed full freedom to propagate their views, even anti-national. They were allowed to use Islamic flag and the Holy Koran to seek votes. They were allowed also to parade their candidates in funeral shrouds to convey their vow to “do or die”. The State Government did not take any action on any of these violations of law and the election code for it would have been construed as a device to keep the Islamic candidates out of the election fray. They were provided more than level playing field. After all this, there were complaints of “large-scale rigging”. This orchestrated cry was to cover up their own weaknesses. The critics outside the State had their own scores to settle with Dr. Faroog Abdullah, the Abdullah clan and the National Conference. And seal on this was put by no less a person than the Governor of the State — of course not for nearly 30 months did he speak out. A courageous person would have resigned office saying that he will have nothing to do with Assembly most of whose members were not honestly elected. And not even one election petition was filed. It is not suggested that no complaint was made. From a couple of constituencies in Kashmir there were credible reports of complaints. Even if these two constituencies had returned opposition candidate heavens would not have fallen. Four MUF candidates were elected out of which three belonged to Jamait. The Jamait members claim to be honest followers of Islam, religious and steadfast. How come all their candidates in Parliament and Assembly election from 1972 to 1987 affirmed their faith in the State and the Indian Constitution and on election took oath to uphold it. Obviously, the true Moslems took false oaths. Is this the example they want to set for the coming generations of Kashmiri Moslems - one of dishonesty, deceit, falsehood and lies? Can their professions be relied upon? They

seem to have put a question mark on honesty of a Kashmiri, or his reliability and trustworthiness on his dependability. Is this part of NizamI-Mustafa that is being offered to Kashmir ? To influence the minds of the youth, a students wing of the party

was launched in 1977 under the name — Islami Jamait-e-Tulba. The first

annual session was held in Srinagar in July 1978. Among others it was addressed by its President, Ashraf Sahrai. He listed Kashmir as a major problem before Moslems and said that the world must address itself to resolve this alongwith Palestine, Eriteria, Cypriot, Turks and Lebanon’s civil war. Having established themselves firmly in rural areas of Kashmir by

1981-82, the Jamait experimented

with establishment

of Islamic courts

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in some selected villages. Here justice was dispensed according to Shariat law. These, however, did not get acceptability by any sizeable numbers. About the same time some schools were established to impart religious education. Efforts were also made to set up women wing in its “pockets of strength”. I have already talked of the organisational set-up of the Jamait. It has four categories of members. There are ordinary members, sympathisers, influenced ones and those who accept the ideology.

According to information available in 1987, the number for each category

was 10,000; 25,000 and for other two, over 60,000. There is no doubt that

the number has gone up manifold in the past 8 years. Every category of member is expected to contribute to Jamait funds at least 10% of his earnings. Larger donations are not uncommon. However, the Jamait has found Kashmiris rather temperamental.

The swing of their sympathy pendulum is unpredictable.

When Z.A.

Bhutto was hanged in Pakistan, on April 4, 1979 the public anger in

Kashmir was wreaked on the Jamaities for three days without break. Official record places the death and destruction at 1 dead, and damage to property ran into crores. Over 1200 houses were burnt. So were over 300 shops and 22 factories. 24 Jamait offices were also torched. 651 Jamait libraries and a few vehicles of Jamaities were burnt. 45 of their schools

looted and 70 orchards belonging to Jamait adherents were cut down. The angry Moslem mobs also shaved off beards of many Jamait members. And in a few years time a common Kashmiri was again eating out of their hands.

This shows the resilience of Jamait-e-Islami in Kashmir.

The cycle is bound to go full circle soon. The Jamait in Kashmir Valley and Doda District at its peak ran nearly 300 schools - big and small. Mostly religious instruction was imparted but in many a highly distorted view of public affairs and history was told to the students. They were told that material advancement, socialism, secularism, and family planning were anti-Islam. Commitment to Jehad

and glory of Islam was repeated till it became part of their psyche. Most of these schools were under the control of a separate Trust — Falah-IAam Trust. Earlier it has been written that during Emergency, Sheikh Abdullah closed their schools but were reopened after Emergency was lifted. Dr. Farooq Abdullah as Chief Minister declared his intention to close them but constitutional safeguards of minority denominational institutions stood in the way.

However, Governor Jagmohan

in early

1990 declared the Falah-I-Aam Trust unlawful body and closed 157 of their schools. Arrangements were made for admission of over 15,000 students, in Government schools. What would happen to them with the return of normalcy is not easy to predict.

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Kashmir Underground

There is a school of thought which believes that Jamait-e-Islami in Kashmir would not have gained influence or eminence if it did not gain first the sympathy and the support of Moslem politicians and bureaucrats who wanted a shield to cover up their ill-gotten wealth and illegal deeds. This lot of individuals very adroitly directed the ire that was building up slowly against the neo-rich Moslem

secessionist and anti-India.

elite, into channels that were

The Moslem employees get patronage,

support and even protection from the Moslem elite. It will be interesting to watch their reaction when situation becomes peaceful and various

view points are aired. However, no politician or bureaucrat is on record,

having refuted this assessment.

The activities of the JEI received a further boost with the visit to

Kashmir in June 1980 of a special delegation from Saudi Arabia’s Madine University. Jamait-e-Islami played host to it, and at length explained to the visitors their efforts at popularising their schools and informed them of teaching along fundamental lines so that an appropriate time Islamisation became easy. As a result financial assistance from Saudi Arabia increased substantially. And this was the time when due to the oil boom, petrodollars in billions were being given away for various

causes.

First 7 years of the Eighties were utilised by it to spread its influence, make as many sympathisers as possible in the Government, organise more centres and consolidate the existing ones. It organised meetings to explain its creed and its programme. It used even Friday congregations all over the Valley to convey its message. Its Ameer-e-Jammat then Ghulam Mohd. Bhat, S.A.S. Gilani various Ameer-E-Zillas like Ghulam Mohd. Shafi, Mohd.

Ashraf Saraf; Hakim Ghulam Nabi; Ghulam Mohd.

Saif and many others were busy addressing meetings to “awaken Kashmiris”. In their speeches they questioned the accession to India, demanded right of self determination and a plebiscite under UN. They called for Islamisation of Kashmir society based on Nizam-e-Mustafa.

They denounced the Indian and Jammu & Kashmir constitutions. They alleged that Islam was not safe in India and further alleged that religious

practices for moslems in Kashmir had been restricted. They also denounced concepts of socialism and secularism. Equally vehemently they decried family planning as anti-Islamic and an instrument to create demographic imbalance. Syed Ali Shah Gilani was arrested and detained in 1983. Hlowever,

when G.M. Shah came to power in July-1984, there were reports that the

Chief Minister would release most of the political prisoners. However, there was

no general deliverance

irom Jail. SAS

Gilani was

released

on December 6, 1984, unexpectedly. The activities of the Jamait took

sudden boust.

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After the violent phase of the secessionist movement had started on

July 31, 1998, the JEI thrust in speeches of its functionaries was shifted.

They asked Kashmiris to end “slavery under India” and to emulate the Afghan Mujahids who had taken up arms for freedom. They justified the use of gun and urged the youth to whole-heartedly participate in “Jehad which has already been launched”. Syed Ali Shah Gilani on July 17, 1989 declared that Jamait was “in agreement with the principles and aims and objectives of terrorists and has sympathies with them”. Ten days later at Sopore Iddgah on July 29 he announced that JEI would “launch an armed struggle to seek settlement of Kashmir issue”.

From the time Rubaiya Sayeed (December 1989) was abducted to the abduction and killing in April 1990, of Prof. Mushirul Haq, Vice

Chancellor of Kashmir University, his secretary Abdul Ghani and H.L. Khera, General Manager of HMT Watch Factory, the Jamait lay low. It allowed the frenzied Kashmir youth with recent training in Pakistan and acquisition of gun to brush aside their logic, reason, persuasion and patience. Those not familiar with their functioning may have concluded that JEI had been marginalised. It was not so. They were seeing the harvest of what they had sown earlier. The State Government on April 16, 1990 under J&K Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1983, declared it an unlawful association and banned

all its activities for 2 years. However its work and propaganda continues underground. They had also contested the ban before the Tribunal. Its virtual leader, Syed Ali Shah Gilani, though arrested twice and released later, had been quite active. As a member of the Executive Committee of All Parties Hurriyat, Gilani addresses public meetings, press conferences, travels to Jammu, Delhi and other parts of the country where he meets whoever he likes including Pakistani High Commissioner or Pakistani President while on a visit to Delhi. In Kashmir he represents Jamait whenever foreign diplomats, delegations, or journalists visit Srinagar. The JEI allowed the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen to be formed in April 1990 because it did not feel very comfortable with JKLF leading the anti-Indian

movement in Kashmir with control in the hands of Amanullah Khan in Pakistan. It felt a little more uncomfortable because of creation of many more

outfits all being directed and provided for from across the LOC, but it

seemed to be helpless. Since it could not influence the thinking of ISI in Pakistan, it decided to go along with-other secessionist organisations. On the political front it decided to become part of the new alliance, the

All Parties Hurriyat Conference in 1993, The JEI deputed Syed Ali Shah Gilani as its representative on the eight member Executive Committee.

However, Hakim Ghulam Nabi continued to be the Ameer of the Jamait.

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Kashmir Underground

In Nomveber 1993 he was arrested from his village near Shopian. His son was an active member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and got killed in an encounter with Security Forces in Pulwama District in January 1994. The Hakim was released on February 17, 1994. For the next 2 years the JEI concentrated on its Madrassas and its cadres. In 1996 it also campaigned against participation in elections — both Parliamentary and Assembly. Its boycott call did not bring down the percentage of voting very much. The Jamait described the elections as “rigged and manipulated”. The Jamait-I-Islami in Pakistan in August 1997 announced raising of 5 million strong volunteer force to “stage as Islamic Revolution in the country”. The J&K Jamait-I-Islami’s feelings were expressed by comment of a spokesman who said in September 1997 “the Islamic Revolution will necessarily spill over into Kashmir”. A month later JEI was in for a surprise and a shock. In its stronghold Kulgam

in Anantnag

District, on October

22, 1997 about 40 of its

prominent activists and some former members held a meeting where terrorism was denounced. They also criticised Jamait for penchant for Jehad because they alleged this was only to “safeguard their interests”. The meeting was attended by among others, by Mir Sonaullah, former District President

(Amir-i-Zilla),

Mohammed

Amir

Nagashbandi,

Ghulam Rasul Sheikh and Abdus Salam Kumaar. The principal speaker was Mir Sonaullah who said they had come to the conclusion that gun cannot solve the difficulties of Kashmiris. He appealed to people to shun violence and work for peace. Mohamed Amin Naqashbandi asked people to “forgive Jamait activists for their former activities”. He said Jamait has no provision for underground activities. Stung to the core, Jamait spokesmaii described this gathering one “arranged by Army of surrendered militants and other non-entities”. He said former Jamait activists were “forced to criticise militancy at gun point”. He said the ongoing movement is “nox terrorist” but a freedom movement. He claimed that Jamait-I-Islami is “a political and religious

party and wants a peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue”. As a consequence of these convulsions, for the organisation, a new

Chief (Ameer) was appointed. Ghulam Mohammed Bhat - a moderate

- assumed charge. He was in detention at the time though the original ban on JEI imposed in 1990 had lapsed in 1992. Another reason advanced by dissentees was their dilemma of how to reconcile the two facts “one of Geelani being strongly anti-Indian and on the other, having willingly and voluntarily accepted protection of Indian security. “How de we

explain this to our supporters” said one of them. Within a few days S.A‘S. Gillani tried to do some tire-fighting. Inan interview he said in Kashmir what is seen today is military rule and

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they manage all kinds of things. But he asserted that “dissent can never by tackled by force”. According to him the problem in Kashmir has “its roots in discontentment with the Government, with their leaders or the

system.” About Pakistan support to the movement he said “Pakistan feels that they were let down at the time of Partition when the Moslemdominated Kashmir was not allowed to join them”. The Government schools had become targets of militants attention and over 700 school buildings were burnt down in Kashmir between 1990 and 1997. In their place the Jamait tried to start as many madrasas as possible. The Government report had put the number at around 150. On December 2, 1997 the Minister of State for Home

Ali Mohammed

Sagar gave directions that all such schools be identified and since these were illegally set up, these be closed forthwith. He described them as “schools of subversion established illegally by Jamait-I-Islami and other subversive organisations”. Touched to the quick, the JEI spokesman refuted the Minister’s allegation about the Madrasas. He said that Jamait-I-Islami as such is not running any educational institution and therefore the question of illegal constructions did not arise. A government official explained that the schools were run by various different religious organisations and Trusts and their connections with JEI were being investigated. As mentioned earlier there was a ferment in the cadres of the Jamait.

A large section wanted to distance itself from violence and gun culture. The new Ameer G.M Bhat was a moderate. To bring the matters to a head and also to have a consensus of the direction the Jamait should

take he convened a meeting - first in 8 years — of the Majlis-e-Shoora, its highest policy making body. The meting was held on December 11, 1997 and was attended by Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who heads the Parliamentary Affairs Wing, its former President, Hakim Ghulam Nabi and senior-most member, Moulana Ghulam Ahmed Akram. The Majlis

after daylong discussion declared that JEI stood for “peaceful resolution of the Kashmir problem as it involves the fate and future of over ten million people”. A spokesman of Jamait explaining its “correct position on Kashmir” said that the Majlis had endorsed the policy ennunciation of its new new Ameer, Ghulam Mohammed Bhat that “Jamait is a constitutional party

that believes in a state which is Rehmat (blessings) for the people

irrespective of creed, colour, religion and race”.

The Ameer declared

that “the Party is neither a militant organisation nor is there any

possibility of its being militant in future”. The spokesman asserted that this declaration had unanimous support of all members of the Majlis-IShoora. ,

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Kashmir Underground

For next few months consultations were carried on at various levels in the organisation to arrive at a decision about its future course. On

April

15,

1998

the JEI held

a day

long

meeting

at its Batamallo

Headquarters of its Central Advisory Committee (Majlis-INumayaindgaan). After detailed discussion the Majlis decided to reactivise the organisation. It was decided, henceforth to function strictly according to its Constitution and cadres were asked to work with determination. It was announced that all members of the CAC had approved the new policy and the programmes agreed upon. In the meanwhile a number of public meetings had been held including one in Kulgam, where former members of JEI had denounced the use of gun and also of organisation's policies and tactics. These were extensively reported by the electronic media from Srinagar. It seemed to have politically hurt the Jamait. On December 13, 1997 JEI sent two separate notices to the Directors of Radio Kashmit and Doordarshan Kendra, claiming damages of Rs 20 lacs each. The notices said the media

reports had “caused an irreparable loss to Jamait” on account of disemmination of defamatory news reports. The Jamait reacted very strongly to the charge in the Lok Sabha made by Congress leader Rajesh Pilot that JEI was primarily responsible for the present situation in Kashmir. The charge was made by Pilot while speaking on the motion of confidence in Vajpayee Ministry, on April 8,

1998. Two days later at Srinagar the Jamait Ameer, Ghulam Mohammed

Bhat, described the charge as “malicious, based on information campaign

against Jamait”. In his 3-page long communication to Pilot, the Jamait Chief said “it depicts how misinformed you are about Jamait”. The communication claimed that “Jamait from its very inception has always employed political and democratic methods for propagating its peaceful and moral-oriented programme of welfare of mankind without any

discrimination of creed, colour, race or region”. Bhat vehemently denied

the charge that Jamait is a terrorist or an extremist organisation or its workers and supporters are terrorist or frenzy extremists”. Me

George Fernandes,

Indian Defence Minister, after his visit to

Kashmir in May 1998 said that India would be ready for unconditional talks with separatisits.

The JEI Ameer, Ghulam Mohammed

Bhat siad

that he had suggested to Hurriyat to accept Fernandes’s offer if Delhi does not change its stand. He expressed his doubts if bilateral talks between Indian Government and separatist leaders would prove successful because in the past dialogues between Indian Government and Kashmiri people had “proved to be a miserable failure”. The Jamait was charged by the Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on July 13, 1998 to have engineered ethnic cleansing and having destroyed

Kashmir’s socio-economic fabric. Next day the Jamait refuting the charge,

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blamed the Chief Minister for uprooting Jamait from Kashmir “so that

no one dares to preach Islam publicly”. A statement issued by Jamait described Faroogq’s charge as “unjust., a blatant lie and false propaganda”. It claimed that Jamait-I-Islami was “a protognist of Islamic principles believing in general welfare of humanity, brotherhood and equality”. In the past few months discussion at various levels had been going on about the deviation that had taken place in Jamait from its original objective.

Its Ameer,

Ghulam

Mohammed

Bhat in his long letter to

Congress leader Rajesh Pilot and later talking to the Press, had discreetly distanced the Jamait from violence and militancy. In August, 1998 the student wing, Jamait-I-Tulba, also denounced

violent means of protest.

believed in the new policy.

New office-bearers were appointed who

Political observers believed that Jamait had realised the futility of the militants activities because its own cadres had suffered greiviously. Accordingly, Jamait keeping its long-term objectives in mind, had decided to change track, Jamait’s political leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani declined to accept the new Jamait policy as ennunciated by the Jamait Ameer (Chief ) Ghulam Mohammed Bhat because “it is totally contradictory to the ongoing movement for freedom”. The cleavage between the two factions is considered an important development by political observers for this is going to affect both the course of militancy and politics in Kashmir.

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Kashmir Underground Islami Jamit-e-Tulba

This student wing of the Jamait-e-Islami has been in existence for more than two decades. Earlier it was under Azam Inqalabi and had no links

with JEI.

It became active from March 1980 when it challenged the accession to India and described the Indian troops as occupation forces. Dr Yousufal-Umar and Tajamul Islam addressed a meeting where they declared their objective being establishment of Islamic State in Jammu & Kashmir. Its Chief Tajam-ul-Islam while addressing a Press Conference on August 5, 1980 denounced the Constitution of India and the State. He declared that his organisation would work to bring about in Kashmir an. Islamic Revolution on the lines of Iran. The Government headed by Sheikh Abdullah took no serious notice of this announcement because no tangible action was taken. On June 17, 1981 Tajamul Islam asked Moslem to “throw out the Government” and replace it with an Islamic State. In 1981 and in 1982 it continued to defy the Government and to indulge in provocative acts

but Government took no action. In a Press Conference on December 20,

1984 the organisation challenged Kashmir’s accession to India and called it a “fraud and a conspiracy”. The Jamait continued to build its cadres. It also sent Kashmir youth across to POK for training in arms and subversions. In 1989 it showed its hand when on June 13, 1989 Inayat Ullah Andrabi its Nazim-e-Alla

(Chief Organiser) lauded the revolution minded youth who took part in Jama Masjid incident to herald the beginning of the promised Revolution. He also stated that time had come to “throw out Indian occupation forces out of Kashmir”. The organisation was declared an unlawful association on April 16,

1990 by the State Government and its activities banned under J&K

Crimincal Law Amendment Act 1983. Its leadership went underground. There was no obvious activity above surface but it provided Islamic fundamentalist underpinning to most of the militant and secessionist groups all these years. In October 1997 Press reports spoke of a Conference in Pakistan organised by Jamaite-Tulba, where it was decided that terrorist strikes in Kashmir and some other parts of India be intensified. Many Kashmiri militant outfits were represented. Some Pakistani fundamentalist groups also had their representatives.

ISI had sent some senior officers who

assured continued support and training. Besides this, they promised to increase financial support. This organisation in Kashmir was inactive above surface for the

second-half of the nineties. During this period there seems there was a

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lot of introspection and discussion within its members and also with its leadership. In the middle of 1998 the names of the new office-bearers were made known. Also made public was its declared distaste ‘for violence and militancy. It stated that lienceforth it will “work for moral and educational emancipation of the Kashmir youth, particularly the student community”.

136

Kashmir Underground Harkat-ul-Ansar

This organisation was formed in Karachi in 1980 primarily to send volunteers to Afghanistan to help Afghan rebels to fight against Soviet forces there. The headquarter of the organisation was set up at Raiwind in Punjab where it holds its annual conference. By and large it is a Sunni

organisation theologically close to Deoband school of thought and draws its inspiration and volunteers from Tabliqi Jamait which carried on missionary and charitable work on the surface. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

Its original name was

Pakistani General, Lt. Gen. Javed Nasir was closely associated with

Tabliqi Jamait while in service. He was Director General of ISI in 1993 and was removed from the post because US Administration made it one

of the conditions for removing Pakistan from the watch list of state

sponsors of international terrorism. The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen decided

to convert itself into an

international network of fighters for defending the rights of the Muslims, after April 1992.

It designated US and Israel as the main enemies of

Islam. The new name selected in 1993 was Harkat-ul-Ansar (HUA). A

separate group operating from Afghanistan under the name of HarkatulJihad Al-Islami, was merged with it.

Afghan veterans had been sent by HUM and HUJI from Pakistan to Kashmir in 1991 and 1992. After they had functioned rather perfunctorily

the ISI decided that they better merge. They wanted better control and

direction.

On December 23, 1993, the new organsiation appeared in Kashmir.

Here also it was formed of the existing cadres of HUM & HUJI. Maulana

Abu Tayub was named the Chief, Sajjad Khan Afghani and Amjad Bilal were named the Chief Commander and Deputy Chief Commander,

respectively. The first reports estimated that within a few months HUA had a

few thousand trained and equipped militants in Kashmir valley and the Doda district of Jammu. A few thousands were waiting in transit camps across the LOC. The most daring of their early operations was abduction from Verinag (South Kashmir) environs of Major Bhupinder Singh of Border Roads Organisation and his jeep driver Ashfaq. The driver was released soon. The dead body of the Major was recovered from the roadside nearby, a day later, on January 20, 1994. In ahi Bagh, Srinagar, an encounter lasting over 30 hours took place on January 16, 1994 with BSF. Army help was requisitioned. BSF Inspector Hardev Singh was killed. So were 4 militants.

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Increased vigilance on the part of Security Forces enabled them to arrest HUA Chief Commander Sajjad Afghani from Chattargul area of Anantnag District on February 11, 1994. With him was also arrested Mohammed Masood Azhar ~ a Pak national, who is General Secretary of the Harkat-ul-Ansar/ Amjad Bilal was appointed to take Sajjad Afghani’s place as Chief Commander but within a week another activist was made the new commander. In August 1994 the Harkat announced that the pilgrimage to Amar Nath Cave would not be allowed to take place. This is an annual Hindu pilgrimage to a Holy Cave beyond Pahalgam in South-east Kashmir. However, the Administration was able to conduct the Yatra without any

mishap. Over 45,000 pilgrims visited the Holy Cave. The Administration mobilised various resources and frustrated the attempts to disrupt the

pilgrimage. This assertion of authority disheartened the militants in general and Harkat in particular.

Jamal-ud-Din Afghani -an Afghan national and a veteran of Afghan

War, had been Harkat’s Military Advisor since its inception. arrested by BSF in the winter of 1993-94.

He was

Tourist traffic to Kashmir seemed to be reviving in a trickle after

four years of almost total stoppage.

Another outfit Allah Tigers had

formally banned entry of foreign tourists into Kashmir since their “safety

cannot be guaranteed. Foreigners had taken for granted that militants being anti-Indian, they would not harm foreigners. They were taking the risk of going out into wooded areas especially in the mountains for trekking and for holidays. In June 1994, a group of British tourists had gone trekking in Aru-Liddarwat area beyond Pahalgam. Two of them David Mckay and a 14-year old boy Kim Housego were taken hostage by armed militants near Aru. Harkat claimed their abduction and wanted release of some of their colleagues in exchange for their release. There was criticism all over against the abduction of foreign tourists and appeals were made to Harkat leadership in Kashmir and also in Pakistan. After 17 days (June 23, 1994) captivity the two tourists were set free in South Kashmir by eight Harkat members in the presence of newsmen. Harkat leader Zaheer Abbas who released them said “We did not take them hostages. They had trespassed into our security area and were taken into custody. They were set free after interrogation when we were satisfied that they were not spying”. While the two British tourists were the main news, the Harkat on

June 13, 1994 issued a warning to all policemen associated with anti-

militancy Task Force to dissociate themselves from the Force at the

earliest. Those who refuse to pay heed will have to face dire consequences

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— the warning stated. There was no known case of a policeman leaving the Task Force. A number of Harkat members alongwith activists of Hizb-ulMujahideen,

were holed up in the town of Charar-i-Shareef between

February and May 1995. Its leading member was Abu Jindal. On the night of May 11, when most of the town and the Shrine of Sheikh Noorud-Din was burnt down, Abu Jindal and his group were asked to provide fire cover for the Hizb remnants under Mast Gul to break the Army cordon and escape, which they did. Abu Jindal with a few of his colleagues, were captured on May 12, 1995. A week later Harkat denied the official charge that Harkat had planted land mines in the town and IEDs around the Shrine complex. Emboldened by the refusal of Benazir Bhutto Government in Pakistan to ban it as desired by the US Administation, the Harkat-ul-Ansar warned

India to desist from accusing it for terrorist acts in Kashmir. With the warning was the threat that HUA would undertake to plant bombs in different Indian cities and inflict incalculable damage. The threat was serious because now Pakistan Government was providing funds and logistics to some selected fundamentalist organisations to train a special cadre for subversion and militant related activities against “Islam’s enemies”. Credible reports had been received that Harkat was one such organisation which was being patronised by Pakistan Government. Such organisations admit of their role in militancy in Kashmir. One of the parent organisations of HUA, the Sipah-e-Sahaba Chief Maulana Azam Tariq said in Lahore in April 1995, “the fact that these trained young men have been fighting in the Afghan Jihad and in Kashmir is very positive. It is extremely reassuring that more and more Mujahideen are being born in Muslim ranks. We are proud of them”. In the end of January 1996 the Harkat leadership asked owners of properties rented out to Security Forces to get them vacated, for they. alleged “those were being used to torture “ashmiris”. The threat to destroy them was also given if these were not got vacated. It has been widely accepted in Kashmir and outside that Al Faran organisation is an offshoot of the Harkat. Al Faran has been holding four foreign tourist hostages in high mountains of South Kashmir since July 4, 1995. Harkat has always denied this but this allegation has stuck on. Appeals have been made to Harkat leadership in Kashmir, as also in Pakistan, to use their influence with Al Faran to release them now that

even after one year had passed for them in captivity.

Harkat’s Chief Commander Javed Ahmed Bhatt alias Sikanu er Khan, who is also known as Javed Dabrani, was killed in a vacant house in a

locality in Anantnag

town

when

exploded on February

17, 1996.

an Improvised

Explosive

Device

Three of his associates were also killed.

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It was learnt later that Javed was fabricating an IED when it blew up. Harkat, while condoling his untimely death, described him as “a courageous, pious and religious commander” who was an expert in fabricating mines and remote control bombs. Three days later, on

February 20, 1996, Harkat appointed Abu Ubaid as Chief Commander.

He declared that “Harkat-ul-Ansar has no connection with Al Faran, as

we have said earlier also.” Its Doda District Commander Noor Mohammed Thathri area of Doda on May 16, 1996.

was arrested in

He was reported to be a police

deserter and was involved in the killing of eight BSF jawans and in killing of passengers of a bus in Kishtwar in 1994. The US Department Report for 1994 had named Harkat-ul-Ansar as

an international terrorist organisation.

The Pakistan newspaper “News” had reported on February 13, 1996 that Harkat headquarter in Pakistan had admitted that it had lost more than 200 of its members killed in Kashmir upto February 1995. In August 1997 the US was trying to track down a Saudi Arabian billionaire Osama Bin Laden who was believed to be a vital force behind all moslem fundamentalist movements around the world. CNN after interviewing Osama said he was behind most Muslim uprisings. The Indian intelligence agencies believe he has been not only funding HUA, but also helping to train their cadres in Afghanistan, which is reported to be his base at present. On September

19, 1996 the State Government

declared HUA

an

unlawful organisation under J&K Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1983 and banned its activities. The notification said that it had been indulging in acts of armed violence with the help of foreign militants and foreign funds. It also said that it had spread fundamentalist militancy to secede the State of Jammu & Kashmir from Union of India and merge it with Pakistan, among other acts.

Arif Hussain alias Abdullah was arrested by SOG of Kashmir Police on March 15, 1997 and later killed in custody, alleged Harkat. The Police

however, claimed that Arif was Harkat’s Financial Chief and was killed in an encounter on March 17, 1997. The HUA Acting Chief, Peer Baba alias Ghazi, a Pakistani national

and his Deputy Abdul Muteeb, also a Pakistani from Sind were in a meeting on May 6, 1997 in Idgah area of Srinagar, with leaders of Hizbul-Mujahideen and Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen. The house was surrounded by BSF. In the encounter that followed both Ghazi and Muteeb were killed while others managed to escape. In Doda, outfit’s Dawood Manhas had been very active since 1992.

The police was on his trail.

It was alleged that he was involved in

Barshala massacre of 15 Hindus on January

15, 1996 and eight killings

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at Kalmadi in June 1996. In Gaudali forests of Doda District on May 10,

1997 in an encounter with Police’s SOG, Dawood and his associate Qari Zarar, were killed.

Sananullah alias Naeem Khalid was a Pakistani from Karachi. Before being inducted into Kashmir in 1991, he had operated in Afghanistion. In Kashmir he was soon made Harkat Commander in Anantnag District. Later he was made Acting Chief for Kashmir. In an encounter with Security Forces on June 29, 1997 he was killed.

Belonging to Doda, Mohd. Salim Beg was trained in Pakistan which he visited a number of times. In 1996 he was made Harkat Chief for Jammu area. While returning from his latest visit to Pakistan, he was arrested by Police on June 8, 1997. Aijaz Ahmed Bhat alias Aazam, belonging to Srinagar was made

Acting Chief after Nayeem Khalid was killed. In an encounter with SOG

of Kashmir Police in Pandachh village near Ganderbed on August 9, 1997 he was killed. Two of his colleagues Tanvir Ahmed and Abdus Samad were also killed. In the summer of 1997 credible reports were received by Intelligence that Harkat-ul-Ansar on directions of ISI, had sent out its trusted activists

to different areas in India to locate sympathetic individuals who could be entrusted with responsibility of forming a small nucleus to be activated when required. First only moslem majority areas in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra were selected. The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad of Andhra Pradesh were selected for special attention by HUA. There were credible reports that with cover and assistance provided by Pakistan Embassy in Nepal, the HUA operatives were able to create safe havens in Kathmandu. Kashmir militants could reach Kathmandu as Indian nationals without much difficulty. They could fly out to Pakistan. They could also re-enter India through selected points on the Indo-Nepalese border. In Nepal these operatives dia not face any problem in securing unlimited funds largely through an influential Nepalese Moslem politician - Mirza Dilshad Beg, it was alleged. For quite some time the United Stated had been feeling concerned about terrorist activities on the American soil and the world over. After bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City in April 1995, attention was focused on the Federal Administration and the Congress. In 1996 the Congress enacted the “Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act 1996”. The law provides for imprisonment upto 10 years for those who will violate the law by supporting the terrorist groups notified under this law. The law prohibits “any contribution to a foreign terrorist organisation regardless of the intended purpose, unless the contribution is limited to medicine or religious materials”. It also asks US financial institutions to block those funds of the designated

\

foreign terrorist

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organisations or their agents over which they have possession or control. They will be subject to civil penalties and possible criminal prosecution if they fail to conform to the law and regulations. Sri Lankan Government and many others had complained to US Administration to declare LTTE and many others the world over, as terrorist organisations. Following the abduction of foreign tourists in Kashmir in 1995 and then the detention of four of them as hostages, one of whom was an American national, demand was made in US for declaring Harkat-ulAnsar whose small outfit Al Faran was alleged to be responsible for it, as a terrorist organisation under the law. Pressed from all sides, the Clinton Administration was forced to declare the Pakistan-based Harkatul-Ansar, LTTE and 28 other organisations in different countries, as

terrorist under this law. In Washington on October , 1997 the Secretary of State Ms Madelein Albright announced at a Press Conference banning of 30 such organisations. She said their goal was to “make the United States a fully no-support-for-terrorism zone”. In a statement President Clinton said “now we will work to uncover those who raise money for (such groups) in America and encourage our friends and allies to do the same within their own borders”. He further said “today’s action sends a clear message. The path to change is through dialogue and open deliberation, not violence and hatred”. The notification under this law will expire after two years unless renewed. Harkat-ul-Ansar expectedly reacted strongly. From Islamabad it

issued a statement on October 9, which refuted that it was a terrorist

organisation. Pakistan's ISI continued to support HUA inspite of this ban. With life returning fast to normal in Srinagar and large number of tourists coming to Kashmir in May 1998, HUA reportedly received directions from the other side of LOC to disrupt life by serial detonation in different parts of the City. On May 28 on being tipped off, the Police raided a well-camouflaged hideout in downtown area and recovered

large quantities of explosives, IEDs, detonators, remote control devices, cordex wire, battery chargers.

Hurriyat activists had been going round claiming that the umbrella organisation represented all underground and overground secessionist organisations. The Harkat-ul-Ansar was forced to refute this claim. On

June 4, 1998 the HUA Chief in a statement declared that HUA had nothing

to do with APHC. The statement said HUA did not believe in politics. “We are fighting for the supremacy of Islam. We ask people in so called politics and so called militant outfits to work within Islamic limits or

face the consequences.

The ongoing movement is not a secular war but

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has been launched for freedom and Islamisation”, the statement declared.

For a long time it had been known that cadres of Harkat-ul-Ansar received advance training in Afghanistan in camps at Khost and in Jalalabad Province. When US missiles targetted Bin Laden’s camps in Afghanistan, three were such where

Kashmiri militants were trained.

Reports from Islamabad on August 22, 1998 identified the Commandant of the HUA

camps was a

Pakistani national Saiful Islam Akhtar who

had “produced hundreds of Mujahideen’) for operations in Kashmir. Early reports from Islamabad had mentioned 7 Harkat activists killed in US strike. However on August 27, a leading Kashmiri militant at Srinagar confirmed that at least 24 Kashmiri trainees had been killed in the missile attack. Saifullah Khalid, Deputy Chief of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in a statement alleged that “the Government of India carried missile attacks through USA”. The Washington Times on September 6 reported that Harkat camps in Afghanistan were the worst sufferers in the US attack. According to it, HUA’s ‘Al Badr’ Camp received 11 missile hits. The report sent by Pakistani journalist Rahimullah Yousafzai was after he visited the camp. Wanting to have as tight a control as possible the ISI was reported in September

1998, to have floated a new outfit Harkat-ul-Jehad Islamee

Tanzeem. It was soon known that elements from Harkat-ul-Ansar and some from Lashkar-I-Toiba were brought into it with the specified task of engineering communal disturbances in Jammu and Kashmir as also other parts of India. In the meantime, to bypass the US ban on Harkatul-Ansar, the ISI renamed it as Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.

Indications were

available in Kashmir that this management did not go down well with

Kashmiri elements in the HUA.

The ISI it seemed, decided not to press

this point beyond a point. The HUA therefore continued to function as before. The HUA Chief in Kashmir was Mohammad Yousaf Chowhan who was in reality the Imam of Khalifapura Masjid in Srinagar. He operated under a number of code-names like Mohammed

Shafi, Molvi, Younis,

etc. Before he became the Harkat Chief, he was the Chairman of HUA Executive and

represented

it in the Shoora-I-Jehad

Council.

On

November 7, 1998 the Kashmir Police’s SOG arrested him from Khanyar locality in downtown Srinagar. Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen (Moslem Brotherhood)

In Srinagar in 1986, the Students Liberation Front was set up secretly.

Its Chief was Hilal Ahmed Beg (who eaflier for some time was a daily

wager in Radio Kashmir).

[t was joined by many young men including,

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students. Many of them went across the LOC for training in arms and subversion. These on return to Kashmiri took active part in subversive work and were considered responsible for many explosions in 1989. Its members were also alleged to have been part of the conspiracy to abduct Dr. Rubiya Sayeed, daughter of the Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohd. Sayeed, in December 1989. Later in April 1990, its members were alleged to be involved in the abduction and killing later of Prof. Mushirul-Haq, Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, his Secretary Abdul Ghani, Mr. H.L. Khera — General Manager of the HMT Watch Factory.

Among the members accused were Hilal Ahmed Beg and Javed Ahmed

Shalla. In 1991, many of the SLF members including Manzoor Ahmed Mir, were allegedly involved in abduction of IOC Executive Director Doraiswamy and Ms. Nahida Soz, daughter of Prof. Saif-ud-Din Soz, a

National Conference leader. On April 28, 1991-Hilal Ahmed Beg announced that Student Liberation Front had been converted into Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. He also declared that its principal objective would ke establishment in

Jammu & Kashmir of Nizam-e-Mustafa (a truly Islamic State). Some

time later Altaf Ahmed Quereshi alias Abu Rashid took over as its Acting Chief. After a meeting of the Ikhwan leadership on August 3, 1991, Abu Rashid warned detractors (without naming JKLF and the like) not to “play Delhi’s game and start a civil war in Kashmir”. He also talked of “vested interests who have evil designs against peoples movement”. Ikhwan claimed that in 1991 it had over 7000 armed members in Kashmir Valley. It was also one of the few organisations where a militant could resign from the outfit. In September 1991 District Chief of Pulwama and also its Publicity Incharge Rashid Khan and Saleem Khan resigned alleging that Ikhwan was now indulging in anti-people activities and causing a lot of resentment among people. On June 20, 1992 a party reorganisation was announced. The Supreme Council retained Hilal Beg as Party Chief. Zubair Ahmed was named Deputy Chief. Abu Rashid was made the Chief Commander. Zahoor Afghani and Niaz Ahmed were made the Chief Organisers. In an encounter on October 3, 1992 Abu

Rashid was killed.

A few days

earlier, in an interview he had urged Kashmiris not to rest till they set up an Islamic State. On October 5, 1992 the place of Abu Rashid was taken up by Omar Hyat

Quereshi alias Dr. Haider.

A month later on November

11, 1992

he was killed in an encounter. Two days later one of its very experienced Commanders, Mohammed Sheikh “Cobra” was arrested. The Ikhwan became desperate after a number of setbacks. To retrieve its honour and reputation it launched “Operation Black Death”. On

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Kashmir Underground

March 3, 1993 it claimed

the killing of Ghulam

Nabi

Baba, a former

Assistant Commissioner. On March 31, 1993 one of Ikhwan’s senior activists Mohammed Yasin Butt warned the Government of serious consequences unless they

disclosed the whereabouts of two of its senior leaders —- Javed Ahmed

Shalla and Mohammed Sidig Sofi. It was alleged that both had been arrested in March 1992 from a hideout in Bemina Colony of Srinagar. Its Military Advisor, Nazir Ahmed Magrey was killed on May 28, 1993 in an encounter with Security Forces. His place was taken by Syed

Muzaffar Meeraj.

On June

15, 1993, to strengthen

the outfit, two

handpicked militants were appointed as Organisers —- Shahnaz Khan as

Chief Organiser and Imtiaz Khan as Deputy Chief Organiser.

Generally, the calls for hartal for more than a day were not being

heeded. But when Ikhwan called for a 5-day strike following firing by Security Forces in Daribal area of Srinagar on August 1, in which 4 of a family were killed in the firing, they responded. On August 6, 1993 Syed Muzaffar Meeraj, the Military Advisor, commended Srinagar citizens for their “wonderful response”. He said that this also proved that the ongoing movement had total public support. Not content with its operational set-up, the Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen went in for a thorough revamping on September 16, 1993. Abu Obaid Rehmani was made the new Chief while Syed Asif Iqbal was to be the new Deputy Chief. Major Ishaq was appointed “Military Advisor”. Er. Khaliquzaman was to act as Chief Organiser. Public Relations will be handled by Dr. Waheed while Prof. Javed will be the Publicity Incharge. Gul Hamid would lead its Intelligence wing. An important member of Ikhwan, Mehraj-ud-Din alias Lalla, was

arrested on November 5, 1993 by BSF from Batamaloo locality of Srinagar.

His dead body was found lying on a road in the same locality at night on November 20. The Police alleged that he got shot when he attempted to escape from custody while Ikhwan alleged that he had been tortured during interrogation. There were protest demonstrations next day and this part of Srinagar observed hartal. Later curfew was imposed because

the crowds were uncontrollable.

A former member of some importance - Tahir Mir had been in detention for the past 3% years. He sent a statement on December 12, 1993 from Poonch Jail exhorting all militants not to deflect from “the chosen path of armed struggle to achieve freedom”. The statement further stated “Ours’ is a peoples’ movement and the spirit emanates from sufferings we have borne with our heads high. A revolution nourished by blood always grows stronger and that is the lesson of history

which New Delhi should take note of.” He also appealed to UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali to “intervene in Kashmir and help solve

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145

this dispute. Having failed in our peaceful agitation for 42 years we resorted to armed struggle which is our inherent right”. Ikhwan decided upon a no-tax campaign. On December 24, 1994 its leader, Hilal Ahmed Beg asked people of Kashmir to stop paying taxes to the Government. Ina statement he warned “those of dire consequences who are in league with the government and are motivating people to

cooperate with it for paying taxes and other dues”. The statement further

said “the ban on the payment of taxes was imposed in the beginning of

the ongoing armed struggle and is still in force and anyone who is found

flouting this directive will be dealt with sternly.” Beg also asked people to non-cooperate with Government till the goal of “Azaadi” was achieved. Police had been on the lookout for alleged killers of Prof. Mushir-ulHaq, Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, November 8, 1993 the Police nabbed Mohd.

since April 1990. On Ashraf Bhat, Deputy

Commander of the outfit who was alleged to be one of the killers. In the first half of 1994 major militant outfits were witness to many intergroup clashes. The leadership of Ikhwan seemed to be anxious to reduce this tendency. Its Supreme Council held a special session in early June 1994, where this problem was discussed for many hours. On June 18, 1994 Ikhwan Vice Chairman Zahoor Afghani announced suspension of all Ikhwan activities for one month for “forging unity”. The Ikhwan

advocated a Unified Command to conduct the “Azaadi movement “in Kashmir.

In the rest of India there was a lot of controversy about the whereabouts of Tiger Memon — one of alleged accuse of the recent Bombay serial blasts. In October 1994 at a Press Meet in Srinagar

organised by Ikhwan, a video cassette was screened which claimed to

eatablish that Tiger Memon was “somewhere in Kashmir”. One of the shots showed Memon with an Ikhwan leader Sajjad Ahmed Kenno just behind his shoulder. The State and the Central Government Intelligence agencies however, discounted the story. In any case, no other proof of his presence in Kashmir could be provided. The Police claimed that the video recording had been done outside Kashmir,.may be in Nepal, and then sent here. It was screened in Srinagar to confuse the authorities about the trails of Tiger Memon. Some secessionist leaders seemed to soften their attitude towards Delhi when 1995 dawned. Prof. Abdul Ghani of Hurriyat Conference visited Delhi and addressed a Press Conference. Ikhwan considered his statement at Delhi as weakening of the resolve of Kashmiri people. On January 24, 1995 Ikhwan Chief Hilal Ahmed Beg directed his cadres to kill Prof. Ghani for his: “anti-freedom statements” at Delhi. He also claimed that his own intelligence had established that Prof. Ghani was involved in anti-militancy activities.

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Kashmir Underground

An important member, Sajjad Ahmed Kenno was in the Joint Interrogation Centre at Rangreth, near the Old Airport, Srinagar in June 1995, from where he managed to escape. Soon after he announced

Ikhwan

would henceforth be known

as J&K Islamic Front.

Many

members who were not in agreement or were disenchanted either joined other groups or formed new groups. Thus were born Ikhwan-ulMusalmoon, Ummati Musalmoon, Ikhwan (South). Kenno was reported to have spent sometime in Delhi to organise a network there. He returned to Srinagar towards the end of November 1995 and got busy in strengthening its base. He used to hold meetings in different parts of Srinagar and give directions. While he was engaged in a meeting like this on the outskirts of Srinagar on December 1, 1995, the Security Forces, on the basis of firm information, surrounded the hideout and arrested him. Police alleged that on January 7, 1996 he

tried to escape and while doing so was shot dead by SOG of the State Police. Police claimed that Kenno was involved in a number of abductions earlier. These included Nahida Soz, Doraiswamy, Khera and

Mir Nassarullah, and killing of Prof. Mushir-ul-Haq - Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University.

Kenno’s place was filled up by Prof. Feroz Illahi who was made

Acting Supreme Commander on January 10, 1996.

For the next 15-20

days Police increased its vigil in Jammu area for it had reports that senior members would escape to Jammu since the police dragnet in Kashmir was Zeroing in on them one by one. On February 20, 1996 an important member Bilal Ahmed was arrested from a city hotel in Jammu. He was allegedly involved in a number of attacks on BSF in Srinagar and also in the shootout in 1991 in Jewel Chowk.

One of its senior activists Tahir Mir was first arrested in 1990 but was acquitted in a number of cases over the years. Last time he was bailed out on September 13, 1996 and freed from jail. He was re-arrested on September 17. The TADA designated court bailed him out on April 12, 1997 but police said he was involved in 3 other cases. Lashkar-e-Toiba

(Army of the Pure) This is an organisation which is founded on fundamentalism and fired by Islamist extremism. Its central office and academy — Markaz-I-Dawat Arshad - which produces its highly committed cadres, is at Muridke some 30 kilometers north of Lahore. Under its banner foreign mercenaries

came to Kahsmir in 1993 and were dispersed to mountainous areas.

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147

First they cooperated with Al Burg, but later, on directions from Pakistan it started working with Harkat-ul-Ansar. Kashmir young men of promise were selected and sent for intensive training to LET camps located in Punjab, NWFP and border areas of Afghanistan..

In 1993 Islami Inqalabi Mahaz had been set up in Poonch District with the help provided by ISI officials, Col Murtaza Gilani and Major

Hasan, from across the LOC.

A batch of 12 LET operatives - Afghans

and Pakistanis, was infiltrated into Poonch area. They were heavily armed and attacked an army camp at Balnoi. Two armymen were killed and a few injured. Three militants lost their lives and five were captured. In 1994 the Lashkar-e-Toiba was ready for major actions in Kashmir Valley. On October 29, a group of 50 activists attacked an Army patrol

in North Kashmir in which three of its cadres were killed.

Two of its important functionaries were eliminated in 1995, Lashkare-Toiba’s General Secretary Showkat Azhar ~a Pakistani from Bhawalpur

got arrested in September.

The Chief Commander Shams-ul-Rehman,

along with five colleagues was killed on May 26, 1995 in Budgam District in an encounter with Security Forces. Elections to Parliament and to State Legislative Assembly were held all over Jammu & Kashmir inspite of desperate efforts made by militants all through 1996. Not having succeeded in Kashmir Valley, the Lashkare-Toiba commandos decided to concentrate on vulnerable areas of Jammu

region.

Mohammed Saleem was made Jammu District Commander.

Soon after, he went over to Pakistan in late 1996 for instructions about

new strategies and operations. He sneaked back to Jammu in May 1997. Police was on his track and arrested him on June 8.

Lashkar leadership felt that pressure should be kept up in North Kashmir. By the middle of 1997 it had created a reasonable base in Kupwara District. In Jammu region it had consolidated in Doda District and spread its network in farflung and inaccessible areas of Poonch and Rajouri Districts. The local militants in Kashmir Valley had become wary of the Lashkar-e-Toiba especially because most of its cadres were Punjabi Musalmans and by tradition there is no love lost between the two. They were more fundamentalist and more committed than many other outfits. The Lashkar-e-Toiba cadres prefer to die in an encounter with security forces rather than be arrested. This is proved by the fact that in 1997 the largest grup of militants that got killed belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba. In their gameplan of targetting members of one community to engineer communal passion of the other community, the Lashkar-e-Toiba failed both in Doda as also in Poonch and Rajouri Districts.

In September 1997 a large group of Lashkar-e-Toiba activists with

some Harkat militants as guides, were on the run in Budgam District in September 1997. The Armymen were able to push them up in higher

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Kashmir Underground

reaches and then engage them after surrounding them. Ina two-batallion “ operation — the biggest single one in the Valley in the last 3 years — the Rashtriya Rifles was able to eliminate 16 of its cadres — all foreigners. The encounter took place on September 21, 1997 in village Latinoo just 4 kms from Beerwah town. The militants were heavily armed since arms recovered included 14 AK-47 assault rifles, 10 disposable rocketlaunchers and rockets, pistols and two wireless sets.

A month later in Shopian area Lashkar-e-Toiba cadres visited a couple of villages and sought information about Security Forces who were informed about the presence of militants. On October 27 an encounter took place near Chak-e-Cholona and a Pakistani member of Lashkar-e-Toiba was killed. He was identified as Irfan Sayeed alias Syed Abdullah, a resident of Multan (Pakistan),

Pakistan’s ISI was reported to have “entrusted” operations in Poonch and Rajouri Districts to Lashkar-e-Toiba which will spearhead a joint

force of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Anasar and Lashkar-e-Toiba.

This operation was to be controlled and directed by ISI set up a Kotli

(POK) under the command of ISI Lt. Col. Sayeed. The Lashkar-e-Toiba

cadres made inroads into the interior area s of Poonch District. In the latter half of 1997 the Lashkar-e-Toiba militants killed about 12 persons in isolated hamlets in the most gruesome manner by slitting the throats and then beheading the victims.

On November 2, 1997 in an encounter

in Bafliaz area on November 2, the leader of this gang Abu Zubair — a Pakistani national — was killed. He was a daredevil, a hardcore militant

and a committed fundamentalist to whom slow not abhorent. Between April 13 and September killed nine persons including two women. On the other side of the Pir Panjal range, activised themselves in North Kashmir. In this

methods of killing were 22, 1997 he had brutally

the Lashkar cadres had area also they had been

directed to operate in close cooperation with Hizb militants. On receiving

authentic information the armymen surrounded the Aadipora village near Sopore. On November 29, 1997 in the encounter, Lashkar’s District Commander Omar Zaman ~a Pakistani national - was killed along with two others. A month later the Lashkar activists had congregated in Rajwar forest area near Handwara in Kupwara District. For 3 previous years this area had been described as “Chota

Afghanisan”-

miniature

Afghanistan,

because a large number of foreign mercenaries had “occupied” this forested area of Zachaldara.

Three senior Lashkar activists including

one Area Commander was killed on December 31, 1997 when the Security Forces surrounded their hideout. 1998 again saw the Lashkar-e-Toiba shifting its attention to Jammu region. In spring it was clear that its main activity in the next few months

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would be in Rajouri and Poonch Districts. In July intelligence gathered by the Army mentioned presence of small bands of militants in the wooded areas in the upper reaches of Surankot area in Poonch District. Armymen surrounded the area and squeezed the cordon forcing the militants to start firing. This was effectively replied to. This engagement of July 26 left 5 militants dead. Their leader ~ District Commander -

was an Afghan national Abu Adil, also known as “Shahji”. The other four were Pakistanis, who had been Local Area Commanders in Poonch District and had gathered here to plan some operations. They were identified as Mohd. Hanief (of Lahore), Abu Jar (of Gujranwala), Abu

Khamda Gaznavi (of Multan) and Abu Hamza alias Mohammed Shahid

(of Sheikupura).

The Lashkar-e-Toiba Chief Commander for Jammu & Kashmir Attaur-Rehman (code name Qari) -a Pakistani Punjabi — was concerned about

total elimination of Lashkar-e-Toiba Command in Poonch area. He was known to have visited the area soon after and helped to restructure the set-up. In the meantime, in Kashmir a new Deputy Commander had

been nominated.

He was Abu Duziana (of Sialkote).

New District

Commanders - all Pakistanis - were also nominated. They would supervise operations in Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Kupwara, Baramullah and Pulwama. Doda was to be looked after by Abu Moosa assisted by Abu Daja and Khalid Bhai. The Lashkar-e-Toiba has a few training camps in Pakistan but the principal one is at Muridke inside the Markaz-e-Dawat-ul-Arshad. This sprawling campus of over 200 aces is the headquarters of this extremist

Islamic organisation whose declared objective is establishment of pure

Islamic order starting with Kashmir. This heavily guarded and fortified complex, has 6 mosques, a hospital, an academy besides special schools

for specialised training.

Markaz was formed in early eighties and was sponsored by Jamaite-Aihle-e-Hadees. Its trained cadres are not asked to work against only non-Moslems (Kafirs) but also against those sects of Moslems like Ahmediyas who are not accepted in Pakistan, as true Moslems. The Markaz advocates elimination of all those who do not implement Islamic laws. From the Markaz are sent out trained and fully indoctrined volunteers (whose families back home are cared for by the Markaz as per its arrested cadres) to participate in Jehad in Kashmir and some other foreign countries. According to the interrogation of some of its arrested cadres, Lashkar-e-Toiba members are given specific and professional training in sabotage, subversion and ambush.

Two of their important

training camps were identified as Kunar near Afghan border and Chahlebnandi.

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The Makaz has close links with the Moslem world’s most well-known fundamentalist groups like “AL Gamma-Al-Islamiya” of Egypt, the ~“Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen” of Sudan and the Islamic extremist groups of Algeria. In early 1994, the Markaz opened a branch in United Kingdom. To the foreign fraternal organisation special delegates were sent from time to time. Once a year the Markaz holds its Annual Conference when fraternal delegates from 30-35 countries are present. Many important Pakistani leaders visit the Markaz frequently. Among them are Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Hamid Gul, former Director General of ISI and Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Chief of Pakistan’s Jamait-I-Islami.

It is public knowledge that since 1992 the Markaz has set up 55

religious schools (Madrasas) in Punjab alone and its message of Islamic

revolution has found ready recruits. Zafar Iqbal, who heads the educational set-up says “Most people think religious people are terrorists. But terrorism is being created by non-religious education”. And Chief

of the Markaz,

Hafiz Mohd.

Saeed has his own definition.

He says

“Terrorists are killers; they kidnap and murder the innocents. But Jihad is to help the poor, the weak and the starving and to establish the supremacy of Allah. Only those who are against Allah are killed and those who oppress the poor and weak. Only the tyrants”. On democracy he says, “The democratic system is not Islamic but a Jewish and Christian import from Europe. We should not let it thrive here. In Islam, God is the ruler, but democracy gives right to all people”. In February 1998, Pakistan’s leading monthly magazine Herald carried a cover story on the activities of the Markaz. The article had spoken of regular arms training being imparted to young men and then sending them to Kashmir to fight the Indian Army. On April 19, 1998 the Markaz was paid an official visit by Federal Minister of Information - Mushahid Hussain, accompanied by Punjab Governor Shahid Hamid and some Provincial Ministers. According to leading Pakistani Urdu daily Khabrain the Pakistan Minister not only hailed the activities of the Markaz which trains and maintains Lashkare-Toiba, but also said that here the true concept of Islamic Jehad (holy war) was being taught. This was the first ever visit of any Pakistani Minister to the Markaz since it was set up about 10 years ago. The BBC took notice of the visit and described it as extraordinary as Lashkar-eToiba had been claiming responsibility for militant activities in Jammu & Kashmir. Hafiz Mohammed

Saeed, the head of the Markaz Dawa-ul-Irshad,

claimed that such visits by high Pakistani Government representatives would remove all misconceptions about his organisation. Saeed further

said that after liberation of Kashmir,

his organisation

would

launch

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a Jehad (holy war) for liberation of “20 crore oppressed Indian Moslems”. : This visit by the Federal Minister and Punjab Governor to the Markaz was severely criticised by some Pakistanis including the prestigious Daily Dawn. Islamic Students League In 1985 this body of students was formed in Srinagar by five young men who in a few years would be important players in the underground movement in Kashmir. They were Shakeel Ahmed Bakshi, Ashfaq Majid Wani, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Javed Ahmed Mir and Mohammed

Yasin

Malik. Soon they were joined by Aijaz Ahmed Dar, Hilal Ahmed Beigh and Mushtaq Ahmed. Hamid Sheikh, Ashfaq Majid , Javed Ahmed and Yasin Malik were

the core group which came to be known as HAJY Group. This Group

went over to JKLF a year or so later and formed the nucleus of JKLF in

Kashmir Valley.

The Islamic Students League does not recognise the accession of

Kashmir to India. It also totally reject the “un-Islamic and man-made

concepts of socialism and secularism”. According to Bakshi the “Islamic

Students League appreciates masses and Mujahids for having launched a war of assertion against Indian arrogance and occupation. It views with concern the negligence of various organisations to give the war a realistic perspective, proper content and direction”. He laments that “no step has been taken to prepare the people for a prolonged struggle, instead they are being fed on euphorias. With limited resources and a shattered economy, Kashmiris can’t fight a big enemy for a long time. A lot needs to be done to survive and struggle till the logical conclusion”. He was very concerned about “the negative attitude of the intellectuals in this perspective and their apathy towards their own people. The intellectuals are busy in minting money and exploiting the movement and the freedom fighters for their petty interests”. Shakeel Bakshi said in anguish “What this class of people must realise is that the freedom movement is not a part-time joke. It has not been started to provide a better standard of living to this particular class of the society”. The Islamic Students League was not happy with the American attitude towards the sufferings of Kashmiri people and criticised the “so-called Godfather towards Kashmir issue. These forces can go to the extent of waging war to safeguard the interest of a monarchy but have totally ignored the cries and flames in Kashmir”. In November

1992 A. Alam was made its Acting Chairman.

On

November 25 he told the Press that “use of gun is pressure tactics we are using to achieve right of self-determination. Gun has to be the watchdog

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of the freedom movement”. He said the Islamic Students League was against any division of Jammu & Kashmir State and “reject any such proposal as a solution of this problem. The Islamic Students League also does not subscribe to the idea of independence of J&K State for it believes it will complicate further this problem”. The party was reorganised in February 1993. Shakeel Ahmed Bakshi (in detention) was made

the Chief Patron and Moulvi Ahsan-ul-Haq

was promoted as Chairman. Dr. Ghulam Qadir Wani stepped in as Acting Chairman. He was asked to look after “external affairs” also. Dr. Naseer Ahmed took over as General Secretary and Mushtaq Jalal was made the Chief Organiser. The Islamic Students League then asked the people in Kashmir to launch a civil disobedience movement. They were asked not to pay any fees or taxes to the Government, Central or State. Although the State Government declared the Islamic Students League as an unlawful body and banned it on April 16, 1990, it has been quite active even after that. From detention Shakeel Bakshi issued a long statement on February 25, 1994 stressing on giving political direction to the “ongoing movement” so that it can be taken to its logical conclusion. He advocated a United Front comprising of all like-minded parties and groups so that “all our energies are used for the fulfillment of our cherished goal”. He wanted a delegation of representative Kashmiris to be sent on an all-India tour to “educate people there about Kashmir dispute and present a real picture before them”. About the Kashmiri Pandits, he said that “Islamic Students League considers them part and

parcel of Kashmir’s history and ethos and were inseparable from the majority community”. He hoped that day was not far when the “two communities will again come closer and the old days will be revived when both lived together and shared each others joys and sorrows”. Regarding a lasting solution of the Kashmir issue the Islamic Students League believes that only a solution which is acceptable to all the three regions of the State and to India and Pakistan, will be enduring. The Islamic Students League leader Shakeel Ahmed Bakshi was released from detention on bail on June 25, 1996.

Moslem Janbaz Force Al Jehad

The J&K Peoples’ League in 1990 established its armed wing and named

in Moslem Janbaz Force (MJF). It was floated under the grandoise name “Farzandan-I-Millat”, but was soon given up for Moslem Janbaz Force. Its first Chairman was Babbar Badr (Firdous Ahmed Baba). Earlier

Hakim Naved Anjam of Baramullah had gone across the LOC for special

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training on completion of which he was sent back to establish FarzandanI-Millat. After Badr assumed leadership he established a network and recruited and trained over 4000 cadres. Also established was a War Council to chalk out an operational strategy. It’s first major action was abduction of two Swede engineers (working on Uri Hydel Project) on March 31, 1991. This was done primarily to catch the world’s attention. A month earlier Babbar Badr had claimed that over 99% of people in Jammu & Kashmir supported “peoples’ movement and are against the Indian occupation”. He expressed determination of the Moslem Janbaz Force not to give up the struggle till “our goal is achieved”. He said Moslem Janbaz Force was convinced that frequent announcements by Government

about destruction of bridges, buildings and houses and

other properties was part of the dis-information campaign and was not based on facts. In April 1991 Badr was arrested. Pervez Haider was made the Acting

Chief. While Badr was in jail Moslem Janbaz Force was converted into AlJehad. Later, in the end of 1991, Jehad Force headed by Sheikh Abdul

Aziz, merged with it and Aziz was named the Supreme Commander of the Al Jehad. New Chief, Sheikh Abdul Aziz declared that jailed Supremo

of Peoples’ League - Syed Shabir Ahmed Shah, would be the Patron and Farrog Rehmani would be the Co-Patron. “Both are equally respectable in our eyes and will continue to inspire our cadres and our people” he added. Its Military Advisor, Javed Ahmed Dar alias “Chengez Khan” was

arrested on November 11, 1992.

It suffered other setbacks in the next

few months. Its senior leader Zubair Ahmed was killed in Jammu in January 1993 and Maulana Ghiyas-ud-Din, its Chief was killed on March 13, 1993. Sheikh Abdul Aziz, its Chief Commander, had allegedly killed

13 Kashmiri Pandits in Pampore area earlier. He was arrested by Army

troops on May 21, 1993.

In his place Altaf Alamgir (Bilal Ahmed) was

appointed Acting Chief. He too, was arrested by Security Forces on May 22, 1993. Next day his place was taken by Khalil-ur-Rehman, who became the Acting Chief. In Jammu City on February 1, 1993, the Area Commander Raja Khalid Manhas was spotted in a lane, caught by the people and beaten badly. He later died in the hospital. Police alleged that Manhas was responsible for many bomb blasts, rocket attacks and grenade throwing in Jammu City in July and December 1990, and September 1992. Al Jehad rejected outright the solution of Kashmir issue through

tripartite talks between India, Pakistan and representatives of Kashmir.

Its Supreme

Commander,

Khalil-ur-Rehman

on June 7, 1993

in a

statement said “only viable solution of the Kashmir issue is the

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Kashmir Underground

implementation of the UN Resolutions for holding of a plebiscite in the State”. On June 23, 1993 Jamal Afghani was named the new Supreme Commander.

A fortnight later, on July 8, 1993 the Al Jehad suffered a

major setback when five of its top leaders were arrested by the Security

Forces.

They were: Abdul Qayoom Bilour, Mohammed

Yousof Wani,

Dawood Ahmed Dar, all Divisional Commanders and Abdul Majid Dar, Chief Motivator and Recruiter. Al Jehad is convinced that militancy would come to an end when people stop supporting it. This view was expressed by its former Supremo, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who is in jail. Talking to the Press inside

the jail premises on August 22, 1993 he said “Kashmiris can ill-afford the present attrition rate between the guns and pressure of militants and the Security Forces”. Militants have started feeling they are facing an “unequal battle” he stated. He regretted that the level of enthusiasm in Kashmir was falling and that coercion had to be used to recruit young men for training in Pakistan. About Afghan mercenaries he said, “We have not invited them here. We don’t want them here. But we can’t send them back”.

He was of the view that their presence in Kashmir,

would damage the movement. Sheikh Abdul Aziz who claims to have taken part in Afghan

Mujahideen campaign said he returned disenchanted as “ultimately it had turned out only to be a struggle for power”. On

October

23, 1993 Acting

Supreme

Commander,

Khalil-ur-

Rehman alongwith his bodyguard was killed by Security Forces in Pohru-

Kakapore area of Pulwama District. On December 16, 1993 Jamal Afghani

(Abdul Khaliq) Acting Supremo was killed in exchange of fire with BSF jawans in Baramulla District. However, Al Jehad alleged that Jamal was tortured in custody. The Chief Area Commander for Kupwara District, Farooq Ahmed alias “Col. Haider” was arrested by State Police in Jammu City on December 20, 1993. He had two Kashmiri girls with him allegedly abducted from the Valley. Babbar

Badr who

had been released

a few months

earlier, had

consulted some like-minded workers in the Party. Thereafter he decided to pull out and on January 12, 1994 he announced the revival of Moslem

Janbaz Force.

While Badr was made its Patron, Shams-ur-Rehman

Akhtar was made the Chief Commander. Badr declared Janbaz Force would “carry on the armed struggle till the determination was granted to the people of Kashmir”. He gun as the heart of the movement and politics its brain. He

to cooperate fully and work together.

that Moslem right of selfdescribed the wanted both

Al Jehad had earlier put a ban on the functioning of Malinson School

in Srinagar.

On December 22, 1994 this ban was lifted after the outfit

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155

had satisfied itself that the teaching was not un-Islamic.

On June 15, 1994, Salar-I-Aalla (Supreme Commander) Nazir Ahmed

Shah alias Aziz-ur-Rehman, was killed at Bemina on the outskirts of Srinagar, by the Security Forces.

On October, 1994 Al Jehad and Jehad Force merged to form Al Fateh Force. The Chief Commander of Al Jehad, Yunis Khalid was made its

Acting Deputy Chief Commander.

However, on October 18, 1994 he

was injured in an encounter with Security Forces. Since the injury was serious he may have died soon after because within a few days new appointments were announced: Gowhar Illahi was named the new Chief. Samad Khan was made new Launching Chief. Zain-ul-Abdin was named Chief Commander and Mir Niyazi was made Divisional Commander. The organisation, finding that students interest was declining in the ongoing movement and in an effort to keep them away from fun and

frolic, announced in June 1995 a ban on picnics and excursions by the general public and students to Moghul Gardens and other places. On

June 14, 1995 its spokesman said all cultural activities stood banned all

over Kashmir. According to it, cultural shows were “totally un-Islamic and anti-movement”. A week later it also asked all Nambardars (petty

revenue officials in villages) to resign from their posts so that theymay

not be used by Security Forces. It had no effect at all.

In early July 1995 Al Jehad suffered loss of its Srinagar Divisional

Commander, Mohammed Yusuf Hazari alias “Muzzamil” when he was killed in an encounter with BSF.

In the name of “Government of Al Jehad” an order was issued on

October 12, 1995 warning government officials to keep off election duty

or else be “prepared for death”. Seven officers from Jammu region who

had agreed to work as Returning Officers for proposed elections, were marked for “elimination”. Babbar Badr and three leaders of other outfits announced on February 8, 1996 that they had decided to renounce the gun and were prepared for a dialogue with Delhi, to find a solution of the Kashmir tangle. On February 27, 1996 fifteen activists of Jammu region also decided to support this proposal. They were: 1. Adil Afridi 2. Mussarat Hussain Riffiqui alias Syed Yawar Abbas, Deputy Chief Commander 3. Naseer Ahmed Wanialias Dawood Jabbar, provincial Jammu Chief 4.

5. 6.

Javed Iqbal Khan alias Haroon Rashid, Doda District Commander Ghulam Mohammed alias Usman Ali, Zonal Commander Ashfaq Ahmed Lone alias ‘Col.’ Afridi, Zonal Commander

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Kashmir Underground 7.

8.

Mujahid Hussain alias Mohd. Sultan, Zonal Commander

Akhtar Hussain Gojal alias Asghar Ali, Divisional Commander for Jammu & Udhampur Districts In March 1996 Babbar Badr, in the company of three other leaders of other outfits, met with the Union Home Ministry officials in New Delhi.

Soon Badr formed a Forum for Permanent Solution of Jammu & Kashmir

and was made its Chairman. In March 1997 he joined the ruling National

Conference and in a few weeks he was elected to the Legislative Council. The remnants of Al Jehad had regrouped in 1997 and resumed its activities. One of its senior members Abdul Salam Mangloo after his arrest in Jammu on September 20, 1997 said his group had planned to kill political leaders and prominent citizens. From the hideout he disclosed, arms were recovered which were meant to be used for these killings. In March 1999 it was disclosed that Al Jehad had publicly owned killing of over 500 persons since this outfit came into being. Moslem Mujahideen In late 1992 there was dis-satisfaction in the ranks of Mujahideen-I-Islam, Al Umar Commandos and Al Mustafa Commandos. The veteran militant

Master Ahsan Dar, the founder of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, having been

expelled from Hizb-ul-Mujahideen had already formed nucleus of anew organisation. On January 20, 1993 all these elements decided to form themselves into a body which was named J&K Moslem Mujahideen.

Master Ahsan Dar was proclaimed its Chief though Shabir Ahmed

Zargar was made the President. Prior to launching of this organisation, Dar had made two trips to Pakistan where he had “tied up matters with concerned authorities”. It soon became financially well-provided. On December 19, 1993 Ahsan Dar and his Deputy who was also his Financial Controller, Ghulam Mohidin, were arrested from Jawahar

Nagar Government flats in Srinagar. During their interrogation they were reported to have disclosed that former speaker of Legislative Assembly, Malik Mohidin of Pampore was the main conduit of bringing

funds from Delhi where they arrived from “some foreign sources”. The BSF authorities were told that Malik was an Moslem Mujahideen activist. The BSF told Press that money was received in Delhi through hawala transfers from abroad and Malik would bring it to Srinagar from there. Malik was arrested from his Pampore residence on December 20, 1993. After these arrests the outfit became less active but their rivalry with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen hotted up. A senior member Mohammed Ramzan Mir alias Hyat Khan was killed by Hizb activists on August 7, 1994.

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On October 24, 1994 its Chief Commander Abdul Majid Dar was killed by Security Forces in an encounter in Baramulla District. About the same time, one of its District Commanders Mohammed Saleem Bhat was killed by Hizb activists. The Moslem Mujahideen were worried by the trend of Kashmir youth wanting to get recruited to State Police and the paramilitary forces. On December 22, 1994 it ordered a ban on young men joining any police establishment. This was so because a decreasing number would join the militant ranks and secondly they would be used in counter-insurgency activities. It asked all militant groups to check activities of State Police and “take suitable measures for this”. With Ahsan Dar in detention the group was directionless. In January 1995 the group split into two factions, one led by Bilal Ahmed Sidiqi and other by Ghulam Nabi Azad alias “Naba Azad”. Sidiqui faction under the Chief Shabir Ahmed Zargar expelled Azad from the organisation after a meeting of the Military Command Council on February 6, 1996. In the meantime Azad faction offered full support to dialogue with Delhi and for holding of elections in the near future. Ghulam

Nabi Azad, new

Commander

of the Group

declared on

February 23, 1996 that they accepted Indian soverignty over Jammu & Kashmir State. He also vowed to fight the “ISI sponsored militancy” in the State and to strive to bring back peace and normalcy. Two days later he blamed Hizb-ul-Mujahideen for indulging in destruction and killings in Kashmir. Having gained confidence and having gathered more support Azad held a Press Conference on March 11, 1996 at Anantnag where he claimed that Moslem Mujahideen renounced the reign of terror from most of South Kashmir and restored normal life. He however said that their efforts will continue till the whole of Kashmir was cleared of militants. He said Moslem Mujahideen stood for “restoration of sanctity of Kashmir and Kashmiriyat”. He further said “Our fight is against oppressors whether they are Security Forces or the bad sons of Kashmir”. He said his organisation fully blamed Hizb-ul-Mujahideen for converting “the

sacred movement into a civil war”. He was unhappy that Hizb called

“brave boys of Moslem Mujahideen and others like them Indian agents, just because they are striving for peace”, and asked “why should not cadres of Hizb and those patronised by Pakistan ISI be called Pakistani agents”. According to him “youth of Kashmir had initially picked up the gun to end exploitation but the gun itself became an instrument of exploitation”.

Hence he said he was against the use of gun, now.

He also announced that the political wing of Moslem Mujahideen — Peoples’ Patriotic Front, would participate in the forthcoming general

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Kashmir Underground

elections. The Front did participate in the elections in 1996 both to the Parliament and the State Assembly. The honeymoon with the National Conference soon ended and the Front turned critical of the ruling party and the Farooq Government.

On January 27, 1997 the Moslem Mujahideen Chief, Ghulam Nabi Azad

strongly criticised the Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah for having “back tracked on his promises given to reformed militants”. He warned that they may be forced to “take up the gun again”. He claimed that there was a “written agreement with the Chief Minister before the elections were held, about many things including our rehabilitation but nothing has been done”. He admitted that former militants were restive. “Our boys are under control but some of them might go back to militancy if they are not rehabilitated soon”, he added. In October 1997 four of its leaders accused the National Conference of backtracking on the issue of greater autonomy. It also alleged increase in crackdowns, killings and poor general security environment in Kashmir Valley. Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen

A highly motivated pro-Pak outfit which was established in Kashmir in late 1990. Mohammed Abdullah Ghazali was made the Chief. Sajjad Mir was made the Chief Commander and Abdul Ghani Mir was made the Chief Commander and Abdul Ghani Dar alias Ghazi Sofi was made the Chief Motivator. The post of Deputy Chief Commander was given

to Jaffar Jalaali.

Another senior and experienced militant Mushtaq

Ahmed Khan alias Izrail Khan, was made the Intelligence Chief.

It called for a UN probe on June 19, 1991 into the alleged atrocities by the Security Forces. The Tehrik in a statement said “hundreds have been killed and thousands have been detained” in Kashmir. There was an encounter between a small group of this outfit and the Security Forces on September 3, 1992. Tehrik’s Ameer Ghazali and its Chief Motivator Ghazi Sofi were killed. In another encounter on April 11, 1993 its Deputy Chief Commander Jaffar Jalali and five associates

were killed. Twenty days later, on April 30, 1993 its Intelligence Chief Izrail Khan got killed when a bomb kept in his own car, blew up.

On April 7, 1993 its Chief Commander Sajjad Mir (a Gold Medalist

M.A.) leading a small group had attacked a BSF Post killing one officer

and three other personnel in Batamaloo area of Srinagar. Mir had received his training in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He however was killed in an encounter with Security Forces on July 28, 1993. In his place Jameel-ur-Rehman was made the Chief Commander. As Deputy Chief Commander

Jameel

had

on

May

16,

1993

expressed

satisfaction

over

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159 among

the world leaders”.

His statement said “our

movement is at a very critical stage and all of us should take the next

step cautiously lest we lose the right track”.

The Tehrik felt apprehensive about the doings of unscruplous persons who had secured entry into different outfits and were bringing a bad name on account of criminal activities. The Tehrik called on different organisations to identify such persons and “disarm them” for they were bringing down the peoples’ movement in the estimation of the people. This had hurt the movement locally and at the international level as well. Tehrik asked all the organisations in the anti-India movement to evolve a joint strategy so that any individual thrown out of one organisation does not get admission in another set-up. In 1994 the Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen increased its presence in Doda District and raised the level of its activity. In February it tried to establish authority by ordering that no timber be taken out of Doda District (it is the richest timber wealth district in the State), It also banned construction

of High Tension towers in the entire District for evacuation of power which would be produced at Dul Hasti Power Project. Next 3 years or so this outfit had to lie low and reduce the level of its activity in Kahsmir Valley. In the first two months of 1997 it decided to reactivise its cadres. On orders from its mentors across the border, Rafiq

Ahmed Bhat assumed the direction of the outfit as Acting Chief. The plans that were made following consultations with his colleagues could not be implemented because he got killed in an encounter on October 22, 1994 in a village near Shopian in Pulwara District. Once again the outfit was in disarray. It took them more than 2 years to get together a set-up of senior members to control and direct its activities. In November 1997 most of its important members were in Delhi, where in more relaxed atmosphere they were discussing their future plans and deciding upon strategies to be followed. J&K Police had kept track of their movements and with Delhi Police conducted raids on suspected hideouts. Three militants were arrested. They were identified as: Mohd. Imtiaz Bhat alias Ashfaq Saleem of Noorbagh; Mohd. Shaffi Khan alais Obaid of Khan Sahib (Budgam);

and Fayaz Ahmed

Bhat of Budgam. They were reported to belong to Zahid Maqbool group of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen. Later in November 1997, Delhi Police was able to arrest three more members of Hanief Dar group of Tehrik-ulMujahideen. They were: Abdur Rashid Najar alias Lalla of Budgam; Mohd. Shaffi Dhobi alias Yusuf Khan of Srinagar and Abdul Ahmed Bhat alias Yusuf Bhat of Noorbagh, Bhagbampore. Because of their arrest for the next 12-15 months the Tehrik-ulMujahideen was not able to register its presence anywhere in Kashmir.

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Kashmir Underground Al Burq

This outfit claims that it was founded in Pakistan in the Eighties. Its nucleus in Kashmir was formed in 1990 by Advocate Bilal Lodhi who was a close associate of Abdul Ghani Lone, President of the J&K Political Conference. Though its major base is Kupwara District, its area of operation includes the Districts of Baramulla, Poonch, Rajouri and Srinagar City. In 1993 it claimed that at its peak it had over 7000 armed militants in its fold. On June 9, 1991 in Kupwara a group of militants led by Bilal Lodhi was engaged in a big encounter with security forces. There were many casualties on both sides but Lodhi escaped even when he was injured. Later he was involved in another major encounter in the Uri sector on December 4, 1991 which went on for many hours. Al Burq lost 29 men and Lodhi was seriously wounded. He was arrested but nursed back to health. In the meantime, Syed Tajamul Islam, Advocate, had taken over as the Chief. He condemned the resort to abductions to secure release of some “mujahids”. He called it “un-Islamic and also unethical”. Later in an extensive interview he defined self-detemination as being the main objective of Al Burg. He said people could decide later if they wanted to become part of Pakistan or remain independent. He criticised proliferation of outfits and said this would weaken the movement. The other objectives of his organisation according to him were: Islamization of Kashmir, freedom from India and accession to Pakistan.

About the

use of gun he said it has focussed attention of the world on Kashmir after so many years. He further said that Al Burq was committed “to fight the occupation forces till our last soldier and the last bullet”. Referring to Pakistan, he said “without their support Kashmiris cannot take the ongoing struggle to its logical conclusion”. Their activists continued to attack security forces whenever they could. Its Deputy Chief, Noor-ul-Hassan was arrested by BSF in the spring of 1992. According to Police he died of kidney failure while he was in detention. Another Deputy Chief, Ghulam Mohidin Khan “Amjad” was killed on April 14, 1992 in an encounter in Handwara area. Its Chief Commander,

Abdul Majid alias Khalid Gibran was killed by

security forces on October 15, 1993. His place was taken by Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari alias Mauzam Ali but within a few months he was arrested from a Srinagar locality on May 28, 1994. He told press the next day that Al Burq was “funded and directly patronised by ISI” and alleged that Abdul Ghani Lone was its godfather. He further claimed that “all directions for the outfit from across were sent to Lone’s house from where those were being conveyed to the Group Leaders”. Mauzam Ali told

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the Press that “most weapons and money is being pumped into Kashmir through Al Burg at present”. He also disclosed that ISI sends Rs 5 lacs every month for upkeep and maintenance of Al Burq cadres. He further said that this outfit was directed by ISI to “kill politicians and intelligence personnel, to damage and destroy bridges, buildings and schools besides terrorising persons who do not join the movement”. To strengthn this outfit Pakistan ISI in early 1993 sent a batch of 25 militants from Algeria, Sudan, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Iraq besides some

Pakistanis and Kashmiris. This batch which crossed the LOC in two groups was commanded by a veteran of Afghan-Soviet war, Fahadullah. Soon he made his base in Doda District. The Security Forces were after him and in late 1994 he was arrested in Doda. Since the outfit was unable to show any worthwhile results, ISI from Pakistan sent a new Commander. In October 1995 the command was assumed by Malik Mohd. Taimoor. The Security Forces were after him

and were able to get him on March. 14, 1996 from Rawalpura Colony on

the outskirts of Srinagar. After his release from jail in 1994 Bilal Lodhi started distancing himself from violence and the path of confrontation. He held consultations with other disenchanted leaders of other outfits also. Ultimately a consensus was reached. On February 10, 1996 a joint Press Conference at Srinagar was held by Bilal Lodhi alongwith Imran Rahi of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Babbar Badr of Moslem Janbaz Force. Lodhi said that they were convinced that the gun would not produce results and bring no solution to their problems. He said they were prepared for a dialogue without any pre-conditions, with New Delhi. The new stance of Bilal Lodhi created a stir in the group and its split was imminent. His opponents within the outfit first “disowned” him and then expelled him from the party. Some hardcore members even called for his “elimination”. Some of Al Burq members decided to go along with Bilal Lodhi. Al Umar Mujahideen

This organisation is claimed to have been set up in Srinagar in 1985 with encouragement and support from Pakistan. Although it has pockets of influence

in all parts of Kashmir

Valley, its main

concentration

is

Kashmir.

Its spokesman Aforoz Ali claimed in June 1991 that they had

downtown Srinagar. At its peak, in 1991 it claimed to have over 3000 armed members in Kashmir. At that time the outfit was led by Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar alias Latrum. Al Umar Mujahideen favours Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan but assumes that it will abide by the wishes of the people of Jammu &

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offices not only in POK and Pakistan but also in Iran and Saudi Arabia,

who according to him, were lending “total support to our movement”. He disclosed that while they get most of their arms and other equipment from across the LOC they were getting some supplies also locally against cash payment. He also alleged that for smuggling arms and ammunition, money had to be spent freely on the border.

This organisation is alleged to wrap bombs around the bodies of its

victims and then blow them up to bits. It claimed the credit shot dead a former Minister Hissam-ud-Din Bandey on June Sheikh Sadiq. Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar joined the militant ranks late 1990 and went across to POK. He underwent three months subversion and handling of arms and explosives and returned

for having 4, 1991 and

in January training in to Srinagar

in June 1990 to assume command of the outfit which does not have any

political arm. Latif Jafae was made the Deputy Chief. The outfit was opposed to any proposal of dialogue with Delhi right from the early days of 1990. On March 20, 1990 a statement issued by it warned other outfits and political leaders that anyone proposing any talk with Delhi within the Indian Constitution would be considered “a traitor and blown to pieces”. In 1991 this organisation was one of the dominating ones in Kashmir. On Pakistan’s Independence Day — August 14, 1991, Zargar was given the honour to take salute from cadres of various outfits at a Parade. On this occasion some appointments were announced. Sheikh Mohammed Mudassar

was

made

Military

Advisor,

Idris Khan

was made

the

Intelligence Chief. The new Financial Controller was Khalid Hussain alias “Professor”. Zargar’s principal aide, Mohd. Yasin Bhat was arrested on March 27,1992. Zargar who had a prize of Rs 4 lacs on his head, was arrested from Rajawri Kadal area of downtown Srinagar on May 15, 1992. His place was taken by Iqbal Zargar alias “Bitta Ledri”. Iqbal Zargar was also killed on September 3, 1992 in Police’s “Operation Tiger”. Three

months later on December 16, 1992 the Chief Commander, Riaz Ahmed Khan and Acting Chief, Bitta Khan were killed in an encounter. To fill

the sudden vacuum Nayeem-ul-Haq was made the Party Chief. Activists of this outfit kidnapped from Raj Bagh locality of Srinagar

on June 16, 1993, a former MLA

from Bihar, Pankaj Kumar Sinha who

with his family had come to Kashmir for a holiday. Al Umar demanded release of its leader Mushtaq Zargar in return for Sinha’s release. A number of times the outfit threatened to kill Sinha but decided to carry on negotiations with the Government. Ultimately Sinha was released after a year, in exchange for another party leader in custody (not Mushtaq Zargar).

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This outfit has different Squads and one is named “Ahmed Walud”. It was claimed that this Squad had fired a “Zulfiqar Missile” on the Radio Kashmir building at Srinagar on December 24, 1994, which damaged part of the building but no one was killed or injured. Again it claimed that its activists fired the rocket on November 25, 1993 on Door Darshan Kendra building at Srinagar, which killed its Station Engineer Mr. S.P. Singh. The Group had split in 1991-92 and those decided to part company with Zargar, formed Al Umar Commandos. In 1995 its Deputy Chief,

Mohd. Yusuf alias “Sheikh Sikander” went over and joined the “Ikhwanul-Musalmoon” (Javed faction).

An important member of Al Umar Mujahideen Divisional Commander Shaukat Ahmed “Grenade” was killed by Security Forces in an encounter on January 7, 1996.

Reports had come in that Zargar was in poor health in jail. His outfit gave a call for a complete strike in Srinagar on February 8, 1996 against the alleged ill-treatment meted out to him in jail. The call was opposed by Hurriyat Conference but even then it was a complete success. For the next 30 months or so Al Umar Mujahideen was inactive with most of its commanders either in jail or having been eliminated. In the autumn

of 1998, the ISI decided to revive this outfit in Kashmir.

Its

middle rung activists were directed to recruit new cadres and to activise them. The Srinagar District setup was restructured. The Police got the reports. The District Commander, Mehraj-ud-Din alias Dr. Khan and the Financial Chief Nazir Ahmed were arrested at Srinagar on October 26, 1998 from their residences by BSF. Once again the revival of the outfit was stalled. Soon after this Bilal Ahmed Shah of Srinagar, was appointed Chief of Al Umar Mujahideen with the express task of reviving and activising

the group. Doda District was considered most suitable for immediate

revival and committed cadres who had gone into hibernation were appointed local commanders and assigned specific tasks. Allah Tigers Its formation in Kashmir was announced in Srinagar on August 14, 1989 to synchronise with the Pakistan Independence Day. Noor-ul-Hagq alias Noor Khan was named its Chief. Later he was promoted as “Air

Marshal”. Dilawar Selani was made its Chief Commander. The proclaimed objective of the organisation was Islamisation of

society. To achieve this it started a drive to force closure of cinema halls,

beauty parlours, video libraries and video parlours, bars and wine shops, and clubs. They succeeded to a large extent. For fear of being looted

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and burnt, most of the shops and cinemas were voluntarily closed because

the administration was in no position to provide any security or protection. By the time Governor’s rule was imposed on January 19, 1990, its threat had been fully heeded. A few which continued to do business clandestinely were looted. The outfit also ordered strict enforcement of purdah, use of burga (veil) covering of heads of females whatever the age, it banned used of cosmetics, at least in public.

It also

decreed that no part of the female body or limb like arms or legs should be bare. It banned viewing of television as “debasing for Kashmir’s Islamic society”. The dish antennas were dismantled voluntarily and others were forced to bring them down. Notwithstanding this diktat there was no decrease in the extent of viewing of television programmes, especially because of events tumbling out in rapid succession in Eastern Europe, Soviet Union and West Asia. Because of fast moving situations in Kashmir, an announcement was

made on April 5, 1990 about the merger of Allah Tigers with JKLF. It was announced that Noor Khan would be the Chief Organiser of the combined organisation. The arrangement did not last long because of the differences of idealogies. The break was announced at a Press Conference by Chief Commander Abdul Majid Wani alias Ghazi Mohammed Ilyas flanked by his Deputy Amjad Faroogqi and Publicity Incharge Anwar Parvez. Ina short time the group again split. Zubair Abid was made its Chief Commander.

On September 20, 1990 the Security Forces had arrested Noor Khan. Undergoing treatment in the Saura Medical Institute, while in police custody he escaped on April 19, 1992. He then joined the JKLF, but soon went over to Al Burg, whose activists had helped him to escape from the hospital. In a few weeks time he was back in the fold of Allah Tigers. In the meantime Tahir Mehmood had become the Party Chief. Tahir Mehmood told the Press on November 12, 1992 that “gun alone cannot be the solution of Kashmir tangle and this issue can be resolved across the table”.

According

to him, tripartite talks between

India,

Pakistan and “true representatives of Kashmiri people” can bring about

an agreed solution. He however, was not prepared to lay down the gun, saying that “gun and politics are two faces of the same coin but politics should have an upper hand because political strategy and thinking are essential”. He declared that Allah Tigers would not compromise on “fair and just system based on true Islamic principles”. He said his organisation stood for Kashmir becoming a part of Pakistan. In March 1993 the outfit reiterated its Islamic objective. Its spokesman said “the present struggle will continue until the goal of establishing an Islamic Caliphate is achieved”.

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As part of its fundamental approach, in March 1993 it asked the top

bureaucrats of the State Government, including its Chief Secretary, Sheikh Ghulam Rasul, to resign from the Government or face the

consequences. Its spokesman said that all State Government officers including Deputy Commissioners and senior Police Officers should resign otherwise stringent action will be taken against them and their families. Its acting Chairman, Dr. Abrar was arrested in February 1994 when he was addressing some doctors and paramedic staff in SMHS Government Hospital. About this time there were signs of revival of tourist traffic to Kashmir. In April 1994 this organisation asked intending tourists not to come to Kashmir because of danger to their lives. On

June 4, 1991

Ev. Mehmood-ur-Zaman

Chairman of Allah Tigers.

was

named

the new

Jammu & Kashmir National Liberation Front

This organisation was set up in Pakistan at Peshawar on August 13, 1965 by a group of Kashmiris for securing the right to decided their own future in Jammu & Kashmir. Mohammed Magqbool Butt and Amanullah Khan were two of the four principal organisers, the other two being Major Amanullah Khan (Redtd) of AK Forces and Mir Abdul Qayoom. In early ‘70's this organisation became non-functional because of Amanullah Khan’s emigration to Britain and dis-interest of others.

In 1977 in Britain JKLF was formed and most of the members of

Jammu & Kashmir National Liberation Front joined it. However in the

wake to two splits in the ranks of JKLF in 1995 and 1996, the Jammu &

Kashmir National Liberation Front got revived in Great Britain in the winter of 1996-97. After deliberation among themselves its Organising Committee issued a statement in London on March 29, 1996, in which it demanded

withdrawl of all Indian and Pakistani forces and their sponsored infiltrations from Kashmir. They condemned the “communalisation of the freedom movement in Kashmir”. It asked the Hurriyat leadership to dissociate itself from Pakistan-backed sectarian groups and to make their position clear in the “national liberation”. It demanded abrogation of AK Interim Constitution of 1974 and the Karachi Agreement of April 1949 regarding the status of Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan Occupied

Kashmir.

It further demanded “free and fair elections for the five

autonomous regions of Jammu, Ladakh, Valley, Gilgit & Baltistan and

Azaad Kashmir”. It demanded two regional Assmblies for two parts of

the State occupied by Pakistan and India to “look after the regional

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interests and to administerate the area until the Constituent Assembly and a central government is elected”. The statement described the recent killing of 7 Kashmiri Pandits in March 1997 in Budgam District as an act of “anti-Kashmiri communal violence”. According to it the “Kashmiris in the Indian Occupied Kashmir are faced with terror of the Indian security forces on one hand and Pakistani backed sectarian violence on the other”. It alleged that “foreign agencies have been able to infiltrate the Kashmiri national movement and divert it for their own ends. The Pakistani-backed infiltrators who are heavily armed have targeted Kashmiri nationalists to pave the way for the Kashmiri struggle to be seen as a sectarian issue. This serves the purpose of the Pakistani rulers i.e. the two nation theory which means division of our country on religious grounds. In the name of “Jehad-eKashmir” and freedom movement these armed groups carried out indiscriminate killings of all nationalists including the Moslems, Hindus and number of minority people”. The mantle of leadership of Jammu & Kashmir National Liberation Front fell on Mohamed Maqbool Bhat’s younger son Showkat Maqbool Bhat (31).

In 1996 he was made Chairman of the organisation.

Soon

after this he toured United Kingdom for over six months to reorganise its units and enroll members for it. Tehrik-e-Hurriyat-I-Kashmir

(Movement for Freedom of Kashmir)

In the first few months of strident armed militancy in Kashmir a large number of outfits appeared on the scene, necessity was felt that their activities needed to coordinated. The initiative was taken by the Kashmir Bar Association to form such a body which was to give broad directions and coordinate action by different organisations. Eleven secessionist outfits agreed to join it. On March 4, 1990 at Srinagar the Tehrik-eHurriyat-I-Kashmir came into existence. The President of the Kashmir Bar Association, Mian Abdul Qayoom, was appointed its Chief. For about 18-20 months its existence was felt but then events and more powerful outfits under direction of ISI refused to carry out its directives and in due course it lost its relevance and almost faded out. Hizbullah

“Party of God” Hizbullah was first formed in Kashmir quietly in 1988, but it became

known only in early 1990. Those who joined it then, had been active in subversion in previous years. Mushtaq-ul-Islam led the anti-Indian group

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of young men who disrupted the India-West Indies Cricket Match played in October 1983 at Amar Singh Club Stadium at Srinagar. Besides raising anti-Indian slogans during the match, during the lunch break they entered the ground and attempted to dig the pitch. The cadres of Hizbullah came from Peoples’ League and the Islamic Students League. Mushtaq-

ul-Islam was the first known Chief of Hizbullah in 1990.

It was alleged that this organisation was responsible for killing of the respected scholar and National Conference leader Moulana

Mohammed Sayed Masoodi and for abduction of former Minister, Mrs

Khemlata Wakhloo and her husband Dr. O.N. Wakhloo and Punjab National Bank Manager K.C. Gupta. In 1991 Hizbullah claimed that it had over 6000 armed cadres, mostly

trained in Pakistan. Its Chief Commander, Mushtaq-ul-Islam was arrested on June 18, 1991. From the same locality of Battamaloo within

24 hours of Mushtaq’s arrest, 9 other important members were also

arrested. These included:

Deputy Chief Abdul Rafiq (Saif-ul-Islam);

District Commander Ghulam Hassan alias “Bara Sahib”; and Regimental

Commander Nissar Ahmed Khan alias “Jan Sahib”.

Mushtaq-ul-Islam

was detained under TADA. This case was contested in the High Court and on its order on May 18, 1992 Mushtaq was released, the High Court holding his detention as “illegal and unconstitutional”. He was rearrested

on May 26, 1992.

Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam was named new Chief on June 19, 1991.

Within a month he spoke to the Press and justified the use of gun. He said for 40 years there was no result of struggle of the Kashmiris to secure their birthright and the gun had to be picked up as the last resort. He said because of abductions and killings of some important persons, the world has taken notice of Kashmir and happenings here. He said the only solution of Kashmir is that India should “get out of Kashmir”. He thanked

Pakistan, Iran and

assistance.

Saudi Arabia

for financial and

material

In July 1992 Hizbullah sent out a five-member team abroad to “inform friends about the real situation in Kashmir”. On Pakistan's Independence Day - August 14, 1992 Hizbullah announced awards to some Pakistani newspapers and a Saudi Prince for their support to the “Kashmiri cause”. On this day Mushtaq-ul-Islam (in detention) was proclaimed “Imam-I-Inqalab-e-Islam”. He was also made the Chief Patron of the organisation.

On October 3, 1992 Hassan-ul-Banna was

made the party Chief and Kaleem Sidiqui was made Incharge Publicity. Shahid-ul-Islam was asked to look after Foreign Affairs while Zahoor Ahmed was to look after arms and ammunition. These are significant offices since Hizbullah has a Central Military Command Council.

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Kashmir Underground

On July 21, 1993 “Capt” Dilawar, its Acting Publicity Incharge and also Chairman of its Coordination Committee was killed in Bandipore by Security Forces. In October 1993 police arrested Ghulam Mohammed Bachoo alias Zaffar Jackson on charges of killing former legislator Pir Mohammed Shaffi. . Hizbullah issued a death warrant against Dr. Farooq Abdullah, former Chief Minister on March

25, 1994 on charges of “treason and

apostasy”. They also put a prize of Rs 2 lacs on his head. According to a press release after a joint meeting of Ulemas (religious scholars) Council and the Majlis-I-Shoora (Consultative Committee) of the outfit, the declared Farooq Abdullah a traitor for openly declaring his opposition to the ongoing movement in the State by representing the Indian case in the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva recently. The Council also declared Faroog Abdullah an infidel because he had participated in a hindu yagna (a ritual) at Delhi. Earlier he had paid obeisance at Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu region. This amounted to apostasy according to the Council, and warranted death penalty. In the meantime Bashir Ahmed Wani code name Shafgat-ul-Islam had been made Acting Chief. The police had been looking out for him and they got him on September 20, 1994 when he was riding a motorbike with a colleague riding on the pillion. Wani was shot dead and his colleague arrested.

A few months later the group split with Prof. Abdul Manan forming a separate group but returned to the fold in November 1995. Soon after this the Party was reorganised by the Military Command Council “to make military operations success oriented”. On November 25, 1995 Mushtaq-ul-Islam (in detention) was made “Amir”. Once again Shahid-

ul-Islam was nominated as Chairman.

Khaksar was named the Chief

Commander of Operations and Muzamil Afghani was made the Military Advisor. Saif-ul-Islam was named as Coordinator. Four Divisional Commanders were also appointed : Nissar Haider for North Kashmir Babar Ali Khan for Central Kashmir Qasim Umar for South Kashmir & Doda

Tufail Usmani for Jammu region. Prof. Abdul Manan also announced that Hizbullah had been strengthened with addition of “many guest militants and many more were expected. We welcome them”. Before reorganisation Hizbullah seemed to be ready to cross swords with Hurriyat Conference. On October 7, 1995 it strongly criticised APHC

for “adopting double standards”.

In a statement it opposed frequent

bandh calls of APHC and its constituents.

It termed them meaningless

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and counter-productive for these only “push Kashmir economy towards destruction”. Mushtaq-ul-Islam was produced before the TADA designated Court

in Jammu on March 6, 1996.

He and some others are charged for the

murder of Maulana Masoodi ~ a senior politician. He told the Court that he had “no faith in India’s manmade Constitution and law but only in Quran”. Later talking to Pressmen he said he believed “in global Islamisation in tune with Pan-Islamic agenda” he had set for himself. He said he approved abductions of four foreigners and derisively asked “Why so much noise about four goras (whites)? Why does not the world bother about thousands languishing in jails from Bosnia to Kashmir”. He had refused to meet the members of International Red

Cross Committee when they visited the Jail to meet him.

He said “all

these institutions are slaves of the Satan, the United States of America,

and they are totally ineffective in checking the crimes committed upon the jailed people”. Shahid-ul-Islam had developed differences ini the organisation and went over to Pakistan. Later he went over to Nepal. In early February 1997 he sent a fax message to Srinagar saying he would return soon and announce new plans. He said besides Pakistan he had toured many other countries. Back in Srinagar he announced his resignation from Hizbullah and dissociated himself from armed militancy. On April 11, 1997 he was arrested by Police. In the next three days, on April 14, the Police was able to arrest the

acting Chief, Prof. Manan. He had recently returned from a visit of some foreign countries. A few months earlier he had been to Nepal to attend a Khatmandu meeting of Islamic Resistence Front. Mushtaq-ul-Islam was acquitted on July 2, 1998 by TADA Court on charges of murder of Maulana Masoodi as “no direct involvement was

proved”. Mushtaq was not released because he was still to be tried in two other cases dating back to 1983 and 1986. Kashmir Liberation Tiger This organisation appeared on Kashmir scene in October-November, 1990 when a group of young Kashmiris returned from Pakistan after being trained in handling of arms and in subversion. They did not want to join different groups and get separated. Soon it got a sort of recognition after a couple of attacks on security forces. In early 1991 “Colonel” Hasanul-Alvi emerged as its leader. In August 1991-he visited New Delhi. There on August 26, 1991 he told press that all Kashmiri moslems want to be part of Pakistan.

He

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Kashmir Underground

said after the largescale departure of Kashmiri Pandits, his organisation considers that it has become a holy war. Because of this “we would welcome Pakistani occupation of Kashmir Valley”. According to him the Kashmir Liberation Tiger would honour the cessation of some Kashmir territory to China by Pakistan. He disclosed that his organisation had set up a woman’s wing and many of its members were undergoing training in arms and subversion and would come into field as “death squads”. He said in the eyes of Pakistan all militant groups in Kashmir,

were equal because “all are receiving assistance and are controlled by Pakistan”. Regarding abductions taking place in Kashmir he said Kashmir Liberation Tiger considers this legitimate in the “national struggle” and also because it serves to focus the attention of the world on Kashmir. Regarding achievement of freedom he said Kashmir Liberation Tiger had no illusion “it may take many years — may be 10 or 20 years”. He was not able to keep his cadres together and they soon got dispersed joining different groups. Al Mujahid Force It established its presence in Kashmir in 1989 when on September 19, it

announced Awards for Bravery for nine “senior and experienced leaders” of the secessionist movement on the first death anniversary of a pioneer

militant Aijaz Dar. The awardees included Mohammed Yasin Malik, Ashfaq Majid Wani, Abdul Hamid Sheikh, Javed Ahmed Mir, Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, Mohammed Iqbal Gandroo, Mohammed Ashraf, Abdul

Aziz Sheikh and Shabir Ahmed Shah. On August 6, 1992 an announcement was made that nine outfits had joined it under the Chairmanship of Najam-us-Saqib, former Chief of Kashmir Army Force (K-2). Soon after he spelt out the objectives of this outfit. He claimed that this organisation had been formed to undertake the task of implementing the second phase of “Operation Topac” since the First had been successfully completed, according to him. He said “the gun has done a good job in past three years in Kashmir”. About the “Operation Topac” he said “10 years time is the target to achieve the goal of liberation but pace of events and achievements of gun power reveal that we are much ahead of the target”. He was confident of achieving the goal of freedom of Kashmir in less than a decade and declared that “then we will open a new front to include

Magbool Butt’s grave in Delhi ‘s Tihar Jail within our boundary because he is waiting there”. Of other tasks before this Force he said the gap between people and the mujahideen has to be reduced and insecurity of the people has to be removed. The second task he mentioned was to

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inform and educate Indian masses. He said they have to be told that their poverty cannot be removed easily because “an expenditure of over 9 crores per day” is being wasted in Kashmir and nothing has been achieved according to him. “We will tell him that Kashmir is a liability for India and history does not confirm that Kashmir was ever a part of India” he stated. He claimed that they have been able to “educate people in many countries about situation in Kashmir and their appreciation has increased to the extent that India is being condemned for atrocities in Kashmir”. He also disclosed that this outfit was sore about the role of media and the intellectuals. According to him the local media had been hijacked and therefore are not doing all they could to support the movement. He lamented that the “intellectuals of Kashmir are totally mum”.

According to him this organisation enjoyed the support of POK Prime

Minister Sardar Abdul Qayoom Khan.

He stated that the organisation

was originally founded in 1947 in POK by Qayoom Khan. Even today the outfit enjoyed his patronage and guidance. The Force in Pakistan had its headquarters in a palatial building in Rawalpindi and had offices all over Pakistan. These offices distribute literature and make collections for the “struggle in Kashmir”.

Sardar Qayoom Khan’s brother Sardar

Abdul Ghaffar was its first Chief Commander and Maulana Abdullah Bari, its Treasurer. They are reported to have collected crores in the

name of “Liberation of Kashmir”.

is called “Mujahid-I-Awal”in 1965 when a large number start an uprising in Kashmir In 1993 the outfit tried to

more

In POK, Sardar Abdul Qayoom Khan

the First Fighter. In “Operation Gibralter” of “Mujahids” were sent from Pakistan to Valley, this Force was in the vanguard. step up its activities and therefore attracted

attention of the Security Forces.

Showkat

Ali from POK,

was

appointed District Commander for Poonch and told to infiltrate across the LOC.

As soon as he crossed over with 4 others on October 25, 1993

he was killed in Ilhas sector by the Security Forces.

Another of its

Commander who crossed over, Chaudhury Aurengzeb, was arrested in Poonch sector in early 1994. Close on heels another commander, Idrees Bhai Afghani was killed in an encounter with the Security Forces. Al Fateh This organisation was revived on September 14, 1991.

made its Chief.

Abu Khalidgwas

Soon.aftey its revival in Kashmir Valley, it claimed

résponsibility of abduction in Kishtwar in Doda

Engineer, Silva Antonio on October 14, 1991.

District of a French

Antonio was working on

the Dul Hasti Hydel Project. Kishtwar unit of Al Fatah was under Iqbal Aboo and he performed a neat operation.

172

Kashmir Underground Al Fatah Chief Abu

Khalid talking of need to revive it, said “old

stalwarts” had decided to make their contribution to achievement of right of self-determination. They would also strive to bring unity among various militant outfits. Al Fatah was an underground group under Ghulam Rasul Zahageer which came into being in 1970. When its leading lights were arrested it got divided into two factions. Those opposed to Indira-Sheikh accord in 1975 included Nazir Ahmed Wani (a founder member of Peoples’ League), Azam Ingalabi, Hamidullah Bhat, Mohammed Shabab Vakil, Farooq Ahmed Bhat, Nizam-ud-Din, Faz] Haq Quereshi and Aslam

Wani. Some of them were party to the decision to revive the set up. Jamait-ul-Mujahideen

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen had a youth wing which was headed by Nasir-ulIslam in 1991. Hizb Supreme Advisory Council took decision to separate the two. On July 26, 1991, Nasir-ul-Islam announced Youth Wing’s conversion into Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. He also announced expulsion of Master Ahsan Dar because of factionalism and sectarianism. He also declared that the new organisation will not have affiliation with any

other political group.

Soon enough more cadres joined it and its operations covered Districts of Srinagar, Baramulla and Kupwara. It claimed a strength of over 5000 armed youth in 1992. Its Chief Commander then was “General Abdullah”.

Qazi Junaid was made its Military Advisor.

In June 1992 it warned the Srinagar-based journalists not to act or write against the peoples’ movement. In another statement it asked all “frivilous elements” not to harass or abduct innocent persons. On August 7, 1993 it also warned Imams of various mosques in Kashmir to desist

from talking against the movement. Observers felt that the Jamait was opening too many fronts without caring for the consequences. On February 5, 1993 when its Intelligence Chief Mohammed Qasim

Faqtoo returned by air from Delhi, he was arrested at Srinagar Airport,

alongwith his wife Asiya Andrabi, Chief of Dukhtaran-I-Millat.

On March 13, 1993 the Jamait-ul-Mujahideen Chief Nasir-ul-Islam

and his associate Abdul Hamid Khan, his Finance Controller, were killed

in an encounter with Security Forces in Noorbagh locality of Srinagar.

The outfit insisted that both were first arrested and later killed in custody,

which was officially denied. Next day there was a complete shutdown in Srinagar to mourn their death. Soon after this, Moulvi Abdul Haq

was made the Amir of theJamait. Many Kashmiri leaders becoming emotional about Kashmiriyat, worried this Jamait. Its Publicity Chief Abdul Manan in a statement on

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May 16, 1993 asked them not to be swayed by emotions. According to him “close and serious examination of the Kashmir issue, leads everyone to one single point of Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan, which is the only logical solution”. “The demand for self-determination (is) distorting the image of the ongoing movement. It is struggle for the establishment of Caliphate” he added. The Jamait was worried about the whereabouts of its senior member

Mohammed Qasim. In a statement on July 4, 1993 it asked the Government to come out clean on his disappearance for it feared that he had been picked and was held by Security Forces. Qazi Junaid, Jamait-ul-Mujahideen Advisor opposed suspension of militant activities as proposed by a section of its members. In a statement on August 10, 1993 he said the gun had injected new life in the otherwise dead Kashmir issue. Because of the armed struggle Kashmir had received attention abroad and had also “exposed India”. He said “supremacy of the gun has to be maintained and Jamait would under no circumstances allow it to be reduced”. The Security Forces on September 11, 1993 were able to arrest its Chief Commander “General” Abdullah and four senior members Khalid Baloch, Asghar, Abdul Rauf and Ahmed Matta, from a Srinagar locality. Once again the Jamait grew apprehensive of the sabotage of the peoples’ movement. Its Amir, Moulvi Abdul Haq in a statement on March 25, 1994 said “some anti-movement elements had managed to occupy high offices in various militant groups, were maintaining connections with both India and Pakistan, while working against the very interests of the movement”. According to him “secular minded persons in the movement were more dangerous than the Indian Government”. The Amir, Moulvi Abdul Haq was arrested by BSF on September 30, 1993 from Safakadal area of Srinagar. A few months later, on March 30, 1994, its Srinagar District Commander, Ghulam Qadir alias Owais

Afghani and Budgam District Commander , Ghulam Qadir Najar alias

Saleem Afghani, were arrested by BSF. The Jamait felt time had again come to reiterate its objective of Nizame-Mustafa. In a strongly worded statement on May 27, 1994 its Chief said that the principal objective of the ongoing movement was “creation of a true Islamic system in Kashmir and it is on this principle that we vowed to make Kashmir an inseparable part of Pakistan”. About the return of Kashmiri Pandit migrants the statement categorically said “they

would not be allowed to return unconditionally because they had indulged in anti-movement activities outside”.

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Kashmir Underground

The Jamait-ul-Mujahideen took objection to plain speaking at a Seminar organised by Hurriyat Conference in June 1994. On June 15, it called upon the Trade Union Front Leader Ishtiaq Ahmed Qadri to appear within 3 days before Jamait-ul-Mujahideen Command Council and explain reasons for his “objectionable speech which was anti-movement and created suspicion about the Front itself”. The Jamait makes no bones of its intolerances of any talk of secularism.

On December

21, 1994 it warned

all such elements who

were trying to give a “secular colour to the ongoing movement for their own vested interests”.

It stated that Jamait will not allow anyone to

deviate from the original path of the movement. Arunning battle of words had been going on between JKLF and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen for the second half of 1994. JKLF leaders had visited New Delhi and some other parts of the country where they had eulogised Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose. Jamait-ul-Mujahideen took strong objection to this. Its spokesman on February 16, 1995 described this as a “conspiracy of sabotaging the ongoing movement and creating differences among the people of Kashmir”. Panthers Party President Prof. Bhim Singh for quite some time had been trying to get a dialogues started between militants and the establishment. He also fried hard to arrange a meeting of leaders from both sides of the LOC. The Jamait was opposed to both the suggestions because it felt that these will irreparably damage the ongoing movement.

On March 2, 1996 it announced that directions had been given to its

cadres to shoot down Prof. Bhim Singh for his “connections with intelligence agencies and the renegades”. In May 1996 the Jamait asked the local Srinagar newspapers to resume publication (which had been suspended for a month) in the interest of the peoples’ movement. Announcement was made on July 20, 1996 of the death of its Acting

Chief Commander,

Ghulam Rasul Mir alias Amir Sohail.

The SOG of

Kashmir Police claimed that with two others Sohail was killed during search operations in Baramulla District. It also alleged that Sohail was involved in many attacks on Security Forces in Srinagar and Kupwara Districts. However, the Jamait alleged that Sohail was killed in custody.

Mahaaz-e-Azaadi (Freedom Front)

The J&K Plebiscite Front was disbanded following the revival of National

Conference consequent to the Indira-Abdullah accord of 1975. A sizeable

section supported Sheikh Abdullah but a group of workers led by Sofi

Teams & Turf Mohammed

175 Akbar, an associate of Sheikh Abdullah for five decades,

decided to part company. They formed themselves into Mahaaz-eAzaadi, under the Chairmanship of Sofi Mohammed Akbar in 1975. Azam Ingalabi joined the group soon after. In early Eighties he was made its President. The Mahaz activists took part in anti-India processions following the disturbances in the One-Day Cricket Match between India and the West Indies in Srinagar in October 1983. For the next 5 years the party workers were persuading and pressurising public to observe hartal, hoist

black flags on Indian Independence and Republic Days. On the other hand they asked the public to celebrate heartily the Pakistan Independence Day and the Pakistan National Day. In 1988 Azam Inqalabi crossed over to Pakistan to make new contacts and discuss the course of action to be adopted in Kashmir Valley. Inqalabi returned to Srinagar after 11 months stay in Pakistan. During this period

he visited Afghanistan as well.

The Mahaaz on July 21, 1989 declared that armed struggle only way to achieve freedom. Bashir Ahmed Bhat was made the Secretary and Altaf Andrabi was made Publicity Incharge. The was the first organisation which asked people to observe January year as “Right of Self Determination Day”.

was the General Mahaaz 5, every

The organisation was declared an unlawful association by the State

Government on April 16, 1990 and its activities were banned. However unhindered it continued to function. On December 31, 1991, Mahaaz

General Secretary Bashir Ahmed Bhat announced that Mahaaz had been converted into the political wing of JKLF. Azam Inqalabi then went over to Pakistan and stayed many months. He also visited Saudi Arabia and Great Britain where he met leaders of Kashmiri community and British MPs and other publicmen sympathetic to the cause espoused by militants in Kashmir. From Rawalpindi on August 23, 1993 he issued a statement in which he disclosed that all militant organisations would soon formulate a joint plan of action.

He

was critical of politicians across the border for not wholeheartedly supporting the Kashmir struggle. He accused them of negative attitude towards the peoples struggle in Kashmir. Tehrik-ul-Jehad

This outfit had made known its presence in 1993 but lay low for a couple

of years. Directions from across the LOC asked its remnants and activists

from other small groups to strengthen TUJ and concentrate in North

Kashmir especially Kupwara District.

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Kashmir Underground

For 1995 and through 1996 it was involved in sporadic incidents different parts of North Kashmir. However in 1997, it stepped up activities in Kupwara District and indulged in attacks on some posts Security Forces and also on political activists after General Elections

1996.

in its of in

The major activists were Mohammed Shafi Kataria - its Divisional

Commander; Abdul Rashid Dholi - its District Chief; Sonaullah Shah, its

Chief Commander. For operation in Jammu Division, TUJ had in 1997 a different group based in Rajouri District. It was headed by Hanif Malik as District Commander and Masood Hussain as “Military Advisor”. In Kashmir this outfit was more active in western Kashmir Valley. On July 4, 1998 a TUJ group under Abdul Ahad Dar as commander was engaged by Armymen in Nowgam area of Baramulla District. 10 TUJ activists including Dar were killed. On the other side of Pir Panjal range, in Rajouri District also, this

outfit became active in July-August 1998. In an intergang clash between TUJ and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen on August 3 in Darhal area both groups lost their group leaders - Liaqat and Bombar, respectively. With some new activists from across the LOC this outfit more than recouped its strength and on directions from ISI was spread out in Kalakote area of Rajouri District. The Army troops on the basis of firm information started the “seek and destroy” operation in the area on February 5, 1999, four important foreign mercenaries were killed. They were Osma

Bhai, Abdul Rehman,

Bilal Bhai and Sial Khan who

had

directed TUJ operations in this area for the past one year or so. This

dealt a body blow to the Tehrik-ul-Jehad in Rajouri District. Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Council

The setup is an overgound body which stands for independence as third option for Jammu & Kashmir Moulvi Abbas Ansari of Ittehad-ulMusalmeen (Shia body) announced the formation of this Council on August 1, 1992 at Srinagar. Two wings and three cells were setup in the Council. These were : Human Rights & Medical Wing under Dr. Mohd. Afzal Wani Publicity Wing under Rafiq Shaheen (arrested on October 4, 1992) Legal Cell under Ghulam Qadir Sailani Political cell under Ghulam Rasul Wani Environment Cell under Mohd. Yusuf Chapri.

After being active for a few months it faded away.

Teams & Turf

177 Operation Balakote

The Mahaz-I-Azaadi (Liberation Front) was operating in Kashmir in the Eighties under Altaf Khan alias Azam Inalabi. On April 16, 1990 the

Mahaz was declared unlawful and banned.

After consultations with some colleages Azam Ingalabi founded a new organisation which was named “Operation Balakote”. Inqalabi was named its Chief. Tariq Kashmiri from Kupwara was named Deputy Commander and Ibu Rashid was made the spokesman. Some time later Mohammed Yusuf Ganai was promoted as Chief Commander in 1992 after Ingalabi crossed over to Pakistan for consultation. He made a visit to UK and on his return stayed in Pakistan for some time. He returned to Kashmir only in January 1994. In 1992 and more in 1993, the outfit continued its attacks on Security Forces. Its Deputy Chief Commander Tariq Kashmiri was arrested on March 13, 1993.

Later in the year in October, one of its leaders Umar

Khalid alongwith many others was holed up inside the Hazratbal Shrine

for 32 days till November 16, 1993. With Idrees of JKLF, Umar was the

other militant who negotiated terms of surrendr with the State authorities. Alogwith 60 others he also surrendered to the Security Forces. The year 1993 was an important one in the life of this organisation.

According to its Spokesman, Ibu Rashid, the outfit made over 400 attacks

on the Security Forces during 1993. Out of these 25 were rocket attacks. He admitted that 29 activists had been arrested during this period. During the year it admitted that it lost 475 of its members. These included Badshah Khan, Commander of Baramulla and Srinagar Districts; Ghazi

Mushtaq Khan, Military Advisor for Kupwara District; Mohammed Ismail, District Commander; and Riyaz Ahmed, Deputy District Commander for North Kashmir. When the Chief, Azam Inqalabi, returned to Kashmir in January 1994,

he declared that he would devote himself to political struggle.

This

affected the fortunes of the outfit. Thereafter it has functioned in low profile. It has by and large refrained from the use of the gun.

In July 1995 Inqalabi criticised Western countries of being “insincere in resolving our problems”. He said that because of the global differences there was apathy towards Kashmir. In the light of this he advocated genuine unity among various groups to achieve success. He asked that a Supreme Command Council “of all the organisations fighting for the freedom of Kashmir” be set up. He also suggested formation of a National Consultative Council (Qaumi Majlis-I-Shoora). He appealed to leaders of political groups to stop “ exploiting the mujahideens” for their personal aggrandisement.

He was critical of Hurriyat Conference and said “its

structure is weak and vulnerable”.

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Kashmir Underground

The outfit’s former Chief Commander Mohammed Yusuf Ganai left it in late 1995 to join Panthers Party. Within a few weeks he was made its General Secretary for Kashmir. In the Parliamentary elections in May 1996 he contested from the Anantnage seat. However, he lost the election.

Harkat-ul-Jehad Islamia International

This group is an outfit of war veterans of the Afghan War. It originally came into being in 1980 in Afghanistan. When the Soviet troops left Afghanistan, it had a large number of trained foreign militants which

Pakistan’s ISI decided to direct to Kashmir.

Around 1992-93 nearly 500 of them were sent to Kashmir for operations in the Valley and Doda District of Jammu region. Their commander was Nassarullah Manzoor Largayal. They were the ones who established HUJI in Kashmir.

In the Kashmir Valley its activists were deployed all over Kashmir except Srinagar District which was left for operations by Hizb-ulMujahideen. Nearly 70% of HUJI activists were foreign mercenaries and the rest were local boys. But in 12 to 18 months the proportion was evenly balanced. The HUJI deployed its activists along the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway charged with disruption of smooth flow of traffic especially that of the Army. In Doda District it spread out and took control of most of the passes and galis connecting Doda areas with south-eastern parts of Kashmir Valley. In 1992 its activists ambushed a BSF party at Asudhara and killed 12 of its jawans. The HUJI headquarters is at Muzzaffarabad in POK. It was then headed by Shahid Magqbool, a Pakistani of Kashmiri descent. The outfit is supplied, equipped and directed by ISI as per the confession of Largayal. In 1993 in Kashmir it had two major hideouts - one in Baramulla District and the other near Soura, on the outskirts of Srinagar. Largayal with 3 others was camping outside Kapran village near Shopian in Pulwama District. Kapran is close to the trekking route which leads from Kashmir Valley across the Pir Panjal range, into Rajouri District on the other side. The LOC passes through the Rajouri District. Army troops cordoned off Kapran and after a short encounter they were able to overpower Largayal and his 3 colleagues on November 19, 1993. From their interrogation it was learnt that this group was operating in close concert with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. The location of the two major hideouts were also disclosed by them and the Security Forces were led there. In the Baramulla hideout on November 20, 1993 they found a

wall, hollow from inside, which could accommodate all at once ten persons with enough arms and ammunition. Three dead bodies of

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179

militants and a large cache of arms and ammunition were recovered.

These included rocket launchers and rockets, 40 kgs of explosives and

chemicals used for making of IEDs, AK rifles, silencer guns, pistols,

ammunition, mixers, etc. The dead bodies were identified as of a Pakistani national Mohammed Khalid, Khizar Mohammed alias Col.

Padseer and Mohd. Ramzan Mir. ‘The Soura hideout also had a false wall and embedded almirahs. In 1993 it was estimated that HUJI had over 1000 highly trained and motivated activists out of which nearly half were foreigners. They were spread all over Doda and whole of Kashmir Valley except Srinagar City. Before the year was out the ISI directed HUJI to merge with Harkatul-Mujahideen to form Harkat-ul-Ansar. Harkat-ul-Mujahideen

This is a specially trained group promoted by Alle-e-Hadees. It surfaced in Kashmir in late 1991. At that time its Chief was “Babar” - an Afghan national. It also had Sajjad Afghani as Military Advisor. In an encounter with Security Forces on November 10, 1992 Sajjad Afghani was killed in Srinagar. The organisation claimed responsibility for the attack on Police post at Chattroo in northern Doda District, in December 1992. Its Hamza unit in Jammu claimed responsibility for attack on February 26, 1993 on Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Camp at Shalimar in Kishtwar (Doda District) as announced by its Publiciy Secretary Usman Ali. At that time its Chief was Nissar Ahmed Lone better known as “Shahji”. In November 1992 he had disclosed that this group had been established in Kashmir in 1990 by a few Afghans and lay low till they were able to get a few local youth into its fold. He claimed that his activists were fully trained in laying of mines and laying of ambushes. According to him the sole aim of this group was revival of “Khilafat” in the moslem would. “We wish to see all moslem world

under one Chief - Ameer-ul-Momineen, but till that is achieved,

we will be content with Greater Pakistan which would include Afghanistan and Kashmir, he stated. About the role of gun he said “gun will never be allowed to remain subservient to politics”. Those who are against it seem to be ignorant about the “principles of Jehad”. On March 13, 1993 the Security Forces were able to raid a house in downtown Srinagar and in the encounter, killed its Acting Chief,, Nissar

Ahmed Lone “Shahji”, his Deputy Commander, Fayaz Ahmed alias “General Zia” who also doubled up as Military Advisor, and Farooq

Ahmed Bhat, Incharge, Arms & Ammunition. In 1993 Hizb-ul-Mujahideen made a proposal that Harkat agree to

work under its command. It refused and the matter was referred to ISI

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Kashmir Underground

in Pakistan. After due deliberation the ISI decided upon a merger between

Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami, to form Harkat-

ul-Ansar. This came about on December 23, 1993, and thus became part of the bigger organisation already existing and functioning in Pakistan. Women

Organisations

In popular imagination, women of Kashmir over the centuries have been

known to be beautiful, courteous, hospitable, hardworking, pleasant and docile - with some exceptions. The onset of militancy did not find the women in Kashmir lagging behind their menfolk or lacking in courage, anger and fire or in coolness, patience and deliberation. The early months of 1990 saw them participating in demonstrations - big and small, taking part in massive processions to express anger against India or

its rulers, while others

kept the house fires burning. Because of the popular sentiment and circulating tales of courage and valour about the “boys with the guns”,

the housewives used to open doors to them, welcome them, even hug

them, give them the best of food. They gave them refuge sometimes even against the better judgement of their menfolk, who knew better. Most of the youth after night’s rest and to avoid capture would slip away before the day dawned. But some would also take away valuables and misused the hospitality, otherwise. The paramilitary forces did not have women personnel and the J&K Police had insignificantly a small number. In any case, the local police was totally demoralised and distrusted at that time. This was taken advantage of by militant leaders who used a large number of women to form the vanguard of all processions or demonstrations. The Security Forces did not use force against women which allowed the processionists and demonstrators to hold their ground much longer than otherwise. The women put up a brave face because there is not a house in Kashmir which has not lost a member in last 8-9 years of militancy. Losing your breadwinner or your child, under tragic circumstances, shatters one completely but Kashmiri women have borne it bravely. History has recorded that over the centuries Kashmiri women have been liberal in outlook and attitude in life. They have hidden neither their beauty nor their talents. But when the wave of fundmentalism with its diktats swept Kashmir, many in urban area accepted and owned them but a vast majority all over Kashmir preferred to lie low and let the

tornado pass. The beauty parlours were closed, glossy magazines were

not allowed

to be sold, short hair and bare heads were tabooed,

no

cosmetics could be used, which could be seen by outsiders. Burga or full

veil became the order of the day (over 95% Kashmir women had never

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181

Enthusiastic members of Dukhtaran-e-Millat

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Kashmir Underground

used a veil.” TV viewing was decreed un-Islamic. A few who dared defy had to experience acid thrown on their faces or threatened even with social boycott.

And yet a few hundred youngwomen came forward to share the

excitement and tribulations with the youngmen who had decided to pick up a gun for a cause they were prepared to die for. They left their homes, agreed to cross the LOC and get trained in handling of arms, acting as couriers and manning static jobs for the mujahids. The first batch was of 25 educated girls who volunteered to go over to POK in April 1990. Most of them returned to Kashmir in due course and rendered “service”. But a small number never came back. It is learnt that a few got married there and settled. Those who were fired with zeal and were eager to” take part in freedom struggle” formed themselves into groups while others drifted into it. The principal groups are “Dukhtaran-e-Millat” (Daughters of the Nation) and “Moslem Khawateen Markaz “(Moslem Women Centre). There are a few lesser known ones like “Dukhtaran-I-Islam”, “Bin AtulIslam”; “Saislat-ul-Muslimat” and “Hizb-ul-Nissa”. “Dukhtaran-e-Millat: (Daughters of the Nation) was founded at

Srinagar in 1981 as an organisation for social upliftment of women and to secure their rights. It was able to get special reservation for women in buses and also achieved some success in anti-dowry compaign. In the very first year of militancy the DEM became known because its activists threw black paint over some film posters showing nude forms. It also started its capaign to force women to use burga (an overall covering with a veil).. Soon after it became affiliated to Jamait-e-Islami.

For past nine years the DEM has been headed by Asiya Andrabi (34). In 1994 it claimed to have over 9000 members. Its General Secretary is Nahida Nasreen, who said that if need be they will pick up arms and “strengthen the movement”. The DEM also runs an Islamic Relief Committee and an Islamic Blood Bank. It is always in the forefront organising protests against arrests ad killing of “freedom fighters”. Burga was used by militants as a “weapon of war”. It is said that in 1990 - 93 period one out of every three burqa clad persons, was a militant. It also conveniently provided cover for transporting weapons and ammunitions. Almost overnight a thriving business of burqa making sprang up all over Kashmir Valley. By the spring of 1992 the enthusiasm for use of burqa was on the wane. On May

13, 1992 the DEM

activists

renewed their campaign. A number of college going girls were stopped

on the Srinagar streets by burqa clad DEM activists and coloured water for not using burqa or” abaya, “ a loose place of burqa. Bus operators were also forced not to carry without burqa. DEM announced “We are not going to

sprayed with gown worn in girls/ women, spare anyone

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183

flouting Islamic principles as regards the purdah. We mean business and

will not rest till we

achieve our goal,” Allah Tigers, Al Umar

Commondos, Hizbullah and Hizb-ul-Momineen gave whole- hearted support to this campaign. However, the Students Liberation Front sharply reacted to spraying of coloured water and use of force. The Front Chief, Altaf Ahmed described it as “high handedness and unethical”. Gradually, the DEM drifted towards politics. On September 25, 1992 it organised

a women

procession

to protest against the counter

insurgency “Operation Tiger” launched by the Security Forces. The processionists defied prohibitory orders and the police used teargas to disperse them. On December 29, 1992 Asiya Andrabi declared that the Millat stood

for Islamisation of Kashmir .and would struggle to achieve it. “We are for the superamacy of Islam and its teachings and no other ism will be acceptable to us. We will not spare those who oppose it”, she added. Elaborating further she said, “ we believe in Pan-Islamism and regard Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan as the first step towards the unification of the Ummah. Any other solution of the Kashmir problem would be un-Islamic since we want to establish an Islamic caliphate. “Rule of God should prevail in the land of God.” About the use of gun, she held “ gun should prevail over politics till we achieve our goal.” Ms. Asiya Andrabi was arrested at Srinagar Airport on February 5, 1993 when she returned from Delhi. She was accompanied by her 5 month

old son and

her husband

Mohammed

Qasim

Faqtoo, who

Intelligence Chief of another outfit, Jamait-ul-Mujahideen.

was

Both were

arrested. The arrest of the 5 month old son was criticised but a weaning child could not be separated from his mother. She was detained under TADA in Jammu. The Police alleged that she had links with Pakisan’s ISI from whom she received funds regularly. It was alleged that at the time of her arrest an amount of Rs 2.40 lacs was recovered from her. Police further alleged that she was a founder member of Tehrik-eHurriyat from whom also the DEM received regularly funds which in turn were received from Pakistan. According

were spent on DEM activities in 1992 alone.

to Police,over Rs.8 lacs

Asiya was released on October 7, 1993 under orders of the High

Court. However, as she stepped out of the Central Jail, Jammu she was arrested, this time under the Public Safety Act.

The DEM on July 28, 1993 warned shopkeepers, transporters and women trying to encourage obscenity. In a statement its General Secretary Nahida Nasreen said that some shops were displaying pictures of women for advertising and decoration purposes. Obscene music was being played in buses, mini-buses, autorickshaws and shops. She asked

these to be stopped forthwith otherwise “action will be taken”.

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Kashmir Underground

In the first week of February 1994, the DEM observed a “Children Week” to mark one year in custody of Asiya’s son, now 17-month old Mohammed Bin Qasim. A fortnight later Asiya, her husband and their son, were released on February 21, With her return to normal activity,

the DEM once again became active. The Dukhtaran-e-Millat was the first organisation (January 10, 1995)

which took to task, an important militant leader Azam Inqalabi, for his

announcement of abandoning the gun for dialogue for “peaceful and democratic way to solve Kashmir tangle”. Police claimed on March 4, 1995 that a DEM activist had surrendered

alongwith a wireless set. DEM reacted sharply by saying that the report

was “malicious and motivated, aimed at the character assassination of

the organisation”.

DEM claims to be anti-American. After a visit to Kashmir in June

1995 by US Ambassador in India Frank Wisner, DEM described the visit a “conspiracy against the Islamic movement in Kashmir”. The DEM statement issued on July 3, 1995 described America as “the worst enemy of Islam” and asked Kashmiris not to look towards USA for solution of their problems. When 4 former militant leaders proposed a dialogue with New Delhi, the DEM

called them “traitors”. DEM

Chief told press on March 15,

1996 that DEM will make “their life hell in Kashmir.” She said DEM was convinced that this was a conspiracy hatched in jail by Master Ahsan Dar, Patron of Moslem Mujahideen. According to her this was a major attempt to sabotage the movement which was launched with sole objective of Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan. She also criticised Hurriyat Conference which according to her had become “safe haven for antimovement elements and was being dominated by secular forces.” She condemned

Abdul Ghani Lone, Shabir Ahmed

Shah and Yasin Malik

for their “Gandhian syle.” She said she was surprised that a true Islamist like Syed Ali Shah Gilani had changed from pro-Pakistan to pro-people. She called upon “committed persons to wrest the reins of the movement and lead it to achieve its objective of Kashmir’s merger with Pakistan.” For most of 1997 the DEM lay low and were reported to be busy with securing “committed adherents”. After the nuclear tests in May 1998 by Pakistan, this group“went wild with excitement .” It ordered largescale celebrations and festivities

in Srinagar. Its cadres went round distributing sweets in the streets. It also sent a message to Pakistan President Rafiq Tarar congratulating Pakistan on “making an Islamic bomb”.

The DEM activists in some parts of Srinagar staged demonstrations on July 11, 1997 to protest against reported blasphemy of Prophet

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185

Mohammed in Israel in recent past. The activists were veiled and carried black cloth banners with urdu lettering expressing anger and grief. Delhi Police had arrested a Kashmir woman Shaheena in July 1998 alleging that she was a militant and a member of Dukhtaran outfit. It further alleged that she was on a mission to Delhi to disrupt the Independence Day celebrations in the capital in middle of August 1998. From Srinagar on August 1, the DEM denied that Shaheena was its member. In a statement it refuted that never since its inception in 1981 had it taken part in any militant activity. However, the statement conceded that “we believe God’s land needs to be ruled by the divine laws and that Kashmir is under illegal occupation of India.” On

Pakistan

Independence

Day

(August

14, 1998) some

Millat

workers put up few Pakistani flags at selected places in Srinagar. The flags were removed and two woman worked were arrested for a few hours.

The outfit observed December 16, 1998 as Black Day and as “Anti-

nationalism

Day”

on anniversary of fall of

Dhaka

in

East

Pakistan,in1971. In a statement the Millat said that on this day”one part

of the Islamic world separated from the other merely on nationality issue

that weakend the overall state of Islamic world. Islam does not believe

in nationality, colour creed, race and language,” it added. To celebrate Pakistan National Day on March 23, 1999, the Millat

held a meeting on the outskirts of Srinagar which was attended by many widows of dead militants. Its Chief Ms Asiya Anderabi said they will neither make a compromise nor go for a sell out. Earlier, in a statement she reiterated DEM stand that Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan was the only viable solution to this decade old problem. Moslem Khawateen Markaz (Moslem Women Centre) MKH - came into being in 1990. Its is headed by young Shaila (not her real name) and its Patron is Begum Bakhtawar. Ms. Tabbsum Assad is the Gen. Secretary. The MKH claim to have over 3000 committed workers. “No claim has been made that some of them have had arms training. Most of them take part in anti - Indian demonstrations and protest processions. They also act as couriers to ferry arms and take messages from one point to another. A new group appeared on the scene on May 17, 1993. Burga clad

women

demonstrators under the banner of a new outfit “Syed-tul-

Musalmeen” appeared in Civil Lines, Srinagar protesting against the alleged molestation of some girls in a nearby village . They also shouted slogans against alleged custodial deaths of some militants. The other groups

Saishat-ul-Musalimat”

like “Dukhtaran-I-Islam” ; “Hizb-ul-Nissa”

; “Bin-atul-Islam”;

are small groups which are

'

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Kashmir Underground

neither well organised nor do they have a good fiery leader. Their members mostly take part in protest demonstrations organised by well known militant groups. Shoora-e-Jehad

An alliance of five prominent militant groups that came into being at Srinagar on July 29, 1996. The five groups who decided to join hands, in first instance, were Al-Jehad, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Ansar, Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen and Al Umar Mujahideen. Al-Jehad spokesman said after detailed discussion this “War Council” had been set up to combat “inimical acts of renegades and foes in guise of friends, military aggression, rape and arson and meaningless initiative of Assembly elections.” He warned the “renegade militants and anti-revolutionaries” to desist from changing the course of the movement and “destroying the sacrifice of over 50,000 martyrs. The spokesman also named the office-bearers. Abdur Rauf of Tehrikul-Mujahideen will be the Ameer-I-Aala (Chief) and Moulvi Abdul Haq of Al - Jehad, will be the General Secretary. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen’s Abu Junaid will be the Publicity Chief and official spokesman, Prof Abul Hassan of Harkat-ul-Ansar was named Financial Chief and Najam-usSaqib of Al Umar Mujahideen was made Chief Coordinator.

The first major demonstration of it being in control, was the call it

gave for 38 day long strike called by it from August 24, 1996, as part of its anti-election campaign. Work in all Government and semi-government offices, courts, educational institutions and other business establishments

was affected on most of the days. The effect was marked on the eve of the three phases in which Assembly elections were held in September

1996.

Soon after the formation of elected Government on October 8, 1996,

the Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah had called upon militants to

surrender within a month. The Shoora-e-Jehad ridiculed the ultimatum of the Chief Minister. In a statement

issued on October 22, 1996 the

ultimatum was described as ridiculous and said this was nothing new because earlier the Army had issued many such ultimatums. It reconfirmed its faith in the gun and said, the “ gun will continue to play its role till the ongoing ovement is taken to its logical conclusion” When 7 Kashmiri Pandits were killed at Sangrampura village in Budgam District on March 22, 1997 the Shoora condemned

the killings

and described it as a “conspiracy against the ongoing movement.” Its spokesman on March 31 assured the public that militants did not want to target innocent citizens.

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187

In another statement on March 31, 1997, the Chief of the Sho ora, Mouvi Abdul Rauf “threatened to strike outside the State on large scale if the Government forces did not stop the custodial killings and other atrocities immediately.” Before a year had passed the Shoora-e-Jehad decided to revamp the whole set up . After a 3 day meeting the Executive was reconstituted. It was announced on June 18, 1997 that Moulvi Munir Hussain will be the

new Amir. Sharief-ud-Din Nadvi was made the new Deputy Chief Patron. New General Secretary would be Pir Shamsud Din. Nisar Ahmed Nisar was made the Press and Publicity Secretary. It was decided to appoint 3 co-ordinators. They will be Syed Akram Raza, Abdul Wahid Naseem and Fida Hussain. The

new

Amir,

Moulvi

Munir

Hussain

reaffirmed

his faith in

ongoing movement and assured that no stone would be left unturned to ensure that Shoora’s objective was achieved. The Police claimed to have arrested from Aram Masjid, Khanyar in

Srinagar, on October 23, 197, Rafiq Ahmed

Bhat alias Moulvi Rauf who

till recently was the Amir. He was taken to a place near Shopian for recovery of arms and on way back with police, the party was ambushed by a group of militants and Bhat was killed in crossfire when he tried to escape. However, the Shoora alleged that Bhat had been tortured in custody and killed. Shoora-e-Jehad seemed impatient with political leadership of the Hurriyat Conference. In a statement on November 28, 1997, it criticised

them and asked them “to come out of their safe houses and play an effective role to take the movement towards the logical conclusion. The statement also criticised the Government alleging that it was not sincere in finding a peaceful solution of Kashmir problem. | One of the constituents of Shoora, the Harkat-ul-Ansar in separate statement distanced itself from “protest strikes, demonstration and sitin strikes which are no alternative to Jehad”. According to it these had

proved to be counter productive for the movement. J&K Jehad Council

To coordinate all activities and operations on this side of LOC, of various

pro-Pakistan outfits, Pakistan authorities set up a Jehad Council under administrative control of an important officer of its ISI. This Council which

has representatives of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen,

Harkat-ul-Ansar, Al - Barq, Al-Umar Mujahideen; Jamait-ul-Mujahideen

among others, was set up in winter of 1993-1994 with its main office at Rawalpindi though its advance base was set up at Muzaffarabad (POK).

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Pakistan Government decided to deal with various militant outfits through this Council. The Council was also asked to make collection of funds from different parts of Pakistan and from foreign countries, and distribute the funds to different groups operating in Kashmir. The Council was to administer the training camps and induct militants into the Valley. It was asked to project requirement of arms, ammunition and logistic support for different outfits Elections of important office bearers were held on April 22, 1998 at the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen base in Muzaffarabad(POK). The Council

constitution was amended so that a third consecutive term as President

is made possible to re-elect as President, Syed Salahudin, HUM Supremo. 11 militant outfits out of 14 outfit members participated in the

Election meeting. Those who attended were: Moin

Zafar (Al Jehad);

Usman (Muslim Janbaz Force); Shuja Abbas (Hizb-ul-Momineen); Abu Rafia (Jamait-ul-Mujahideen); Syed Abdullah Ghazali (Tehrik-ul-

Mujahideen); Bilal Rahi (Al Barq);

Rafiq Ahmed Dar (JKLF) ; Saleem

Wani (Tehrik-I-Jehad); Bilal Beg(Islamic Front); Aijaz Rehmani (Al Fateh)

and Syed Salahudin (Hizb-ul-Mujahideen). Later,

the Chairman

reiterated

the united

resolve

of all the

constituents to fight determinedly to attain their goal of freedom. Tehrik-ul-Musalmeen

This organisation came to notice only in early 1992. Its Chief organiser was Ghulam Mohammed Rathod (46). The Security Forces were looking out right from the day he assumed command. Ultimately the BSF caught

up with him on December 16, 1993 when it arrested him froma hideout

in Budgam District over Rs. 50 million was expected to be for maintenance of

. He is alleged to have brought from Saudi Arabia through clandestine channels in 1993. This money used to purchase arms and ammunition and also its cadres.

Jammu & Kashmir Solidarity Front

In first half of 1997 the Pakistani establishment and its Kashmir experts in ISI held a series of meetings in Muzaffarabad (PoK) and Islamabad to analyse the factors leading to slowing down of insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and role of the all parties, and role of All Parties Hurriyat Conference. According to information that trickled through it was felt that main factors were : (i) falling morale and commitment of Kashmiri militants; (ii) lack of discipline, control and direction of various outfits;

(iii) failure of the movement to achieve anything concrete; (iv) more

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Kashmiris veering round to concept of independence rather than urge to be part of Pakistan; (v) exposure of most leaders of APHC as persons more interested in appropriating foreign funds meant for sustaining the movement, for personal end and finally the failure of APHC to provide leadership and direction to the ongoing movement. The ISI officers held meetings with representative of major groups operating in Kashmir and came to the conclusion that APHC was not able to deliver the goods. It was therefore decided to set up a new body with headquarter in Muzaffarabad which would act as the umbrella organisation to control and direct the operations in Jammu & Kashmir. It was christened Jammu & Kashmir Solidarity Front. Though the decision was taken in July 1997 but formal announcement was made in Islamabad on August 31. The JKSF was to have three wings. Political, economic and military. Only two groups sent their representatives to the Front. Amir of Jamait-i-Islam.i, Moulvi Rashid Turbi and Raja Muzaffar of JKLF

were reported to have become its members. It was claimed that Syed

Salahudin of the Jehad Council had lent his support . Others who have

assured support and backing the Front claimed, were Dr Ayub Thakar,

President World

Islamic Kashmir

Freedom

Movement,

and

*

Nazeer

Ahmed Gilani Chairman of Council for Human Rights, in Great Britain,

both of London. From United States, Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman of

the Kashmir-American Council, reportedly backed the setting up of the

Front. It intrigued political observes in Kashmir that no secessionist leader -

from this side of LOC was included in the Front.

Within a few days JKLF announced that it never was part of the Solidarity Front. Its Secretary General Dr.Haider Hijazi at Rawalpindi declared that JKLF did not contribute to the demand of

the Front for

implementation of the UN Resolution on Kashmir. His statement clearly said “JKLF stands for re-unification and complete independence of the undivided Jammu & Kashmir state with a non-communal and federal

system of government and having friendly relations with India and Pakistan. The statement also denied that Raja Muzaffar was a JKLF representative for nobody had been authorised to participate in the Front meetings. The Hurriyat leaders declined comment on the formation of the

Solidarity Front. However, the formation of a rival alliance created a

flutter among its constituents.

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Kashmir Underground Moslem Conference

This is the oldest political organisation in the State, having started its activities in Srinagar in 1931. It had the patronage of Mirwaiz of Kashmir, Moulvi Mohammed Yusuf Shah but the political control for the first 7 years was in the hands of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah. To start with it demanded responsible popular government under the aegis of the Maharaja and for the rights of Moslems only. In 1938 by overwhelming majority it converted itself into a nationalist body - the National Conference — throwing open its doors to non-Moslems. A section of its members under the leadership of Chaudhury Ghulam Abbas, decided

to continue Moslem Conference as a separate organisation. In the forties it got allied to All India Moslem League and received the patronage of Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

In 1944 when Mr. Jinnah visited Kashmir the

Moslem Conference received a shot in the arm. The Moslem Conference followed the Moslem League in its responses to the Cabinet Mission proposals. In June 1947 the Moslem Conference lent its full support to Maharaja Hari Singh to declare Jammu & Kashmir as an independent State. After 1947 for the next 35 odd years the organisation existed only on paper. When in 1948 the National Conference came to power life for Moslem Conference became difficult especially after Chaudhary Ghulam

Abbas crossed over to Pakistan in 1949.

Prof. Abdul Ghani Butt was a government teacher who was dismissed from service in 1986. He picked up the Moslem Conference “from the ground” and infused some life in it. Prof. Ghani thinks the Moslem Conference is destined to fill the political vacuum in Kashmir

because neither the National Conference nor the Jamait-e-Islami was

acceptable to the people in general, “we will be the only single political force in future”. : The Moslem Conference does not recognise the accession to India as valid or final. It stands for Right of Self Determination, upholds freedom of press and wants establishment of Nizam-e-Mustafa

in Jammu

&

Kashmir. Prof. Ghani says that the Moslem Conference believes in the dictum that “politics is the exploration of the possible”. The Moslem

Conference wants all such elements who want to secede from India, to

join hands and get united. In October 1992 Prof. Ghani asked Kashmiris to come out on streets and raise their voice.

He asked them to take out processions and stage

demonstrations against the Security Forces and their excesses.

The

Moslem Conference gave a call for total strike on October 26 and 27,

1992 for “these two days are the dark pages of Kashmir history when Indian troops landed here in 1947”. The Moslem Conference had

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formulated a plan for an organised movement. This “Zarb-ulMosalmeen” would be announced soon, he stated. This would give a political touch to the ongoing movement and also mobilise the world opinion. In May 1993 he told the press that Moslem Conference stood for a meaningful dialogue to “end this problem” and asked Delhi to view the problem in its right perspective. He said nobody was happy with war “which brings destruction and nothing else”. According to him the Moslem Conference wanted both sides of Kashmir to be handed over to the United Nations for 5 years for creating an atmosphere in which elections could be held and a representative leadership come forward with the mandate to enter into any dialogue with India and Pakistan about the political future of the State”. About the National Conference, the Moslem Conference feels that

“it neither is relevant in the present situation nor is it representative of Kashmiri aspirations”. The Moslem Conference has laid down an important condition that no talks can be held with any party government at Delhi. According to it, talks can be held only with an all-party delegation representing all parties represented in the Parliament. The Moslem Conference views on Hindu migrants from Kashmir are more accommodating than the militants. “A genuine Kashmiri Hindu, is every inch a Brahamin who can understand the machinations

of the neo-colonist in Delhi”. The Brahmins and the Moslems in Kashmir

belong to the “same racial stock. We share history, culture and other things. We must swim together. Let us sink together if it that” he stated. The Moslem Conference is a constituent of the All Parties Conference since its inception in September 1992. The

a host of comes to

Hurriyat Moslem

Conference President, Prof. Abdul Ghani, is a member of the Executive

Committee of APHC. Spokesman.

In May

1996 he was also made its Chief

J&K Peoples League In 1974, a group of angry youngmen were banded together by Mohammed Farooq Rehmani and the Peoples League was born. Rehmani later became editor of “Daily Azan” the mouthpiece of Jamiate-Islami in Kashmir. The League was joined in mid-Seventies by Shabir Ahmed Shah and who soon rose to be its Chief. Farooq Rehmani highlighted the report of filing of a writ petition on the issue of the alleged ban on Holy Quran in Calcutta High Court, in May 1985. In 1987 and in 1988 the League exhorted people to boycott the Republic Day celebrations and to hoist black flags on January 26" as

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Kashmir Underground

a mark of protest. The League also urged people to observe the death anniversary of Mohammed Magqbool Butt on February 11 in 1987, 1988 and 1989. On August 28, 1988 the League vowed to establish Naizam-eMustafa. The Party also called for hartal on October 27, 1989 to protest against landing of Indian troops in Kashmir in 1947. On September 27, 1989 while travelling from Srinagar to Jammu, alongwith his deputy Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Shabir Shah was arrested at Ramban. He spent almost 5 years in detention. The League distributed and pasted a large number of posters on December 22, 1989 entitled

“Peoples League ka kiya paigam

Fateh, Azaadi aud Islam”

(What is the message of Peoples League, Victory, Freedom and Islam) On the eve of Republic Day - January 1990, the League declared through posters that the Indian Constitution was no longer acceptable to them and they wish to be governed only by Holy Quran. In 1990 S. Abdul Hamid was made the Acting Chairman. On April 16, 1990 the Government declared the Peoples League an unlawful

association under Criminal Law Amendment Act 1983 and banned its functioning.

The TADA Designated Court ordered release of Faz] Haq Quereishi,

former Chairman of the League. He was in detention for over 28 months. Soon after he called for a “purposeful dialogue for the settlement of the large standing problems of the unfortunate State”. In his opinion wars did not solve any problem but only aggravated it. Much blood has been lost and people have suffered abnormally”. On Spetember 16, 1992 Nayeem Ahmed Khan, a close aide of Shabir

Shah, was released from Jammu’s Central Jail. He immediately reiterated

his Party's demand of giving people of Jammu & Kashmir, right to decide their future. According to him, the League was of the firm view that India and Pakistan “have no right to decide the future of Kashmir”. Shabir Ahmed

Shah was released on September 30, 1994.

Before

reaching Srinagar he travelled through Doda. Both through Doda District and in Kashmir,

he received an enthusiastic welcome.

All shades of

public opinion and even the establishment were pinning hopes on him. They hoped he would pull out a rabbit from under the hat and all will be hunky dory. As days passed by and nothing moved forward, expectations gave way to disappointment. To start with Shah talked of return to peace and normalcy through dialogue. He also desired early return of Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir. First he had wanted to retain his freedom of thought and action. It now transpires that he was not able to

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cut much ice and therefore he had to fall in line and agree to become part of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. He has toured many parts of Jammu region and has gone to Delhi a number of times since 1996. There he explained the reason for the freedom struggle and talked of the situation in Jammu & Kashmir. Off and on he met foreign diplomats and media persons to tell them of the ground realities. In July and August 1996 there developed some differences with APHC leadership. When APHC decided not to meet American Ambassador Wisner and Senator Hank Brown, Shah took independent stand and had long meetings with them at his Srinagar residence. During this period differences had developed between Hamid and others. Hamid faction got separated and grew closer to Al Jehad Force. Hamid became Chairman of this group. In the meanwhile differences had also developed between League's Chief Shabir Shah and his erstwhile confidante Nayeem Khan. In 1997 the party again split. In February 1998 Nayeem Khan assumed Chairmanship and announced rigid separatist stand though it supported return of Kashmiri Pandit migrants. On April 13, 1998 Shabir Shah announced setting up of a Trust to rehabilitate widows, orphans and others those who suffered on account of violence in the past 8 years. He gave assets worth Rs 1 crore which he said he had received as donations in the past few years. The next day Nayeém Khan alleged that he had parted with only small portions of donations amounting to over Rs 50 crores that Shah had received. Khan asked Shah to hand over the balance assets also. Shabir Shah had consultations with like-minded persons over many months. Finally he decided to float a new organisation to “meet new emerging situation” in and around Kashmir. On May 25, 1998 he announced birth of the new party — Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party. The remanants of the League and its factions which had drifted away earlier, engaged themselves in consultations in an effort to bring them together. On August 3, 1998 the erstwhile deputy of Shabir Ahmed Shah, Nayeem Khan declared that 4 out of 7 factions of the 24 year old organisation had reunited. These factions, he said, were those led by S. Hameed, Sheikh Abdul Aziz and Fazl Haq Quereishi, Shabir Shah and

Farooq Remani. Messrs Shah and Rehmani have formed their own organisations - Democratic Freedom Party and People’s Political Front. It was announced that Sheikh Abdul Aziz has been made new Chairman while Nayeem Khan would be the General Secretary. Regarding the policy to be followed by the reconstituted party. Nayeem Khan said “Militancy is part and parcel of the ongoing struggle to break Indian rigidity on Kashmir. Once they (Delhi) accept the ground realities and opt to come on the table, the guns will fall silent”. He demanded

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Kashmir Underground

that all concerned should agree to “purposeful bilateral negotiations on Kashmir”. To mark its presence, the revived Pegples League marched in a procession to the UN Military Observers Group office in Srinagar on August 10, 1998. The activists planned to present a Memorandum alleging largescale violations of human rights in Kashmir. The procession was taken out in violation of prohibitory orders and was broken up by the police. Nayeem Khan and some of his associates like Bashir Ahmed

Tota, Ghulam Nabi War, Maqbool Sofi were arrested but were released soon, later.

Jammu & Kashmir People’s Conference

This is an overground organisation with pronounced secessionist aims.

It was set up in 1981 by Abdul Ghani Lone, a former Congress Minister. At time of formation its objective was to safeguard the rights of people of Jammu & Kashmir and to oppose erosion of autonomy. Having become dissatisfied with Congresss, National Conference and Janta Party, Abdul Ghani Lone formed his own organisation. His " supporters in those three parties joined his new group. Lone was made its Chairman and Peerzada Hafizullah Makhdoomi its General Secretary right in 1981 and they continue to be in these offices without a break. For the next 8 years the Peoples Conference played its role as opposition party against the successive governments headed by Sheikh

Abdullah, Faroog Abdullah, G.M. Shah and Dr. Faroog Abdullah. During

these years its President and General Secretary went to jail a number of times. When militancy erupted in Kashmir in 1989-90 the Peoples Conference supported it unreservedly. Lone took part in processions and demonstrations against use of force and police firings, against accession to India and for the right of self determination. He-was arrested in Kashmir alongwith many other secessionist leaders and detained in | Delhi’s Tihar Jail.

In November 1991 the Peoples Conference demanded the right of self determination for people of the State believing that this was the “only peaceful and political solution of the Kashmir issue”. After his release from Jail in 1992, Lone toured Kashmir Valley to

strengthen his Party network. He also tried to straighten out many problems its workers were having with its armed wing, Al Burq. Addressing a meeting at Pakherpura in Pulwama District on September

6, 1992 Lone said “Ours is a movement to secure our birthright for self-

determination as enshrined in United Nations Charter but denied to us so far”.

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195

In February 1993 Lone left for a foreign tour. After performing Umamra in Saudi Arabia he visited United Kingdom and later United States and Iran. There he met many sympathisers of Kashmiri secessionist movement and also some Government officials. After his 5-month long foreign tour, he again toured different parts of Kashmir and consulted his party workers. On August 24, 1993 Lone told his party workers at Srinagar that India was “jittery” because of successful movement for freedom in Kashmir. He praised Pakistan for extending full support to Kashmiris in their “just struggle”. He refuted the allegation that what was happening in Kashmir was created by Pakistan. He criticised New Delhi for blaming Pakistan for the indigenous uprising that India was facing in Kashmir. When the All Parties Hurriyat Conference was formed on September 9, 1993 the Peoples Conference became its founding member.

Ghani Lone was made a member of the

Abdul

_7-man Executive Committee.

In the stand-off at Hazratbal Shrine in October-November 1993, the

Conference members demonstrations.

took

part

in processions

and

protest

Its Chairman, Abdul Ghani Lone alongwith others, was arrested for

defiance but was released after peaceful resolution of the issue after 32 days stand-off. Lone and Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Jamait-i-Islami leader were together in jail and had the opportunity to discuss what direction should be given to the movement after the Hazratbal surrender by holed-up militants. After his release he discussed these and other matters with his party members in the next few months. Lone told a press conference on January 11, 1995 that any “solution agreed to by three parties to the dispute— India, Pakistan and Kashmiri people” would be enduring. Later he declared that the aim of his Party “is to destroy the existing power structure in Kashmir and build anew one. None of usis interested in election farce”.

The Party General Secretary, Peerzada Hafizullah Makhdoomi welcomed the offer of mediation in Kashmir, made by UN Secretary General, Boutros Boutros Ghali.

The elections to Parliament and to State Legislative Assembly were held in May and September 1996 respectively. The Peoples Conference had boycotted these, terming them as “farce”. The Party did not participate in any election after March 1987. A case for its de-recognition was pending before the Election Commission of India. On September 4, 1997 it withdrew recognition of Peoples Conference as a State Party in

Jammu & Kashmir under the J&K Conduct of Election Rules 1965. Consequently, it will also be denied the use of symbol “Lion” for purposes

of election.

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Kashmir Underground

The Party Conference Lone was arrested in November 1997. Party General Secretary Ghulam Ahmed Gulzar was also detained with Lone. Lone was released in end of May 1998. Jammu & Kashmir People’s Political Front

In the summer of 1993 there was a distinct disillusionment with the ongoing movement totally dependent on gun not being able to achieve much on the political front. Some of the old guard belonging to different outfits who had been pushed out by more ambitious and younger

leadership, held consultations among themselves and decided to form

themselves into a Front which would strive to work for a peaceful political solution of Kashmir problem. Thus was born the Jammu & Kashmir People’s Political Front in Srinagar on August 28, 1993. A veteran political activist Fazal Haq Quereishi, earlier of Peoples League, was named its Chairman. Ghulam Mohammed Naikoo was made its General Secretary. Wile announcing formation of the Front, Quereishi said the ongoing movement had entered acrucial phase where political direction and inputs were required. This political platform would take on the “responsibility of guiding the movement for achieving a political solution of this dispute”. He said the Front considered Jammu & Kashmir State as a disputed territory and that there were three parties to this dispute — India, Pakistan and people of Jammu & Kashmir. They must sit together and find an amicable and acceptable solution. A month later it had not yet decided what relationship if at all, it will have with Hurriyat Conference which by then had come into being. Quereishi only said on September 28, 1993 that he was disappointed with Hurriyat leaders who had achieved nothing so far. He said his front was better placed to give political lead because it was not a multiparty forum like APHC. He also disclosed that a Front delegation would be sent to different parts of the country to inform them of the real situation in Kashmir and to build favourable public opinion. He claimed support of many militant outfits including Azam Inqalabi’s “Operation Balakote”. However,

the Front was not able to achieve much and soon faded

out of public view.

Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party

Syed Shabir Ahmed Shah after his expulsion from the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and separation from his own Peoples League in February “1998 had been having consultations with his friends and associates as

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also likeminded persons with the aim of starting a new political party to meet the new situation in Kashmir and the Indian Sub-Continent. On May 25, 1998 at a Press Conference in Srinagar he announced the formation of Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP).

He said the contemporary political leadership in Kashmir “had failed to redress the grievances of the people with the result that social fabric has been destroyed beyond recognition. We will work for permanent peace. We earnestly feel that there is a serious need to review our. course of

action”. He felt that there was no wisdom in binding ourself blindly to

anemotional approach. He believed that there were 3 parties to Kashmir issue — India, Pakistan and people of Jammu & Kashmir and any solution without the participation of the people of the State will prove futile.

According to him, the future of Jammu & Kashmir is still to be

determined and for a permanent, peaceful and lasting solution it was essential that the people of the State be provided with an atmosphere free from pressures, whether internal or external. About participation

in elections Shabir Shah said “we would certainly participate if the elections are held under non-governmental agencies”.

Outlining the objectives of the new party he said that DFP would be essentially political in nature and would advocate complete freedom of expression, both written and verbal. “My organisation stands for return and rehabilitation of all those residents of the State who have been displaced in one way or the other, as a result of the unresolved Kashmir issue” he added. About the organisation he said its structure shall be democratic wherein “cohesion and discipline shall be maintained in an exemplary manner”. The organisation will set up units all over the State as also in POK. He announced names of few office bearers. While he himself would be the President, Maulana Mohammad Tariq would be

the Working President. Mohammed Ahmed Sagar was named Senior

Vice President, Mohammed Ibrahim Dar would be the Vice President.

The formation of the new Party was a major political development because it indicated that accent was shifting from gun to dialogue. It

was bound to have strong reactions and it did.

The frontline Hizb-ul-Mujahideen labelled it as part of “grand Indian

evil design”. Hizb Deputy Chief Ghazi Rafi-ud-din said “the Mujahideen would spare no sacrifice to foil absurd methods and hidden political

intrigues of those who are willing to participate in elections”. It called it an “Indian plot to create a new force in Kashmir to counter the National Conference and beat the pro-freedom movement elements”. Ghazi approved Shah’s offer of ceasefire in exchange for unconditional talks and said “Kashmiri youth did not take guns to highlight the Kashmir issue but to resolve it”. Acording to Ghazi “at least Shabir will get a berth in the Legislative Council”.

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Kashmir Underground

Another strident outfit Harkat-ul-Ansar warned “all those running a political showroom to shut down their business and refrain from initiating any talks with the Centre”. The spokesman advised such people to “channelise their efforts in the direction of Islam and refrain from treading the secular path”. From the other end of the political spectrum the Chief Minister, Dr.

Farooq Abdullah, welcomed

the formation of DFP and said that better

realisation will “hopefully dawn on others also who still dream of Kashmir’s secession from India and it is hoped that they will also join . the mainstream”. The senior Congress leader and former Union Home Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayed welcomed Shah's offer of unconditional talks with Delhi and the foundation of new party. The reactions expectedly were strong and induced rapid rethinking in Shah and his associates. He hurriedly called a press conference on June 2 for some political fire-fighting operation. He declared that he believed that Jammu & Kashmir was a disputed territory and needed to be resolved by way of “unconditional tripartite dialogue between India,

Pakistan and people of Jammu & Kashmir”. He clarified that when he expressed his willingness to participate in elections if held under an official non-governmental agency, he was expressing his readiness to take part in a “referendum under the surveillance of an independent,

non-official commission if at all, it be became necessary to determine the

weightage of the Jammu & Kashmir peoples’ real representation, for the tripartite talks”. He reaffirmed that he would not participate in elections held under the Indian Constitution”. Assauging the ruffled feelings of militant groups, Shah sent his “Salaams” to Kashmiri militants who

according to him, had taken the Kashmir problem to its zenith”. He quickly added that the gun had played its role and now the time was “ripe to further the freedom struggle in a peaceful and political manner. I ama votary of non-violent struggle”. When asked to comment on continued infiltration of foreign militants Shah categorically said that he did not consider residents of POK as foreigners but he refused to say anything about Pakistani, Afghani, Sudanese or others. Regarding allegations that he had reached some understanding with Delhi, he clarified that he had neither built any rapport with New Delhi nor established any contact with Dr. Faroog Abdullah. About Dr. Farooq Abdullah’s welcoming Shah’s joining the mainstream politics, Shah said

if Farooq has gone through objectives of his party and admitted the disputed status of Jammu & Kashmir “then I would suggest to him to quit the Government and join us in the freedom struggle”.

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In an obvious reference to Hurriyat Conference, Shah said he was

not one among those who asked the people “UNO challo” ~ Let’s go to

UNO.

Referring to nuclear tests undertaken by India and Pakistan in May 1998, Shah said “We sincerely want no repetetion of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the only alternative is dialogue”. He urged the nuclear weapon states to sign nuclear weapons convention by the year 2000, agreement to the elimination of all nuclear weapons within a time-bound framework. He described these tests as a “curse for humanity”. People making merry over these tests will weep if there is a war because it will not see caste, creed, religion or gender”,

he added.

In June and July, 1998 the DFP organised some protest meetings and demonstrations in Srinagar. The police either did not allow them to gather because of ban on meetings or dispersed them quickly. Party President Shah and some senior functionaries were arrested on the spot but released soon after. Shabir Shah believes that Indian leadership has provided a major opportunity to find a solution of the Kashmir problem by conducting the nuclear test. On July 25, 1998 in an interview on Internet News Channel he said that because of the test, Kashmir issue has come on the

agenda of P-5 and G-8. He regretted that his offer of dialogue with New Delhi had been rejected by Home Minister Advani. Instead he said he would send more troops to Kashmir to crush the movement and also he would strike and wrest back control of Azad Kashmir. “If Advani had been a true Hindustani, if he had been a real patriot, then he should have sought the

opportunity for talks and made a new beginning”, he added. Shah suggested that Kashmiris should play a bigger role than India and

Pakistan in solving the dispute “because 1,00,000 of our youth have been

killed”.

Shah said he never believed in the gun culture. “Gun can be part of the struggle, not the end of it”, he added. Continuing he said “the reason our young real freedom fighter took up the gun was to catch the world’s attention.

Whenever, they talked about political solutions they were

greeted by guns and abuses”. According to him “in 1988 our fighters brought the Kashmir out of the grave and took it up, right up to the high

heavens. The world came to know that Kashmir in India is having a problem”. Imran Rahi, a senior secessionist who had travelled from Peoples’

League to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen to J&K Forum for Permanent Resolution of Kashmir Problem decided to throw his lot with Shabir Shah. He joined the Democratic Freedom Party on July 17, 1998.

200

Kashmir Underground In aneffort to broadbase his DFP, Shabir Shah invited ruling National

Conference legislators to join his party. On July 27, he called upon the MLAs

to make

common

cause with him in the interest of people.

According to him people were paying a very heavy price for supporting the Farooq Government. Shabir Shah wanted to create a base for his Party in Jammu. He decided to organise a one-day convention at Jammu on September 3, 1998. Nearby 200 persons came to attend it. At the Convention he offered unconditional talks with Delhi saying “we are ready for unconditional talks with the Central Government if the Government shows its concern about the problem”. According to him the time was ripe for the negotiations. Jammu audience seemed to be happy to hear him say “I wish to apologise for all the step-motherly treatment meted out to Jammu region by the successive National Conference and Congress Governments. Discriminatory and biased policies are the conspiracies hatched by the professional politicians for their petty political gains” he alleged. They are imposed not accepted leaders” he said and added “I am also a victim of those so called Kashmiri leaders who have meted out step-motherly treatment with Jammu and Ladakh regions”. Spelling out his Party’s objective he said, “It is not the question of Jammu or Kashmir.

We are concerned about the whole State irrespective of caste,

creed, religion and region bearing the brunt of the imposed politicians since 1947”. As soon as the meeting ended there was commotion outside the Hall. Fearing breach of peace the Police first closed the gate and later arrested nearly 200 supporters alongwith Shabir Shah. The Party setup for Jammu was announced in the meeting.

The Party decided to present a memorandum at Delhi to the UN office for the Secretary General. Led by Shabir Shah some party activists outside UN Representative’s office in New Delhi staged a demonstration on October 12 to protest against non-inclusion of Kashmiri representatives in the talks scheduled in the next few days between India and Pakistan. Party spokesman Riaz Khewar said though his Party welcomed the bilateral talks but for final dispensation of Kashmir “true representatives of Jammu & Kashmir should be taken into confidence”. Shabir Shah later presented a memorandum to UN office for being forwarded to Secretary General Kofi Anaan. The memorandum while welcoming resumption of Indo-Pak talks called it a futile exercise without participation of Kashmiri representatives. The memorandum said the two countries were dealing with Kashmir problem on a “superficial basis”

since they will deal with Siachen and Wullar Barrage only.

“Siachen is

merely a glacier in Jammu & Kashmir and Wullar Barrage is a scheme to

exploit the water resources of Jammu

& Kashmir.

That the Indo-Pak

talks would start by dealing with such territorial issues supports the

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contention of the people of the State that India and Pakistan see Kashmir as a territorial dispute and continue to ignore the rights of the inhabitants of the State”. The Party decided to take out a Protest March in Srinagar on December

10, 1998 to mark next day, the World

Human

Rights Day.

The Police frustrated two attempts and when the party activists persisted twenty of them were arrested. This included many functionaries of the party including its Chairman, Syed Shabir Ahmed Shah. They were

released later.

The Party marked its presence in POK also by opening an office at Muzaffarabad. Following the Lahore meeting in February 1999 between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan, the Party hailed the initiative to improve

relations between the two countries. On March 25, 1999 its Chairman,

Shabir Shah congratulated the two Prime Ministers and said his Party was ready for talks with India and Pakistan.

He however, maintained

that the basis has to be right of self determination. In March 1998 Shabir Shah distributed Rs 50 lacs from his personal collections to over 1200 victims of violence during militancy. These included many Kashmiri Pandit families. This distribution of relief money created goodwill for the Democratic Freedom Party. Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon

Soon after the tragedy of Charar-I-Sharief in May 1995, militants in many outfits were shocked by the activities of the “foreign militants”. Many were disillusioned with Pakistan and its designs in Kashmir. Mohammed Yusuf Parray of the Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen became a rallying point for most of them. Soon after a new organisation under the name Ikhwanul-Musalmoon came into existence in the northern parts of Kashmir Valley. The area between Sumbal-Hajan and Bandipore was the first scene of their activities. With this also started counter-insurgency in

Kashmir.

Parray also known as “Jamshed Shirazi” but more popularly as “Kuka Parray”- a bard in his youth, soon gathered a dedicated band of many thousands. Members of this group considered activists of Jamaite-Islami and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen as “enemies of Kashmir”. They in turn branded Musalmoon activists as an outfit “promoted and equipped by

the Indian intelligence agencies to sabotage the ongoing secessionist movement”. This outfit for the first time registered its presence when its activists abducted 4 scribes from Srinagar in July 1995. Two were released to

inform the Srinagar pressmen that other two would be released after all

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Srinagar-based pressmen “present themselves” before the party High Command somewhere in northern Kashmir. Next day 42 mediapersons including editors of Srinagar newspapers and correspondents of outside papers, met Kuka Parray who wanted Srinagar press to give “adequate space” to activities of his group. In a statement released by him he said Jamait-e-Islami and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen “dubbed everyone else a traitor and infidel”.

He described his movement as a “rising revolution”.

He

claimed that “future is ours”. . The same day Al Fateh Force and United Forum of Militants asked Srinagar press to ignore Parray statement. This ban was disregarded by the press. Thereafter the 2 scribes in their custody were also released. The Musalmoon also announced its accretion of strength and all round reorganisation which was a sign of it enjoying increasing support from militants and general public at the same time. Former head of Al Fateh Force, Gowhar

IlIlahi, its former launching Chief, Samad

Khan,

and its Divisional Commander Mir Niyazi joined this outfit. In the reorganisation that was announced on July 8, 1995 Jamshed Shirazi was made the Supreme Commander. Ansar-ul-Haq was appointed Deputy Supreme Commander and Mir Niyazi as Publicity Chief. Mohd. Sultan was named the Military Advisor and Javed Iqbal was made the Chief Organiser.

Divisional Commanders were also appointed. Kashmir,

Abdur

Rehman

They were:

Malik

Niyazi for North

Pattan for Central

later.

They were: Umar Mukhtar for Srinagar, Irshad for Baramullah,

Kashmir and Sher Bahadur Khan for South Kashmir. Abu Hayat was named the Spokesman. Six District Commanders were also appointed

Daler Khan for Kupwara, Nasir Ali for Budgam, Abbas Shirazi for Pulwama and Dr. Manzoor for Anantnag Districts. Many militants from different groups appealed to Kuka Parray to make efforts to iron out differences between his group and Hizb-ulMujahideen and Hurriyat Conference. On December 21, 1995 Parray appointed Hilal Ahmad Beg as Group Representative to negotiate on his behalf.

In a statement Parray said “we want to see sincere, clean

people in APHC and those people with a disputed past are not fit to lead the caravan of Azadi”. According to him “shortsighted, hypocrites and incompetent people in APHC should be isolated. Hardly anything came out of the negotiations. In the meantime an Ikhwan delegation led by Kuka Parray went to Delhi on December 28, 1995. There the delegation stayed over a month and met representatives of political parties, media, officials and NGOs.

Talking to Press on January 9, 1996 Parray denied the charge that he was

a government agent by saying “I am nobody’s agent. In fact those who level this charge are themselves agents of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISD and other such agencies. The government officials who are busy

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fleecing the people, are scared of me”. About communalisation in Kashmir he said he was sad that it was so because “Kashmir belonged to all those people who believed Kashmir to be their motherland, irrespective of religion, caste and creed. In spite of the unfortunate exodus of Kashmiri Pandits, you may be surprised to know that 20,000 pandits live in the Valley. Witch-hunting against them was started by Hizb-ulMujahideen and Jamait-I-Islami and not the common Kashmiri Moslem.

I am sorry to say that the two have been encouraged and tolerated by secular parties so far”. In another interview the Ikhwan Chief said in Delhi that though his group members were armed, they never killed innocent people. Explaining why the activists of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen were their targets he said “because they have killed innocent Kashmiris, devastated public property and criminalised the Kashmiri society. They have done much damage to our culture which is based on human values, love and compassion. I am fighting for a peaceful Kashmir and Kashmiriyat. You may call it right of self determination”. About the Srinagar press Parray said “it is tragic that the local press in the Valley presented a distorted picture of the reality”. Between November 1995 and February 1996 there were three armed clashes between Ikhwan militants and cadres of JKLF (Sidiqui). Though on account of firing from both sides in the vicinity of Hazratbal Shrine a few militants were injured, no one was killed.

Soon after his return from Delhi in the second week of February 1996, Parray claimed that his Ikhwan had become popular because it was “militant organisation of the people of Kashmir as per their aspirations”. In a statement issued on February 11, Ikhwan Chairman said that anarchy and absence of accountability in militant organisations had brought Kashmir to the brink of total destruction. He said the foremost task of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon was “elimination of gun culture which will be assiduously pursued by Ikhwan”. Blaming both Pakistan and India for what had happened in Kashmir, Parray said both the countries would have to account for “every drop of Kashmiris’ blood”. He also blamed the armed militants “who had taken to gun but were now misusing it in the name fo Jehad and looting people of money”. Five days later Parray said what Kashmir was witnessing at present was not Jehad but “fasaad”.

About political scenario he said “my only

ambition is reunification of the State. Whenever the Kashmir issue is discussed for finding a solution, the question of the areas under the occupation of Pakistan should be foremost on the agenda. I would not

allow disintegration of the State, particularly the three regions of Kashmir, Jammu

and

Ladakh, even if I have to sacrifice my life”.

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Following the example of many other militant outfits in previous years, Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon started publication of a weekly in Urdu under

the title of “Tehreek-e-Kashmir”

on February

19, 1996.

It was

claimed to be its official organ but was an unregistered publication. In the inaugural issue the organisation’s Chief Commander Ansar-ul-Haq said that publications would “expose leaders and militants who misused the gun and sustain themselves on the blood of youth and miseries of common people”. Early in March 1996 the Ikhwan Commanders held a meeting to consider the situation in Kashmir Valley and to recast the outfit’s role. In a statement on March 3, Ikhwan expressed its readiness to sacrifice

everything to wipe out fundamentalism from Kashmir. Its spokesman, Tariq-u!-Islam, held Islamic fundamentalists responsible for all the miseries of Kashmiris they had undergone in the past seven years. Statement said its cadres had been told to punish “fundamentalist activists including those who had caused death and destruction in Kashmir Valley” but were now living lavishly in five star comfort and had acquired big properties. The statement also criticised pro-Pak elements for propagating fundamentalist theory of communal hatred which was negation of Kashmiriyat which believed in communal harmony and human brotherhood. The statement pledged Ikhwan to eliminate “such merchants of death and restore to the Kashmiris their traditional heritage”. After its successful visit to Delhi in January 1996 the Ikhwan sent a 7-member team under Parray to Jammu to visit Kashmiri migrant camps and to meet opinion makers. The delegation which went to Jammu in the fourth week of March

1996, included its important members

like

Ansar-ul-Haq, Shahbaz Gul and Mir Niyazi. On March 23 Parray and Ansar-ul-Haq unfolded their three point programme of “Operation Clean-up”, which will include presentation of poll-time violence and return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit migrants. They said “battle against Jamait-e-Islami,' Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and other enemies of people” will continue. Regarding Kashmiri Pandits they said “these Pandits are citizens of free India and have the right to live with honour and dignity in their homeland - Kashmir. It is a sad commentary on the

political system that these citizens of India are refugees in their own country. The Government should pay immediate attention to their rehabilitation”. The Ikhwan offered to get occupied houses of the migrants vacated maintaining that it was the sole responsibility of the Government to “reconstruct their houses and restore property illegally occupied or sold on forged documents”. The Ikhwan leadership demanded that a Committee headed by Supreme Court judge should

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probe “hawala rackets which in Kashmir have transformed terrorism into a profitable industry”. In early April 1996 the Ikhwan called upon the youth of the three regions of the State to join its “Save Kashmir Movement” in large numbers and fight against those elements who wanted bloodshed and division of the State. Ikhwan Supremo Parray in a statement on April 2 said that “battle against bigotry had started and called upon all people of the State to join it. A few days later the Ikhwan declared that it was “capable of fighting this war against Hizb and ISI on our own” but wanted to be given a free hand to deal with them. With the emergence of Awami League as the political wing of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon, the armed struggle role of the latter got reduced. The leadership of Ikhwan decided that J&K Ikhwan in Anantnag and it should be merged to form a new organisation called Jammu & Kashmir Ikhwan. Supremo of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon Kuka Parray and Chief of J&K Ikhwan Hilal Hyder at a joint press conference at Pampore on July 29, 1996, announced the merger. Parray announced that he would not hold any office in the new anti-Pakistan guerilla outfit which would continue to work for elimination of gun culture from the State. This outfit will also provide security to all religious places, political, religious and social workers and government employees. He declared that the new outfit will function “completely under Jammu & Kashmir Awami League”. He said that Liaqat alias Hilal Hyder would be the Ameer-e-Alla (Supremo) of the new outfit. Hilal Hyder told the press that Ikhwan headquarter will be Srinagar so that there is better coordination with Awami League. According to him more than 500 activists of these two organisations had been killed in the past two years by pro-Pak outfits in Kashmir and Doda. Hyder announced that Ghulam Ahined Gamgeen would be the Vice Chairman, Nanaji would be the Supreme Commander, Ishtiaq Mohammed and Abdur Rashid Kumbay would be Deputy Supreme Commanders. Fayaz Kashmiri was named Chief Commander of Operation and “General” Irshad would be the Military Advisor. Parray’s deputy Papa Kishtwari was appointed as Chief Organiser. Three Divisional Commanders were also appointed. Ghulam Mohammed Sayeedpuri for Central Kashmir, Mushtaq Ali for South Kashmir and Bashir Khan for North Kashmir. Hyder also named six District Commanders.

For the next 18 months or so the Ikhwan assisted the Security Forces in countering militancy in Kashmir Valley. The pro-Pak outfits were

baying for their blood.

On June 21, 1998 Ikhwan’s

Chief Commander

Manzoor

Ahmed

Parray (Kuka’s nephew) with his deputy Ghulam Ahmed Pehloo, two bodyguards Nazir Ahmed Dar and Khurshid Ahmed Rathar and four

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others were travelling in a BP Gypsy from Hajan to Sumbal in Baramulla District, when the Gypsy was blown up by an anti-tank mine planted on the road. Manzoor and four others died. Three others received serious injuries. Next day Hizb-ul-Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the explosion. In a statement its spokesman said “the Commander and his associates were involved in killing of a large number of pro-Islamic and pro-freedom people”. A police officer said those killed had “contributed a lot in containing militancy in the area. This group has done at least 15 successful operations with me only”. This entire area had been cleared of militants. It might receive a setback now that some foreign mercenaries had reportedly taken over and were trying to revive militant activity. Jammu & Kashmir Awami League

Largely inspired by pioneering counter-insurgent Kuka Parray, Chief of the Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon, members of different counter-insurgent groups that appeared in Kashmir in the second half of 1995, formed themselves into a new overground political party under the banner of Jammu & Kashmir Awami League, in November 1995. Paray was made the Chairman and a former Hizb Commander Mir Niyazi was made the General Secretary. On launching of the League, Mir Niyazi said the members of the new organisation had taken a “pledge to stamp out terrorism and violence from our soil and restore peace and order in the State”. He described Jamait-e-Islami as the main enemy of the Kashmir people and the foremost task was “to free people from the grip of Pak backed armed groups and mercenaries”. About the transformation that had come about in the recent past, he said most of the youth who had been lured by the slogans of “Azadi” and “Nizam-e-Mustafa” some years ago “have now seen through the gameplan of the Inter Services Intelligence of Pakistan, who wanted to use us as guinea pigs in their nefarious design to turn Kashmir into a graveyard. We have realised that Pak backed Jamait had a definite design to impose a fascist-type regime on us and liquidate all that was best in our traditional value system, based on brotherhood and

concern for fellow human beings”. He also explained League’s concept of right of self determination. According to him the League was

committed to struggle for the exercise of this right by the people of the

State a peaceful and free atmosphere, without the fear of the gun”.

Elaborating it he said “this right necessarily does not mean accession to Pakistan or even independence, but free exercise of people unfettered right to freedom and democratic rights, as enshrined in the UN Charter of Human Rights and Indian and State Constitution”.

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About the organisational setup he said it will be a democratic

organisation totally with its own structure and constitution. It will have a Central Council to guide the affairs of the Party. Representation on the Council will be given to all provinces of the State and seats will be reserved for representatives from POK. Its doors will be open to people from all parts of the State without consideration of caste, creed or religion. “Ours is a truly secular organisation and we are committed to uphold

the pristine values of humanism and brotherhood, bequeathed to us by our great saints, Sufis and Rishis” he added.

Kuka Parray has ruled out Plebiscite as a solution of Kashmir problem. In an interview in Delhi on January 10, 1996 he said “At one

time, I did feel that Plebiscite could have been an ideal solution but the

relevant UN resolution laid down certain pre-conditions like vacation of POK territory by the Pakistan Army. Plebiscite has no meaning without that. Moreover, Pakistan has to first undo the merger of the northern areas of our State and also take back our territory ceded by it to China”. Towards the end of March 1996, the Awami League sent a delegation under its General Secretary Mir Niyazi to visit the Pandit migrant camps in Jammu region and to talk with their leaders. Niyazi told the migrants in different camps that League was totally committed to early return to Kashmir of all migrants and their proper rehabilitation. The migrants were informed that League’s parent body Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon had lost 438 of its members in “Kashmir in its crusade against Islamist fanatics and cruel terrorists who under the garb of Jehad were responsible for the present plight of the Kashmiri Pandits”. He informed them that the League had formed a committee right down to the village level throughout Kashmir to collect data of abandoned property of the Pandits and make proper lists of all immovable property including arrable and non-arrable

land,

orchards,

walnut

trees, residential

as well

as

commercial houses left behind by Kashmiri Pandits. He assured them that their property will be restored to them and on their return to their house they will be accorded full protection. He further promised them that the guilty who amassed wealth of crores in the past 6-7 years, would be punished. When the elections for Parliament were announced, three important members

of the Awami

League filed their nomination papers

for

Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag constituencies. They were Ansarul-Haq (Javed Ahmed Shah), Mir Niyazi (Ghulam Nabi Mir) and Capt. S.K. Tikoo, a Kashmiri Pandit who joined the party recently. Addressing the press on April 10, 1996 after filing their nomination papers, the three candidates said their party’s shift from pro-Pakistan militancy to the

democratic India as also the decision to contest elections were “conscious

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Kashmir Underground

efforts and not emotional impulses”. They held the “Hurriyat leadership and

militant

commanders

responsible

for continuing

senseless,

purposeless and endless violence in Kashmir and adopting divisive tactics to manage their manipulation and exploitation of the armed struggle. We have been duped by Pakistan, ISI and turncoat politicians and have finally realised that the real Azadi was possible only within democratic India” they added. Regarding their election manifesto they said it was “restoration of peace, dignity and cultural identity in the Valley. We will struggle for integrity of the State and continuation of Act 370 of the Indian Constitution conferring special status. We will restore to Kashmir its age-old composite culture and communal harmony”. First major election meeting in the Party HQ in Srinagar on April 20, 1996 was tried to be disturbed, by armed militants on a motorbike who threw a handgrenade and fired a few pistol shots. It injured two persons and damaged the public address system because the meeting had ended and three candidates had left. The candidates told the meeting that their party would bring to book “the politcial dacoits and bureaucrats who have been exploiting the people of the State for the last 6 years”. When some secessionist organisation including Hurriyat called on the government employees not to perform election duty, while the Government merely said their refusal would mean violation of various laws in this regard, the League Vice chairman Javed Hussain criticised the APHC leaders and demanded action against the boycotting employees, He reminded the employees that in the past 6 years all their strikes had achieved nothing except misery for their families by carrying out orders of those leaders who had vested interests. The Party in June 1996 considered the problems of those militants who had surrendered to the Government but felt insecure because they had given up the gun. Its Vice Chairman Javed Hussain Shah in a statement on June 23 asked the Government to fulfill all promises made to militants before they surrendered. He urged the Government to streamline procedure of payment of rehabilitation allowances to reformed militants so that no middleman is allowed to pocket it. He further asked the Government to quickly absorb them in different departments or to provide them means of livelihood. He warned the Government that if assurances given to militants who had surrendered,

were not fulfilled they may pick up the gun again. Since the two militant outfits, Kuka Parray’s Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon and Hilal Hyder’s South Kashmir Ikhwan had merged their political wings Awami League and Awami Conference also merged but retained

the name of J&K Awamu League. On July 30, 1996 its organisational strucutre was announced. Kuka Parray was made its Chairman and

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Javed Hussain Shah its Senior Vice Chairman.

Abdul Hameed Rathar

was named its Junior Vice Chairman and Mir Gulam Nabi Niyazi was made General Secretary. Capt. S.K. Tikoo was nominated as Official Spokesman and Abdur Rashid Misgar was appointed its Chief Organiser.

At its first Press Conference its leaders demanded

that an

independent judicial probe by a Supreme Court Judge be ordered to look into “fortunes made by exploitative elements in politics and bureaucracy in Jammu & Kashmir in the last 50 years, particularly in the past 7 years, of non-accountability”. The League leaders claimed credit for bringing out “this much of peace” and asserted that holding of Lok Sabha elections in Kashmir had become possible only “due to our sacrifices. We came forward when leaders of every other political party had escaped to save their lives and digest the money swindled”. They further claimed that Kuka Parray’s party was the “real torch-bearer of peace and the crusade against tyranny”. Alleging largescale misappropriation of liberal funds provided by the Central Government the League leaders said traditional politicians and brigades of bureaucrats had developed deep vested interest in continuance of the militancy. They said the happenings in Kashmir of the past 7 years had pushed Jammu and Kashmir State over 200 years back. They pleaded with Central Government to take up reconstruction work as a “mission on war footing through honest hands”. In July 1996 the League organised a daylong political convention at Jammu. Addressing the well attended meet, Kuka Parray assured full protection to all pilgrims to famous hindu shrine of Shri Amar Nath high in the mountains in the northern part of Kashmir Valley. He declared that activists of militant outfit Harkat-ul-Ansar which had banned the pilgrimage, would “be dealt with severely”. Proclaiming his single point programme of restoring peace and amity in Jammu and Kashmir he said “we are proud of Indian secularism where every individual enjoys the political, economic,

social and

religious freedom.

We

are therefore

committed to protect shrines and mosques, temples and gurudwaras”.

Since the conclusion of the Parliamentary elections, the League had

been alleging collusion of election machinery and mainstream political parties, it had decided not to take part in the Assembly election to be held shortly but reversed its decision dramatically and on August 13, 1996 announced its decision to participate in it. It decided to go alone and not have poll alliance or seat adjustment with any other party. The League leadership held three long sessions to arrive at this decision. On August 21, 1996 the J&K Awami League was recognised as a regional party for the State by the Election Commission of India, on the basis of its performance in the Parliamentary elections held three months

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Kashmir Underground

earlier. It had polled over 96,000 votes in three Constituencies in Kashmir Valley. While the Awami League was preparing to launch its election

campaign in largescale, it received a major setback on August 31, when

its General Secretary, Ghulam Nabi Mir Niyazi resigned from the Party. The same day at a Congress Party press conference where its Election manifesto was released, Mir Niyazi alleged that “people in the Awami

League are politically immature and I faced problems in pursuing political ambition”. Another shock for the organisation came in nine days when on September 8 its Vice Chairman Javed Ahmed Shah told press that he had withdrawn from the Assembly election and had decided to support the National Conference though he had not joined it. He said he had given up the gun and joined politics but “some unwise friend wants to carry on politics with the help of the gun”. He blamed the gun for “destruction in the Valley for last seven years and no nation can prosper while the gun is there”.He disowned Kuka Parray and announced that he had assumed the Chairmanship of the Party. Other appointments he announced were R.L. Bhati as General Secretary, S.M. Saidpuri as Treasurer, Mukhtar

Bhat as Organiser, Mir Qadri as Spokesman

and

Latif Bhat as Kashmir Provincial President. On the other hand Kuka Parray as Chairman of the League expelled Shah from the basic membership for six years because of violation of party discipline. He also declared that his party candidates had not withdrawn from elections. A week later, the Awami League declined to surrender their arms until all the militants and IS] agents in Kashmir had been eliminated. Its

spokesman, Ghulam Hasan Reshi, told the press that it would not be

“safe and sensible” to lay down their arms when pro-Pak elements were still allowed to move about. He announced that Awami League had set up candidates in 52 constituencies including some constituencies in Jammu Division. However only its Chairman Mohd. Yusuf Parray won his seat from the Sonawari Constituency.

Javed Shah gave another jolt to the party when he decided to join

the ruling National Conference.

On October 21, 1996 he told press that

alongwith 1800 members he had joined the National Conference.

He

further claimed that 500 armed activists of J&K Ikhwan had surrendered

their arms. He expressed faith in the leadership of Dr. Faroog Abdullah. He however conceded that Awami League and J&K Ikhwan had helped to defeat the designs of ISI in Kashmir in the past two years or so. He also announced the expulsion of Kuka Parray from the Awami League. This had no material effect because Javed Shah and his colleague had left Awami League.

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Kuka Parray continued to be Chairman of the organisation.

After

detailed discussion in its Executive Committee on January 10, 1997 Parray

offered “all possible support” to Farooq Government. This surprised all because only a few weeks earlier Parray had allegations levelled against Ministers and National Conference leaders. He also dissolved all organisational committees and instead set up a 4-man Ad-hoc Committee

to chalk out new political strategy and decide on tie-ups with regional

or national parties. Most of 1997 and part of 1998 was spent by the organisation in consolidating its bases in various parts of Kashmir and Jammu region. It also made efforts to bring different groups of surrendered militants

under one alliance. Close cooperation between organisations headed by Kuka Parray, Javed Hussain Shah and Hilal Haider was agreed upon. The League celebrated the Independence day on August 15,1998 at a public function attended by a large crowd from a number of villages, at Hajan near Sumbal. The long drawn function saw local boys and girls sing songs and national anthem which had been given up by schools since 1990. GOC of 8 Mountain Division Major General Mohinder Puri took the salute and hoisted the tricolor. The parade consisted of formation

of CRPF, Ikhwan commanders dressed in white salwar kameez, followed

by school chidren. Among those who attended the function were Javaid Hussein Shah, MLC,

Chaudhary Jalaludin, Hilal Haider and Kukka

Parray. Speaking on the occasion Parray said that the threats to the country’s soverignity from the forces inimical to India was the biggest challenge today. The Awami League publicly honoured some of the counter insurgents who died fighting the pro-Pakistan militants in the recent

past.

Jammu & Kashmir Ikhwan

Some dissatisfied elements from different militants outfits, with the dawn

of 1996, decided to form a separate group and name it Jammu & Kashmir Tkhwan. It’s formation was announced on February 26, 1996 by Hilal Hyder and claimed to be it’s Chief Commander. He told the press that the new setup had become necessary in the changing situation in Kashmir and people needed to be given new direction. He however clarified that it will have no linkup with Ikhwanul-Musalmoon of Kukka Parray and Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen of Niyaz Ikhwani. He announced that he had ordered unilateral ceasefire and told his cadres not to operate against the security forces. He described

the Hurriyat conference as a “bundle of confused persons” who had

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Kashmir Underground

failed to register even one success in political or diplomatic field. He challenged the Hurriyat leadership to hold a public meeting anywhere in Anantnag district. He accused Harkat-ul-Ansar of engineering abductions of foreign tourists near Pahalgam and to evade responsibility and criticism, gave an imaginary outfit’s name as Al Faran. Hyder appealed o the captors to release the hostages. Hyder claimed that his outfit had more than 1000 armed men operating mostly in South Kashmir under Acting Chief Commander “General” Owais. The J&K Ikhwart believed that State’s accession to India was final

and it will not be allowed to be challenged by anyone. Ikhwan Supremo Hilal Hyder (real name (Liaqat Ali Khan) told Press on April 21, 1996 that Kashmiris had been “misled by Pakistan and vested interests here” on this account. He blamed Pakistan and its Inter Services Intelligence for the present situation in Kashmir resulting in immense loss of life and

property.

He admitted that taking up of the gun by the Kashmiri youth was a big blunder. But they were lured into it by Pakistan and its agents. The realisation had set in a couple of years ago that the armed movement launched in 1989 had not brought any positive results and had only resulted in disillusionment. It had lost popular support and was being kept alive only by foreign mercenaries sent across by Pakistan. He said he had no hesitation in saying that “we have no love for gun now as it has already destroyed most of Kashmir and its economy”. He also refuted the claim of Hurriyat Conference that it represented the Kashmiri people. When Parliamentary elections were announced the Ikhwan decided to take part in them. For this purpose it formed a political wing and named it Awami Conference in April 1996. For the Anantnag Constituency it put up Abdul Rashid Misgar as its candidate. Though he lost the election, he was able to poll over 29,000 votes.

Taking into consideration the changing scenario, the Ikhwan decided to merge with Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon. The merger was announced on

July 26, 1996 and the united outfit would work under the banner of J&K

Ikhwan. Hilal Hyder was made its Chief. The Awami Conference was also merged with Musalmoon’s Awami League and Kuka Parray was made its Chairman.

The same day, July 26, near its office in Anantnag town there was a

big explosion in which 7 persons were killed and some 30 injured. Haider claimed that none of its activists were injured. He said “if the militants have to fight they have to fight with us. Let them come face to face. Why are they injuring the civilians?” Later, when

there was some criticism of his organisation members

using the gun, Hilal Hyder in a statement on September 5, 1996 assured

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that Ikhwan guns will be used “for safety of people of Kashmir irrespective of political affiliations”. The Ikhwan leadership continued to assist the Government in countering insurgency. It was promised a proper rehabilitation plan for

its cadres. Since nothing concrete came out of it Haider announced on June 14, 1997 that nearly 500 Ikhwan activists would offer mass surrender

before the Chief Minister on July 1. He expressed dissatisfaction with the treatment meted out to former militants who had decided to join the

mainstream.

Following this, there were meetings with Kuka Parray and

also with Government officers who promised to formulate proper plans for rehabilitation. On this assurance, Ikhwan announced postponement of mass surrender by two months. The Ikhwan decided to give up all counterinsurgency activity in April 1998. On April 7, its leader Hilal Hyder declared that Ikhwan could not stand constant interference in its work by National Conference leaders. He said this had demoralised Ikhwan cadres which had helped security forces to keep militants at bay in Anantnag town for the past 4 years. He also announced that Ikhwan cadres will give up arms and convert it into a social organisation. The relations between it and the ruling National Conference soured leading it to open criticism of the State Government and its policies. The newly appointed Amir-I-Aala (Patron) Umar Sultan in a statement on July 13, 1998 made Faroog Government's wrong policies responsible for resurgence of militancy in Jammu & Kashmir. He charged the State Government with ignoring the sacrifices made by Ikhwan cadre, in fighting the militants. He also demanded early rehabilitation of surrendered militants who had joined the mainstream. The bitterness of Ikhwan leaders was heightened because of Government’s failure to arrest the killers of Wafadar

Khan, Chief Commander

of Ikhwan-ul-

Musalmoon the previous month , who alongwith four colleagues was blown up by a landmine planted by some militants. The Ikhwan announced on July 27 that it had arrested Manzoor Ahmed and Abdul Majid of a rival outfit who had confessed that they were involved in planting of the mine which killed Wafadar Khan and four others. In the past few weeks consultations had been going on for all surrendered militants to have one strong organistion. On July 30 the three leading lights - Javed

Hussain

Shah

(NC, MLC),

Kuka

Parray

(MLA) and Hilal Haider met at Hajan (near Sumbal) and resolved their differences. They decided to forma joint front of all surrendered militants and “counter the rising trend of militancy”. Haider said “the main reason for opting for a united front is the political discrimination meted out to

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Ikhwanis by the National Conference Government”. He said the Congress had not lagged behind in giving Ikhwan’s a bad name. Javed Shah said proof would be collected to expose “all those politicians and bureaucrats in the establishment who have links with pro-Pakistan elements”. He alleged that twelve local journalists had helped militants and had links with ISI in Pakistan. The Ikhwan and Awami League jointly organised a “peoples rally” to celebrate Indian Independence Day at Hajan near Sumbal (Kuka Parray’s village). There were over 5000 school children, people from nearby areas and counter insurgents present when on August 15, 1998 Major General Mohinder Puri, GOC 8 Mountain Division took salute at the parade. Parade was formed by Ikhwanis CRPF and school children. Parade was attended by Kuka Parray, Hilal Haider, Javed Hussain Shah and many former militants. On

October

14, 1998

the J&K

Ikhwan

celebrated

the fourth

anniversary of its founding. The main function held at Hajan was attended by Corps Commander, Lt. Gen. Krishan Pal. Addressing the function “Myon Kashmir Doh” (My Kashmir Day) the General said that Army acknowledged the supreme sacrifices made and services rendered by Ikhwan members in helping restoration of normalcy in Jammu & Kashmir. He told the gathering that Army would not leave the surrendered militants in the lurch but would extend all possible support

to them. Lauding their role he said that the first counter-insurgent group

who revolted against militancy in Kashmir in 1994 had helped to create conditions for holding elections in the State. He described them as “ears and eyes of the security forces”. In December 1998 when the Army organised a Seminar on Human

Rights in Jammu, Hilal Haider was invited to speak.

The Army brass in Jammu & Kashmir, having found the usefulness of Ikhwan cadres, decided to help them monetarily lest they go back to the militant ranks. The JK Ikhawan observed its first “Martyrs Day” at Khanabal (Anantnag) on March 20, 1999. On this occasion the Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Krishan Pal honoured families of 35 Ikhwan cadres who were killed in encounters with militants. From the funds for the Army’s counter-insurgency operations, the General announced liberal allowance and grants. Every ordinary member of Ikhwan would get Rs 3,000/- per month, a Commander would receive Rs 4,000/- per month,

a Batallion Commander would get Rs 5,000/- per month, a Council Member Rs 6,000/- per month and every member of the Executive

Committee

will receive Rs 7,500/- per month.

The Chairman

of the

Ikhwan will be paid Rs 12,000/- per month. Every Ikhwan member will

also receive Rs 2,500/- as annual kit allowance and will get Rs 1,500/- as

premium for insurance cover of Rs 5 lacs each. The Army would also set

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215

up Knitting and Handicrafts Counters for Ikhwan widows at 3 Ikhwan camps in Anantnag District. Every family of a killed Ikhwan would get a Relief Grant of Rs 1 lac. General Pal asked the cadres not to misuse their gun but be helpful

to people. He said, he felt sorry for the families of young militants getting killed in encounters with Army. He said mission of Ikhwan and the Army was the same that militancy be eliminated and said “Ikhwan Jawan

Ek Hain”.

Ikhwan Chairman Hilal Haider, speaking on the secession said . Ikhwan had lost 65 of its members since 1995 when Ikhwan was formed. He also referred to its close cooperation with Army which resulted in the death of 45 militants in the past 3 months. According to him Ikhwan cadres had been specially instructed to respect human dignity. Referring ‘to the State Government's treatment of surrendered militants Haider said “the National Conference fears we could become a political threat to them.

While we have remained steadfast in our loyalties to India, the

National Conference had flip-flopped between Pakistan and India”.

Before the end of the function, 262 Ikhwan cadres also took oath from a Moulvi, to finish off militants from Kashmir.

J&K Tehreek-i-Wattan

In early February 1997 a group of such militants who had given up the gun and wanted to play a peaceful political role, decided to form themselves into a separate group to take on “Pakistan and help the

Government in restoring peace and normalcy in the State”.

Papa Kishtwari (Ghulam Mohammed Pampori), a former member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon and a close associate of Kuka Parray was made Chairman of the group. Ghulam Mohammed Syedpuri was made the Vice Chairman, Umar Mukhtar as General Secretary, Shamsudin as Chief

Organiser and Sarwar Kashmiri as Publicity Secretary.

Its first Press Conference was held in Jammu on March 22, 1997.

It’s

Chairman Papa Kishtwari called for evolving a joint strategy by all proIndia groups to “crush Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and its sponsored militants in Kashmir”.

He said there was an urgent need for

a common strategy for meeting the danger of escalated violence. He disclosed his organisation had 1236 members who were actively engaged in anti-militancy operations. He made it clear that “ours is neither a pro-government organisation nor is it associated with Pakistan”. “It isa

social group set up for the purpose of routing militancy and bring normalcy back in the State”,

he emphasised.

According to him

there

were more than 500 foreign militants active in different parts of the Valley. Among them were Pakistanis, Sudanese and Afghans.

He named two

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Kashmir Underground

pro-Pak outfits — Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Ansar, who were

“a curse on Kashmir”.

He said they had decided to help Farooq Government provided they were accorded due respect and compensation is paid to victims of militancy. He praised the difficult work of Army, CRPF, BSF and reformed militants “for creating a congenial atmosphere for holding of elections”. Within the next few months differences arose between Kishtwari and some of his senior colleagues. On September 22, 1997 an emergent meeting of its office-bearers and District Presidents was held at Srinagar. Next day the Vice Chairman Ghulam Mohd. Syedpuri told the Press that Kishtwari had been removed from the Chairmanship for his antiparty activities. Syedpuri was named the Acting Chairman. Sadai-i-Kashmir

As more and more people started turning against the gun, small groups started getting together at different places in Kashmir Valley.

After Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon had shown the way in Bandipora area

north of Wular Lake a new group of reformed militants formed themselves into Sadai-i-Kashmir and vowed to continue its struggle to end the gun culture which has made the life of people miserable. Its Chief, Shabnam Shafiq, told the media on May

1, 1996 that he

never had been a terrorist or had indulged in extortion. Blaming Pakistan for destruction in the Valley Shafiq said “Pakistan cannot teach us to go for Jehad for they had pushed us towards darkness”. On the aims and objectives of his group he said the prime task of his group would be to protect the lives and property of all people, irrespective of the religion they belong to. J&K Awami Tehrik

In late 1995 another group of those militants who had said goodbye to

the gun, got together to form Awami Tehrik with Wali Mohammed Wani as its President. In May 1996 Parliamentary elections, the group fielded

Wani from Baramulla, Haji Abdul Ahad Wani from Anantnag and Miss Mehbooba from Srinagar Constituencies unsuccessfully.

In 1993 Saleem Haroon of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen had surrendered. After sometime he joined Ikhwan-i-Musalmoon of Kuka Parray and took

part in some counter-insurgency operations. When Tehrik was formed

he joined it and was made its Provincial Secretary. Saleem whose real name was Abdul Majid Sofi belonged to Ganderbal area. This youngman

of 35, was gunned

17, 1996.

down

by unidentified

militants in Srinagar on April

Teams & Turf

217 In the Wings

There have been major players in this human tragedy. There have been those who marked their active presence in Jammu & Kashmir since 1989.

But there have been smaller outfits which took birth, some died in their

infancy while others became inactive when they were starved of funds or did not receive a favourable response from the authorities across the border. Others faded out because they failed to muster local support. Among this category were : Al Badr Al Hamzah Al Hyat Islamic Commandos Al Karbala Group Al Khomeni Al Magqbool Mujahideen Al Mehmoodi Mujahideen Al Shams All J&K Students Field Front

Ansarullah Ansar-ul-Islam Chaudhary Abbas Movement Democratic Liberation Army Free Army of Kashmir Gojar Liberation Tiger Haq-i-Khudidariat Mahaz

Hizbullah Islamic Jnamuria J&K

Hizb-ul-Zaheed Islami Jang Islamic Liberation Organistion Islamic Jnammuria-i-Kashmir

Islami Harkat-ul-Momineen Islamic Revolutionary Front J&K Anjuman-i-Itehad

J&K Muslim Mutihida Mahaz

J&K Inqalabi Front J&K Ingalabi Council J&K Itehad Party

J&K Liberation Organisation J&K Maqbool Guerilla Front J&K Moslem Front

J&K Peoples United Front

Jamait-ul-Hadees Jammu & Kashmir Islamic Front

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Kashmir Underground Jehad Council

Jinnah Liberation Tigers Kashmir Freedom Army Guerilla Commandos Kashmir Freedom Wing Kashmir Students Force Liberation Fighters Moslem Students Front Mujahideen Al Badr Mujahideen Balakote Mujahideen-i-Rehmat-ul-Almeen National Moslem United Front Pasban-i-Islam

Peoples Front

Peoples Liberation Organisation Shaheed-i-Millat Youth Forum Shahbul-Musalmeen Students Missionary Front

Tehrik-i-Jehad-i-Islami

Tehrik-i-Azadi

Tehrik-i-Khilafat-i-Islamia

Tehrik-ul-Muslameen United Forum of Militants Victory Commando Force

Zarb-i-Momin

Zia Tiger Force Among the outfits which were active at one time or the other were: J&K Islamic Voice

The set up was started in Srinagar in October 1989. At that time it confined itself to clandestine distribution and circulation of subversive material and pasting of posters to “inform and educate the Kashmiri youth about the struggle for freedom”. In June 1990 it decided to become an organisation to take more active part in the ongoing struggle. It decided to have a ‘Qaid’- Leader —- whose name was not disclosed. Names

of other functionaries were also not made known. . It announced that the “only solution to the present Kashmir problem is to hold a plebiscite under the auspies of the United Nations Organisation”. It said that the organisation would continue to work for securing right of self determination for the Kashmiris It further said

that it believes in “peace, brotherhood and communal harmony”. It was learnt that it worked in close contact with the Peoples League. It is mainly the propaganda wing of the underground. It had recruited

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219

young students, both boys and girls, who gather and compile details into documents which are then sent to embassies and given to visiting foreign journalists. ”. J&K People’s Liberation Army

A breakaway group of disgruntled elements in JKLF who floated this setup in 1990. Its founder President was Sher Khan — a 32 year old Gujar

from Poonch District, who had relations settled in POK. He was one of the five activists of JKLF who were got released from the Government in

exchange of Dr. Rubiya Sayeed in December 1989. Soon after his release he crossed over to POK to assist the ISI in training the Kashmiri youth and then to help them to infiltrate back into Kashmir. The idea of forming the PLA was born there. Master Hakim Din was named the Deputy Chief Commander of the

PLA.

The PLA indulged in small attacks or throwing a grenade or two. Before it could undertake any big operation, Sher Khan was arrested by the Security Forces, in Srinagar on August 3, 1992. The PLA did not attract many volunteers because people of RajouriPoonch region, by and large, refused to cooperate. Al Bakr Towards the end of 1990, the ISI in Pakistan inducted into Kashmir a small group of highly trained guerillas under its own officer. However from Kashmir, an Afghan settled here for couple of generations, Mohd.

Daud Khan was named as the Deputy Chief. He did not get much time to set up a proper network because in March 1991 he was arrested in

Jammu.

Mujahideen Badr A small outfit that surfaced in Kashmir in late 1990. Its Chief operated under the code name of “Omar Sharief”. On

April 21, 1991

it made

an announcement

that a few

“death

squads” would be formed shortly for action against the Security Forces. However no claim was made of any killing or attack. Lashkar-i-Ayubi

This is a Pakistan-based outfit whose activists frequently come to Kashmir for “assigned activities”.

That was in 1990.

Later it established its

220

Kashmir Underground

presence in Kashmir Valley. Its Baramulla Commander Hakeen Naveed

Anjum was sent across the border for armed training and training in intelligence gathering. But within a few days of his return he was arrested. Since then it has functioned in fits and starts. Akbar Tigers

The ISI of Pakistan helped to set up this group in late 1990 in Kupwara District. Soon a group of 15 young men were selected and sent across the border for indoctrination and training. After their return they were assigned tasks in Kupwara and Baramulla Districts. One of their most active militant - District Commander Ghulam Rasul Dar was arrested on November 7, 1990.

Kashmir Freedom Movement (KFM) It was launched in POK in the middle of 1990 by Abdul Hamid Deewani. In 1970 in Kashmir he had joined the Al Fatah group, but was arrested in 1971. He was freed after two years. In 1978, with three others, Deewani

hijacked an Indian Airlines plane to Lahore.

On October 26, 1990 its Deputy Chief Nazir Ahmed Sheikh and his

associates kidnapped BSF Inspector Dharamvir Singh and later allegedly killed him. In order to avoid arrest Nazir Ahmed Sheikh went out of the Valley. Three months later, on March 13, 1991, his associate Abdul Rashid and

Nazir Ahmed were arrested in Bombay.

Islamic Resistance Forum

This alliance was formed by three radical pro-Pak outfits in 1995 Hizbullah, Jamait-ul-Mujahideen, and

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. These outfits have ideological differences with the constituents of All Parties Hurriyat Conference. Green Army

In 1991 a group of young men who were feeling that they were being

denied the opportunity to “do things” on their initiative inside the Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen decided to break away. They formed themselves into a new group under this name on May 1, 1991. Most of them ultimately

went back to the parent organisation.

Teams & Turf

221 Kashmir Liberation Council

It was established in Kashmir in 1991. The District Commanders were appointed. The leading one out of them was Abdul Hamid Hurra who operated in Northern Kashmir. He was arrested by Security Forces on January 13, 1992.

Islam ka Fauji Bazoo

(Armed Wing of Islam) Towards the end of 1991 some disgruntled elements in the Hizb-ulMujahideen decided to leave the organisation. They formed themselves into a group and adopted this title for it. They selected Naseer-ul-Islam

to lead them.

Al Ingalab Mujahideen A group under this name appeared in Baramulla area in early 1992. Soon it was operating in Srinagar District also. This group was commanded by Umar Hyat Khan, belonging to POK. Al Mustafa

(Liberation Tiger Fighters) Asmall organisation surfaced in Srinagar in the summer of 1990. It was allied to JKLF. Its Chief was Saleem Wani at the time it was formed. On

September 6, 1990 they claimed responsibility for the killing of two Bihari labourers on the plea that they were allegedly police informers in Beerwah area. Its Chief, Saleem Wani, with seven associates was arrested on December 15, 1991 near Trehgam in Kupwara District. Its Patron, Abu Tariq, temporarily assumed command till Sohail Ahmed alias Mohd.

Saif Shah took over.

He was however arrested by Security Forces at

Batwara on the outskirts of Srinagar on June 21, 1993. Mujahideen-e-Albadr

This new outfit announced its arrival on the scene when on February 3,

1999 at Srinagar it claimed that it had broken an Army cordon in an area

near Ganderbal (Shrinagar District) and escaped without member.

losing any

Police however claimed that one militant, a Pakistani national,

Idris alias Saifullah from Sialkote had been killed.

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Kashmir Underground Al Jehadia Police Commandos

This is a body of deserters from J&K Police force. It was formed in 1990. Its President worked under the code name of Masud Manmoon. Its members were sought after by other outfits also since they were the “insiders” with knowledge of men and places. They were able to have many “moles” in sensitive places and positions in vital installations and government buildings. Many drivers of VIP cars were their members or sympathisers. They had a special wing which operated on the National Highway to disrupt traffic, and ambush and attack vehicles of security forces. For a long time the Chief of this operation was Abdul Majid Magray alias “Junaid”. On April 2, 1996 he was killed in an encounter. The outfit merged

with the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen on April 5, 1991

and continued to undertake assigned task as heretofore. It was given a new name of “Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Police Commandos”. Hizb-i-Islami Kashmir

A group of Kashmiri Mujahideen, who had fought in the Afghan war on the side of Gulbudin Hekmatyar in 1990, found themselves in Pakistan at a loose end. Since earlier they had been trained by ISI, it was now

decided to put them ina separate outfit and to send them into Kashmir for guerilla war. This band was named Hizb-I-Islami and was put under the command of Azhar Lodhi, who was made Ameer of this outfit.

merged with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in May 1991.

It

Islami Inqalab Force (Also known as Front)

It surfaced in Kashmir in 1991. Its first Chief Commander was Hashim Hykal. He got killed in an encounter the Security Forces in Baramulla District on November 2, 1991.

On March 8, 1992 this outfit claimed responsibility for abduction of Ghulam Zia, Assistant Station Director of Radio Kashmir. The IIF sought

release of two of its arrested activists, in exchange for two hostages held by it - Zia and M.A. Dev, the Additional D.C. of Srinagar.

Its member Mohd. Raeef - a Bangladeshi national - planned blasts

in Delhi.

He was arrested before he could execute his plans. Al Madad Yalgar-I-Ali

A shia-dominated group which came into being in Kashmir in the winter of 1990-91. Mohd. Ashfaq Anwar Syed was the moving spirit behind

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223

this group. After his arrest by Security Forces on July 10, 1991, the group seems to have become inactive. Tehrik-e-Islamia

This is another group that sprung up in 1991. It was a group of about 40 young men who operated under the command of Azhar Gilani. Before the group could achieve any major success, Gilani was arrested on November 11, 1991.

Mahaaz-e-Islami (Islami Front of Jammu & Kashmir)

The Front was launched in Srinagar on February 16, 1991. Dr. Syed Inayatullah Andrabi was made the convenor. Its objective was securing the rights of Kashmir people. The Mahaaz would extend cooperation to all such organisations who had the same goal. The Front was unhappy about the group rivalry and inter-group clashes among the militants. It continued its efforts of mediation in a low key manner.

However, when it felt that the situation would hurt

the peoples movement it called upon difference groups on April 2, 1994 “not to fall into New Delhi's trap”. He alleged that the Indian Government had launched a multi-pronged strategy to malign the militants and defame the movement. Forum Against Sellout (FAS)

In 1991 some militant outfits became apprehensive of a few leading militants reportedly willing to have a dialogue with Delhi. Nine secessionist groups decided to form this organisation with Dr. Inayatullah Andrabi as Convenor. Among others it included Dukhtaran-I-Millat, Mahaaz-e-Islami, Hizbullah, Passadaran-I-Ingalab-I-Islami.

FAS decided to name all such elements as “traitors to the cause of

Kashmiris” and if necessary to enforce a social boycott of those individuals. Mujahideen-I-Islam

Master Ahsan Dar — a well-known and experienced militant was ousted from

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen

on

November

11, 1991.

With

a few

close

associates he set up this organisation on May 10, 1992. He was made its Chief. Within a few days its name was changed to “Moslem Mujahideen”.

224

Kashmir Underground Lashkar-I-Adam

Its existence

was

not

known

till on

November

3, 1991

it claimed

responsibility of abduction of Bashir Arif — Station Director of Radio Kashmir, Leh-Ladakh — from his residence at Dal Gate area in Srinagar.

Zarb-I-Haq

A new pro-Pak outfit which became known in February 1992 when it claimed to have abducted Dr. Mustafa Alam - son-in-law of Congress Leader Ghulam Rasul Kar - from his clinic in Batamalloo area of Srinagar on February 22.

Tehreek Jehad Islamia

This small outfit came into being in Kashmir in late 1990. Its main area of influence and operation was Kupwara District. Its Deputy Chief Commander Yunus Khan got killed in exchange of fire in Hardwara area on May 21, 1991. Soon after it was announced that this outfit will be merged with Moslem Janbaz Force with immediate effect but merged with Hizb-ulMujahideen instead. Became active once again in 1996-97 in Kupwara District. Tehrik-ul-Musalmin

This unknown outfit was in existence since 1991 but came into news on

December 16, 1992 when BSF announced arrest of its Administrator, Ghulam Mohammad Rathod, from Budgam area.

He was known to have been active for a couple of years. During this period he had gone to Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. From “some Saudi sympathisers” he had brought over Rs 5 crores through clandestine channels. BSF claimed this amount was spent to secure arms and ammunition which were distributed to its militants and to “friendly groups”.

Pasadaran-I-Ingalab-e-Islami (Guardians of the Islamic Revolution)

On its behalf it was claimed in late 1990 that a special outfit had been

established in Kashmir to safeguard the “Islamic Revolution in Kashmir”. Its very first major action was directed against the Jewish tourists in

June 1991.

On June 27, 1991 it claimed the responsibility of having

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225

abducted eight foreign tourists, which included seven Israeli nationals

and a Dutch girl, from two houseboats in Dal Lake area in Srinagar.

Pasadaran members at gun point abducted the tourists from two houseboats. They were later taken to another locality nearby where the one Dutch and another Israeli girl were set free while the remaining six were taken to a hideout. Outside the hideout two Israelis were able to get their hands freed from the ropes with which they had been tied. They snatched the Kalashinikov Rifles of the two militants and attacked them. One Israeli tourist was killed and two militants lost their lives. One Israeli who was hiding in a field was handed over by locals to JKLF. Immediately after the encounter Pasadaran announced that they had seized some documents from the foreigners which revealed the “real purpose of Israeli commandos visit to Kashmir”. After this incident Pasadaran have not surfaced at all. Mujahideen-I-Kashmir

It claims to have been operating in Kashmir since early 1991 but public got to know about it only on July 27, 1992 when in Sopore it hijacked six motor tankers full of kerosene oil. ‘This consignment had been sent from Jammu for delivery to Army Supply Corps in Kupwara District and for units in Tangdhar. Mujahideen-Fil-Islam This little known outfit was headed by Idrees Khan. On April 14, 1992 it claimed to have abducted Mohd. Latif Quereshi and Mohd. Sayed Khan,

brother and brother-in-law of Mohd. Shaffi Quereshi, then Governor of Bihar.

Front Against Nationalists (FAN) This outfit comprises of those who are fired by and committed to the concept of Pan-Islamism - One Ummah and One Nation. They are bitterly opposed to all talk of Kashmiriyat and its preservation. For them Islamisation of Kashmir is the sole object of this struggle. This Front surfaced in Kashmir in September 1992. It was headed by an Arabic scholar who goes about under the code name Abu Bakr. Kashmir Guerilla Front

This Front came into being in Kashmir in 1991. Its first Chief was given a code name of Shah Jehan.

226

Kashmir Underground

The Front decided to enforce strict discipline over its cadres. It was announced that young men were not supposed to use the gun for personal aggrandisement or to terrorise a common man but use it “for the glory of Islam and in furtherance of the objective of securing freedom from India”. Kashmir Army Force (K-2) This special Force is directly under the operation control of ISI in Pakistan. It was headed by Najam-us-Saqib. Saqib issued an Eid message in April 1992. This was not carried, even as a paid advertisement by two Urdu newspapers of Srinagar - Al Safa and Srinagar Times. On April 9, 1992 Kashmir Army Force imposed a fine of Rs 1 lac on each newspaper. The newspapers were given one week’s time to pay up or else “be ready for the consequences”. Kashmir Freedom Front (KFF) This was established in Kashmir in the middle of 1990. Its strength was

claimed to be around 300. Its first Chief Commander was Bashir Ahmed Bhat who had returned to Kashmir after undergoing rigorous training for six months in Pakistan. However, while he was on a visit to Delhi, he

was arrested there on November 11, 1992. In Pak this outfit was headed

by Zia-ul-Haq Bukhari. This Group’s Chief Patron was Ali Mohd. Dar alias Sabir Khan. Haider Regiment

This was formed in Srinagar in early 1992. Farooq Ahmed Handoo who was highly trained activist of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen was appointed Commander in July 1992. The group indulged in attacks on BSF posts and pickets in the City. This group also successfully looted Rs 55 lacs from 3 branches of J&K Bank, in Srinagar, between October 1991 and

December 1992.

United Jehad Council

When the Pakistani patrons realised that there was hardly any coordination among the various groups operating in Kashmir the ISI brought 14 different outfits in POK into one alliance under the Chairmanship of Commander Manzoor Ahmed Shah. In 1992 in Kashmir the ISI was able to get only 8 outfits into this Council. Among them

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227

were: Hizbullah, Al Umar Mujahideen, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Tehrikul-Mujahideen. Pir Panjal Liberation Tigers

This was an offshoot of the Moslem Liberation Army. Twelve main activists were on the move in the Pir Panjal lower ranges when they were arrested by the Rajouri District Police on September 3, 1992. Islamia Students League The group of young men was formed by the Rehmani Group in 1992. Abrar Naseer was made its General Secretary. Iqbal Park Coordination Committee A combination of like-minded pro-Pak outfits in Srinagar, which was

formed in late 1994. Its top functionary is ‘Captain’ Noor Khan, who is

also its spokesman.

BSF is their favourite target of attack. Afghan Command Force

This group consisting mostly of veterans of the Afghan War announced their presence in Kashmir on June 26, 1992. The force was commanded

by “Field Marshal” Khan Jamaludin. He issued a statement criticising the militants for indulging in political activity. He said the militants in Kashmir were not able to produce any spectacular results. He advised them to do the job allotted to them single-mindedly. Armed Moslem Mujahideen Master Tara Dar fell out with some commandos of the Hizb-ulMujahideen in 1991 and branched off on his own. He got together a bunch of militants and announced the foundation of this group. He was made its Chief. Hizb-ul-Momineen

This is a Shia-dominated organisation which claims to have patronage of a fundamentalist group of Iran. Its presence in Kashmir became known only on October 26, 1993 when it gave a call for observing October 27 as a Black Day — because on that day in 1947 Indian troops had landed in Srinagar to meet the

228

Kashmir Underground

Pakistani attack on Kashmir. Since some other organisations had also called for the strike the impact of its call could not be gauged. In July 1995 the US Ambassador

in India, Frank Wisner, visited

Kashmir. The Hizb General Secretary Baqar-ul-Saddam opposed the visit. He issued a statement strongly criticising the US policies and described those as against Islam. On February 13, 1996 its Supremo, Gulshan Abbas -who was in jail,

issued a statement threatening destruction of US missions in different countries because of “unhelpful attitude of United States and its diabolic plans against Iran and the Islamic Revolution”. It also called US “patron of all terrorism in the world”. Abbas was arrested in 1995 at Delhi. He was released in 1997 in Kashmir and started his own business. But during this period he and other members of his group were engaged in rebuilding the outfit. From Khanda village in Baramulla District on July 23, 1998 the BSF

was able to arrest 5 top leaders of this group including its Chief Ghulam

Abbas. Others arrested were : Mohd. Zafar Mir alias Mujtaba, Ali Mohd.

Mir alias Sherdil, Mohd. Ishaq Ganai alias Babbar and Mohd. Yusuf Mir alias Sultan. After the arrest they led BSF to an arms dump. Imamia League

A Shia outfit recently raised. : On February 13, 1996 by a statement it criticised the US Government for declaring a “non-formal war” on Iran. This was soon after the passing by the American Congress of the budgetary grant $ 200 million to CIA “for damaging the Iranian Revolution” in that country. Ansar-ul-Mujahideen This outfit was set up in March 1994. It is fully supported and totally funded by ISI in Pakistan. It works in close contact with Al Burq. Its first Supremo was Bashir Ahmed Beg alias Hanief Inqalabi who had received extensive training across the LOC. This outfit had thirty handpicked Afghan and Pak activists to lead it. Beg was arrested on May 28, 1994 when he was carelessly roaming in Regal Chowk in Srinagar. K&K International

For quite some time the Pakistan ISI had been trying to formalise the

-nexus between the militants under their control both in Punjab and Kashmir. In February-March 1996, reports were available in Kashmir

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229

that a new setup had been established by them for “better coordination” and smooth transport of arms. The Khalistan outfits had acquired greater sophistication and experience in ambushes, attacks and killings.

While

induction of foreign mercenaries into Kashmir had helped to bolster the sagging morale of militants in Kashmir, ISI plans to spread violence and militancy in other parts of India depended on coordination between various anti-Indian groups within India. The new outfit “K&K International” may have taken more time to surface if the BSF had not apprehended a Pak infiltrator in Samba sector of Jammu region on April 29, 1996 and recovered from him printed letterheads showing that the new outfit had headoffice at “Sri Amritsar” and sub-office at “SIRI NAGAR”. J&K Islamic Millat

It may have come into being earlier but it registered its presence on January 3, 1996 when it owned responsibility of a powerful explosion in| old city of Delhi. In this blast in busy commercial area of Saddar Bazar in the afternoon six persons were killed and 32 were injured. A representative claiming to be its member telephoned some news agencies in New Delhi to claim the responsibility for the explosion “in support of our struggle for freedom in Kashmir”. Lashkar-I-Farooqi In early February 1996, in Srinagar a young girl Kulsooma in Srinagar was shot dead by unknown militants. A few days later a new outfit Lashkar-I-Farooqi owned responsibility for killing the girl branding her as a mukhbir (informer). Nothing was known about its leadership or membership, antecedents or affiliation.

Since then nothing seems to have happened to establish that that outfit is in existence. Lashkar-e-Hyder

This little known outfit which surfaced only in August-September 1998 in Kashmir, claims to consist entirely of Taliban-trained foreign mercenaries.

Its leader Maulana

Mohd.

Qasim said on November 5,

1998 that he had 1,050 Afghans under his command in Northern Kashmir.

He also disclosed that 1,500 of his associates have been operating in Kashmir

under

the command

of Sher Khan,

for the last 3 years.

He

declared the “Taliban troops are here to give a steel frame to Kashmir

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Kashmir Underground

militancy. We are here to give a final push to Kashmiri militants to conquer Kashmir Valley”. J&K Islamic Resistance Force

Anew set-up which appeared on the scene on January 3, 1996 at Srinagar when it called for a Bandh in Kashmir, on January 5 to incite attention towards Kashmir dispute. According to the statement the strike was to protest against the “double standards of the United Nations and its anti-Moslem approach”. The response was lukewarm. J&K Realistic Front (JKRF) This new organisation was floated on August 10, 1996 by a veteran secessionist Hilal Ahmed War. At a Press Conference at Srinagar he said three aspects - human, political and economic — have to be kept in view in finding a lasting solution of Kashmir problem. He said in any case the will of majority of people should prevail. However, he said his Front was against participation in Assembly election because this will

not bring forth any solution of the Kashmir tangle. Islami Harkat-ul-Momineen

This outfit surfaced itself in Kashmir in March-April 1996. It announced that it was fully collaborating with Khalistan Liberation Force. It claimed responsibility for bomb blasts in Pahar Ganj area of New Delhi which took place on April 21, 1996 in which 9 persons died. Its

activist Dawood Khan who was responsible for the blast was “awarded”

for this operation. It also claimed responsibility for the blast on April 24, 1996 in Trikutanagar Police Station in Jammu.

As soon as Parliamentary elections were announced in April 1996, it

asked no Kashmiri to contest elections. It said that those who disregard this directive would “be treated as traitors”. It threatened to kill candidates as well as their relatives. It also warned journalists not to cooperate with authorities in furthering electoral process. In July 1996 it tried to disrupt the Amar Nath Yatra. It asked Moslems not to cooperate with the organisation of the Yatra. It placed a ban from August 19, 1996 on two Jammu-based English newspapers for “publishing statements of anti-national and antimovement elements in an exaggerated manner”. It also advised the Srinagar-based journalists to report fairly the events taking place in Kashmir Valley.

Teams & Turf

231 Jammu & Kashmir Islami Millat

This unknown outfit surfaced only on January 3, 1996 when at Srinagar

it claimed responsibility of the bomb blast in Sadder Bazar area of walled city of Delhi. In this blast six persons were killed and 32 were injured. In this connection Police failed to arrest any of its activists. Balakote Anjum Asmall outfit based in Anantnag District. Its existence came to be known when Police in Delhi arrested one of its functionary on February 1, 1997. Sepoy-e-Mohammed (SEM) The new organisation was set up in Pakistan in 1998 on the directions of the Kashmir Jehad Cell of ‘Masada-e-Toiba’ (MET) an umbrella of 18

powerful known Islamic terrorist organisation of the world. This new set up was to take charge of direction of 17 active Pakistan sponsored militant organisations operating in Jammu & Kashmir. This decision was reportedly taken earlier at the meeting of the world organisations at the Pakistan Jamait-I-Islami headquarters. It was learnt

that these participants had committed to contribute over 24 million rupees

for the Kashmir Jehad Cell. This would be used for imparting advanced training to Jehadis. The participants at this secret meeting were representatives of Bosnia Brigade, Akhwan-ul-Musalmeen of Egypt, Tehreek-ul-Islami of Tunis, and Underground

movements

in Jordan,

Syria and Morocco. In November 1998 information available spoke of infiltration of about 30 members of SEM into Poonch-Rajouri region of Jammu Province. People’s Forum for Justice (PFJ) An overground front of 14 organisations and associations of Kashmir

Valley, which was floated on March 13, 1999 by Kashmir Bar Association.

The statement issued claimed it to be a voluntary and apolitical forum. It termed the recent budget (State) proposals as “economic terrorism”

and

declared

that the Forum

will fight violations

of human

rights,

administrative anarchy and the defective education policy tooth and nail.

The constituents of the Forum included: Kashmir Bar Association

Kashmir Traders & Manufacturers Association

, Jammu & Kashmir Employees Conference

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Kashmir Underground

Passengers and Transporters Association Kashmir Students Union Kashmir Moslem Students Union Kashmir Motor Drivers Association JK Peoples Vigilance Bureau JK Medical Employees Federation JK Public Sector Employees Union Auto Rickshaw Drivers Association Western Motor Transport Company Municipality Employees and Workers Association Kashmir Taxi Drivers Association The Forum set up an Executive Council. The Forum organised a strike on March 21, 1999 throughout Kashmir. It was well-responded. Government Employees Organisation

During the period of 1990-93 when militancy was at its height almost every department of the Government had set up a body to organise protests, strikes and to collect funds. However the more active ones were:

a) Medical Employees Federation b) Kashmir University Teachers Association c) Electricity Workers Union d) SRTC Employees Association e) J&K Employees Federation The activities of such unions and associations were coordinated and directed by the apex body functioning as Employees Action Forum.

The Forlorn O, blazing fires of hatred,

Pray stop these leaping flames somewhere

The trees are not yet in bloom,

The corn has not grown ears, But verily someone's grief stricken father Is looking clearly at the body of his son, pierced with bullets The thirsty Arni Maal is Dying of thirst; It is sand and sand all over The river beds are dry skeletons. Will again the rivers come alive With roaring waters ? Will ever the greenery cover the earth ? Under the heating furnace of the moontide;

What does it trickle down? Is it blood or drenching sweat?

Moment after moment of night Is the heat of a blazing bonfire, Sucking at our veins,

And emiting boiling simoom. My small baby would sleep awhile; Who has painfully been wriggling in Alien houses. While I hum the plaintive tune;

That this agony is the lot of my Destitute soul. Will my dream never come true? Will the trees ever grow the shoots?

And the dark demon (of night) killed? The sky is still furious,

234

Kashmir Underground Showing fire on tender twigs of Chinars. Tell me is it the dusk or the dawn? The frightening witch of a sky Seated in the palanquin of death; Her face hideous with vengence Sows fire and brimstone;

And leads towards poisonous paths Of missed goals; O Sage Kashyapa! This is no time to distance

Yourself fromus. O, Jalodbhava!

You snatched all my dear ones, One by one, And under your horrible sharp sword, Despatched some to Malakhah graveyard And others to the crematorium of Diwan Bagh. Give me a few drops of water, I would have scratched my memories, Tell me how to quench my thirst? Shall | irrigate the earth with it? Or water the parched land of Rishis? O, my friends! You, traverse miles upon miles, Of plains and deserts,

With useless paraphenalia; Beware,

- Lest the demon of draught Defrauds you and swallows you up again! The flames are burning my forehead. All over I am searching for blades of grass; Where there would be heavenly verdure,

Where streams would moisten the dry lips. Where human hearts would unite, Where food would suffice everyone;

Where guileless love would spring;

Players and Captains

235

Where birds would fly unfettered; Where dragons would be extinct. There I would lay down my life And would sacrifice myself.

PIAREY HATASH

(Translated by R.K Bharati) (The Daily Excelsior — January 9, 1994)

3 PLAYERS AND

CAPTAINS

Guided, Misguided and the Guides A militant is a militant———_Whatever the cause. Che Guvera. The sudden eruption of militancy in Kashmir in January 1990 was result of long years of neglect, indifference and failure of administration to deal with situations and problems that arose from time to time, expeditiously and effectively. The Administration seemed to be lacking both in appreciation and sensitivity. The aggrieved, the discontented and the unemployed became pliable and willing material to mould. The opposition and the antinational elements tried to win them over to their way of thinking. Pakistan took full advantage of the situation and stoked the fires of discontent. The lethal mix of religious fundamentalism, gun culture, subversion, excitement and desire for power, was poured

into Kashmir cauldron which already had plenty of highly inflammable material in it. Even after 9 years it has not died down. The human element was diverse. The common postulation is that Kashmiri youth were misguided on to the path of violence, handed a gun and pushed into it. It may be partly true. But large number of those who took this path, were well and truly guided. Their mentors and their guides were highly motivated, well indoctrinated and deeply committed persons. They had their objectives to be achieved by using these youngmen and women. “Jeans, Jackets and Jackboots—were the new lifestyle of some of Militants leaders in Kashmir. Before long many of militants realised that: “A terrorist first loses his wife (family) and last loses his life— In between he loses his peace of mind, his happiness and his means of living. He is either killed on captured—there is no other future for him.” An attempt has been made to gather as much information as possible, about them and to present to my readers.

Players and Captains

237 Players and Captains

Aboo, Iqbal: He was appointed head of the Kishtwar unit of Al_ Fateh group in Doda District when the outfit was revived in September 1991. Group members under his direction reportedly abducted French engineer, Silva Antonio on 14/10/91 in Kishtwar from Dul Hasti Hydro-

electric Project.

Abu Bakr: Real name not known. Chief of lesser known outfit, “Front

Against Nationalists” (FAN) which surfaced in middle of September

1992.

Abbas, Zubair: Appointed Deputy Chief of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen

in the reorganisation on 20/06/92.

Abdullah, Mohd: Alias Abu Vikas. A Pakistani national from Sind.

A member of Lashkar-i-Toiba who came across to Kashmir in early 1998. With 4 others he was operating in Shopian town when he was killed in an encounter with Army men on July 15, 1998.

Abdi, Zubair: Commander-in-Chief (08/10/91) of Allah Tigers, a

puritanical outfit strict about Islamic way of life. Afghani, Idris Bhai: Chief of Al Mujahideen Force which was promoted by POK Premier Sardar Abdul Qayoom Khan. In 1994 he was killed in Kashmir, in an encounter with Security Forces.

Afghani Muzzamil: Appointed Military Adviser of Hizbullah on November 25, 1995 when the Group was reorganised. Afghani, Sajjad A.: Acting Chief of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, killed

on 10/11/92 in an encounter n Srinagar. Afghani, Sajaad Khan: A Pak national, from Bhawalpur, Chief of

Harkat-ul-Ansar, arrested in Srinagar on 11"* February 1994. He had come to Kashmir in June 1990. He had brought with him 40 Kashmiri youngmen trained in Pakistan. Finding that militancy in Kashmir was directionless and without any hard objective, he returned to Pakistan in 1991. He was made in charge of Kashmir operations at HUA headquarters at Islamabad. He took instructions directly from HUA Ameer (Chief) Maulana Shadatullah. Earlier to his deputation to Kashmir he had fought in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. He summed up his philosophy when he said: “For us martyrdom is bliss”. After HUA activists had taken 2 Britons hostages from Aru near Pahalgam in June 1994, they demanded release of Sajjad and two others in exchange for release of the hostages. Ali, Muzam: Real name Shah, Mushtaq Ahmed: See Shah. Abrar, Ahmed, Dr.: See: Mehmood, Tahir.

Afghani, Yaqub: A foreign militant who was member of Harkat-ulAnsar. In 1998 he was deputed to operate in Kupwara District under

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Kashmir Underground

HUA Divisional Commander Samandar Pahalwan. In an encounter in a jungle in this District, he was killed alongwith Pahalwan.

Afghani, Owais: A tried member of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. In 1992

he was promoted as a District Commander. Police alleged that he was responsible for killing of Syad Gulam Nabi, Jt. Director Information on October 20, 1992 and H. N. Wanchoo on December 5, 1992.

Al Umar, Abu: An Afghan mujahid who joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in Kashmir. He was operating in Sopore when he was killed in an encounter with Army on November 27, 1993. When his blood was tested be was found to be having AIDs. Afghani, Zardar Khan: Afghan national, member of Hizb-ulMujahideen He was an JED expert and Army believed him to be responsible for most IED blasts in Surankot (Poonch) area in second half of 1998. When Armymen received reports of presence of group of foreign mercenaries in Sangla area (Poonch District) on January 29, 1999 they surrounded the area. In the encounter Afghani was killed while others escaped. Abbas, Gulshan: Real name Ghulam Ahmed Mir. See Mir.

Afghani, Zahoor: Belonging to Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. Was trained in use of suphisticated arms and subversion in Pakistan. Was made Vice-

Chairman of the outfit on 20/06/92. On 18/06/94 he announced that

Ikhawan’s Supreme Council had decided to suspend all activities for one month for forging unity. Advocated unified command of the groups working for “Azaadi Movement.”

Ahmed, Altaf: A member of standing of JKLF. In 1991, he led one of

the there factions of the outfit, the other two being led by Javed Mir and

Jaffar Kashmiri.

Ahmed, Bilal: Better known as Altaf Alamgir. Appointed officiating

Chief of Al Jehad on 21/05/93, when Sheikh Abdul Aziz was arrested.

Two days later he was arrested alongwith two of his associates. Ahmed,

Farooq:

Baramulla

District Commander

Ahmed,

Farooq:

He was also known

group. On 06/12/97 he was arrested by SOG—J&K

of “Al Jehad”

Police at Badgam.

as “Col. Haider”. Was

Al

JEHAD’s Chief Area Commander for Kupwara District. A Pak trained militant with experience of Afghan front. He had escaped from police custody from SMHS Hospital in Srinagar on 20/ 04/92. He was arrested

by JKAP from a Jammu hideout on 20/12/93 with two girls he had abducted from Doru in Anantnag District. Farooq allegedly was using, the girls as sheild—to establish that an ordinary family was transiting

through.

,

Afghani, Fayaz: Alias “Kachru”.—In 1996 He was named as Chief

Commander (operation).—of

Ikhwan-i-Musalmoon. On 14/05/96, he

Players and Captains was injured

239

in an encounter with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen activists in

Tullamulla (North Kashmir). Ahangar, Nissar Ahmed: Alias ‘Nissa’.—A resident of Srinagar who was inducted into militancy in 1990. He rose gradually and in 1997 was

made Deputy Chief of Al Jahad outfit. He was close to S. Hameed, the

then Head of Shoura-e-Jehad and was appointed assistant to the financial Chief of Shaura-e-Jehad. In that capacity he received Rs 20 lacs since March 1996 from Pakistan-based Supremo of Al Jehad, Nazir Ahmed Sofi. The amount was reportedly routed via Nepal through a courier, Imran. This amount was disbursed to various units of Al Jehad in Kashmir for subversive activities. Ahangar was arrested in Srinagar on June 16, 1998 by Kashmir Police. Ahmed, Altaf: Resident of Qamarwari, an outskirt of Srinagar. An

active member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He and 3 of his colleagues planted a lardmine on the Srinagar-Baramulla Highway on May 23, 1998 in which

Ghulam Nabi Shaheen, President of NC Youth Conference was seriously

injured when his Gypsy was blown up. He was arrested on July 6, 1998. While he was being taken to identify hideout of his colleagues, he jumped out of Police vehicle, to escape. He was shot dead.

Ahmed, Syed Ishfaq: Alias ‘Bitta Pir-—A member of Lashkar-iToiba. He was Area Commander of Beerwah in Budgam District. He was involved in a number of subversive activities and attacks on Security Forces. In an encounter outside Beerwah town, on February 3, 1999, the

Security Forces killed him and two others.

Adil, Abu: Alias “Shahji”—An Afghan national who was inflitrated into Pooch area in early 1998 and made District Commander of Lashkari-Toiba setup of Poonch and Rajouri Districts. Soon he had 4 Pakistani assistants who were made Sector Commanders. They were Mohd. Hanief (Lahore); Abu Jan (Gujranwala); Abu Khamad “Ghaznavi” (Multan) Mohd. Shahid alias Abu Hamza (Sheikhupura). In an encounter in Bani Behak

in upper reaches of Surankot area on July 26, 1998, the Army

commandos were able to kill all 5 LET commanders.

Ahmed, Bashir: Code name “Driver”. Belongs to Doda District. He

was recruited in 1993 into Al Jehad and sent to Pakistan where he received

6 months military training and returned in 1994. operation but in 1995 joined Harkut-ul-Ansar remuneration, more sophisticated weapons, better group.” He decided to quit because he hated the who were virtual masters and “we were only commands.” He also realised that only crimes were name of Jehad. He therefore decided to surrender area of Doda in early May 1996.

Took part in a few because of “better clothing and larger foreign mercenaries to carry out their being committed in to Army in Gandoh

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Kashmir Underground

Ahmed, Javed: An active militant belonging to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Rose quickly to become District Commander for Anantnag District. In 1997 June, he crossed over the LOC for a meeting with 3 others and in

August 1997 he returned from there with instructions and weapons to disrupt Independence Day celebration in Rajouri District. The BSF launched operation to catch them in Kandi area on receipt of information. On August 10, in an encounter Javed was killed and 3 other militants

were arrested. Ahmed Farooq: Alias “Fighter” Also known as ‘Major’. A senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Belonged to Ganderbal area on outskirts of Srinagar. A District Commander who played important rale in regrouping of his outfit for renewed insurgency in Ganderbal—Sumbal— Bandipura belt following installation of Forooq Government in October

1996. In an encounter with Police in Ganderbal area he was killed on

October 21, 1997

Ahmed, Nazir: Soon after the outfit “Kashmir Freedom Movement”

was launched in 1990, he was made the Deputy Chief. On 26/10/90 he kidnapped BSF Inspector Dharamvir Singh—and allegedly killed him. He was later arrested in Bombay on 13/03/91. Ahmed,

Dr. Naseer:

Was

made

General Secretary of the Islamic

Students League on 09/02/93. Ahmed, Javed: Alias Izrahil Khan. See “Khan”. Ahmed, Naseer: In 1991 alongwith 16 other youth be was recruited

and sent across LOC for training in arms and subversion. He was promised salary of Rs 1400/- per month for terrorist activity in the Valley. He was made an Area Commander of Al Jehad group. In mid-August 1993 he was arrested in Srinagar. Ahmed,

Mustaq: Was one of the founders in 1986 of the Islamic

Students League. Ahmed, Riaz: An Area Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen who was killed in Srinagar, in an encounter with Security Forces on 07/12/

92.

Ahmed, Rafiq: Also known as Anwar-ul-Islam. A District. Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen who was allegedly involved in conspiracy to kill DGP and others in Police Hgs., on 24/01/92. He died in encouner before be could be apprehended. Ahmed, Showkat “Grenade”: A Divisional Commander of Al Umar

was killed by Security Forces on 07/01/96 in Srinagar. Afghani, Jamal: See Jamal Afghani.

Ahmed, Imtiaz: A militant who was trained in Pakistan and on return joined Al Umar Mujahideen where he rose rapidly. In 1998 he was made its Chief. When the Police raided a hideout in downtown Srinagar on

Players and Captains

241

September 4, 1998 Imtiaz was arrested along with his associate Tariq Ahmed.

Akram, Wasim: Alias “Abu Abbas” alias “Abu Amar” alias “Jabullah”. A resident of Lahore (Pakistan). He was designated as

Resident Agent in Northern India by Pakistan-based outfit, Laskhar-i-

Toiba. In India he had gone about as Moin Khan S/O Jameel Ahmed

and had lived at Muradabad (UP) for more than 3 years. He had secured an Indian Passport in 1995. He was alleged to have taken part in subversive activities in Jallandhar, Ludhiana, Malerkotla besides other

places. In July 1997 he had shifted his base to Surankote near Poonch (J&K) on instructions from his superiors in Pakistan according to Police. ON September 24, 1998 in an encounter near Surankote he was killed alongwith his colleague Abu Talya also a Pakistani. Ahmed, Bashir: A senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In mid— 1998 he was appointed “Launching Chief” for Badgam District. Kashmir Police arrested him on March 10, 1999 from a hideout in Budgam area. Ahmed, Imtiyaz: Code name:”Major Gul”. See Gul. Ahmed, Suhail: real name Mohd. Saif Shah. Was made Chief of Al Mustafa outfit in December 1991 when Saleem Wani (erstwhile Chief) was arrested near Trehgam (Kupwara) on 05/12/91. Later he was released. Shah was again arrested. by Security Forces on 21/06/93 at Batwara (Srinagar). Ahmed,

Zahoor:

An

active

member

of Hizb-ullah.

In

the

reorgnisation of the group on 03/10/92, Zahoor was made incharge of Ammunition—its receipt and distribution.

Ahmed , Zubair: A Company Commander of Al Jehad killed by Security Forces in January 1993. Ahmed, Fayaz: Also known as “Gen.Zia”. A Pakistani-trained member of Harkut-ul-Mujahideen. He was rapidly promoted to the office of Military Advisor and Deputy Commander of the outfit. He was killed by Security Forces on March 13, 1993 alongwith outfit’s Acting Chief

“Shahji”.

Ahsan-ul-Haq,

Moulvi: An active member

of Islamic Students

League. In a reshuffle in the organisation on February 9,1993 was made Chairman because of his close contacts with operatives across the LOC.

Akhtar,Shams-ul-Rehman: A senior member of Moslem Janbaaz Force. In November 1992 was inducted into Al Jehad and was made incharge of recruitment etc. He was close to MJF Chairman, Babbar Badr.

When MIF was revived on January 12, 1994, Akhtar was named Chief Commander.

Alamgir, Altaf:

Real name Bilal Ahmed. See Ahmed.

Ali, Mozam: Real name: Mushtaq Ahmed Shah Bukhari. Belongs to Lar, Ganderbal near Srinagar. A member of good standing of Al Burq

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Kashmir Underground

outfit. He had made three known visits across the LOC, in about 18 months before 1992. Having secured the confidence of rank and file of the outfit, he was soon made its Chief. However,on May 28,1994 he was arrested. Ali, Nasir: His family belongs to Baramulla District. For quite sometime he was a member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. He was a close associate of Kukka Parray. When Parray decided to branch out and formed Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon in early 1995, Nasir went along. When the new group was reorganised on July 8, 1995 Nasir was made District Commander of Badgam District. Ali, Showkat: He was a member of Al Mujahideen Force. He had made many trips across the LOC in Poonch sector. In early 1993 he was made District Commander for Poonch. While returning from POK on

October 25, 1993 was killed by Security Forces in Poonch sector.

Amanullah Khan: See Khan. Ali, Usman: A member of Harkat-ul-Mujhideen—a special force set up by ISI. He was appointed its Publicity Secretary, in January 1993. Andrabi, Asiya Firdous: The most wellknown woman leader of the

Kashmir underground. She helped establish the organisation— Dukhtaran-i-Millat in 1987 at Srinagar.. It is allied idealogically to JamaitI-Islami. Originally,it was a body devoted to social uplift of moslem women. She also manages Islamic Relief Committee and Islamic Blood Bank .She led many demonstrations and took part in protest meetings in first three years of militancy. She is married to Mohammed Qasim Faktoo,

who is presently Intelligence Chief of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. On February 5, 1993 she was arrested at Srinagar Airport on arrival from New Delhi.

Her husband and 5 month old son who arrived taken into custody. She was detained under TADA. She was ordered to be released by TADA court. On was arrested and then detained under Public Safety

with her, were also On October 7, 1993. release from jail, she Act.On Novemnber

15, 1993 ina petition to the State High Court, she challenged her detention.

She also claimed Rs. 10 lacs as damages for illegal and improper detention. The Police alleged that she had gone to Delhi to collect Rs. 2.40 lacs from an agent of ISI for carrying on subversive activities in Kashmir. An Febnruary 21, 1994 she was released from detention on Court’s orders. Later, she termed as “traitors” all those militants who

: had agreed to have dialogue with New Delhi on March 15, 1996. She

accused Master Ahsan Dar as masterminding this “conspiracy”. She also severely criticised Hurriyat leaders for inaction and having adopted “pro-people” as against “pro-Pakistan” postures.

Andrabi, Dr. Syed Inayatullah: In Srinagar on February 16, 1991 he

launched

“Islamic Front of Jammu

& Kashmir”.

He was a named

its

Convenor. This body later,came to be known as “Mahaz-I-Islami”. Not

Players and Captains

243

content with this, at a Press Conference on January 4, 1992 he announced

formation of an alliance of nine secessionist outfits. It was named “Forum Against Sell-Out” (FAS). On September 7, 1993 he called upon people to stand united against anti-Islamic elements if they want the on-going

movement to succeed.

* Anjum, Hakim Naved: He received training in Muzaffarabad(POK) in early 1990, in intelligence gathering and guerrilla warfare. On return to Kashmir Valley he helped to establish a Pak sponsored outfit “LashkarI-Ayubi”. Later, he was made its Commander for Baramulla District. He

was arrested on May 14, 1990. Ansari, Moulvi Mohd. Abbas:

A leader of Shia community.

President of Anjuman-e-Itehaad-e-Musalmeen. He associated himself with secessionist movement from the beginning. He was arrested on April 13, 1990. When the All Parties Hurriyat Conference was formed on September 9, 1993, he was made a member of the 7-man Executive

Committee. He also was a member of two-man APHC delegation that was invited to attend the Casablanca meeting of Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) in winter of 1994-95. He left Srinagar on December 13,1994 for the foreign tour during which he also visited UK and Saudi Arabia. He returned to New Delhi on May 6, 1995. He participated in a symbolic march on April 18, 1996, of 6 Hurriyat leaders asking Indian Army to “quit Kashmir” He was arrested in the morning and released in the evening. Arshad, Abu: A member of the Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. On

June

20,1992 he was named Chief Commander of the Ikhwan. He was killed

in an encounter with Security Forces on October 3, 1992. Ashraf, Zulfiqar: A member of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Rapidly climbing the hierarchy,he was made Deputy Chief for Doda District. He was arrested at Jammu on January 4, 1994 by State Police. Asghar: A leader of Jammait-ul-Mujahideen. He was arrested by Security Forces at Srinagar on September 11, 1993 alongwith outfit’s Chief Commander,

“Gen” Abdullah.

Aurengzeb,Chaudhury: A resident of Kotli in POK.A prominent member of Al Mujahideen Force. He was arrested by Security Forces in

May 1994

Andrabi, Mohd.Altaf Khan:

Inqulabli.

Real name: Mohd. Azam Inqalabi. See

Alam, A: A senior member of the Islamic Students League. In 1992

he was made Acting Chairman. On November 25,1992 he declared that

though the League was a political organisation and it had not taken part in militancy, he was not against gun culture. According to him “the gun

has to act as a watchgdog till the present freedom movement is taken to its logical conclusion.” He said, “ntilitancy in Kashmir was the result of

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Kashmir Underground

the backtracking of India on its promises and commitments, regarding the settlement of Kashmir dispute.” In his opinion use of gun was only pressure tactics. He felt that any solution agreed upon by India and Pakistan should be referred to people of Jammu & Kashmir for acceptance. He was against the third option of independence being given for it would complicate the problem further. He was against division of

Jammu & Kashmir State.

He wanted India to accept the right of self

determination of people of Jammu & Kashmir before any dialogue can be started with Delhi. Aurengzeb: A senior activist of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. When Hizb decided to start operations in Doda and Jammu,

a network had to be

created.. On February 18,1991, he was appointed Chief for the Jammu Province. Alam, Maqbool: A member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In 1993 he was elevated and made the Secretary General of the Military Command Council. On January 1, 1994, he made a comprehensive Report on the fortunes of the Group during 1993. Azhar, Showkat: A Pakistani from Bhawalpur. After being trained in use of arms and indoctrination he was made Secretary General of newly floated outfit Lashkar-I-Toiba (in1994) and infiltrated into Kashmir

Valley, where he was arrested in September 1995. Azhar, Maulana Mohd. Masood:

A Pakistani national. He was a

serving Professor at Islami University, Karachi. When Pakistan decided to merge Harkat-ul- Mujahideen November 1993, Azhar was named

and Harkat-ul-Jihad-I-Islami, in Secretary General of the new body,

Harkat-ul-Ansar. In January 1994 he came to Kashmir. Soon after,on Februay 12, 1994 he was arrested. While in detention he spoke to mediapersons, “ Soldiers of Islam have come from 12 countries to liberarte

Kashmir. We will answer your carbines with rocket launchers. Our organisation has nothing to do with politics; we fight for religion, for the spread of Islam. We don’t believe in the concept of nations. Wherever Moslems need our help, we will be there.” His release was demanded

by AL FARAN in July 1995 in return for 4 foreign hostages abducted by the outfit from Aru near Pahalgam in Kashmir Valley. Azam, Sikandar: Real name is Fayaz Ahmed Wani. A member of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In 1990 he criss crossed LOC three times. In Kashmir he took part in many attacks on BSF bunkers. In 1992 he was

promoted as a District Commander. In an encounter with Security Forces

on December 24, 1992, he was killed. Aziz, Abdul: See Moosa, “Gen”. Azad, Ghulam Nabi: Alias Nabba

Azad.

An

activist of Moslem

Mujahideen who later became a District Administrator. After the outfit split in January 1995, he became head of one faction. On February 6,

Players and Captains

245

1996 he was expelled from the Moslem Mujahideen by Acting Supreme Commander, Shabir Ahmed Zargar . A few days later, on February 23,1996 he vowed to fight ISI sponsored militancy. On March 12, 1996 he declared support for elections, on behalf of his organisation. In June 1996 he declared that from now on he would devote himself fully to restore Kashmiriyat to its original glory. He further said that he would assist the Government in normalisation of the situation. For next 8/10 month he used his cadres to help this process. For this he invited wrath of the Hurriyat Conference. Azad used his Press Conference on June 28, 1997 to reply to Hurriyat criticism of surrendered militants. Instead he accused the Hurriyat leaders of “destroying Kashmir” and exploiting the situation - for personal aggrandisement. He alleged that they were “making future only of their own progeny, bright.” He was also critical of local press. He told them,” you are not reporting facts, you are making Hurriyat leaders’ personalities what they are not.” According to him, Hurriyat leaders lacked people’s mandate; they were misleading people. Aijaz-ul-Haq: A member of Al Umar Mujahideen. In 1995 he was made District Commander for Kupwara District.. When he had come

for a meeting of commanders of his outfit at Srinagar on March 6, 1996,

he got arrested .

Amin, Mohammed:

A brother of Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman of

New York based Kashmir American Council. Amin was co-ordinating activities of some militant organisations for his brother Fai. In an encounter with Security Forces on Octobe 9, 1996, he was killed.

Aslam, Mohammed:

Alias “Col.Zubair”. A member of Hizb-ul-

Mujahideen (Doda unit). He was alleged to be responsible for a number of subversive activities in Doda

District. On

March

11, 1996 he was

arrested by Security Forces from a hideout in Kishtwar town.

Aziz, Sheikh Abdul: Member of the original Moslem Jaanbaz Force (MJF). When it weas rechristened as Al Jehad, he was made its Supreme

Commander in end of 1991. He was alleged to be responsible for killing of 13 Kashmiri Pandits in Pampore area. On May 21, 1993 he was arrested

alongwith 13 associates, by armymen in Pulwama District. Before taking up the gun Aziz was General Secretary of the Peoples League. He was released on June 8, 1998. Two days later he was abducted by unknown armed militants. On August 3, 1998 he was made Chairman of reunited

Peoples League.

Ashraf, Mohammed: Alias Arif. An activist of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

Highly trained in Afghanistan. For over 30 months in POK he was engaged in imparting training in use of arms and subversion to youth sent across from Kashmir Valley. He used to make visits across the LOC

after every few months.. While he was in Kashmir, he was arrested by

Kashmir Police on April 12, 1996, at Ramban on the National Highway.

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Ahmed, Sajjad: An activist of JKLF. He later became part of its Siddqui faction in end of 1995. He was one of the group that tried to

force its entry into Hazratbal Shrine on March 24, 1996 and got killed by the STF of J&K Police.

Akram, Mohammed: An active member of the JKLF who joined Sidiqui faction in 1995 when the party split. Along with Basharat Raza and others, he tried to force his entry into Hazratbal Shrine on March 24,

1996 and was killed by the JKAP guards.

Akram, Commander: A senior activist of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. When the organisation needed to have a separate Intelligence set-up, he

was made head of the wing on February 18, 1991. The set-up was named

Field Intelligence Unit.. Alam, Imtiaz: A post-graduate from Budgam District. He was drawn to militancy in 1991 and rose quickly in the hierarchy of Hizb-ulMujahideen. In 1997 he was made outfit’s Communication Chief. Hé was also made its Divisional Commander for Central Kashmir after he volunteered to fire missiles on some Security Forces posts. Most of the time he operated under the assumed name of ‘Younis Raja . A house in Bagh-e-Mehtab locality of Srinagar, was surrounded by BSF on January 30, 1998 and in an hour long encounter he and another militant were killed. Police claimed recovery of large cache of arms and ammunition. Ahmed, Junaid: Alias ‘Rasheed Salfi. A senior activist of Tehrik-

ul-Mujahideen. In 1997 he was promoted to become its Chief Commander. However, he was arrested by Police from Srinagar’s Old City on October 28, 1997. Ahmed, Khurshid: A well trained member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In early 1997 he was promoted a Divisional Commander for Central sector where in Srinagar, he organised many incidents of firing,throwing of grenades and planting of IEDs. Security Forces arrested him from City areas on June 15,1997.

Ahmed, Masood: A member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen who was deputed to strengthen its se-up in Doda District. In 1997 he was made

Area Commander. With Security Forces closing in on him, he surrendered

with personal weapons, on February 15, 1998. Arif, Abu: An Afghan national. A war veteran who after infiltration across the LOC in 1997 was sent to Doda District, to strengthen the Harkat-ul-Ansar set-up for increased activity. In an encounter with

Security Forces, on January 2, 1998 in a village near Thathri, he was killed along with a colleague, Abu Hamza . Ahmed , Fayaz: Alias Fayaz Nabdi. A member of Ikhwan-ulMusalmoon. He was a Divisional Commander in 1996. Since, he was

close to outfit’s leader Kukka Parray, he was named, Chief Commander of Operations. Since he was an important counter-insurgent an organised

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attempt on his life was made on October 27, 1996 when militants attacked his residence near Sumbal. His life was saved because he was not at home. Over 200 militants including Pakistanis and Afghans used rockets, missiles besides rifles in the attack in which 4 counter-insurgents were killed, many injured and 3 kidnapped. Adil, Abu Rehman: An Afghan national and a veteran of Afghan

civil war. In 1996 he was inducted into Kashmir as member of LashkarI-Toiba. Soon he was given charge of Doda operations. In early 1997 he was promoted as Chief Commander of the area. In an encounter with STF of the State Police, he was killed in December 1997. From a diary

recovered from his dead body, it became known

that he also trained

local militants in making of bombs from materials available locally. Aziz-ur-Rehman: Alias Nazit Ahmed .An early militant and

a

longtime member of Jehad Force . On the death of its Chief, Jamal Afghani

in December 1993, Aziz was made the Chief of Jehad Force. Based on

authentic information about his hideout in Bemina locality of Srinagar,

Security Forces surrounded the house on June 15, 1994. In a bid to escape, he got killed However, Jehad Force alleged that he was arrested and later killed in custody Abid, Abu: Real name is Abdul Shakoor. A Pakistani national from

Bhawalpur.

In 1997 he had been sent across the LOC,

to command

Harkut-ul-Ansar outfit in Poonch area. Along with 6 others he was killed in an encounter near Fatehpur in Mandi area of Poonch District, on May

31, 1998.

Ahmed, Shabir: Alias ‘Gypsy’. Late in 1997 he was made an Area Commander for a part of Doda District by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In a few months he had carried out a series of actions against the Security Forces. He also constructed underground hideouts at 6 different places in Doda District, which were used by him and his associates, as shelter. Ahmed, Shabir: A militant belonging to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen who rose to be a Company Commander in Pattan (Baramulla District) He was killed on July 5,1998 in an encounter

ith BSF in Sumbal area.

Asmi, Firdous : A member of Hurriyat Conference. When the AHPC opened its Awareness Bureau in New Delhi, he was appointed to head

it on November 5, 1995. Later, he was a member of the 3-man Hurriyat

delegation whichg went to Islamabad to be present for the OIC’s Contact Group on Jammu & Kashmir Ministerial meeting. Ahmed, Fayaz: A senior member of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. His area of operation was northwestern part of Kashmir. In 1997 he was made the JUM Financial Chief. From Handwara area he was arrested by Kashmir Police on June 17, 1998 Akram, Mohammed: Alias ‘Malik Taimoor’. See Taimoor.

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Baba, Farooq: Real name Mohd. Sadiq. A committed member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Since he belonged to Anantnag District, he was allowed to operate there during 1993 and 1994. He was involved allegedly

in conspiracy to abduct and later kill Dr. Qazi

Mohd. Nissar, Mirwaiz

of South Kashmir, in June 1994. It was further alleged that he arranged

the taxi to take back Dr. Qazi from Dyalgam to Anantnag on June 19,

1994. His associate Ghulam Nabi Reshi alias Gadda and he also got into the same taxi. After some distance it was halted and Qazi asked to get

out. He was shot dead on the roadside, it was alleged. Bari, ‘General’ Abdul: Real name Syed Ghulam Rasul. See Rasul.

Bangi, Mohammed Ramzan: Alias “Ramba Kachru”. A JKLF activist who’ rose quickly and was made a District Commander: In 1994 he surrendered. Soon, he became a “spotter” with Security Forces. In a few months he became an impoortant counter-insurgent in Ganderbal belt. Later, he formed a group of his own. He joined the Panthers Party and contested unsuccessfully Legislative Assembly elections in September 1996. He was living in high security MLA Hostel at Srinagar. On June

29, 1997, he was killed there in a bomb blast.

Baba, Manzoor Ahmed: A senior member of Harkat-ul-Ansar now

known as Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. He used a number of code names like Basharat Ahmed Khan, Basharat Nayeem, Nayeem Sadiqui and Nayeem Khan. He belonged to Batamalloo area of Srinagar where he came to be feared. On elimination of Shariq Bakshi in November 1998, Baba was appointed in his place as Divisional Commander for Central Kashmir

by Shahbaz Khan (Jihadi) who was Harkat Chief then (presently he

is

Lashkar-I-Toiba Supreme Commander in the Valley). During the winter of 1998-99 Baba was able to motivate majority of surrendered militants in this area to rejoin the ranks. Three who refused to rejoin, were killed by him. He organised attacks on Tattoo Ground Army Camp, J&K Light Infantry Training Centre and BSF bunkers in Srinagar. He was responsible for killing of 5 policemen it was alleged. In association with Shahbaz Khan, Baba was responsible for escalation of militant activity in Srinagar City and Ganderbal belt in autumn 1998 and following

winter. On March 20, 1999 he was to confer with his associates in a house

in Jehlum Market in Batmalloo. The house was surrounded by Police and in the encounter he and his bodyguard Shabir Ahmed Dar were killed. He was reported to have been responsible for having written warning posters seen in the area asking the Batamalloo residents to evict all tenants connected with Police. He had also harassed Cable operators and he got sealed almost all the satellite channels excluding Pakistan TV. Baba, Ghulam Nabi: A resident of Gulgam in Kupwara District. A seasoned militant who joined Harkat-ul-Ansar in 1997. In 1998 he was

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made Deputy District Commander. In an encounter in Lolab Valley in Kupwara District on August 16,1998 he got killed alongwith a colleague. Bast, Saifudin: A battlehardened Afghan national. He was one of a group of 15 mercenaries which crossed over into Kupwara District from POK, in second week of August 1998. Next day, in an encounter with Army troops at Jagarpura vilage alongwith 5 other Afghans,one Iranian and a Pakistani, Bast was killed on August 11, 1998. Baba, Reyaz Ahmed: Code name ‘Gulzar’. He had joined militant ranks in 1990 and soon became a member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He had received training in Pakistan and was a well-known explosives expert who could make IEDs from available materials. He was reported

to have been responsible for Residency Road (Srinagar) blast in which 8

civilians were killed in 1995. With lot of ‘action’ to his credit, he was

promoted as District Commander in 1997. In an encounter on February 26, 1999 in Maharajganj area of old city quarters of Srinagar, he was killed. His family members however, alleged that he was arrested and later killed in custody. Police alleged that he was an extortionist also. He was known to have pressurised officers in awarding tenders and contracts from which he got his share. Badr, Babbar: Real name is Syed Firdous Ahmed Baba. He belongs to Doda

District of Jammu

Division. A founder member of Moslem

Janbaaz Force—armed wing of Peoples League. He had been associated with JKLF but after the death of Ashfaq Majid Wani, he could not pull on with Yasin Malik and therefore drifted away. In November 1990 he

had become Chairman of War Council of MJF. He was arrested on April 9, 1991. While he was in jail the MJF was converted to Al Jehad. In consultation with his close associates he revived the MJF on January 12,

1994. After his release he was made its Chief Patron. At one time , he

had come close to Shabir Ahmed Shah but soon developed differences. In company of Imran Rahi, Billal Lodhi and Mohidin Lone, he addressed

a Press Conference on February 8,1996 and offered to have a dialogue

without conditions,with Delhi. He visited Delhi and on March 15, 1996 © met the Union Home Minister, $.B. Chavan. Badr soon formed a Forum

for Resolution of Jammu

Chairman. Conference For the UN March 1998 delegation. subversion

& Kashmir

[FROJK) and he was made its

In March 1997 he was admitted into the ruling National and soon .was elected to Legislative Council as NC nominee. Human Rights Commission annual meeting at Geneva in he was sent by Kashmir Government as leader of 4-member In a Seminar at Geneva where Pakistan’s role in fomenting was discussed Firdous Syed accused Pakistan of pushing

Afghans, Sudanese and Pakistani nationals to create trouble, violence

and indulge in killing of innocent people. According to him “Pakistan

/

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Kashmir Underground

wanted to settle score with us for three defeats in wars with us suffered by it.” Firdous Syed told the gathering that overwhelming participation of people in just concluded Parliamentary elections had proved that Kashmiri people had full faith in the democratic institutions of India. In his view the elections were a strong rebuff to Pakistan and the mercenary militants it had sent to Kashmir Babbar: An Afghan veteran fighter who was sent to Kashmir in mid-1991 by Pak ISI to head the newly floated Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. He is reported to have met secretly in Srinagar, George Kaufman, UK Labour Party’s shadow Foreign Secretary, when he visited Kashmir in August 1991.

Bakshi, Shakeel Ahmed: One of the three Bakshi brothers—all of them involved in militancy. He was a founder member of the Islamic Students League formed at Srinagar in 1986. When the League was

banned on April 16, 1990, he went underground. A few months earlier he had joined JKLF. He was in jail in 1988-9 for a short while. He was arrested in 1990 and after 4 years detention he was released. In end of 1993 a political organisation—J&K Political Movement was set up and Shakeel was made its Chief Patron. In 1994-95 he was JKLF Party

Spokesman. When JKLF(Malik) was reorganised on May 3, made its Secretary General. He opposed the Parliamentary May 1996. Apprehending trouble the Police arrested him released on bail on June 25, 1996. Now he is a middle-rung

of the APHC. Showkat and Shariq are his two brothers.

1995, he was elections in but he was functionary

Bakshi, Showkat Ahmed: A senior member of JKLF. Soon after the

spurt in militancy in 1990 he was made an Area Commander in Srinagar. However, in reorganisation of JKLF on April 5, 1990 he was promoted and made Chief Area Commander of Srinagar with 7 Area Commanders

under him. According to CBI which investigated allegations against him and challaned him, Showkat was alleged to have been involved in killings of Air Force personnel at Rawalpora ; killing of Lassa Koul, Director ,Door Darshan, Srinagar; kidnapping of Dr. Rubiya Sayed,

daughter of Mufti Mohammed Sayed, the Indian Home Minister and some other cases. He was arrested in 1990 and continues to be in

detention. In October 1998 he was shifted to Jammu and presented by

police in TADA designated Court on October 5 to stand trial in cases challaned against him, Yasin Malik and others. Showkat told the Court

that he was happy that after 8 years thetrial of his cases was being started. He said he was confident to be cleared by the Court. The Court ordered that he be lodged in Sub-Jail at Kot Bhalwal near Jammu. Earlier, he had

told his interrogators that the JKLF Chief, Amanullah Khan from Pakistan

had instructed him (Showkat) to attack IAF personnel and also kill Lassa

Koul. TADA Court at Jammu released him on bail on January 30, 1999.

Players and Captains

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Bakshi, Shariq Ahmed: One of the well-known Bakshi brothers of Batamalloo. He followed his two brothers into militancy and became a functionary in Harkat-ul-Ansar. He soon rose to become a Divisional Commander.

On

November

8,1998 he was reported

to be holding

consultations with three other colleagues including two Pakistani

nationals. The Security Forces surrounded the house at Peerbagh on the

outskirts of Srinagar and in 7-hour encounter all the four militants were killed. Police alleged that Shakeel was involved in a number of attacks on police personnel in which 12 persons had got killed. Earlier, he was a student of Jehlum Valley Collage of Medical Sciences. Bakr, Abu: Goes by this code name. He is Chief of the “Front Against

Nationalist. (FAN)

Bachoo, Ghulam Mohammed: Belongs to Rainawari in Srinagar.

He is a member of Hizbullah. He is better known as Zafar Jackson for he

dresses like Michael Jackson the world famous singer. In 1993 he was arrested for allegedly being involved in killing of Pir Mohammed Shaffi,

a former legislator. Police have alleged that he is accused of many rapes

and of having killed a few persons after branding them as informers. Bakhtawar, Begum: She is Patron of pro-Pak organisation—The

Muslim Khawateen Markaz (Centre of Muslim Women). On July 27,

1995 she asked the Government to “immediately accept the demands of Al Faran and release the detained militants.” Bangroo, Mohd.

Abdullah: Alias “Khalid”. He was a founder

member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In 1987 from Srinagar he went to Pakistan by clandestinely crossing the LOC. At Rawalpindi he made contacts with expatriate Kashmiries and the ISI. He was introduced to Afghan Mujahideen leadership including Gulbudin Hekamtyar and Shah Ahmed Masood. He was reportedly the first Kashmiri youngman to have joined the Afghan Mujahideen and took part in real action. He returned to Kashmir in 1988-89. Soon he set about to found Hizb-ul-Mujahideen which came into being in early 1990. He was made its Deputy Chief. Police alleged that Bangroo was kingpin in conspiracy to kill Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohd. Farooq. It further alleged that Bangroo fired the first shot at close range in the sitting room of Mirwaiz residence at Nageen in Srinagar. His two colleagues after firing at Mirwaiz, escaped before an alarm could be raised. Bangroo became a legend among the militants and many myths were woven round him. The Police was after him and after 30 months, in an encounter at Barzala he was killed on November

5, 1993.

Baloch, Khalid: Alias “Moulvi Sahib”. Real name Gulzar Ahmed

Tramboo. An active member of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. In 1992 he was

made a District Commander. Along with 3 others colleagues he was

arrested in Srinagar on September 11, 1993 when he was accompanying"

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Kashmir Underground

JUM Chief Commander,

“Gen” Abdullah.

After his release he rejoined

his outfit. Within a few months he was promoted as Deputy Supreme Commander. He was arrested again on June 26, 1998. During interrogation he confessed to his involvement in many attacks on Security Forces. He also led Police to hideout from which more than one qtl. RDX and large quantity of arms and ammunition were recovered. He also disclosed that before joining JUM he was a member of Al-Jehad outfit. Bhat, Mohd. Yaseen: A militant belonging to Al Umar Mujahideen, who made 3 trips to Pakistan in a year. He was made Acting Chief after AUM Chief, Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar was arrested in 1992. He had direct contacts with senior officers of ISI in Pakistan like Brigadiers Ahmed,

Saleem and Showkat. He also had access to ISI Chief, Lt. Gen. Durrani.

During his interrogation following his arrest on April 27, 1992 at Srinagar, he disclosed that ISI was regularly making funds available to selected militant outfits in Kashmir. AUM was among the favoured ones. He claimed that this assistance was enhanced after Sheikh Rashid, a Minister

in Nawaz Sharief Government had used his influence with ISI. Basharat, Raza: Belonged to JKLF. He was a Divisional Commander in 1993. He was holed up inside the Hazratbal Shrine in October. 1993 along with Mohd Idris and Shabir Siddiqui. He also surrendered arms when he alongwith others was allowed to leave the Shrine complex. When JKLF split in September 95, he sided with Siddiqui and was made

Chief Commander. On March 24, 1996 he and 17 others with arms forced

entry into Hazratbal Shrine. In an encounter he and 8 others were killed. Beg, Ghulam Abbas: A Senior member of JKLF. Educated in Regional Engineering Collage, Srinagar. He was made Chief Organiser JKLF on November 1992. When rivalry and differences with Hizb-ulMujahideen

became wide in 1994, HUM

abducted

him and another

senior member Farooq Ahmed Siddiqui (Zain-ul-Abdin). Two groups later held meeting and a peace accord between them was finalised and the two hostages were released. He joined JKLF in 1986 when it was

established in Kashmir Valley. He claimed that Kashmir unit of JKLF is autonomous in taking any decision. Acording to him “Pakistan is definitely involved in our movement and she is the only country which is not only supporting our movement but also mobilising the public

opinion round the world in our favour.” Beg, Bashir Ahmed: Alias “Hanief Ingalabi”. Early member of Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen. He separated from it in December 1993, to float Ansar-

ul-Mujahideen with Pak and Afghan

Mujahids, having been assured

full and direct support of ISI. He belongs to Khag in Badgam District. Joined militant ranks in 1990 and went over to POK. He stayed 2 months at Muzaffarabad whare he also received training in arms and subversion.

Players and Captains

253

He returned in 1991 to join Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. At Regal Chowk, Srinagar he was arrested on May 28, 1994. Beigh, Hillal Ahmed: One of the veterans of militancy in Kashmir. He was an empoyee of Radio Kashmir. After the Islamic Students League was formed in 1986 he joined it and soon became its Chief. He was alleged to have led a group of 14 militants who abducted on April 6, 1990 the Vice-Chancellor of Kashmir University, Prof. Mushir-ul-Hzq and his Secretary, Abdul Ghani, who were found dead on April 10, 1990. He

was also alleged to have been involved in the conspiracy to abduct on April 6, 1990 and later kill on April 10, 1990, Mr. H. L. Khera, General

Manager of HMT Factory near Srinagar. The ISL was later renamed’ Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen in 1991. He was made its Chief Commander and was made Chief of the outfit on June 20, 1992. In 1993 he went over to Pakistan from where he returned in May 1994. On January 24, 1995 he

directed his cadres to “kill” Hurriyat leader Prof. Abdul Ghani Bhat for “anti-freedom’” Press Conference at New Delhi. When Ikhwan got anew

Chief, Niaz Ikhwani, Beigh was expelled for “betrayal”. Later in 1995 he

got married and became inactive politically.

The Kashmir Police killed him in an encounter on July 16, 1996, on

outskirts of Srinagar where he was engaged in a meeting with other militants. Beg, Farooq Ahmed: He was associated with JK Students Liberation Front which was later merged with Ikhawan-ul-Musalmeen. He is alleged to have been involved in conspiracy to abduct and kill HMT General Manager H. L. Khera in April 1990. He was challaned on this charge in TADA Court at Jammu on August

1, 1991 alongwith 14 others.

Bhat, Farooq Ahmed: He was an important member of Harkat-ulMujahideen. In late 1992 he was put in charge of Arms & Ammunition store of the outfit. In an encounter with Security Forces on March 13, 1993 he was killed. Two of his colleagues with him, who got killed were, Acting Chief , “Shahji” and Dy. Commander “Gen” Zia. Bhat, Khalid Ahmed: Alias “Raja”. A member of Students Liberation Front. He was involved allegedly in abduction on April 6, 1990 of H. L. Khera, General Manager, HMT Watch Factory and his subsequent killing. Bhat, Mohd. Magbool: Founder of JKLF. A resident of Trehgam in

Kupwara District. He was born in 1939. In 1958 he crossed the CeaseFire Line and went to Peshawar in Pakistan. He got his M. A. and LLB degrees there. Later, at Sialkot, he was made Secretary of Pakistan unit of J&K

Plebiscite Front. In 1966 he infiltrated into Kashmir allegedly killed a CID official. He was apprehended in He was tried and a Court sentenced him, to death However, he managed to escape from jail in December

Valley when he September 1966. in August 1968. 1968 and crossed

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Kashmir Underground

back to Pakistan. There twice he was detained for being a suspected Indian spy. He was released in March 1969. In 1976 he crossed over to Kashmir again. He was alleged to have committed a Bank robbery and killed its manager in Kupwara District. He was tried at Srinagar by Sessions Judge, Nila Kanth Ganju, who sentenced him to death. For better

security Bhat was transferred from Central Jail, Srinagar to Tihar Jail at Delhi. After JKLF assasinated Indian diplomat Ravindra Mhatre in UK,

Magbool was executed on February 11, 1984. Since 1987, this day every year in Kashmir, is observed as “Maqbool Bhat Day” by JKLF. Muzzafar Hussain Beg, a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India and Bhat’s Counsel in 1984, disclosed at Srinagar on February 9, 1998 that J&K High Court had not confirmed the death sentence awarded to Bhat by the Sessions Court. “When I approached the Supreme Court, it did not pay heed to my plea and gave clearance to the hanging of Maqbool Bhat.” Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in 1994 had claimed that Bhat had drawn inspiration from the Jamait-i-Islami but was refuted by JKLF who described Bhat as

“Socrates of Kashmir who aroused the people from centuries of slumber.”

Baloch, Ali: An Afghan national with rich experience of guerrilla

warfare. A commander of Harkat-ul-Ansar, infiltrated into Poonch area

in 1997, from across the border. His area of operation, Loran Mandi lies north of Poonch town. In an encounter with Security Forces, he was killed

on July 19, 1998.

Bhat, Shaukat Maqbool: Younger son of Mohammed Magbool Bhat, one of the founder of JKNLF and later JKLF. Although the family belonged to Trehgam in Kupwara District of Kashmir, he has never been to Kashmir all through 31 years of his life. He was born in Peshawar and was educated there. When it was decided that he should get involved

in politics the natural choice was JKNLF. He climbed up quickly and in

1996 he was made the Chairman. He soon went on 6 month long tour of United Kingdom. He was critical of gun culture and communalising of Kashmir situation. He wanted Hurriyat Conference to dissociate it self from Pakistan backed sectarian groups. He blamed both Pakistan and India for troubles of Kashmiris and demanded that both accept Kashmir as a united independent Kashmir. Bombaar Khan: See Shah, Ahmed. Bajaj, Shuja Ahmed: He was an Area Commander in Srinagar of

Hizbullah outfit. He was arrested by Police on November 5, 1992.

Bhat, Aijaz Ahmed: Alias Aazam. Resident of Khanqa-e-Maulla,

Srinagar. He made 3 visits across the LOC in two years—1995 and 1996. In 1997 June, he was made Acting Chief of Harkat-ul-Ansar in Kashmir.

He was involved in killing of some BSF personnel among others. In an

encounter with Kashmir Police in Pandachak village near Ganderbal on

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August 9, 1997 Bhat was killed alongwith

two other HUA

militants,

Tanvir Ahmed and Abdus Samad. Bhat, Abdul Rashid: Belonging to Sopore, he was drawn into militant

ranks in 1991 and crossed over to POK. He was trained in use of arms

and subversion. Late in January 1998 he crossed over to Jammu area from Shakargarh near Sialkot with ISI instructions to cause explosions in Jammu City. Before he could plant any bomb, he was arrested by Police on February6, 1998.

Bhai, Khatib: A Pakistani national who was infiltrated across the

LOC in 1996 and in 1997 made District Commander for Doda for Lashkare-Toiba. Since he was a trusted operative of ISI, it left chalking out of operational stategy in Doda, to him and the other two groups of Hizbul-Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Ansar were asked to coordinate with him. This was resented by them and in January 1998 serious differences were reported in the insurgents ranks. Bhat, Bilal Ahmed: Alias “Abbas”. Also known as “Crush India”.

He was one of the District Commanders for Hizb-ul-Mujahideen for

Srinagar in winter of 1997-98. On June 22, 1998 he was arrested by SOG

of State Police from an outskirt of Srinagar. Police claimed Bhat had confessed his involvement in February 1996 besides many attacks on Security Forces and strategic places including a rocket attack on Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar on Republic Day 1998. Bhai, Abu Mohammed: An Afghan national. A senior member of Lashkar-e-Toiba. In an encounter with BSF at Dhamkote in Udhampur

District, on July 6, 1998, he was killed. Besides arms and ammunition, a

wireless set, large amount of Indian currency was also recovered from his dead body.

Bhai, Tariq: A senior member of Lashkar-i-Toiba. He was sent from

Pakistan by ISI in early 1998 to be Deputy Commander of LET in PoonchRejouri Districts. He was also made Deputy Chief of the Unified Command Council of 3 militant outfits in these two Districts. He was to assist its Chief, “General” Badshah Khan. Tariq was killed alongwith his Chief on June 25, 1998 in a jungle near Surankote area of Poonch District. Bhatt, Bilal Ahmed:

A member

of Ikhawan-ul-Musalmeen.

He

received arms training in Pakistan. He had been an active courier traveling frequently to Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi beside Islamabad in Pakistan and Nepal. For many years he was closely

associated with

Dr. Ghulam Qadir Wani of Islamic Students League. He was arrested by Police from a Jammu Hotel on February 20, 1996. Bhatt, Lateef: Alias “Idris Khan”. A senior member of Hizb-ulMujahideen.

He was its Publicity Chief for over a year. From Press

Enclave, Srinagar he was arrested on August 7, 1994.

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Kashmir Underground Bhatt, Mohd.

Idris: A member

of JKLF.

He was holed up inside

Hazartbal Shrine for 32 days in October—November 1993. On behalf of the holed up militants, he was chief negotiator with the J&K Government. Alongwith others he agreed to surrender with arms to the Security Forces. On February 10, 1995 he was shot dead allegedly by Hizb activists. Bhatt, Mohd. Ashraf: A member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. Inearly 1993 was promoted as Deputy Commander. Bhat, Jawed Ahmed: Alias Sikander Khan. Also known as Javed

Dabrani and by some as Abdul Jabbar. He was a very active militant since 1990. A member of Harkat-ul-Ansar since 1993. In 1995 he was put in charge of the implementation of ban on Amarnath yatra—“Op Yatra Roko”. His group claimed him to be a commander of “great military capability and an expert in fabricating IEDs and Remote control devices”. He became Chief Commander

in 1995. He was killed on February 16,

1996 in Nai Basti, Anantnag while assembling an IED in a house. He had been supervising operation in Kashmir Valley and Doda District. These received a big jolt, with his death. Bhatt, Ghulam Nabi: Younger brother of Mohd. Maqbool Bhatt, founder of JKLF. He has played minor roles in the outfit. When in 1991,

the group was splitting into three factions led by Javed Ahmed Mir,

Altaf Ahmed and Jaffar Kashmiri, he made vain attempts to bring them together in the name of his late brother, Maqbool.

Bidar, Abdul Qayoom: A member of MJF later AL Jehad. In early

1993 was promoted as Divisional Commander for Baramulla and Kupwara Districts. The Security Forces arrested him on July 8, 1993, along with 4 colleagues. Bhatt, Ghulam Mohammed: Belonged to Ikwan-ul-Musalmeen (JKSLF). Police alleged he was involved in conspiracy to abduct in

Srinagar on April 6, 1990, H. L. Khera, Gen. Manager of HMT

and later kill him. Bhatt is facing trial under TADA.

factory

Butt, Bashir Ahmed: He was made Chief Commander of Kashmir

Freedom Front (KFF) soon after the outfit was set up in Kashmir in middle of 1990. He had received 6 months training in Pakistan in winter of 1989— 90. He was receiving directions and material assistance from Zia-ul-Haq Bukhari, Chief of KFF set up in Pakistan. He was arrested on November

11, 1992 at Delhi. Butt, Farooq

Ahmed:

A member

of JKLF who

rose to be the

Regimental Commander in)1992. In an encounter in Badgam with Security Forces he was killed on September 17, 1993. Butt, Mohammed

Yasin: A senior guerrilla leader of Ikhawan-ul-

Musalmeen on March 31, 1993 he wrote to State Governor that unless two detained leader, Javed Ahmed Shalla and Mohammed Sidiq Sofi

were produced before public, Government should be prepared for grave

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consequences. It was earlier alleged they had been killed while in detention. Bhat, Sajjad Ahmed: Alias “Shahbaaz”. Also known as “Rajan”. A member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was in early 1994 promoted as Commander of Civil Lines in Srinagar. Kashmir Police arrested him on October 18, 1994 from a Srinagar street when he was accompanied by two women, posing as a family out for a stroll. Bilal, Amjad: A militant of 4 years standing. An important member of Harkat-ul-Ansar. When its Chief, Sajjad Afghani was arrested in February his place as Acting Chief Commander on February 22, 1993.

Bhat, Bashir Ahmed: General Secretary of Mahaz-i-Azadi for most of 1980s till it was banned by State Government on April 16, 1990.

Bhat, Prof. Abdul Ghani: President of J&K Muslim Conference A

founder member of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference. A teacher by profession, he is considered APHC idealogue. He was dissimissed from Government service in 1986 by G. M. Shah Government for “antigovernment” activities. Later he helped to form Muslim United Front (MUF) in 1987. He was arrested on March 2, 1990. Right from September 1993 he has been a member of the 7-member Executive Committee of APHC and from 1996, its Spokasman. Prof.Ghani, as he is better known,

became more prominent when among the secessionists, realisation set in that gun alone was not enough, political content had to be given to the movemnt. On October 20, 1992 he called upon people to came out on streets and raise their voice so that the “world hears you. We are not cowards and we should now unitedly fight back”. He asked them to take out processions and stage protest demonstrations. He advised people to unitedly frustrate the Security Forces in their cordon and search operations, by breaking the cordon and not allowing them to kill youth in “fake” encounters. He planned to go abroad but before he could leave, his Passport was impounded at New Delhi on May 6, 1993. Soon after,

he called for a peaceful solution of Kashmir problem. He said, “ we prefer

a dialogue to armed struggle for solution of this problem”. But, he wanted

the basic question of right of self determination to be recognised. He pointedly said neither partition of the State nor restoration of Article 370 of Indian Constitution, would satisfy the people. He further said that “implementation of the UN Resolutions on Kashmir is not the only solution.” He reiterated his stand that India and Pakistan hand over areas under their control to United Nations for 5 years for creating an atmosphere in which elections could be held and a representative leadership coming forward with the mandate to enter into any dialogue with India and Pakistan about the political future of the State. A few days later he surprised everyone by stating that in any talks with

Kashmiris, the Indian Government should by represented by an all party

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delegation. The other two conditions were that the talks should be tripartite involving the representatives of Kashmiri people and the Governments of India and Pakistan. He insisted that these talks should be held in the presence of UN representative or an international

guarantor.

The JKLF in June 1993 threatened him with dire consequence if he

did not present himself personally to explain an interview he gave to a New Delhi based TV network for its newsmagzine “Eyewitness”. The JKLF termed it “against the ongoing movement in Kashmir”. Once again,

in January 1995 he participated at New Delhi in a “Meet the Press

Programme”, and called for tripartite talks to evolve a lasting and peaceful solution of Kashmir problem. He advocated quiet diplomacy for initiating a dialogue on Kashmir. Once the dialogue started a ceasefire could follow, he declared. Many militant organisations criticised him for his utterances which were out of step with the rest, according to them. But Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen called for his blood. Ikhawan’s Chief Hilal

Ahmed Beg on January 24, 1995 directed his cadres to “kill Prof. Ghani

for his anti-freedom” Press Conference in New Delhi. Some common

friends negotiated a settlement between them, after an appeal had been made by APHC on February 14, 1995. He also sought permission of the Indian Government to send a Hurriyat delegation to Pakistan to initiate a dialogue with leaders on the other side of the border, to find an accaptable solution. He was one of the six Hurriyat leaders on April 18, 1996 which attempted a march from Lal Chowk in Civil Lines, Srinagar, to the Corps Headquarters in Badamibagh Cantonment. They were carrying cloth banners asking the Indian Army to “Quit Kashmir”. The march was stopped halfway by police, and all the six leaders were arrested and detained in a Police Station. In the evening they were released. He lives in a big house in Srinagar. When asked the source of money he said as a political being involved in peoples struggle he receives donation from local supporters and from abroad. This is his party’s money and as its Chief he has the discretion to spend and the house is

owned by his Party.

Bitta, Rafiq: A Battalion Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He

was killed on January 2, 1993 in an encounter with Security Forces near

Chatabal locality of Srinagar.

Bukhari, Zia-ul-Haq: A senior member of Kashmir Freedom Front,

operates out of Pakistan and controls and directs operations in Kashmir. Bukhari, Syed Massad: A Group Commnder of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in Rajouri District. In an encounter in Gambhir Mughlan area of Rajouri, he was killed on October 7, 1998

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Bukhari, Syed Khalid Hussain: Belongs to POK. He was active member of “Pasban” organisation, a unit of Hizb-ul- /Mujahideen. He was arrested in early 1994. Bukhari, Mushtaq Ahmed

Shah: Alias Maozam Ali—See Alli.

Butt, Javed Ahmed: A member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He is alleged

to be part of conspiracy to kill Mirwaiz, Moulvi Mohd. Farooq, on May

21, 1990. While Gandroo and 2 others went in do the job, he with another colleague waited outside for quick getaway of Gandroo and his colleagues. Bhat, Shaheen: Belong to Muzaffarabad (POK). He was a member of Jamait-ul-Musalmeen. He was specially trained in Pakistan by ISI before being infiltrated into Kashmir through higher reaches of Machil in Kupwara District. He was holed up inside the Hazratbal Shrine in October 1993. On November 16, 1993 he surrendered with arms. He was

pushed back into POK in January 1994. Before that, during interrogation he had confessed that he was being paid Rs 2000/- monthly by ISI. Baqar-ul-Saddar: In 1993 he as made General Secretary of a lesser known outfit Hizb-ul-Momineen (a shia group). Beg, Syed Ahmed: District Administrator of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Arrested in Anantnag by Security Forces on April 23, 1994. Bhat, Shabir Ahmed: An active and trained member of Al Umar

outfit. He was made a Area Commander in downtown Srinagar. He was hiding in a house in the vicinity and the Security Forces surrounded it on specific information. In the encounter on February 2, 1992, he was

killed. Beg, Khursheed: A hardened militant. He was close to Hilal Beg though he owed his allegiance to JK Islamic Front. He was involved in the now well known bomb blast of Lajpat Nagar, Delhi of May 21, 1996. Billu Gujar: A resident of Gool area of Udhampur

District. He

formed his own group of militants and later became part of Hizb-ulMujahideen. Three Kashmiri Pandit teachers including a Principal of a Government Higher Secondary School were taken out of Bus and shot-

dead on June 14, 1997. Police identified him having led 5 other activities

as allegedly involved in the killings. Beg, Mohd. Salim: Alias Imran. Also known as Rehman. Resident

of Doda District—received training in Pakistan in use of arms and subversion. Rose quickly in Harkat-ul-Ansar and in 1996 he was made

Chief of Operations in Jammu area. While returning from a visit to Pakistan the Police arrested him this side of LOC, on June 8, 1997. Beg, Abdul Qayoom: Alias “Milu”. A member of Hizb-ul-

Mujahideen. He was made Deputy Commander in 1993. He was arrested

by BSF on February 25, 1994.

260

Kashmir Underground Bhat, Mohd. Qasim: Code name “Qasim Bakery”—because of his

family business. A local Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Commander of Achingam area of Anantnag District. On February 25, 1999 a BSF group cordoned off his village and raided his house. They siezed three cash certificates of J&K Bank totaling Rs 2.82 lacs. The beneficiaries are Qasim’s mother,

father and 3 children. Since the family are small time bakers, the Police

believe that these are part of Jihad funds received for militant activities. Qasim is believed to be close confident of HUM District Commander

Shabir. Bhat, Shafeeq Ahmed: Alias “Shakeel Ahmed”.

Shamswari,

Resident of

Srinagar. A member of Shia outfit Hizb-i-Momineen. He

was made Deputy District Commander in 1997 but soon after the outfit almost became defunct. In middle of 1998 efforts were being made to

revive it. However, Police arrested him on July 25, 1998.

Bhat, Mehraj-ud-Din: Alias “Babar”. A militant who became a Deputy District Commander of Harkat-ul-Ansar in 1997. The State Police arrested him on January 21, 1998 from a hideout in Srinagar. Bhat, Pervez Ahmed: Alias “Abdul Bashir”. A militant trained in

Pakistan who was an active member of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen. In 1997 he was designated as its Chief Organiser. He was arrested by Kashmir Police from downtown Srinagar on October 28, 1997. Bhatt, Mushtaq Ahmed: Alias “Khalid”. Resident of Nowpora,

Srinagar. Was a longtime member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. On June 4, 1998 he was arrested by Kashmir Police in Srinagar. Police claimed that he had confessed his involvement in several criminal cases including

the major car explosion in Regal Chowk, Srinagar, in October 1997 in

which 4 persons including a Major and SHO Kothibag were killed.

Bandey, Abdul Majid: A member of Hurriyat Conference. In March

1996 and again in March 1998 he went to Geneva as part of NGO delegation to meet delegates to the UN Human Rights Commission. In April 1998 he was made Incharge of New Delhi Awareness Bureau of the Hurriyat Conference. Bakshi, Manzoor Ahmed: A senior member of JKLF. In 1998 he as

entrusted by Pak-based Chief Commander Mohd. Rafiq Dar to revive in the Valley, JKLF militant wing. Two consignments of arms were also receive and dumped in some hideouts in Srinagar. Before Bakshi could embark on his work, the BSF arrested him on June 16, 1998 and recovered

arms and ammunition received from Pakistan. Bhatt, Ghulam

Mohammed:

A senior member of Jamait-i-Islami.

He has been member of its executive body (Majlis-e-Shoora) for many years. He was its Amir-i-Alla (Supreme Chief) when it was declared unlawful in 1990. He continued to be its Chief till 1996. He was then made Head of the Institute of Kashmir Studies—a Human Rights

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Documentation Centre, at Srinagar. On May 9, 1997 he was arrested from

his residence at Hyderpora, Srinagar. On his release he once again became Jamait Chief. In November 1998 he stated that Jamait-i-Islami had nothing to do with militancy and JEI never accepted this to be right policy to solve Kashmir problem. However, the JEI political leader Syed Ali Shah

Geelani disagreed with this statement. Bhat, Abdul Ahad: Alias Muzammil. Also known as Nadvi.

Originally frrom Bandipora but had been living in Srinagar for many years. He was drawn to militancy in 1989. During 8 years he was reported to have motivated over 400 youngmen and sent them to Pakistan for training in arms and subversion. He was a senior member of Hizb-ulMujahideen. For over two years he was Chief of its “Teaching and Training” wing. He was later promoted as Deputy Chief Commander for North Kashmir. He made many trips across the LOC. In 1997 summer he went to Saudi Arabia for collection of funds. A day after his return,

the Police arrested him on September 24, 1997.

Baig, Younis: A senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen which he joined in 1990. He was involved in many incidents. In 1997 he was a District Commander but soon developed differences with the leadership of the outfit. Pushed to the wall he decided to give up the gun. He surrendered to SOG of State Police on September 27, 1997. After detailed interrogation, he appealed to militants to give up the gun and help “rebuild Kashmir from ashes.” Bhai, Mohammed: Alias “Saifullah”. Belongs to a village in Ganderbal area. In 1997 he was made Commander of this area by Hizbul-Mujahideen. He played a major role in regrouping militants in Ganderbal-Sumbal-Bandipora belt. Alongwith Shaheen Afaque, he was involved in large number of attacks on Security Forces and political activists. While he was hiding in a house in Wakoora village its was encircled by troops. On December 15, 1997, in the encounter he got killed. Baba, Ghulam

Nabi: Also known as “Parvez Baba”. Belongs to

Khanabal in Anantnag. A trained electrical engineer was posted as Junior Engineer, PDD at Batote on Srinagar-Jammu Highway in 1996-97 (he was absent from duty for nearly 18 months). He came into militancy in 1992. He later joined Harkat-ul-Ansar. He was reported to be handling its financial operations. He also looked after media and propaganda work in Kashmir Valley. He was made a member of its Command Council and in early 1997 was made its Deputy Chief. Police had claimed that he was the mastermind behind the explosion outside the General Bus Stand at Jammu on March 29, 1997. It was alleged he had arranged the

ambassador car and the explosive material used in the blast, killing a

dozen persons. On November 30, 1997 he was arrested by BSF from his

sister's house in Kulgam. Harkat-ul-Ansar in a statement disowned him

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Kashmir Underground

saying that Baba was not its member. In his interrogation by Police, he gave details which confirmed that he was very much a senior member of HUA. He gave details of execution of 4 foreign hostages by Harkat militants in December 1995.

.

Bhat, Rafiq Ahmed: Alias “Moulvi Rouf”. A resident of Khanyar, Srinagar. He was an employee of Government Health Department. He was killed in an encounter with Police in a village near Shopian on October 22, 1997. Police claimed that he was Acting Chief of Tehrik-ulMujahideen. It was also claimed that he had assumed Chairmanship of Shoura-e-Jehad, (a platform of 8 prominent militant groups) in July 1997 after Shoura Chairman Assadullah Afaque was killed by Police. However, it was alleged that Rafiq had been killed in custody. Bhat, Mushtaq Ahmed: Alias “Siddique Saleh”. A senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In 1995 he was appointed Commander incharge of Srinagar’s Civil Lines. In Channapora, a suburb of Srinagar, Bhat was killed in an encounter with BSF on April 9, 1996. Beig, Ishtiaq Ahmed: A well known militant of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen group. He operated mostly in Budgam District. The Police apprehended him from Chaddora on June 1, 1998.

Bhat, Mohd. Hanif: A resident of Raj Bagh, Srinagar. An employee of J&K Bank Ltd who was working as a Cashier. He was arrested on June 2, 1998 from his residence. It was alleged that for quite some time he had been Deputy Financial Chief of Hurkat-ul-Ansar outfit in Kashmir Valley. Baria, Abu: An Afghan mercenary who was operating in Kashmir under Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was killed on November 27, 1993 when

Arny was flushing out militants from some areas of Sopore. In injured condition he was taken to Hospital. When his blood was tested he was found to be having AIDs. Bhai, Akbar: Real name Mohd. Akbar Quereshi. See Quereshi. Baba, Mohammed Hussain: Alias “Chotta Saifullah”. He was HUM

District Commander for Kulgam area of Anantnag District. In an encounter with Security Forces in Mehmoodpora village on January 11, 1999 he was killed. He was wanted by police in many cases of attacks on Security Forces in past 2 years. Bhat, Ali Mohd.: A senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and a very close associate of the Acting Chief, Ghazi Rafi-ud-Din who had designated him as Chief of Administration and Logistics. He had received

special training in Pakistan. Along with Ghazi he had taken refuge in a

house in downtown Srinagar. The house was surrounded by Police on August 9, 1998 and in the ensuing encounter he and Ghazi with third associate Touseef alias Javeed, were killed.

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Bhat, Mohd. Imtiaz: He was from Noorbagh Bhagbanpora area of Srinagar. A member of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen who in 1997 was made a

Group Commander. Alongwith two others he was deputed to Delhi in November 1997 to arrange for some “safe houses”. In Third week of November 1997 Delhi Police arrested him. In Delhi he was known as

Setha alias Ashfaq Saleem. Bhat, Abdul Ahad: Resident of Bhagpempora. He joined Tehrik-ulMujahideen in 1995. In November 1997 he accompanied two colleagues to Delhi where in second week of November 1997 he was arrested by Delhi Police. In Delhi he had assumed new name of Yusuf Bhat. He and his two colleague were allegedly involved in some killings in Badgam District in Kashmr. Bhat, Fayaz Ahmed: Alias Fayaz Sofi alias Bilal Bhat. A member of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen who gained experience since he took part in a number of actions. In November 1997 he was sent to Delhi to arrange for some hideouts. He was arrested by Delhi Police, later in the month.

Chapri, Mohd. Yusuf: A senior sympathiser of the secessionist

movement. When Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Council was set up on August 1, 1992, he was named Head of the Environmental Cell.

Chaudhury, Javed: A Military Advisor of JKLF. While escaping from

a Security Forces dragnet, crossing river Jehlum in Srinagar with Acting

President, Sheikh Abdul Hamid, he was shot dead on November 19, 1992. His body was recovered from river two days later. Cobra, Black: See Khan, Shamshan.

Chopan, Reyaz Ahmed: Belongs to Kupwara

District. He was

recruited in July 1997 by Jamait-ul-Mujahideen and sent across LOC for arms training. On return he operated in Kupwara District in company

of Nazir Ahmed Lone also of this outfit. On July 10, 1998 both of then

were surrounded by armymen in a village near Kupwara town, and were forced to surrender. During interrogation he disclosed that Lone and he were forcibly sent to Pakistan for training which lasted 3 months. While Chopan was trained at a Camp near Lahore, Lone was sent to a Camp

near Peshawar. When sent back to Kashmir they were told to attack army patrols and camps and eliminate Kashmiri Pandits, SPOs and Ikhwanis (counter-insurgents). Chowhan,

Mohd.

Yusuf: Alias Mohd.

Shaffi alias Moulvi alias

Younis. A senior member of Harkat-ul-Ansar, having joined it when it

was formed. He quickly rose to be Amir of the Majlis-i-Aamla (Chairman

of the Executive Committee). Then be became HUA nominee on the Shoura-e-Jehad. Subsequently, he was made outfit’s Amir-e-Aala (Chief). Simultaneously he was also the Imam of Khalifapora Masjid in Srinagar. He was close associate of Hamid Turki who was HUA Commander and

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Kashmir Underground

was reported to have been leader of the Al Faran group which abducted the six foreign tourists from Pahalgam area in July 1995. Chowhan was arrested in Srinagar on November 7, 1998. During interrogation he confessed to his involvement in a number of militant actions. Chacha, Omar: Real name Ghulam Rasul Lone. See Lone.

Dar, Abdul Gani: Alias: “Ghazi Sofi”. After his armed training across the LOC, when he returned to Kashmir he became a founder member of “Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen” in 1991, Later became its Chief. He was arrested

by Security Forces in Srinagar on September 3, 1992.

Dar, Abdul Hamid: A member of Muslim Janbaz Force. He survived

many encounters with Security Forces. Soon was promoted as Divisional Commander. He was arrested by Security Forces on July 8, 1993. Dar, Abdul Majid: A senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Because of his contacts across the LOC

and of his experience, he was

promoted as Advisor General of the organisation, in 1992.

Dar, Dawood Ahmed: A member of Muslim Janbaz Force. He was

made incharge of the western part of Srinagar City. He was arrested by Security Forces on July 8, 1993 along with 5 others.

Dar, Abdul Majid: Part of Muslim Janbaz Force, later Al Jehad. In

early 1993 he was made group’s Chief Motivator and Recruiter. On July 8, 1993 he was arrested by Security Forces alongwith 4 Divisional Commanders. Dar, Abdul Majid: Like many Kashmir youth he went over to Pakistan in 1990 for receiving training in arms. On return he worked with Master Ahsan Dar. Later when the Muslim Mujahideen was organised he became an important member there. Soon was made the Chief Commander in early 1994. In an encounter he was killed on October 4, 1994.

Dar, Master Ahsan: An old guard of militancy. He belongs to Pattan area in Barmalla District. He was a teacher. He was arrested in 1988. For treatment of some ailment he was lodged in SMHS Hospital from where he escaped. He went across the LOC with 10 others and returned same year. In 1990 he established Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was made its Supreme Commander. Because of differences with his colleague and being sidelined, he left the organisation, on November 11, 1991.On May 10, 1992 he founded a new outfit under label of “Mujahideen-i-Islam” but soon left that also. With a few associates he set up another group

which came to be known as “Muslim Mujahdeen”. He was proclaimed

its Chief on May 30, 1992. In April 1993 he said that militancy had received

a major set back after it became a “peoples movement”. According to him first set back was in early 1990 when a large number of youth were recruited as militants indiscriminately. Lot of undesirable elements

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managed to get into militant ranks. “The Line of Control was open and whoever managed to reach Kupwara found it easy to cross over to POK” he said. “Public support for the militants was good and more and more people got involved, or rather meddled with militancy, things went awry” he farther said. He opined that it was lack of effective leadership and militants lacked discipline which diluted the movement. He was of the view that the movement could be properly guided and directed if at least 100 talented dedicated Commanders to assume leadership at various levels, were available. According to him the spurt in militancy had succeeded in bringing the Kashmir issue out of cold storage. It is also become a big drain on India’s economy. : In Srinagar another colleague and he were arrested on December 10, 1993 from a Government flat in Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar allotted to a former NC MLA, Mushtaq Ahmed Lone, who became MOS Home in

June 1998. By 1995 Dar had become known as Baba-e-Askariat (Father _ of Militancy). In February 1995 (from Jammu Central Jail), he extended

full support to “new peace initiative” of having a dialogue with New Delhi, made by 4 prominent militant leaders under Babbar Badr. In a statement on February 10, 1996, he said, “We had started this movement on militant lines and given the leadership to experienced politicians (Hurriyat Conference) while militants supported them from outside”. He criticised APHC leaders who “unfortunately used this for their own interests.” He appealed to all militants to lend support to dialogue

proposed by these four leaders. Dar, Mohd. Ashraf: One of the earliest militants. Later became an

important member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Since 1983 he had claimed to have crossed LOC, 22 times. In an encounter with Security Forces he

was killed on October 1, 1991

Dar, Aijaz Ahmed: Soon after the Islamic Students League was

formed in 1986, he became its member. Late joined JKLF. He is reported

to have made two trips across the LOC, for arms training and again for securing arms. He and 3 others went to DIG Ali. Mohammed Watali’s residence in Srinagar on September, 18, 1988 to kill him. In the firing of the security guards, Aijaz was killed. Dar, Ali Mohd.: When United Jihad Council Alliance was set up in 1991 by Azam Inqgalabi, Dar was appointed its Chairman for POK, to coordinate activities of all organisations there, wanting to participate in

ongoing movement in Kashmir. Dar, Nazir Ahmed: Alias “Jajja”—Chief operator of Hizb-ulMujahideen in Sopore area in summer of 1997. In an encounter with

armymen in village Pehtsir near Sopora on September 15, 1997 he got killed alongwith his Division a Commander.

266

Kashmir Underground Dar, Abdul Aziz: Alias “Gen. Musa”. See Musa.

Dar, Ali Mohammed:

Alias “Sabir Khan”.-A

militant who

rose

rapidly after he joined in mid-1990, the newly formed “Kashmir Freedom Front”, in Srinagar. Later, he was made its Group Chief Patron.

Dar, Javed Ahmed: Alias “Chengez Khan”. A member of Al Jehad

outfit. He was made its Military Advisor in 1992. He was arrested by Security Forces on November 11, 1992. Dar, Farooq Ahmed: Better known as “Bitta Karate” because of his liking of Karate. He is an important member of JKLF. He was arrested in 1991 and detained under TADA. In 1990 the Administration filed FIR 44/90 in Police Station Maharajganj (Srinagar). Police challaned him allegedly for killing of some persons including government officials, for some bomb blast and rapes. He is alleged to have hurled a bomb on a jeep in Srinagar’s Budshah Chowk on October 18, 1989. He is alleged to have be involved in killing of Ashok Kumar on February 23, 1990

P.N. Handoo (Asstt. Dir. Information) on March 1, 1990

Avtar Krishen Raina on March 20, 1990

Parneet Sawhney on March 27, 1990 He was also challaned for allegedly hurling a bomb on Passport office on January 1, 1990 Kashmiri Pandits were his special targets. In a TV interview telecast on March 27, 1990 he reportedly claimed that he had

killed 22 Kashmiri Pandits.

Dar, Master Tara: Originally a member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He

developed differences with the leadership. After leaving this group he launched “Armed Muslim Mujahideen” and became its Chief in 1992.

Diwani, Abdul Hamid: He joined “Al Fateh” in Kashmir in 1970.

He was arrested in 1971 and spent two years in jail. With 3 others hijacked IA plane to Lahore. He resurfaced in POK in 1990 where he floated an outfit “Kashmir Freedom Movement”. Din, Master Hakim: Originally of JKLF. Joined the breakaway group

which in early 1991 formed J&K Peoples Liberation Army. In a few

months he rose to become its Deputy Chief Commander. Daud, Mohammed: A senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was appointed Chief Commander for Jammu Province on February 18, 1991, when the Hizb decided to extend operation to Jammu

area.

and Doda

Dar, Bashir Ahmed: Alias “Fauji”. A senior member of the Ikhwan-

ul-Musalmeen. In early 1992 he became its Military Advisor. In an encounter with Security Forces near Bandipora on September 26, 1992 he was killed. Dar, Mohd. Yasin: A member of Al Umar Mijahideen. In 1994 he

was appointed Commander for Pulwama District. On February 13, 1994

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in an encounter. with Security Forces in Pampor, he was killed. His outfit disputing it, alleged that he was killed by police in custody. Dar, Mohd. Aslam: A senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujaideen Later was promoted as District Commander for Pulwama District. He was killed on February 17, 1995 by Security Forces in an encounter at KaniDajan village near Charar-i-Shareif. Dar, Nazir Ahmed:

Alias Master Bilal. Also known as “Shabir”;

“Engineer” and “Umair”. Belonged to Kangan area. He was an active

militants since 1990. He went across LOC

twice. On return, was

promoted. He was involved in killing of Army /BSF personnel, grenade attacks etc. He was alleged to be responsible for killing of 25 surrendered militants. Thereafter he was made Divisional Commander of Hizb-ulMujahideen for North Kashmir. In an encounter with SOG he was killed

on July 7, 1997.

Dar, Mohd. Hanif: A senior member of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen. Police shot him dead in Srinagar on September 7, 1997 when he tried to escape after being apprehended. It was claimed that he was involved in four killings in past 2 years, including of a TV journalist Shaffi on March 16,

1997.

Dar Mohd. Rafiq: A senior member of JKLF. He was named Chief Commander on December 15, 1992 when Javed Mir quit this position to become President of Kashmir Valley unit. Through ups and down and splits he continued to be Chief Commander of JKLF (Yasin) even in 1997.

In 1998 he had gone over to Pakistan and operated from there. He sent arms to the Valley and direction in May 1998 to revive JKLF militant

wing.

‘bar, Ghulam Rasul: An important activist. He went to POK in 1990 where he received intensive training for 21 days at Jabri Army Camp (near Murree). He was handpicked by ISI for special work in Kashmir Valley, where he was asked to set up a new outfit “Akbar Tigers”. Before he could appoint all functionaries, he was arrested on November 7, 1990. Dar, Mokid. Ayub: Alias “Ashfaq”. A member of Hizb-ulMujahideen. He was close to its founder, Mohd. Abdullah Bangroo. The police has alleged that he with Bangroo and Shigan fired pointblock at Moulvi Farooq in his residence in Srinagar on May 21, 1990.

Dilawar: Only code name. He was a member of JKLF. After the split in September 1995 he sided with Amanullah faction locally led by Shabir Ahmed Sidiqi. He was soon made Srinagar District Commander. When member of Shabir faction forced their entry into Hazratbal Shrine on March 24, 1996 in an encounter with STF of JKP, he was killed

Dar, Mohd. Ashraf: Hailing from Bandipora area he was drawn

into militancy in 1992. He joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen after training in Pakistan. In next 4 years he changed his party label 3 times and finally

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Kashmir Underground

came to Al Fateh Force. In 1997 he was made a District Commander for Baramulla District. Police claimed that he got killed in an encounter on

January 29, 1998. However, Al Fateh alleged that he was killed after

being taken in custody a week earlier. Dhobi, Abdur Rashid: A resident of Handwara. He had received. his training in Pakistan and was sent back as member of newly formed Tehrik-i-Jehad outfit. In 1997 he took charge of its operation in Kupwara District as its Commander.

He got killed on October

28, 1997 in an

encounter with Security Forces in Dudipora village of Kupwara District. Dar, Ghulam

Rasul: An active member of JKLF. In 1994 he was

named as Party spokesman. On his return from London, he was arrested in Delhi on October 6, 1996.

Dar, Bashir Ahmed: Alias “Adil Jehangir:. A Commander of Hizb-

ul-Mujanideen. His area of operation in 1997 was Budgam District.

Kashmir Police arrested him on November 24, 1997. He told Police that

he had been trained in Afghanistan and was allied with the Khalid-iSaani group of HUM. Dhobi, Mohd. Shafi: Alias “Yousaf Khan”—Early in 1990 alongwith

40 other boys he crossed over to POK. After preliminary training he was sent toa camp on Afghan border. After 7 months he came back to Kashmir as member of JKLF but later went over to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He took part in many militancy related incidents. In 1992 he was sent to Nepal to arrange in Kathmandu hideouts for Kashmiri militants. An ISI officer stationed in Pakistan Embassy coordinated their activities, distributed

funds and arranged forged passports. He made many trips from Kathmandu to India including Kashmir. On his latest visit to Delhi in October 1997 he was apprehended by Delhi Police on October 27, alongwith 2 colleague from a city guest house. Dar, Shahid Ahmed: Alias “Mudassar”. For nearly 5 years from 1991 was a feared member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in Pattan area in Baramulla District. He was an expert in handling of explosives and wireless sets. He was a Battalion Commander

but he was a major

communication link to pass messages up and down. He got killed in an

encounter with Armymen ina village near Pattan on March 16,1996 Dar, Abdul

Ahad:

A resident of Palapora

near Handwara,

who

received his training in Pakistan in 1997. He was made a battalion commander of Tehrik-e-Jehad and with accomplices he came to Kashmir in July 1998. The group tried to sneak in from Gurmuth-Nar Gali,

Nawgam in Baramulla District. He and 9 others were killed by Armymen. Dar, Nazir Ahmed: Alias “Captain of Hajan”. An active member of counter-insurgency outfit—Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon. Alongwith 4 others

he was killed on June 21, 1998 when the BP Gypsy they were traveling in

Players and Captains

269

near Sumbal in Baramulla District, was blown up by a landmine. He

was bodyguard of Chief, Manzoor Ahmed Parray who was also killed.

Dar, Ali Mohammed: Alias Burhan-ud-Din Hijazi. Also known as

Rafi-ud-Din Ghazi. See Ghazi, Rafi-ud-Din.

Dar, Mohd. Sadiq: A senior militant of Al-Jehad outfit. A resident

of Srinagar. In early 1998 he was promoted as its Financial Chief and also its Administrator. The Police arrested him from a hideout on November 9, 1998.

Dar, Bashir Ahmed: Alias “Khalid”. After becoming a militant in 1990 he went to Pakistan for training. On return he became member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and rose to be its Divisional Administrator. He was arrested on October 15, 1998. He later disclosed that he had gone to Delhi

in 1994 from where he got a Passport in his favor without any verification

on June 2, 1994. He managed a Pakistani visa and via Attarion December

12, 1994 he crossed over to Pakistan. After staying there for nearly 4 years he returned to Srinagar on September24, 1998. Dhobi, Mohd. Shafi: Alias Shaffa alias Yusuf. Belongs to Dalgate Srinagar. He had joined Telrik-ul-Mujahideen in 1995 and two years later he was made a local Commander. In October 1997 he was sent to Delhi to help set up a cell there. Delhi Police arrested him from his hideout in third week of November 1997. Dar, Ali Mohd: Alias “Ali DC”. Also known as “Shabir Khan”. A

Senior Assistant in State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) he drew his salary from SRTC right from 1988 when he joined the militant ranks. He first became member of JKLF and functioned as a “Deputy Chief”. He later shifted to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and ultimately joined the Lashkar-e-Toiba where he was “Publicity-cum-Financial Chief”. On

March 1, 1999 he was arrested by Police in downtown Srinagar. A loaded

pistol was recovered from his possesion.

Fahadullah: A Pakistani national who was trained in guerrilla warfare in Afghanistan. He came to Kashmir in 1993 alongwith 25 foreigners. Joined Al Burg outfit and moved to Doda District to escalate

militancy there. In 1994 he was arrested in Doda. Fahad, Mehmood Alhaj: A Lebanese national who had fought

against Israel. He had come to India via Pakistan and Nepal in 1992. A

specialist in anti-aircraft guns. In Kashmir he became part of Hizb-ulMujahideen and trained nearly 500 cadres n handling of arms. He was arrested by BSF in Pahalgam area when he was dressed as a poor laborer. Faizal: A Lebanese by birth. He came from Pakistan in 1992 to join JKLF. Since he was a PLO veteran he was put on training of new recruits. He was arrested within a few months but claimed to have trained over 300 Kashmiri youth.

270

Kashmir Underground Faridi, Adil: Son of a wellknown family of Doda District. Became a

member of the Muslim Janbaz Force and took part in a number of

encounters. He was a member of MJF Supreme Council. When Force’s

Chief Commander Babbar Badr decided to give up the gun in February 1996,

and opted for dialogue with Delhi, Faridi with 14 of his colleague

from Jammu region declared full support to Badr, on February 27, 1996. Farooq, Moulvi Omar: Mirwaiz of Kashmir and President of Awami

Action Committee. He was born in 1974. After the assasination of his father, Moulvi Mohd. Faroog in May 1990, he was proclaimed as Mirwaiz of Kashmir, even though he had not completed his academic or theological training. Later he was formally installed as Mirwaiz and made

President of AAC.

Realising the need of bringing together various secessionist groups together, he convened a number of meetings. The first big one was held

on December 27, 1992 and the second one on March 8, 1993 when it was

decided to form an umbrella organisation. It took 6 months before it could be formally set-up. On September 9, 1993 the All Parties Hurriyat Conference came into being with 34 poliical and religions bodies becoming its members. Moulvi Omar Farooq was made its first Chairman. In the next few months he was much sought after because of the crisis of Hazratbal Shrine in which were holed up militants who agreed to surrender arms and leave the Shrine after 32 days. In 1994 he was invited to Casablanca meeting of OIC. Heading a two member Hurriyat Conference delegation he left Srinagar on December 13, 1994.

He met there, leaders from various Muslim countries besides having a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister, Ms Benazir Bhutto. He also visited

London and Saudi Arabia before returning to India. In October 1995 he again led a delegation to US where he attended as an observer the Ministerial meeting of 52 member countries of OIC. Since the UN General Assembly session was being held in New York he met delegates of various countries. When Pakistani President Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari had come to New Delhi for a SAARC summit in May 1995, he met him in the Pakistan High Commission on May 5, 1995. In April 1996 Moulvi Omar Farooq was again appointed as Chairman of the APHC. In September 1996 he led a two member Hurriyat delegation to New York to participate as Observer in the OIC Foreign Ministers Meeting . Later he conferred with “likeminded” persons and issued a Washington Declaration renouncing the option of independence for Kashmir. He also submitted a Memorandum to UN which reiterated that Kashmir could accede either to India or Pakistan. On return to Kashmir he found that many among the secessionists were not in agreement with his stand. In

September 1997 he was due to leave for New York to lobby for right of * self-determination for Kashmiris, during the UN General Assembly

Players and Captains

271

meeting. Those opposing him made the Hurriyat Executive Committee to call off the visit. Inspite of all this, like the past 4 years he continued to meet and interact with media persons and diplomats who visited Kashmir. He was one of the few secessionist leaders who has accepted government security. In the Hurriyat Executive Committee meeting held in April 1998, as Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani succeeded him, when

Omar's term expired. Omar Faroog felt that he could secure firm political footing only by strengthening his Awami Action Committee. He demonstrated his following on May 21, 1998 on 8" death anniversary of his father, Moulvi Mohd. Farooq. Omar announced that his organisation hereafter would be known as Awami Majlis-i-Amal at the meeting held in Iddgah. He urged Kashmiris to strengthen AMA and extend support to APHC. After Pakistan had completed its nuclear tests in May 1998, Moulvi Omar Farooq said, “Bombs will not solve the Kashmir issue. Let there he a dialogue”. He further said, “Kashmir issue is much more volatile

than Bosnia and Middle-East. It is imperative for the international community to intervene and pull India and Pakistan out of nuclear arms

race.” According to him, Pakistan tests were “not a matter of delight

because these had added to the tension in the region.”

Later, about the P-5 meeting of Permanent Members of UN, at Geneva on June 4, 1998, Omar stressed the urgency of resolving

Kashmir problem. He opined, “The Big 5 should do it. The Security Council must also send a fact finding mission to Kashmir to ascertain the state of human rights in Kashmir.” Omar Farooq once again went to USA in September 1998. There he met the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mian Mohd. Nawaz Sharief besides meeting representatives of Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) at New York. He also met foreign delegates -to UN General Assembly and many American political leaders and intellectuals. He delivered a lecture on Kashmir on November 2, 1998 in Rice University in Houstan, Texas State. He told his audience that Kashmir

had achieved its independence on August 15, 1947 when British paramountcy lapsed and has never renounced or forfeited that sovereign status. He claimed that a “bogus Instrument of Accession to India was purportedly signed by Hindu Maharaja on October 27, 1947.” The Mirwaiz alleged that extrajudicial killings, rape, torture, plunder, abduction for ransom, shelling of civilian homes and arbitrary detentions without trial are commonplace

human rights violations in Kashmir

committed overwhelmingly by Indian troops or collaborators.” He said Kashmiris will persist in their struggle for self-determination and will accept any hardships and any demand for martyrs necessary to achieve that inalienable right.

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Kashmir Underground

In February 1999 with his mother, he planed to go to Saudi Arabia for performance of Haj. They were denied permission to leave. On February 27, 1999 he threatened to move the Supreme Court for denial of permission to perform Haj. The Government back tracked and 4 days later both son and mother left for Saudi Arabia. His interview about his not being allowed to go to Saudi Arabia for Haj was projected on Pakistan TV carrying his voice. The matter was raised at Jammu in the ongoing session of the J&K Legislative Council. The Government was accused of favouritism and discrimination for allowing Moulvi Omar Faroog to put through an international telephone call to Pakistan while denying this facility to common citizens in Jammu & Kashmir. Faroogi,

Mufti Mehraj-ud-Din: Born in 1944. A student leader. A

practicing lawyer who later joined judicial service. he was Additional Advocate General. During incarceration he had joined Plebiscite Front and than 30 months. In March 1990 he went over to Pakistan where

In 1964 for sometime Sheikh Abdullah’s was in jail for more

at Rawalpindi he met

Col. Assad, a senior officer of ISI for coordinating the training and arms

supply to JKLF in Kashmir. Later in 1991 he went thrice to Nepal alongwith Ghulam Mohd. Sheikh alias “Khalid”. In Kathmandu he met in Pakistan Embassy the Second Secretary, Kalimullah. There he also met a team of ISI headed by Brig. Noman, which had come all the way from Pakistan to meet the two Kashmiri leaders. Mufti and Sheikh were asked to hire a shop for cover and also arrange a safe house for residence. They were allegedly given Rs 6.5 lacs for this purpose. Earlier in Srinagar, they had been provided Rs 4.5 lacs for Nepal visits. In Kathmandu

Pakistani diplomat

Kalimullah promised them Rs 2.2 million, later.

However, on their return to India, at Delhi they were allegedly handed over Rs 14 lacs to be passed on to some militant outfits in Kashmir. At Delhi he was arrested on February

12, 1992. Three Bank Drafts of Rs

45000/- each were recovered from him alongwith Rs 2000/- in Pak currency, and a diary giving details of payments made. In February 1993 the CBI presented a Challan under TADA, in the Sessions Court at Delhi. He was alleged to have conspired in the murder of Prof. Mushir-ul-Haq, Vice-Chancellor of Kashmir University, and H.

L. Khera, General Manager of HMT Watch Factory, at Srinagar, in April 1990. The chargesheet alleged that IS] had given from time to time large sums of money for funding various militant groups. It further alleged that as Trustee (Finance) of the Jehlum Valley Medical College, Srinagar,

he had embezzled funds to the tune of Rs 60 lacs and given the money to various terrorist organisations. A Special Court dealing with TADA cases

in Delhi on August 11, 1996 sentenced him and 3 others G. M. Sheikh,

Mohd. Yasin Bhat and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, to 5 years R. I. for terrorist

Players and Captains

273

and disruptive activities and criminal conspiracy. This is first ever case of Kashmir militancy, investigated by CBI in which a Court had convicted Kashmiri militants under TADA. Faqtoo, Mohd. Qasim: Also known as “Aashiq Hussain.” A senior

member of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. In 1992 he was made JUM Intelligence

Chief. On return from a visit to Delhi, he was arrested at Srinagar Airport on February 5, 1993. He was accompanied by his 5 month old son and his wife Asiya Andrabi—Chief of Dukhtaran-i-Millat, a women militant

outfit. He was lodged in Central Jail, Jammu from where he was shifted

to Srinagar on September 4, 1998. Next day his wife challenged his continued detention and filed a bail application. Feroze, Prof.: See “Illahi”.

Fayaz, Abdul Hameed: Also known as Abdul Hameed Ganai. Part

of Islamic Jamait-e-Tulba. He has been the President of Islamic Threeke-Tulba, a students wing of Jamait-i-Islami, since 1987. He also helped found the Al-Badr outfit, which later merged with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

He is considered a staunch fundamentalist and also has been a senior consultant with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He has helped raise funds and providing material resources. In Srinagar on February 2, 1998 he was arrested by State Police (SOG). Firdous Ahmed

Baba, Syed: Better known as Babbar Badr. See

“Badr”.

Farooqi Mufti Baha-ud-Din: A former Chief Justice of J&K High Court. During the period of turmoil be headed J&K Peoples’ Basic Rights (Protection) Committee. Foreign delegations and important foreign journalists and politicians who visited Kashmir, would invariably call

on him. He was Judge or Chief Justice for 23 years who took oath of

allegiance to the Indian Constitution and was entrusted with duties of protecting fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution. “Now he terms the administration in J&K as Indian occupational regime”, alleged an Indian leader. Farooq, Omar:

A Pakistani national, resident of Toba Tek Singh

village of Faisalabed District (Punjab). He had infiltrated from Pakistan in 1997 and soon was made Hizb-ul-Mujahideen District Commander for Nowshera (Rajouri District). He worked in close concert with Rajouri

District Commander Sher Khan. He was one of three foreign mercenaries who were killed in an encounter in Mangal Ridge area with Armymen._ on

February

8, 1999.

Firdous,

Abbas:

The other

two

Afghanistan and Abu Hanees of POK. A Pakistan

killed were

national.

An

Area

Gazi

Khan

from

Commander

of

Harkat-ul-Jehad, Islami incharge of Rajouri District. In an encounter with Security Forces on August 12, 1998 he got killed in Darhal area.

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Kashmir Underground

Farooqi, Abujahd: He joined “Allah Tigers” early in 1990. In October 1991 he was promoted as Deputy Chief of this Group. Ganai, Mohammed

Yusuf:

A senior member of a pro-Pakistani

outfit “Operation Balakote”. In 1993 he was made the Chief Commander. Under his direction it made nearly 400 attacks on the Security Forces. In 1995 he gave up the gun and later joined the Panthers Party. The Party President, Prof. Bhim Singh made him General Secretary. In May1996 he was PP candidate for Lok Sabha election for Anantnag- Pulwama constituency.

Gauhar, Mohammed:

A member of JKLF. In the reorganisation

announced on April 5, 1990, he was made one of the 7 Area Commanders

in Srinagar District. Gayoor, Mohammed: Chief Spokesman of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen in early 1996. On May 16,1996 he appealed to Kashmir newspapers to

resume publication. He also asked Hizb-ul-Mujahideen to resolve their

differences with the local press in the interest of the peoples movement. Ganai,

Ghulam

Hassan:

An

important

activist and

District

Commander of Hizbullah. He had been in detention since 1990. The outfit succeeded in getting him released on December 20,1991 in exchange for K.C.Gupta, PNB Senior Manager who had been taken hostage on September 9, 1991. Ganai, Ghulam Mohammed: A member of J&K Peoples League. While its President, Shabir Ahmed

Shah was in jail, Ganai alligned

himself with Farooq Rehmani. In early 1991 he was made Acting Chairman of Peoples League (Rehmani). He was arrested on June 18, 1991. He was released after two years, on October 9, 1993 . Gandroo, Mohammed Iqbal: A senior member of JKLF. In October 1989 he was made a “Military Advisor”. He was an important member

of the group which planned the kidnapping of Dr. Rubiya Sayed. The

Group held its final meeting at Srinagar in the second week of December 1989. He also took part allegedly in actual abduction. He and a colleague were on continuous guard outside a house at Sopore where Rubiya was kept confined while the members of the Group negotiated with Government for release of 5 JKLF activists from detention in exchange for Rubiya. After her release on December 13,1989, Gandroo was very active organising secessionist activities and directing the militant s. On April8, 1990 in a house where he was engaged in a meeting with Yasin

Malik and two others, the Security Forces surrounded the house. While Malik jumped out and escaped, Gandroo and two others with him were

arrested. On December 8, 1989 a case had been registered by Police for

abduction and illegal possession of arms, against some including Gandroo.

The ’

case

was

transferred

to CBI

for further

investigation.

Players and Captains

275

During his 9. years detention he was lodged in jails in Kashmir, Jammu and Rajasthan. The TADA designated court at Jammu on February 3, 1999 released him on bail. As he came out of gate of the Cenral Jail at Jammu, he was arrested once again by Police, to be tried under another charge. Ghazi, Naseeb-ud-Din: An experienced member of Hizb-ulMujahideen. He went up in hierarchy rapidly and was made one of the two Deputy Supreme Commanders in 1993. In March 1994 he offered a “general amensty” to migrants and asked them to return to Kashmir Valley and “actively associate yourselves with the ongoing movement.” In a strongly worded statement on June 23, 1994 he refuted the involvement of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in the assasination of Dr. Qazi Nissar Ahmed at Anantnag . He alleged that people having a vested interest were “defaming the Hizb as also the movement.” He further alleged that these very persons had shot the video film of the processions that were taken out after Qazi’s death. He also alleged that later they “sold this film to Government media.”. While condemning the murder he accused Hizb opponents of “using the solemn occasion for shouting slogans against Pakistan and Hizb and nothing but condemnation. In February 1997 he was killed in an encounter with Security Forces. Gul, Major: His real name was Imtiaz Ahmed.

A Commander of

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen incharge of a sector in Rajouri District. In an encounter with Army troops on December 18, 1998 he was killed at Kharimarg (10,500 ft) in the upper of Pir Panjal range . He commanded over 100 militants. He ad a number of killings and rapes to his credit. Ghazi, Rafi-ud-Din: Alias Burhan-ud-Din Hijazi. Belonged to Warpora, Pattan in Baramulla District. He was inducted into Police Force

in 1979 as ASI Later, he was promoted to the post of Sub Inspector. He deserted in 1990 and went across to Pakistan. In 1992 he was formally dismissed from service here. After intensive training in subversion he was sent back to Kashmir. He also had a stint in Afghanistan. As senior member of the Hizb he had a hand in every important operation. On June 15, 1993 he was made Deputy Chief Commander. On January 19, 1994 he declared that Hizb had banned “Khidmat” and “Nawai-i-Subh” the official newspapers of Congress and the National Conference parties respectively’. He “directed” their publishers to cease publication forthwith. He further directed the tenants of the Nawai-i-Subh Building not to pay any rent to the National Conference. He also asked the Khidmat Printing Press not to undertake printing of any newspaper, even those which were sympathetic to the cause of the underground. On April 26, 1994 he and the second Deputy Supreme Commander,

declared amnesty to migrants who had gone out of Kashmir. He advised them to return and plunge into the peoples movement wholeheartedly.

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Kashmir Underground

In 1995 he went over to Pakistan three times and in 1996 Re went again

for “detailed discussion “ with Hizb Chief, Syed Salahudin and the ISI

senior officials. He returned to Kashmir in April 1996 as the “Deputy Supreme Commander” when the erstwhile Deputy Chief, Naseeb-ud-

Din Ghazi was killed along: with

two other important

functionaries,

Firdaus Kirmani and Manzoor Ahmed Khan. For nearly 15 months he tried to regroup Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in the Valley and also in the three

Districts of Jammu, namely Doda, Poonch and Rajouri. He was able to

lift somewhat the sagging morale of the HUM cadres. In June 1998 through press he denied that Mujahideen were terrorists. “We are soldiers of Allah. We just fight for freedom not to weaken India. We are freedom fighters. Guerrilla warfare is our modus operandi. We hit and run not because we are less in numbers and feel that we will perish by facing the Indian Army. But it is definite principle of guerrilla warfare. Guerrillas face dearth of weapons, so do we. We have no long term agenda as insurgents and terrorists who often play into the hand of their masters because they want to keep the other country under check”. According to him “ Kashmir has never been part of India. We are fighting a war against the hegemony of Indian imperialism.” Police alleged that Dar had been receiving Rs. 75 lacs every month from Pakistan, to run his militant activities in Kashmir. Because he was

responsible for a “ lot of trouble” the Police was on his trail. At end of the first week of August 1998 they were able to zero in on a house in downtown Srinagar which was the latest hideout of the Acting Supreme Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. On the morning of August 9, the SOG surrounded the house and asked Dar and his colleagues to surrender. Instead, they fired on the Police party in a bid to escape. In the encounter that followed, Dar was killed. Also killed with his were

Ali Mohammed Bhat also of Pattan and was reported to be HUM Administrator. Dar’s bodyguard Tauseef alias Javed (son of Ali Mohammed

Bhat)was also killed. Besides, arms and ammunition, the

Police claimed to have recovered Rs., 60,000/- in Indian currency. An

important recovery was a high power Trans-receiver of Japanese make. This wireless set was reported to have a range of over 2000kms and Police claimed that Dar used to be in regular communication with Syed

Salahudin in Pakistan. Police claimed that from interrogation of Khurshid, HUM Financial Chief who was apprehended a few days earlier, it had been established that HUM monthly expenditure in Kashmir was around Rs. 75 lacs which used to be received regularly from abroad through hawala channels. The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and the Hurriyat Conference both claimed

that Dar and his two colleagues were killed in custody after they were apprehended by SOG.

Players and Captains Ghouri, Saifullah:

277 In 1997-98 winter he was made

the Divisional

Commander for North Kashmir by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Ghaznavi, Hasma Khan: Alias Goga . A Pakistani national who was

trained in Afghanistan before being sent to Jammu region in 1997 and made Area Commander for Darhal in Rajouri District for Lashkar-i-Toiba outfit. In an encounter with BSF on May 18, 1998 near Kandi Budhal, he was killed.

.

Ganai, Abdul Qayoom: A militant of 1990 vintage. He graduated through 3 different outfits to become the Chief of Al-Fateh Force in 1996.

On April 22, 1997 he was apprehended by BSF.

Ghulam Nabi, Hakim: A senior member of Jamait-i-Islami who was

made Ameer-e-Aalla in 1992. In November 1993 he was arrested from his residence from a village near Shopian. He was interrogated closely about activities of the Jamait and its involvement with armed militancy. Due to his ill-health he was released from detention on February 17, 1994.

Gulzar, Gulzar Ahmed: An experienced militant who was made Chief of Al Burq outfit in 1997. The Police claimed to have eliminated him in March 1998 in Srinagar. Geelani, Syed Saleem: A senior member of Moslem Conference. When All Parties Hurriyat Conference was formed in 1993, he as made head of its Press, Publicity and Information. In June 1998 he announced

his resignation from this post, APHC as also from the Moslem Conference. Within a few days he joined Shabir Shah’s J&K Peoples Democratic Party. Geelani, Azhar: He surfaced in 1991 as head of a new organisation “Tehrik-i-Islamia”. He was arrested by Security Forces on November 11, 1991. Gori, Shahabudin: A resident of Tanda (U.P) he worked in South

Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre, Delhi. He was an associate of Ashfaq Hussain Lone, Dy. Chief of Intelligence of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Through Ehsan Chowdhury, a Counselor in Pak High Commission in New Delhi he arranged in Oct./Nov. 1998 visas to visit Pakistan for 12 Kashmir youngmen for arms training. He also visited Pakistan where he met in Rawalpindi, Mohd. Yousuf Shah alias Syed Salahudin, Chief

of HUM. Shah gave him a letter for Master Ahsan Dar then HUM Chief in Kashmir. Shah also gave US $10,000. Letter and

the money was to be

handed over in Delhi to Ashfaq Hussain Lone, who was to take both the letter and money to Kashmir for Ahsan Dar. With Shah he also met at Islamabad (Pakistan) Dr. Ayub Thakar, Chief of the London based World Kashmir Freedom Movement. Earlier Thakar had sent him Rs 1.6 million,

Gori told his interrogators after his arrest in Delhi on March 25, 1991. Green Zero: Code name of Abdul Rasheed. See “Rasheed”.

278

Kashmir Underground Gillani, Syed Ali Shah: A prominent leader of J&K Jamait-i-Islami

and Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference. He belongs to Sopore and was born in 1929 in a village near the town. He is a scholar of Urdu and Arabic. A powerful speaker in Urdu. He worked as a teacher in government schools, for 12 years. He was initiated into politics by Moulvi Mohd. Syed Masoodi, a close associate of Sheikh Abdullah and General Secretary of National Conference. He joined Jamait in 1950. For sometime he edited Jamait official organ Urdu Weekly “Azaan”. When Jamait made tactical shift in its policies he contested elections to Legislative Assembly and won in 1972, 1977 and 1987. He has many publications to his credit including “Ruhdad-i-Qaffas”—(A Prison Diary). He has been to jail a number of times. Since eruption of violence and armed militancy he has led the Jamait-i-Islami though the office of “Ameer-i-Jamait” (Chief) has

been held by different persons. He was arrested on April 9, 1990. Hizbul-Mujahideen was set up as the militant wing closely allied to the Jamait. In 1992 the Hizb proclaimed him to be “Rehabar-i-Inqalab” (Guide of

the Revolution).

On January 6, 1993 he declared that only solution of Kashmir

problem, in sight, was that “India should accept that future of Kashmir

is disputed and there should he complete merger of Kashmir with Pakistan—our fate and future are linked with Pakistan.” About the

importance of the gun he said, “The gun should continue to play its role

effectively and decisively. To say that the role of the gun is over is to endorse an unfounded and illogical view which not only contradicts the reason and reality but speaks of insanity and self-deception”. Of need to

have “Nizam-i-Mustafa”—system

of governance in Kashmir, he said,

“The dream of reconstructing individual and social life and mode of statecraft on Islamic model was recognised by everyone as the pivot behind the struggle, sufferings and sacrifices.” He said he was totally opposed to the third option of an Independent Kashmir stating that the

purpose was “utterly careless and unacceptable because nothing less

than right of self-determination was acceptable to the Kashmiris.” Expressing his view that anti-Indian struggle had started right from the day of partition of India and not from 1989 as suggested by many, he said, “the armed struggle is in its final phase.” Wanting to put pressure further on the Administration he asked in early March 1993 all government employees to resign forthwith to protest against alleged atracities on Kashmiri people. Surprisingly, the appeal

was totally ignored. He planned to perform Haj. On the eve of his departure for Saudi Arabia, on May 6, 1993 his passport was impounded. Reacting strongly

he claimed that he was a citizen of Jammu & Kashmir and Delhi had no

right to refuse them permission to perform Haj. New Delhi however,

Players and Captains

279

maintained that Gillani and some other Kashmiri leaders were planning to attend a conference of militant leaders from both sides of Line of

Control, to be held in Saudi Arabia.

He is not known to be pro-West Kashmiri politician but he hailed the United States on May 20, 1993 for describing Jammu & Kashmir as a disputed territory. On May 26, 1993. Ms Robin Raphael , US Assistant

Secretary of State, on a visit to Kashmir called on Geelani and discussed different aspects of Kashmir. During her 90 minute meeting Geelani while thanking her for Mr. John Mallot’s statement, reiterated the suggestion

of a tripartite meet of India, Pakistan and representations of people of Kashmir to find some solution acceptable to the three parties. Proliferation of militant organisations seemed to worry him. After a meeting with JKLF leader Mohd. Yasin Malik in a Delhi jail on July 19, 1993 Geelani said both of them were unhappy over proliferation of militant groups. He called for their merger and unity in their ranks saying “in case we do not close our ranks and continue to remain divided in different groups and factions, we shall never succeed and future historians will never forgive us”. On July 22, 1993 in a statement, he called for unity among different political and guerrilla groups. On June 17, 1993 he sent a letter to the World Conference on Human

Rights meeting in Vienna detailing the alleged abuses of human rights

in Kashmir. He talked of “mass killings, custodial deaths, brutal torture,

‘

rapes, and large scale destruction of property.” Later in 1993, he helped to launch the All Parties Hurriyat Conference on September 9. This is umbrella body of 33 religion, political and militant setups. He was made a member of the 7-member Executive Committee. In October 1993 he was arrested while leading a procession protesting against army cordoning Hazartbal Shrine in Srinagar. He was detained under Pubic Safety Act in Tihar Jail, Delhi. From Delhi he was shifted to

Jammu Jail on March 22, 1994, and he was released from there on June 30, 1994.

He went to Saudi Arabia in 1995 to perform Haj. There he met many Islamic leaders of different countries. He also met senior office-bearers of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), the World Islamic League,

the World Assembly of Moslem Youth. To them he explained the current situation in Kashmir, told them of the alleged Indian oppression and: excesses of the Security Forces. While he lauded the role of OIC, he criticised Iran “for having changed its stance on Kashmir, which was shocking for the people.” Alleging that in October 1995 destroy his house and the reformed

four attempts had been made to eliminate him, he said that grenades had been thrown and rockets fired to in Hyderpora, Srinagar. He accused the Security Forces militants whom he called “renegades” for these attacks.

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While he was away for Haj, the Shrine at Charar-i-Sharief had been burnt down in May 1995. On his return to Kashmir, he went to visit the town, on June 30. Addressing the congregation before Friday prayer in the local mosque, he described the tragedy as “part of the major plan of post-partitioned, anti-moslem India”. According to him Charar Shrine was burnt down to “force people of Kashmir to abandon their struggle for freedom but this will not deter us.” He announced Jamait donation

of Rs 1 lac to the Alamdar Relief Fund for rehabilitation of houseless

people.

Because the Security Forces increased pressure on the militants the

number of killings also increased. The militant groups asked the overground organisations to speak up. Geelani called a Press Conference on October 7, 1995 where he accused the Government of “ruthless counter-insurgency”. He called for “public resistance” to these operations which he described as “instruments of terror”. He also appealed to the OIC as protest, to severe their diplomatic ties with India and put an embargo on economic relations “till India does not halt its reign of terror unleashed by its forces”. He suggested that OIC should send a factfinding mission to Kashmir. He disclosed that he had briefed the Hurriyat

Chairman Moulvi Omar Farooq who is in United States, to brief OIC leaders and Security Council members about Kashmir situation. Addressing a Press Conference on January 1, 1996 he stated, “we have decided that if we and our children are killed, our property burnt and the extreme possible oppressive measures are taken by the Governments, we will continue to raise voice on behalf of our oppressed nation and for granting them the already accepted right to self determination.” He was among the 6 Hurriyat leaders, who on April 18, 1996 participated in a march to Badami Bagh Cantonment in Srinagar asking Indian Army to “quit Kashmir”. Along with 5 other he was arrested but released after sometime. In next two months he with other secessionist leaders campaigned against participation in Parliamentary elections. However, it did not make march impact. Geelani being a heart patient, off and on he is advised rest. This slowed down tempo of his activity. In early 1997 he had gone to Delhi for some meetings when he suffered a massive heart attack. He was

hospitalised and a pace-maker installed to make his heart function normally.

In early February 1998 the police did not allow him to move out of

his Hyderpora residence near Srinagar Airport. Hurriyat alleged that Government wanted to frustrate the APHC leaders campaigning for

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boycott-of Parliamentary elections in February—March. Geelani alleged

that Faroog Government had withdrawn security cover provided to him and other secessionist leaders except Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq. After the Parliamentary elections were over his detention was ended. At the extended meeting of the Executive Committee of All Parties

Hurriyat. Conference held in Srinagar, Geelani was made APHC

Chairman in place of Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Faroog. He will hold office for two years from April 24, 1998. He continues to be the Chairman of

Jamait’s Political Bureau.

After he endorsed the call of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen to ban Amarnath Yatra, the Corps Commander, Lt. Gen. Krishna Pal described him as “The biggest militant.” The General further said that if Geelani would have been a true Moslem, he should be the first person to condemn the ban”. It took Geelani 20 days to deny the charge. In a statement on July 31, 1998 he strongly objected to General's remarks. He called it as “part

of Indian Governments malicious approach to eliminate the Kashmiri leadership otherwise is it plausible to label a 69 year old person as the biggest militant.” The statement further claimed that eight attempts had been made on his life since October 1995. This was to stop him for fighting

for the Kashmir cause, he added.

On becoming the Chairman of the APHC, Geelani’s confidence got

boosted. In an interview to the Indian Express on June 16, 1998 he claimed

that Kashmir” will be out of clutches of India” in twenty years from

now. In any case, “it will be a free land or a

part of Pakistan.” He said

after the nuclear explosions by India and Pakistan in May 1998 Kashmir had once again been put on international agenda. He said Kashmir had to pay very heavy cost for this. According to him it was “70,000 people killed, 60,000 people disabled

and

some

4000 suffering in jails and

interrogation centers. On top of it, we are accused of playing at behest of foreign powers. No Community can give so many sacrifices at others coaxing. It has to be the will of the people.” Replying to the charge that he and APHC were receiving foreign money. Geelani said, “we don’t get foreign money. It’s all collected through donations from Kashmiris. Whatever we collect, we distribute

among people who suffered in tragedies.” About the big well furnished house at Hyderpora he lives in, he said, “This house is the property of my party (Jamait-i-Islami)”. In a certain section of Indian moslems, Geelani after becoming Hurriyat Chairman assumed greater importance. When he visited Delhi in December 1998, the Naib Imam of Jamma Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari invited him to address Friday congregation on December 11. Geelani

appealed to Indian public and moslems in particular to use their influence on the powers-that-be to stop alleged human rights excesses in Jammu

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Kashmir Underground

& Kashmir. The other person to address this congregation was Mufti

Azam of Palestine, Akram Syed Sabri. Ghazali, Mohd. Abdullah: He was the founder Chief of Tehrik-ulMujahideen. He was arrested on September 3, 1992.

Ghias-ud-Din, Moulana: A member of Al Jehad Force. In late 1992

he was made Acting Chief. He was killed in an encounter on March 13,

1993.

Gojal, Akhtar Hussain:

Alias Asghar

Ali. A member

of Muslim

Janbaz Force. In 1995 he was made Divisional Commander for JammuUdhampur Districts. After Janbaz Force Chief Babbar Badr decided to

give up gun for dialogue with Delhi, Gojal with 13 other functionaries

decided to follow suit.

Gul, Hamid: Associated with Master Ahsan Dar. When Dar formed a new outfit “Mujahideen-i Islam”, Hamid joined it. Soon he became its

Acting Commander.

Gujari, Mushtaq Ahmed: Alias “Bitta Goor”—A very active member

of Al-Burq, who confined himself to Srinagar. He first became a “District Commander” and later was made “Acting Commander”. He was alleged

to be involved in many abductions and killings. On April 12, 1997, he

was killed that he was Gujari, standing of arrested on

in an encounter with JK Police’s STG, but Al Burq alleged first arrested and then killed in custody. Nissar Ahmed: Alias “Gen. Shoaib” A member of good Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. When HUM Patron “Gen. Mousa” was October 23, 1991 Gujari was selected to take his place. Later

made a District Commander. He was killed in an encounter at Chatabal,

Srinagar on January 2, 1993

Gul, Mast: His real name is Mohammed

Haroon. His code name is

“Fighter” which has also been used in his wireless communications.

A militant who caught the world headlines during the Charar-i-

Shareef tragedy in May 1995. A resident of village Chinar Parpe in POK, this Afghan-looking militant had baptism of fire in Afghan civil war.

This battle—hardened soldier of fortune, had come to Kashmir in 1994.

He is reported to have spent most of the year in South Kashmir, training local militants. He was given the task also of organising an effective ban on Amarnath Yatra, imposed by Harkat-ul-Ansar. The pilgrimage was successfully conducted despite the threats to kill pilgrims and disrupt the Yatra. Carrying a multipurpose machine-gun in his hand he had met presspersons on July 18, 1994 near Anantnag and denied that he was a mercenary. “We have not been hired. It is our conscience which has driven us to come to rescue of Moslems here. This is Allah’s territory

and we do not belong to:any particular nation ,” he added . About the Indian soldiers he remarked, “the Indian troops are not as brave or tough

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as the Russians or the traditional warriors I have faced in the tribal areas(of Pakistan).” In Anantnag, Mast Gul had gathered 2 or 3 armed groups of armed Pakistani militants and this contingent in the area was known

as

“Lashkar-i-Bombaar”. When he went to Charar-I-Shrief he took them along. From Anantnag District Gul moved on to the northern slopes of Pir Panjal range. Around February 1995, he reached Charar-I-Sharief town. After consultations with ISI in Pakistan he decided to make it his base for operations. The topography around and the veneration in which all in Kashmir held the Shrine in this town, were two principal reasons. He had calculated that because of this Shrine of the venerated patron saint of Kashmir, Sheikh Noor-ud-Din

Wali, the security forces would

not

attack his men or storm the place. For 6 to 8 weeks he made his fortifications on various ridges and mounds around the Shrine and the rest of the township. No official explanation has been forthcoming for utter failure of intelligence setup in this instance. When media persons visited him in February and March 1995 he talked to them without fear and showed them around his fortifications. Unhesitatingly he agreed to

be interviewed for a TV network. He claimed that

‘ thousands of

Pakistanis and militants from Islamic countries were ready to come to Kashmir for Jehad but were being prevented by Pakistani authorities because she was afraid of being branded a supplier of mujahideen by the world community”.. He had three highpowered wireless trans-

receivers for instant communication with ISI in Pakistan and with Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen headquarters in Northern Kashmir. When the security ring around the Charar township was the tightest he was reported to have in all 280 men fully armed and equipped. Out of these about 40 were reportedly from the other side of the LOC. During this period he and his men were holed up in the town he had got two specialists from among his men to make IEDs locally. These were fixed at all vital places to be activised from a remote control in case the Security Forces stormed the place Sporadic firing was ordered by him to provoke the Security Forces, who however had strict instructions not to retaliate.

On May 8, fire in a part of the town destroyed many structures. Gul

then changed

his strategy because he was getting desperate. His

x,eplleague who was later apprehended, Abu Jindal disclosed that Gul had decided then to divide his group into two sub-groups. While one would engage the Security Forces, the other would effect its escape through the security ring thrown around the town by the Army troops Gul was to head the group that would make a dash to safety . According

to Abu Jindal, Gul and his colleagues set fire to the Shrine and the mosque nearby in the early hours of May 11, 1995 and in that confusion and

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panic and under cover of darkness near the peripherry of the town, they were able to sneak out. He had kept the whole Army Brigade at bay for 68 days. Two Hizb members - Ghulam Hassan Lone and Tariq after their

arrest on January 30, 1998, told the Police that Mast Gul had escaped

through Hapatnar wooded gorge after detonating round the Shrine. With him escaped 17 foreign meeting with Srinagar Press he took refuge in Lolab District from where he crossed over to POK. He left Charar in injured condition. He was on time but through his powerful wireless set,

communication

17 landmines fitted militants. Aftér his Valley and Kupwara

the move most of the he was in regular

with ISI in Pakistan. On May 26, 1995 a few selected

Srinagar based media persons were taken to his hideout outside Srinagar, to meet him. There he disclosed that he had only 37 militants with him in Charar-I-Sharief when the Indian Army “ laid siege” on March 5, 1995. He said, when army started firing mortar shells on May 10, “we decided

to escape from there, with Abu Jindal of Harkat-ul-Ansar leading one -

group and I leading the other.” He further said, “We were not challanged

by the Security Forces though they were present at the place from where we escaped”. When asked why he had rejected the offer of safe passage made by the authorities, he replied, “I had come here to fight—not to

enjoy life” and added “whole of India is my country and I will fight for its liberation.” At this press meet were present Riyaz Rasul, Hizb Divisional Commander, who announced on behalf of Hizb Supremo, Syed Salahudin, a cash award of Rs. 1 lac to Mast Gul. On Pakistan

Independence Day, August 14, 1995, the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen gave him a gold medal and a bravery award of “Hilal-i-Jurat.”

After he had crossed back to POK, the Pakistan TV showed him

being feted and lionised as a national hero in Pakistan. On August 1, 1995 he arrived at Muzaffarabad where he received a hero’s welcome from thousands of people. He was shown accompanied by Qazi Hussain Ahmed, chief of Pakistan Jamait-i-Ullema-e-Islam. In the meeting held to praise the services of ‘Major Mast Gul’, Qazi Hussain called him the

“living symbol of Jihad in Kashmir”. The Qazi’s presence and his praise

had its own significance. Since 1994, Qazi had assumed leadership of Islamic

Jehad

of Pakistan,

The

Khartoum-based

Armed

Islamic

Movement (AIM) had nominated the Qazi to be incharge of the terrorist headquarters and Regional Centre at Karachi which is responsible for activities like training, equipping and operational support in Pakistan, Kashmir, Afghanistan and Albania.

A month or so later, it was reported

that ISI had made

ordinator of foreign mercenaries operating in Kashmir.

Gul a Co-

He is reported

also to be responsible for special guerrilla training of selected Kashmiri

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285

militants. Reports from Pakistan expressed fear that Mast Gul may indulge in activities not palatable to the Establishment. In December 1995 he was in Sind Province of Pakistan but within days of his arrival n

Karachi, the Provincial Government had to extern him from Sind. He

was put ona plane for Lahore, after he had been arrested on December’

28, 1995. It was explained that he had been making inflamatory speeches criticising the anti-Islamic policies of Pakistan Government. He had also accused Benazir Bhutto Government of indifference to Islamic values and on the other hand was encouraging western culture and even secularism. The BBC had quoted Mast Gul on November 16, 1995 as saying, “Jehad is not only an obligation for the Jamait-i-Islami. It is the

duty of every Muslim. In Tajikistan we are fighting against the remanants of communism and its agents. In Chechanya we are fighting against Russia. And in Kashmir we are fighting India oppression.” The BBC introduced Mast Gul as a Sunni Wahabi fundamentalist. There was a flutter in Kashmir on eve of the Parliamentary elections in May 1996, when a look-alike of him was spotted in the Valley. Many considered the “stranger” to be his younger brother Munir. Pak national Sajjad Haider, a front-ranking militant of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, who was arrested

in Delhi in March

1996, revealed

that while

Pakistan was

“happy” with Gul’s exploits in Kashmir, other militant groups were upset with burning of the Shrine of the Sufi saint at Charar-I-Sharief in May 1995 and Gul was called back to Pakistan because of that. From the time he returned to Pakistan, he has been reported by the Pakistani press to be addressing meetings all over Pakistan organised by the Jamait-i-Islami to generate public interest in Kashmir which according to their estimate was declining somewhat. He also was considered close to Jamait-e-Ullema-i-Islam. In May 1996 addressing a meeting at Ahmedpur (Punjab), organised by them he disclosed that so far he had trained thirty thousand to take part in Jehad in Kashmir. He said Benazir Government was not cooperating fully otherwise he would be able to “liberate Kashmir within a week”. Pakistani Press reported in early April 1997 that Mast Gul had been arrested near Nowshera (NWFP) when he fired and injured some persons while participating in a march staged to protest against food shortage in some parts of NWFP. Here in Jammu & Kashmir, reports both from Kashmir Valley and Jammu

region from time to time speak of Mast Gul having

been

mentioned in wireless communications. The authorities believe that to create confusion among the Indian Security Forces, the ISI assigns code name o Mast Gul to any important and dreaded militant commander. In

August 1998 in Surankote area of Poonch District, a local commander of

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-Kashmir Underground

a group of Lashkar-i-Toiba, Imtiaz was given this code name by ISI, according to Army intelligence. In the meantime, Kashmir Police had moved against the original

Mast Gul. Mr. P. S. Gill, the IGP Kashmir Range, told press on December

10, 1998 that State Police had issued a warrant of arrest against Gul wanted in connection with desecration of Shiekh Nur-ud-Din Shrine at Charar-i-Sharief. He further said that “Interpol had been requested to look for him.” Ghulam Mohammed: Better known as Papa Kishtwari. Originally belongs to Kishtwar now resident of Pampore in Pulwama District. He became a member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. He later followed Kukka Parray to form Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon. Following differences with Parray, he went out and founded a new outfit which he called Tehrik-eWattan. Earlier, he had decided to field his wife Mehbooba as an

independent candidate in Parliamentary elections in May 1996. She lost the contest. Due to differences he developed with his colleagues, on September

23, 1997, he was removed from the Chairmanship. He has almost given

up politics and has retired to his hometown, Pampore.

Habibullah: A senior member of Harkat-ul-Ansar. He was appointed

Commander-in-Chief on February 28, 1994 is place of erstwhile Chief,

Sajjad Afghani who was arrested on February 21, 1994 by Army. Haider, Nissar: Part of Hizbullah outfit. On its reorganisation on November 25, 1995, he was appointed Divisional Commander for North

Kashmir.

Haider, Parvez: An activist of Moslem Janbaz Force. When MJE Chief

Babbar Badr was arrested in April 1991, Parvez was made Acting Chief. Hamid, Syed Abdul: Belonging to Soibug in Budgam District. A member of Jamait-i-Islami. He was reportedly also Budgam District Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. On July 19, 1998, he was arrested.

Hameed, S: Real name Abdul Hamid Wani. A resident of Srinagar City. He began his career as a political activist in 1965 with Youngman’s League. Later he became its Chairman. In 1974 when J&K Peoples League was formed by Farooq Rehmani and others, he joined it. A year later he was made one of its Vice-Chairman. He was an outspoken critic of SheikhIndira Accord of 1975. He lay low for many years till he drew close to two important League members—Faz] Haq Quereshi and Mussadigq Adil.

He developed difference with League leadership and after failing in reconciliation he headed one of the factions. He was associated with

League's armed wing, Al Jehad and later became its Chief Commander. When Hurriyat Conference was formed in 1994, he was made a

member of the Executive Committee. In 1997 he was also made Chairman

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287

of Shoora-e-Jehad, an umbrella organisation of 7 pro-Pakistan militant

groups.

Following Parliamentary elections in Kashmir in May 1996, Dr.

Faroog Abdullah and his brother-in-law, former Chief Minister G. M.

Shah plunged into political activity. Hamid warned them on June 22, of

serious consequences. He asked then to desist from “rubbing salt” into wounds of Kashmiri people by indulging in political activities in Kashmir Valley. He urged both of then “to stop dreaming about getting power and instead to accept their mistakes in public.”

He was opposed to bilateral Indo-Pak talks at Secretary level. In

February 1997 he sent a letter to Pak Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief asking

him not to strike any deal with India at the cost of sentiments of Kashmiri people. He demanded tripartite talks with representatives of Kashmiri

people also taking part. Thanking Pakistan for its support the letter said, “suppressed and depressed people of Jammu & Kashmir had high hopes

and expectations from Pakistan” and he hoped that full support and cooperation would be given by his Government as done by previsions governments. He reminded the Pakistan Premier about “sacrifices given

by the people of Jammu & Kashmir for the cause of Pakistan which is a

historical fact.” Hamid had eluded arrest for over 8 years of militancy. Police was

hot on his heels. In March 1998 one of his close associates with large amount of fake currency was arrested on his return from Kathmandu in Nepal. Through his interrogation the Police claims to have learnt of Hamid’s allegedly being in important channel for receiving large funds from outside for sustaining militancy in Jammu & Kashmir. Police was able to locate him in a house in a Srinagar suburb on April 17, 1998. When Police tried to arrest him, in darkness in the crossfire he was killed.

The Peoples League and Hurriyat Conference both alleged that he was killed in custody. He was buried in the Martyrs’ Graveyard at Iddgah,

Srinagar. At his Rasme Chahrum-fourth day-at Iddgah on April 21, thousands of people gathered there who were addressed by many

separatist leaders who lauded Hamid’s services to the movement for ‘Azadi’. Another leader Azam Ingalabi was shouted down. : According to Kashmir Times Editor Ved Bhasin, the Chief Minister

Dr. Farooq Abdullah had justified Hamid’s death in custody, to a delegation of Indian Human right activists Kuldip Nayar and Rajinder

Sachar. Mr. Bhasin made this assertion at Srinagar on May 19, 1998 that

Dr. Abdullah had told them, “Killing all these people is justified. Had it been upto me, I would have murdered all such people”. The report was not contradicted.

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Kashmir Underground

In June 1998 Hamid’s mother Khatija Begum filed a petetion before the J&K Human Rights Commission, alleging that SOG of J&K Police had killed Hamid while in their custody. Hamid, Sheikh Abdul: Founder member of Islamic Students League

(1986)—Soon became a member of JKLF and rose rapidly becoming its Acting President in July 1992. He went underground when JKLF was banned in April 1990. On November 19, 1992, alongwith a few colleagues he tried to escape from an area cordoned off in Ali Kadal locality of downtown Srinagar. They got into a boat with intention of crossing Jehlum river and escape. The Security Forces spotted the boat and fired shots. He was seriously wounded and died soon after. He was born in 1967 in Srinagar. He had to give up college education before graduation because of economic condition of the family. In 1986 he helped to establish Islamic Students’ League. Next year he actively campaigned for Moslem United Front (MUF) candidates in Legislative Assembly elections in March 1987. Soon after alongwith some close associates he went across the LOC and received arms training. There he was instructed in laying a base in Kashmir for armed struggle. On return to Kashmir in 1988 he and his other three colleagues Yasin Malik, Javed Mir and Ashfaq Majid Wani were appointed JKLF Area Commanders with areas demarcated for operations. All of them were declared proclaimed offenders after they had resorted to bomb blasts and shoot outs. In crossfiring on October 31, 1989 Hamid was injured. He was taken to Hospital from where he was arrested. In exchange for release of Dr. Rubiya Sayed from captivity in December 1989, Hamid and four others were got released. He remained active in directing the movement for next 8 months or so. On August 6, 1990, Hamid, Yasin Malik and two

others were arrested when they were busy holding meeting inside a house. In July 1992 he was released on bail.

After his death there were disturbances and hartal. He became a

legendry figure and even was proclaimed “Abu Jehad” of Kashmir.

Hassan-al-Bana: His real name is Ghulam Hassan—‘Burra Sahib’ A

senior member of Hizbullah. He was arrested on June 18, 1991 with his

Chief, Mushtaq-ul-Islam. On Qctober 3, \1992 he was made Acting Chief. Haq, Moulvi Ahsan‘ul-; He was part of Islamic Students League.

He worked unobtrusively till 1993, when on February 9, 1993, he was named the Chairman of the ISL. Haq, Reyazul: He is member of the banned J&K Peoples League. In 1995 he was named as Central Spokesman of the League. In February 1996, he warned Prof. Bhim Singh, President Panthers Party, not to act against the secessionist movement.

Haq, Shams-ul-: Real name is Ghulam Mohammed

Mir. He was a

member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He rose to become Amir (Chief) of the

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Hizb in middle of 1991. He later made way for Salahudin and assumed charge of Tablegh & Tarbiat (Teaching and Training). In his M.A. examination he had several distinctions. On December 16, 1993 he was killed after 3 hours encounter in Beerwah with Security Forces. A/

condolence meeting was held in Jammu Central Jail with Imran Rahi

presiding. Haq, Moulvi Abdul: Originally a member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In 1990 he joined: Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. He was made its Chief on August 7, 1993. On September 7, 1993, he warned those elements who

were ready for dialogue with Delhi saying “We are not offering great

sacrifices for petty concessions nor are we afraid of being subjected to any kind of suffering for achieving our goal.” He was arrested from Saida Kadal, Srinagar on September 30, 1993 by BSF. He was released after four months.

Hazari, Mohd. Yusuf: Better known as “Muzzamil”. A Divisional Commander of “Al Jehad” and later of Moslem Janbaz Force. In an

encounter with BSF in old quarters of Srinagar on July 3, 1995, he was killed. However,

the MJF

alleged

that he was

interrogation. Hussain, Kaka: Real name Mehmood

shot dead

after his

Hissain. A Jammu militant

who joined JKLF in mid 1990 and soon was made Divisional Commander for Jammu region. While he was busy in a meetig in a house in Burzala locality of Srinagar, he was arrested on August 6, 1990 alongwith Abdul Hamid Sheikh and Mohd. Yasin Malik. In Jammu on November 28, 1992 he was produced in the TADA Court. There he made a request that he may be allowed to meet his wife in a nearby locality. While being taken there he escaped from Police custody.

Hijazi, Burhan-ud-Din: Real name Ali Mohd. Dar. Also known as

Ghazi Rafi-ud-Din. See Ghazi, Rafi-ud-din.

Hussain, Mujahid: Alias Mohammed Sultan. A member of Muslim

Janbaz Force. He was a zonal Commander ina part of Doda District. He

and 13 others of Doda region decided to support MJF Chief Babbar Badr’s initiative to start dialogue with Delhi. These 14 activist announced this at Batote on February 27, 1996. Hussain, Mussadiq: An active member of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen.

He was named outfit’s General Secretary in June 1994.

Hussain, Mohammed: A member of J&K Students Liberation Front. Involved allegedly in kidnapping of H. L. Khera, General Manager, HMT

factory from Srinagar on April 6, 1990, and later his killing on April 10, 1990. CBI had challaned him and 14 others in TADA Court on August 1, 1991.

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Kashmir Underground

Hussain, Shakeel: A committed member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen from Jammu. In early 1993, he was named HUM Jammu unit’s Deputy Chief. With 2 other colleagues he was arrested in Jammu on May 7, 1993. He disclosed to police that his organisation had been directed to eliminate Governor Rao, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Congress leader Ghulam Rasul Kar and BJP leader Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta.

Hussain, Akhtar: Alias ‘Asghar Ali.’ A senior member of Muslim

Janbaz Force. In 1995 he was made Divisional Commander for Jammu

and Udhampur Districts. He was a close associate of Babar Baddar, the

MIF Chief. When Baddar and three other militant leaders in February 1996 offered to have dialogue with Delhi, Hussain with 13 other important member of militant leaders supported the dialogue move on February 27, 1996. Hussaini, Syed: Comes from Pakistan. Is well known activist of Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen who had his training in Afghanistan before being sent to Kashmir in 1993. He operated mostly in Baramulla District before being arrested in early 1994.

Hubi, Dr. Ghulam Mohd.: A resident of Charar-i-Shareef. He is a

senior office bearer of J&K People Conference headed by Abdul Gani Lone. After the Shrine and the town were burnt down in May 1995, he was appointed a Special Observer in Charar town by APHC. He alleged Security Forces had destroyed the town and demanded an impartial probe. He continued to be an important member of APHC for next 4

years.

Hurra, Abdul Hammid: An important member of Kashmir Liberation Council. In 1990 he was given intensive training in arms and

subversion in POK for over two months. On return to Kashmir in 1991

he was made Chief of Baramulla and Kupwara Districts. He was arrested on January 13, 1992. According to him Pak Army specialists were training selected cadres of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Al-Umar Mujahideen for antiaircraft gun and anti-missile techniques.

Hussain, Arif: A senior activist of Harkat-ul-Ansar. Also known as

“Abdullah” he was its Financial Chief in early 1997. The police claimed that SOG had killed him on March 17, 1997 in an encounter. The HUA

contested it and alleged that he arrested on 15" then tortured to extract information and killed in custody on March 17. Hyder, Hilal: Real name Liaqat Ali Khan. While still in college in 1990 he crossed the LOC into Pakistan. There and later in Afghanistan he received advanced training. After 3 years there, on his return to Kashmir he was arrested. Late in 1995 he was released. On February 26,

1996 he formed his own group J&K Ikhwan. Though he had consultation with Kukka Parray, he told press that his organisation will have no association with either Ikhan-ul-Musalmeen or [khwan-ul-Musalmoon.

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He also announced a ceasefire with Security Forces. Talking to Press he severely criticised Hurriyat Conference for its, “record of failures.” He asserted that Al Faran was part of Harkat-ul-Ansar outfit. He also appealed to Al Faran to release the foreign hostages. He helped to set up a political group “Awami Conference”. Later he sponsored a couple of candidates in Parliamentary elections in May 1996. Before the Assembly elections in September 1996, he directed his District Commander to “use

your gun for the safety of the people of Kashmir irrespective of political affiliations.” In June 1997 he decided to have 500 members of his Ikhwan

to lay down arms. He was persuaded to postpone this for 2 months till the Government announced its plans of rehabilitation of reformed militants. Hyder, Sajjad: Alias ‘Abid Bhai’. A Pakistani national, resident of Faisalabad in Punjab. He was motivated by Jamait-i-Islami tojoin militant ranks. He joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. For training in arms and subversion he was sent to Khost in Afghanistan. He spent 6 months in 3 ” different camps. He was sent to Kashmir in August 1993. After surveying militant scene in Kashmir he went back to Pakistan to report, in April 1994. There and in POK he met different political and militant leaders besides ISI functionaries. In Muzaffarabad (POK) he organised a group of trained youth belonging to 3 outfits of Al Burq, Harkat-ul-Ansar and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. With them, sent in small groups, he crossed over to Kashmir in May 1995. Here, he also acted as a coordinator of various

outfits. Later Hagroo, Commander gone to Delhi

he went to Delhi where he was arrested in March 1996. Tariq Ahmed: Alias ‘Soiba Hagroo’. He was operations of Al Jehad outfit in 1998. In early 1998 he had reportedly and then to Nepal to meet associates and collect funds for

reactivising Al Jehad cadres in Srinagar. He was arrested in June 1998.

Hazar, Nazir Ahmed: A senior member of Al-Umar Mujahideen. In

1996 he was its Finance & Publicity Incharge. For about 2 years he was

inactive. In October 1998, ISI had asked its members to revive the outfit

and become active. He was arrested from his residence on October 26, 1998.

Hussain, Abid: Real name Mohd. Qasim. He was made the District

Commander in Doda for Harkat-ul-Ansar. He belonged to Gorika village. The Police had received report that Abid had come home to meet his family members. The house was surrounded on September 17, 1998 and

in the ensuing encounter Abid was killed. The Police claimed that Abid was the brain behind the massacre of 25 Hindus at Chapnari in Doda District on June 19, 1998.

Hyder, Bilal: When [khwan-ul-Musalmeen split up, many factions

affeared on the surface. One was called Jammu & Kashmir [khwan and

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Kashmir Underground

its formation was announced on February 26, 1996. Bilal Hyder was

named its Chief.

Hussain, Manzoor: Rajouri District. Chief of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. The Security Forces BSF arrested him from his Village Gonda in Rajouri

Distrit on June 11, 1995. He is a close associate of Aslam Malik, Chief of

Al Jehad.

Hagroo, Gulam Qadir: A senior member of Peoples League. In 1992

he was made Deputy Chairman..Soon was arrested. On March 2, 1996 he was released in Jammu after 3 years detention. Hamid, Abdul: Alias Tabasum alias John. An employee of Posts & Telegraph Dept., who in 1993 was also Incharge of finances in the Jamaitul-Mujahideen setup. On March 13, 1993 he was traveling in an autorikshaw in Srinagar, in company of Jamait Chief Nasir-ul-Islam. Both were arrested but when trying to escape, were killed. Hassan-ul-Alvi: ‘Colonel’. In 1991 he leaded the Kashmir Liberation Tigers. He was critical of those who wanted Pakistan to vacate POK. “Being a Moslem I feel Pakistan is our elder brother. We want to join Pakistan according to Islamic rules. Then even Afghanistan will become part of the one emerging Islamic nation. Others who may join this Block are Iran, Libya, Egypt, Palestine.

He said different militant outfits have no meaning become “every body is controlled by Pakistan.”

Even in 1991 he had no illusions that freedom for Kashmiris was

around the corner. “We will not get freedom tomorrow we will have to wait for years but we will be free.” Hussain, Zakir: A member of JKLF. When the Party split in

September 1995, he sided with Amanullah faction in Kashmir led by Shabir Sidiqui. On March 24, 1996, when its members (armed) tried to

force their entry into Hazratabal Shrine, the police guards on duty opened fire in which he was killed alongwith 7 others including their Chief

Commander, Basharat Raza.

Hussain, Ashiq: Alias Majid Jelhangir, An experienced militant who was promoted as Company Commander for Srinagar area in 1995. He was killed in an encounter with State Police on August 20, 1996. The Police alleged that Hussain was responsible for killing of 6 Indian tourists in Dal Lake area in July.

Hassan, Mehmud-ul: A senior militant belonging to Al-Jehad. Later

he was made its representative on Shoora-I-Jehad. In 1995 he was made Deputy Chief of Al-Jehad. In early August 1997 he was killed in an encounter with Kashmir Police in Kulgam area. However. Al-Jehad

alleged that he was arrested and later killed in custody.

Hassan, Ghulam: Alias Abu Hassan. Also known as Hassan of Chadura. He rose steadily in hierarchy of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He went

Players and Captains

293

a step higher after every visit to Pakistan.

When

HUM

Supreme

Commander, Ghazi Nasib-ud-Din was killed, the ISI appointed him to fill up the gap. In an encounter in the Pir Panjal mountainous area, he

was one of 7 militants who were killed by Security Forces. Hussain, Maqbool: Belonging to Darhal area of Rajouri District, he was trained in arms and subversion at Kotli in POK by ISI Colonel Sayed. In November 1997 he was inducted into new outfit Tehrik-i-Jehad

and made Military Advisor of its Rajouri District setup. Alongwith Hanif Malik he infiltrated across LOC into Rajouri. Before he could do much damage he was arrested by State Police on December 15, 1997.

Hansa, Abu: An Afghan national. A battle hardened member of

Harkat -ul-Ansar, who was deputed to Doda District for operations. In an encounter with Security Forces on January 2, 1998 near Thathri, alongwith a colleague he was killed.

Hijazi, Dr. Haider: A senior JKLF leader and a member of Amanullah faction. He was made Secretary General of JKLF in late 1996

and operated out of Rawalpindi in Pakistan.

Haider, Raja Zulfikar: Secretary General of JKSLF in 1997.

He

operated out of Pakistan from Rawalpindi. Haider, Bilal: A Pakistan leader of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Alongwith 2 other leaders he crossed the LOC to come to Kashmir Valley on May 2, 1993. After taking part in many party meetings and a few encounters

with Security Forces, he recrossed to Pakistan on June 1, 1993. Hyat, Umar: See Quershi; Umar Hyat.

Hassan, Mehar Karalla: An Iraqi national from Baghdad. He was one of 3 armed militants who crossed over LOC in Keri in Poonch sector

on May 25, 1998. All 3 were killed by Armymen in an encounter, soon

after.

Irfan Mohammed:

A Pakistani national from Tanda

in Gujrat

(Punjab). An experienced member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He is alleged to be the principal accused in the stadium bomb blast of January 26, 1995 at Jammu while the J&K Governor was presiding over the Republic Day Parade. The Governor escaped unhurt but two officers of State Information Department and five Home Guards were killed and nearly hundred persons were injured. In company of two inmates he was successful in escaping from high

security Special Jail at Kot Bhalwal on the night of October 16 - 17, 1998.

Four days later they crossed over to Pakistan and were received as heroes

by many militant leaders there.

He got into cross border smuggling after the first successful trip in

1993. During his successive trips he made Akhnoor,

Jammu

and

Kishtwar.

Besides

many contacts at Samba,

making

friends

with

some

middle-rung Police officers he got to know many activists of Jamait -I-

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Kashmir Underground

Islami. Some how he was persuaded by ISI to take on special “jobs” for them . He crossed over to Jammu through Ranbirsinghpora border, on the night of December 28,

1994.

With one Pakistani militant Ghulam

Nabi Gamma and the other one Wasim Malik of Kishtwar, he visited M.A.M. Stadium next night. They dug the ground near the saluting base and buried the time bombs sucessfully. Next night he went back to Pakistan through the same route. After a 15 months stay in Pakistan, he crossed over through his old route, to Jammu in March 1996. Before he could blast the bomb he had

planted close to the railway line, he got arrested . He was lodged in

Jammu Central Jail till July 1998 when he was shifted to Kot Bhalwal Jail little outside Jammu where he met Mohd. Salim (POK) and Mohd.

Khalid (Sialkot) both of whom escaped with him from the jail . Ishar , Javed: A senior militant belonging to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen

outfit.

He was a close associate of Mast

Gul.

He reportedly was with

Gul at Charar-i-Shrief in May 1995 and helped him to escape from the security ring around the Shrine there after it was burnt down. Javed was arrested by Kashmir Police from his residence at Khiram,

Sirhama on May 30, 1998.

Illahi, Prof. Feroze: A member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. After the

death of its Chief, Sajjad Ahmed Kenoo on January 7, 1996, Feroze was made Acting Supreme Commander of the outfit on January 10, 1996. Iahi, Gowhar: A highly trained militant. After merger of Al Jehad and Jehad Force the new outfit Al Fateh Force came into being in October 1994. Gowhar was made its Chief. In

July 1995 he and two other

colleagues joined the Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon—a counter insurgency outfit. Ilahi, Maqbool: An important member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. When

HUM

was

reorganised

on October

31, 1992 he was

made

a

Divisional Commander to utilise his guerrilla experience he had gained in Afghanistan. In an encounter with Security Forces in Budgam, he was killed on April 4, 1993.

Ilyas, Ghazi

Mohd.: Alias “Abdul

Majid Wani”.

Belonged

to

handcore of Allah Tigers outfit. Even after its merger with JKLF in April 1990, he strengthened his contacts with important militants in Hizbul-Mujahideen. He soon (1991) became Chief Commander of Allah Tiger faction which did not join the JKLF. On

October 8, 1991 he announced

the merger of his faction of Allah Tigers with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

Islam , Nasar-ul-: His real name was Hilal Ahmed Mir. A Pak trained

militant who joined Jamait-ul-Mujahideen in 1991. In 1992 he was made its Chief. In an encounter with Security Forces on March Noorbagh locality of Srinagar, he was killed.

roa

\

13, 1993, in

Players and Captains

295

Islam, Mushtaq-ul-: His real name is Mushtaq Ahmed Bhat. He is also known as “Goga”. One of the pioneer of militancy and the secessionist movement. At the time of cricket match in Srinagar in October

1983 between India and West Indies , he was one of those who

distributed large number of big size posters of Pak cricketer Imran Khan, which appeared in various stands of the Stadium. He was also one of those who attempted to dig the pitch and stall the match. In 1986 he had reportedly set the tricolor afire and is being tried on this charge . Later, he made many trips to Pakistan for advance training and consolidating his contacts. When Hizbullah appeared on the scene in 1990, he was made its Chief. During his tenure, a conspiracy to assassinate the octogenarian politician Maulana Mohd. Sayed Masoodi was hatched. Masoodi a highly respected scholar was shot dead in his Ganderbal house on December 13, 1990. “Goga” was arrested on June 18, 1991 with 9 colleagues and detained under TADA.

When he was

produced before designated court at Jammu on March 6, 1996 he said

“ongoing struggle in Kashmir was part of the Muslim struggle against suppression across the globe.” According to him, waxing and waning of the struggle was routine in militancy and should not be “taken neither as battle fatigue nor a sign of decay.” He said he had no faith in Whites or West because of their “arrogance and duplicity.” He was against elections. He did not disapprove of abductions in militancy. According to him, “this is an instrument to fight the enemy.”

He was proclaimed as “Ameer” of the organisation on November 25. 1995 when its reorganisation was announced. He was also described as “Imam-I-Ingalab-I-Islam.” The TADA designated court at Srinagar was conducting his trial which concluded on

February 19, 1997. The Court was told that there

was no eye witness of the Masoodi assassination and no postmortem had been conducted. On June 7, 1997, Mushtaq was produced before the court of Mr. Gulam Rasul Bodha, Additional Judge who acquitted

him from all charges of murder etc., for want of evidence. The Court set him free. The Police however arrested hin: again on other cases against him. In June 1998 the TADA Court finally acquitted him in Masoodi assassination case. Of 13 witnesses produced in the court none held him responsible for the killing. He was still held to face charges in other two cases. Islam,

Manzoor-ul-:

Better known

as ‘Manzoor

Darzi’. A well

known member of JKLF. The Kashmir Police arrested him in 1993 and he was detained under TADA. He is alleged to be responsible for explosion

in the houses of

former

Ministers,

M.N.

Koul and

Abdul

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Kashmir Underground

Salam Deva. It was also alleged that he was involved in conspiracy to kill Prem Nath Bhat in Anantnag on December 27, 1989.

Islam, Saif-ul-: A senior member of Hizbullah. When the group was

reorganised on November 25,1995, he was made

“Central

Leader”—

Deputy Commander. He was arrested by the Army on June 1991 from Batamaloo area, alongwith his Chief,

Mushtaq-ul- Islam.

Islam, Shahid-ul-: His real name is Aftab Hilal Shah (32). A resident

of Srinagar and an Advocate by profession. A senior militant who joined

Hizbullah when it was formed 1990. After its Chief, Mushtaq-ul-Islam

was arrested on June 19, 1991 Shahid was named its new Chief.

When

the Group was reorganised he was made its Chairman. In his statement that day he said the reorganisation was necessary to stepup militant activities. He welcomed and lauded induction of large number of “guest militants” in his group. He said history of Kashmir “is full of tyranny and oppression right from 1947.” He announced that their struggle will continue till they secure right of self determination for the people of Jammu & Kashmir.

Early in 1992 he said , “this movement for liberation is basically to implement the Islamic code of life after coming out of clutches of India.” On July 4, 1991 in an interview he had justified abduction as a means to internationalise Kashmir issue. He also approved the use of gun because “for past 40 years, India has not been affected by peaceful pleadings. About his desire to be part of Pakistan, he said, “there can be no peace in Kashmir unless it becomes a part of Islamic Pakistan.” He was bitter about the indifference of the Muslim World by and large, to the struggle of Kashmiris and said , “we don’t seem to exist for them.” Quoting Quran

he said, “if a muslim gets injured here, pain should be felt by a muslim anywhere he may be.” To this end he had despatched secretly a delegation in July 1992 to muslim countries to educate and inform them. He also announced awards for some Saudi princes and three Pakistani newspapers for “supporting morally and materially the Kashmiri cause. For next 4 years he operated quietly. He was reported to have developed differences with his mentors and went across to Pakistan for consultations. On February 8, 1997 through a fax message he announced his arrival in Nepal from Pakistan. Later that month he resurfaced in Kashmir and told his colleagues that he had toured Pakistan and many other countries to meet friends. A few days later he announced his resignation from Hizbullah and dissociation from armed militancy. Announcing his resignation he said, “I wish to cease my involvement as

militant with Hizbullah or any other militant outfit from February 1997.” He was severely criticised by Hizbullah and by “Shoura-e-Jehad” a united

front of frontline militant organisations. He was summoned to present

Players and Captains

297

himself before the Shoura and explain his position and reasons for giving up the struggle. The JK Police claimed

to have arrested him on April 11, 1994 in

Srinagar when he was driving a scooter. The Police had been after him for many years. The Police alleged that he was wanted in the number of abduction and murder cases including assassination of Maulana Mohd. Sayed Masoodi., and abduction of former Minister, Mrs. Khemlata

Wakhloo and Punjab National Bank Manager K.C. Gupta. He was released by order of a court. He was arrested again in 1997. In March 1998 the Additional District and Sessions Judge, Srinagar granted him bail and he was released on March 31 from Srinagar Central Jail. On June 18, 1998 he joined Awami Action Committee after a long meeting with AAC Chairman, Moulvi Omar Farooq. Islam, Tanveer-ul-:

A senior founder member

of Tehrik-ul-

Mujahideen. He was very active in 1993. From 1994 he has neither been

seen nor heard. .

Islahi, Abdul Rashid: Worked under code name “Khalid Saifullah”.

Came under Hizb-ul-Musalmeen influence quite early. He belonged to a village near Doda town and knew the mountainous area well. Late in

1993 he was made Chief of Jammu Provincial Unit. In an encounter in

Doda with Security Forces he was killed on February 16, 1994 Ismail, Mohammed: A highly trained member of “Operation Balakote” outfit. In 1993 he was made a District Commander. A few months later he was killed in an encounter with BSF. Irfan, Tahir: Belongs to Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. When it was renamed as JK Islamic Front in June 1995, he was made its publicity Chief. On July 8, 1995, he condemned

Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon.

abduction

Irshad, ‘General’: Real name Irshad Ahmed

of 4 pressmen

by

Khan. A member of

Tkhwan-ul-Musalmoon. When the Group set-up was reorganised on July

8, 1995, Irshad was nominated as District Commander

for Baramulla.

Later he was made Military Advisor. Police claimed to have killed him

on June 9, 1997

Iqbal, Javed: A militant who joined Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon in 1995. When the group was reorganised on July 8, 1995, he was appointed its Chief Organiser. Irfan, Chisti Mohammed: One of the early members of JKLF. On

April 5, 1990, he was named as one of 7 Area Commanders for Srinagar.

He was killed on August 3, 1990 in an encounter with Security Forces. Irfan-ul-Hassan: One of the first to go across to Pakistan for training.

He was arrested in Kashmir on return from Pakistan, on July 15, 1989. During interrogation he disclosed that on his first trip across,6 Pak Intelligence personnel (ISI and FIU) took him to Training Camp from

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Kashmir Underground

Rawalpindi. In second trip he was sent to Army post at Dara Pir (POK) for arms training. From there he was taken to meet Ali Razak, POK Law Minister. Iqbal, Mohammed: Alias ‘Humayon’. Belongs to Budgam. He crossed over to Pakistan in 1993 and was trained there in use of arms and subversion. He became a member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. The ISI infiltrated him into Jammu area in January 1998 to cause explosion to disrupt Parliamentary elections. However, he was arrested on February 2, before he could to do any damage. Ilyas, Maulana: An Afghan national and a veteran of the civil war. Asenior militant who quickly rose to become the Deputy Chief of Harkatul-Mujahideen. In middle of December 1993 he was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kishtwar in Doda District. Ingalabi, Umar: A well trained Afghan mercenary. He was a member of group of 15 who were infiltrated from POK into Kupwara District in second week of August 1998. Next day the group was engaged by Army troops at Jagarpora village where they had entrenched themselves. He was one of six Afghans among 15 mercenaries who were killed. Inqalabi, Mohd.

Azam:

Real name

‘Mohd.

Altaf Khan Andrabi’.

Born in 1948. Even in school he was drawn towards politics. In 1966 he

was elected President of Students Union of Islamia College, Srinagar. In 1967 in company of Mohd. Magqbool Bhat (Co-founder of JKLF) he crossed the Cease Fire Line to go to Pakistan where he stayed many months. Back in Kashmir he became part the first underground subversive group ‘Al Fateh’ in 1970. When this outfit broke up, one group formed itself into Peoples League. He because its prominent member. While negotiations for Sheikh Abdullah-Indira accord were on, he emerged as its very vocal opponent. In March 1975 in a press conference he vehemently opposed the Accord and called Sheikh Abdullah antiKashmiri. He later started Students Islamic Organisation and was made its General Secretary. The name of this organisation was then changed to Jamait-i-Tulba. JIT was later taken over by Sheikh Tajamul Islam, who declared it to be the students wing of Jamait-i-Islami. Soon after this Azam joined the Education Department. In early 1980s he was posted as teacher in Sri Pratap Higher Secondary Government School. In the evening he used to take private tuition of students from other schools. Besides teaching them school subjects he successfully indoctrinated them because quite a few of them later joined his outfit “Operation Balakote”. In 1981-82 he joined Sofi Mohd. Akbar’s “Mahaz-i-Azadi”. In 1988

he became its President. On April 16, 1990 this organisation was declared

unlawful. He then set up “Operation Balakote” later in 1990 and he was

made its Chief. Soon after he crossed the LOC into POK and then Pakistan

where he spent many months making contacts and having meetings with

Players and Captains

299

political leaders and important secessionists. He went over to Afghanistan and had fraternal meetings with leading Afghan mujahideen. On return

to Kashmir, on February 19, 1991 he was made Chairman of newly set

up 14-Party United Jihad Council Alliance. In 1992 he again went over to Pakistan for consultations. From there he went to Britain. On February 15, 1993, from London he launched “Save Kashmir Movement”, of which

he was made the Convenor. He proclaimed that this organisation would

strive for “peaceful solution of Kashmir problem.” On June 19, 1993 he wrote a letter to the US President requesting him to use his good offices

to ask India and Pakistan to settle Kashmir tangle through negotiations.

1993 was not a good year for him because most of his colleagues and trusted workers of his outfit were killed or captured in Kashmir. He returned in January 1994 to Pakistan from London. From Rawalpindi on January 17, 1994 he asked Dr. Karan Singh, former Crown Prince of Kashmir (living in New Delhi) to shed inhibitions and “join the freedom struggle of his Kashmiri brothers.” In first week of 1995 he crossed the LOC back into Kashmir. Here, he bid farewell to arms, saying, “I am

dedicating myself to political struggle.” Before returning to Kashmir, at

Islamabad he had announced his “multi-phased proposal for resolution

of the Kashmir dispute.” The proposal envisaged that 3 parts of the

Valley, Jammu and POK—which he considers politically active units of the State, be merged together at the first instance, giving the people

therein the right to elect representations under UN supervision. In the next phase the elected representations will negotiate on Gilgit, Baltistan, Ladakh and territory ceded by Pakistan, with the Governments of China, India and Pakistan. After this alone, the future status of the state will

emerge with the free will and determination of the people of all regions.

In June 1995 he asked various outfits to end inter-group clashes in interest of all Kashmiris. He was critical of APHC leaders for being inactive and ineffective. Next month he asked all organisations struggling

for “freedom of Kashmir” to form a Supreme Command Council, to give the struggle, a direction and content. After some militant leaders had offered to start a dialogue with New

Delhi, in February 1996, he urged the Indian Government

to set upa

Kashmir Committee with full powers, to interact with Kashmir leaders. At a Srinagar press conference on February 28, 1996, he said “Hurriyat

Conference had failed to fullfill the aspirations of the people”. He therefore, wanted the APHC 7-member Executive Committee dissolved.

He suggested, in its place to have a broadbased Advisory Council. He was of the opinion that “militancy can he run on organised basis if a joint militancy command council is formed here in Kashmir and in Azad Kashmir. He said, “If Pakistan cannot help the Kashmiris militarily then the Kashmiris should be left to control the movement on their own”.

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Kashmir Underground

According to him “the movement launched by the people of Kashmir had been hijacked and was now being run by some alien hands”. He was critical of Pak Premier Benzir Bhutto for her rejection of tripartite talks. “This means Pakistan believed in give and take on Kashmir under the formula of sharing the booty,” he added. He advised Pakistan to come out of the obsession of UN Resolutions on Kashmir. He pojnted out that there were no resolutions on Bangladesh and yet Pakistan accepted the reality when it was confronted with. Azam said, “Let Pakistan accept the realities in Kashmir. Present approach on Kashmir is not worthwhile.” He regretted that Pakistan had failed to keep the commitment with Kashmiri militants on sending “sufficient logistic support and cadres to fight the war against Indian forces here. At a Press Conference at Srinagar on July 27, 1996 he alleged that India and Pakistan had reached a secret agreement to maintain a status quo in Jammu & Kashmir against the wishes of people of the State. He was critical of the role of USA

and said, “that country does not have

good intentions towards the ongoing movement in Kashmir Valley now”. He showed his disappointment with OIC and felt “it is subservient to UNO which in turn is subservient to USA.” He did not hide his contempt for the Hurriyat Conference. He said it was formed 4 years ago to “make it a genuine force of Kashmiri people but they had failed the people”. He blamed the Hurriyat leaders of “misusing billions of rupees which were received from OIC countries

and Islamic organisations as relief for families of martyrs.” He wanted the big donors to disclose as to how much money had they sent and to whom. He called upon the pro-Independence forces to dissociate thereselves from Hurriyat Conference and form “their own political forum”. He severely criticised the “unwise friends across the border for dividing the freedom movement on idealogical basis at a time when it had support of all the people.” This way, he said, “power and prowess of militants was wasted”. At Jammu on February 9, 1998 he told Press that he had conceived

‘a blueprint for honourable and practical solution of Kashmir issue, formed after seven years of dispassionate and objective analysis’. He

said he would submit the detailed plan to the Indo-Pak Joint Working

Group if and when constituted. He gave broad contours of it. He asked ‘Mujahideen of Kashmir’ to maintain a low profile for at least 6 months to facilitate the process of peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue through a meaningful dialogue and debate. The Security Forces be withdrawn

from the cities and towns of Kashmir and allow the political parties to

assert for a peaceful display of their subjective patriotic sentiments.

Players and Captains’

301

A month later, with Vajpayee Government in office in New Delhi,

Azam Ingalabi appealed to new Government to pave the way for “serious and meaningful dialogue and negotiations with the historical resistance forces of Kashmir to seek an honourable and viable solution of Kashmir

issue, before all the senior political activists, despite their exemplary role

in Kashmir struggle became irrelevant and redundant.”

In two long articles in a local newspaper in March 98 Ingalabi pleaded passionately for ending of violence. “Why should Kashmir be made a scapegoat in the war of attrition between India and Pakistan” he asked. Ina mood of reflection Ingalabi said, “We, as the lovers of Rishi and Sufi

culture of Kashmir, are not oblivious of what is happening in Afghanistan,

Algeria and Egypt in the name of Islam. We understand that assertion of

the dissent there is more an apology than a reference of pride. However,

our proud commitment to the Rishi culture of Kashmir should not be construed as a weakness of our resistance movement which is based on a resolve to struggle or the position of power and prestige. About sixty thousand Kashmiris have sacrificed their lives for the sacred cause of Kashmiriyat and Azadi”. In his estimate “Kashmir is on fire. Roaring guns, busting bombs, bleeding wounds, screaming women and burning

houses create a scenario of terror and horror coupled with uncertainty and cynicism.”

Suggesting patience he said, “Let my Kashmiri compatriots try to

understand that it is time when our brain, not brawn, should assert (i) to provide some respite and reprieve to war-torn Kashmir, (ii) to make the

leaders of India and Pakistan realize that Kashmiris cannot be taken for granted indefinitely, (iii) to launch the movement for general awareness

in India to muster support for Kashmir cause.”

Inqalabi alleged that recent increase in militant activities in Jammu

& Kashmir was due to violation of human rights by the Security Forces. Ina statement on May 14, 1998 he pleaded for end to violence and asked

India and Pakistan to sit together and patiently solve this vexed problem.

In an open letter on July 25, 1998, to the Prime Minister Atal Behari

Vajpayee, Ingalabi, warned him that if the acceptable solution of Kashmir

problem was not found quickly, Kashmir could be flooded with large

number of foreign mercenaries.

The Army troops arrested Azam from his Nagin Bagh residence on

outskirts of Srinagar, on August 1, 1998 and recovered a pistol from his possession. It was claimed that he was handling publicity for Harkat-ulAnsar. He was handed over to police. He was soon released on intervention of the Chief Minister, as claimed by Ingalabi. He told Press on October 7, 1998 that the “tragedy of Kashmiris was that they have always invited foreigners—Afghan, Indian and the

Pakistanis”. He suggested that all should leave Kashmir and it should

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Kashmir Underground

be made an independent entity for 30 years and then its geo-political future be determined. In a long article published in March 1999 he pleaded for an “equitable, viable and practical solution of Kashmir impasse”. He said that “emergence of free independent Kashmir is an idealistic objective of nationalist Kashmiris” but he conceded that “negotiating table will itself determine the nature and structure of future boundaries of free Kashmir”. His vision of free Kashmir was where “all the ethnic communities—Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists—will, in a federal

system, share the privilege and responsibility of governance to make Kashmir

a real welfare

state

free from

economic

exploitation,

deprivation, ignorance and disease.” In another article published on March 23, 1999, Ingalabi advised India and Pakistan to “bury the hatchet for good” now that they had signed the Lahore Declaration. He believed that Lahore Declaration “gives a new direction to South Asian politics”. About Pakistan’s Kashmir policy he said, “Kashmiris feel already disenchanted with the subjective politics of the leaders (in Jinnah’s Pakistan) whose self-aggrandizement proved instrumental in the dismemberment of Pakistan and whose mismanagement converted Afghanistan into a slaughter house through fratricidal war. We have had enough experience of your mismanagement on Kashmir front too”. Inqalabi was confident that Vajpayee’s statement in Parliament on March

15, 1999 that “There is no option but to live

together as good neighbours” will materialies into a reality. He however, said it should “not be at the cost of our freedom”. Addressing himself to the gun-weilding militants in Jammu & Kashmir he asked them, “what is the rationale of allowing the booming of gun in the orchards of Kashmir when both India and Pakistan are now poised to enter into an agreement of co-existence and friendship?” Jabbadi, Jaffar: A member of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen. He joined it soon after it was formed in late 1990. He soon rose to become the Dy. Chief Commander of the outfit. Alongwith 5 of his associates he was killed on April 11, 1993 in an encounter with Security Forces. Jaffar Kashmiri:

An important

member

of JKLF in 1991. Was

reported to have crossed over to POK in 1992. Jaffar, Lateef: A member of Al-Umar Mujahideen who rose to be its Dy. Chief Commander in May 1992. Jamal Afghani: Real name Abdul Khaliq Ganai. He belonged to a villege near Bandipore

Moslem

(North Kashmir).

He was a senior member

Janbaz Force. On June 23, 1993 he was named

of

the Chief

Commander of a faction of Al Jehad. He was considered to be close aide

of Faroog Rehmani, Chairman of 13 Party Alliance “Teharik-i-Hurriyat”.

In an exchange of fire with BSF in Baramulla District on December 16,

Players and Captains

303

1993 he was claimed killed, whereas his outfit alleged that he was tortured

before being shot dead. A condolence meeting was held in Jammu Central Jail by his erstwhile colleagues. Jamal-ud-Din Khan: Also known as “Field Marshal”. He is an Afghan national. On arrival in Kashmir, he issued a statement on June

26, 1992 in which he announced establishment of new outfit the “Afghan

Command Force” with him as Chief. Statement further said that role of all militant organisations in Kashmir was unsatisfactory. It asked them to refrain from political activity so that they could concentrate on their “real work”. Jamal-ud-Din Afghani: Alias ‘Sheikh’ An Afghan national. Veteran of Afghan war. Was sent by Pak ISI in 1992 to strengthen Harkat-ulAnsar in its operations in Kashmir Valley and Doda District. He was arrested in winter of 1993-94 from Anantnag District. During interrogation he claimed that he had raped as many as 27 Kashmiri women in Pulwama and Anantnag Districts during 1993. He said “I had come with sole propose of making money and enjoying life here. “He was sore about ISI not having lived upto the promises made to him. He was assured payment of Rs 5000/- monthly but nothing was paid to him and therefore he resorted to kidnappings, extortions, rapes till he

was arrested by BSF. Jehangir, Aadil: Real name Bashir Ahmed Dar. See ‘Dar’. Jameel-ul-Rehman: A senior member of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen After Sajjad Mir, its Chief Commander was killed, Jameel was proclaimed new Chief on July 29, 1993. Javed, Khalid: An active member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen who frequently crossed LOC in Poonch Sector. On December 20, 1994 he surrendered to Police in Poonch. He confessed that ISI had instructed him to blow up the wellknown Moslem Shrine of Shahdara Sharief in Rajouri District to start communal rioting. Jindal, Abu: Real name is Mohd. Shafi Malik. A Pakistani national

hailing from Faisalabad. Belonged originally to AL Fateh but went over to HUA and then collaborated with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen set-up under Mast Gul. He was also known as Junaid Afghani. He spent about 2 months in Charar-i-Sharief town in southwest of Srinagar. Most of the town and the Shrine of Sheikh Nur-ud-Din Wali was burnt down between May 8 and 11 1995. To escape out of the Security Force cordon around, the militants divided themselves into two groups—one under Mast Gul and the other under Abu Jindal. Lots were drawn and Jindal group was

to give cover to Gul group in its escape: Jindal was caught by Army troops on May 12. During interrogation he confessed that Mast Gul set fire to the holy Shrine.

304

Kashmir Underground Junaid, Qazi: A member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. When HUM Youth

Wing was separated and formed into a separate outfit as Jamait-ul-

Mujahideen, Junaid was named its leader on June 26, 1991.

Jamal-ud-Din: A member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was closely

associated with Divisional Commander

Javed Kohistani. When

an

encounter took place in Kani-Dayan village close to Charar-i-Shreef on February 17, 1995, with Security Force, he was one of the 8 HM activists

who were killed.

Junaid, Master: A senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In 1997 he was promoted as Divisional Commander for Central Kashmir. In March 1998 he was eliminated by Police. Jeelani, Ghulam: Alias Tasleem Raza. For training he had gone

across to Pakistan. On return in 1996 he was made District Commander

of Pulwama

District by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Later, he was made

coordinator of all terrorist activities of this area. In an encounter with Army troops in Khader Mol village on August 10, 1997, Jeelani was killed. Kalwal, Noor Mohammed: A senior member of JKLF. He had been

in Jail for many

months in 1989. In exchange for Dr. Rubiya Sayed

release on December 14, 1989, he was one of the 5 leaders whose release

from detention was demanded and secured. The Security Forces arrested’ him again on 8/10/91 from downtown Srinagar locality of Nowhatta. Kashmiri, Tariq: A member of Mahaz-I-Azadi who later joined

“Operation Balakote” when Mahaz was banned in April 1990. He was soon made Dy. Commander.

He was arrested on March 13, 1993.

Kenno, Sajjad Ahmed “Mushtaq”: One of the earliest militants who had been active since 1989 when he was part of J&K Students Liberation Front. When it was converted to Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen, he became an important member and its Vice President a few months later. He was reported to be involved with abduction of K. Doraiswamy of Indian Oil Company and Ms Nahida Soz daughter of National Conference Leader Prof. Saifudin Soz. He was allegedly known to have contact with Razak Memon alias Tiger Memon accused in Bombay serial blasts. On Kenoo’s death JKIF statement disclosed that Kenoo had “masterminded”

the

Bombay blasts. In June 1995 he was lodged in Joint Interrogation Center at Rangreth near IAF station in Srinagar and he escaped from there. He soon rechristined Ikhwan as J&K Islamic Front. JKIF claimed credit for bomb

explosion in Connaught Place, New Delhi on November 21, 1995 and

bomb blasts in Saddar Bazar, Delhi on

January 3, 1996. As soon as he

returned from Delhi, J&K Police STF arrested him from a hideout on

January 1, 1996. According to police he tried to escape from custody and was shot dead. But JKIF claimed the he is as toutured and then killed.

Players and Captains Karim, Abdul:

305 Alias Karim. A Burmese

National.

A militant who

operated in Kashmir as a member of Harkat-ul-Ansar. He was arrested in Delhi on July 10, 1998. During interrogation he disclosed that in 1991. he joined militant movement against Burmese Government. He soon escaped to Bangladesh where he stayed for sometime. There he was motivated to participate in Jehad in Kashmir. He entered India in 1994 illegally and came to Kashmir. In Sopore he joined Harkat-ul-Ansar and

worked under the HUA District Commander Rashid

Khan. Karim

claimed that he had blown up an army vehicle in Baramulla District in which some-army personnel had been killed. Karim left Kashmir in early 1995 and crossed over to Pakistan from where he returned to Bangladesh. Recently he illegally crossed back to India. He came to Delhi and was waiting there to come to Kashmir to work with Harkat-ulMujahideen under which name HUA is presently working. Khan, Farooq: An Afghan national - veteran of Afghan War. Came to Kashmir in 1993 and ISI deputed him to Doda. With his colleague he was cornered by Army troops in Mahu Mangat area of Doda District in November 1993. Rather than surrender he consumed cynide capsule and died on November 18. Khaksar: A member of Hizbullah since its inception in 1990. In reorganisation that was announced on November 25, 1995, he was named

as Chief Commander Operations.. Khalid, Abdul: A militant who had his training in POK. When Al Fateh outfit was revived September 14, 1991 he joined it and in December 1991 he became its Chief. Khalid, Yunus: A member of Al Jehad. Later became its Supreme Commander. When his outfit merged with Jehad Force to make Al Fateh Force, he was made Dy. Supreme Commander of AFF. In an encounter with Security Forces on October 18, 1994 he was injured but escaped under cover of darkness. Kachroo, Abdul Samad: A resident of Telbal near Harwan (Srinagar

District.) Because his nephew Basharat Raza (JKLF Chief Commander

in September 1995) he was well known in militant ranks. During Hazaratbal Shrine crisis in October - November 1993, he became one of important mediators between the State Government and the holed up militants.

Since then he lay low because uncompromising

militants

considered him a “traitor”. On December 18, 1998 after he came out of the Haji Mosque

in Gowkadal

militants shot him dead.

area of Srinagar, unidentified

armed

Khalid, Saifullah: A well trained and experienced member of Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen.

In the years from 1991 to 1995 he took part in many

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Kashmir Underground

actions. In early 1993 he was made Divisional Commander for Jammu region. On June 26, 1993 he warned BJP State President Prof. Chaman

Lal Gupta of serious consequences for his “anti-moslem and antiIslamic” utterances and activities. On the elimination of Hizb Deputy Supreme Commander, Burhan-ud-Din Hijazi(Dar) Khalid was promoted to this office on August 10, 1998. Khalil-ul-Rehman: His real name is Ghulam Mohidin alias Mohd. Magbool. A senior member of Moslem Janbaz Force. Rose rapidly in the hierarchy. He was named Chief of the Group on May 22, 1993 after officiating Chief Altaf Almagir was arrested. On October 23, 1993, he was killed in Pulwama District in an encounter with Security Forces. Khan, Babbar Ali: A militant who joined Hizbullah quite early. Took part in a few attacks on Security Forces. In the reorganisation of Hizbullah he was made Divisional Commander of Central Kashmir with headquaters in Srinagar, on November 25, 1995.

Khan, Badshah: A member of “Operation Balakote.” In early 1993 he was made Chief Commander for Baramulla and Srinagar Districts. Later in the year, in an encounter with Security Forces, he was killed. Khan, Bitta: See Zargar, Iqbal. Khan , Ghazi Mushtaq: Part of “ Operation Balakote” outfit. In 1992 he was made Military Advisor for Kupwara District . He was killed in middle 1993 in an encounter with Security Forces. Khan, Abdul

Rashid:

A trained militant who joined

Ikhwan-ul-

Musalmoon in 1995. He soon rose to become an important aide of Kukka Parray. Khan,

Aman Ullah: One of the founders of J&K Liberation Front

(KLF). At present he is President of the JKLF which has more presence outside Kashmir Valley than inside. The organisation split in September 1995 and the majority of activists disowned him. Kashmir faction’s President Mohd. Yasin Malik expelled Khan. In retaljation Khan expelled Malik and his supporters. Khan’s faction in Kashmir was then headed by Shabir Ahmed Sidiqi. This group concentrated itself around Hazartbal Shirne but in an encounter in March 1996, the faction’s top functionaries were killed. Amanullah is a non Kashmiri-speaking politician of Jammu & Kashmir who has been outside Kashmir Valley since 1952. He is of Dard

stock ‘having been born in 1940 at Astor in Baltistan in north western part of Kashmir State. As a young boy he came to live with his relations at Haihama in Kupwara District of Kashmir . He had his schooling in

the Handwara Govt. High School and later came to Srinagar to study in

Sri Pratap College in 1950. In Handwara School even in 1948 there was

Players and Captains

307

a band of teachers who motivated students for closer ties with Pakistan. He was elected General Secretary of propak Students Union. A few teachers were arrested and the group broke up. In 1950 Khan secured in matriculation first position among moslem students in Kashmir University. On entering S.P. College he soon got involved with antiIndian activities and became a member of the undercover subverssive group which was engaged in clandestine distribution of pro-pak . literature. On being discovered he was warned to dissociate. Fearing arrest he crossed over to Pakistan through Jammu Sialkote sector in Jammu 1952 . He managed to secure admission in Edwards College at Peshawar. He was soon rusticated and went over to Karachi where a good number of Gilgiti students were studying. He did his graduation

in 1957 and got his Law degree in 1961.

From 1957 to 1976 he was deeply involved with political struggle in Gilgit - Baltistan against Pakistan Government for basic civil rights. He was jailed a number of times. Since he considered Gilgit - Baltistan an integral part of Jammu & Kashmir, he broadbased his struggle. In 1962 from Karachi he started publication of “Voice of Kashmir”. Later when he shifted to UK in 1976, the journal was published as “Voice of Kashmir International” asa monthly from Birmingham (UK). Like minded political beings were brought together by him at

Rawalpindi on May 12, 1963 and a broadbased “Kashmir Independence

Committee” to oppose any move to divide Kashmir State was formed. Two years later in April 1965, it became part of the Plebiscite Front formed in Pakistan and POK.. In 1966, he helped to form “Kashmir Committee for Afro-Asian Peoples Solidarity.” He was made its General Secretary. In 1970 November he went to Gilgit where he was arrested and detained. At Mirpur in POK in May 1974, the 5 Annual Convention of POK Plebiscite Front was held. To attend this Convention , Dr. Faroog

Abdullah had specially flown from Britain. Khan was his host. Khan had a feeling that it would be easy for him from United Kingdom to compaign for Independent Kashmir; he went to UK on June 20, 1976.

There he was able to persuade the members of UK branch of

Plebiscite Front to convert it into J&K Liberation Front which came into

being in1977. Khan became its General Secretary in February. 1978. Earlier in Pakistan, in Aug. 1965 he had helped to set up J&K National Liberation Front.

He was made Chairman of its political wing.

In 1966,

NLEF sent two small groups to Kashmir Valley to enrol members and to “spread the message of revolution”. Leader of one of the groups Mohd.

Magbool Butt was arrested after a shootout in which an Indian official

was killed. Butt however escaped from Srinagar’s Central Jail and crossed back to POK in December 1968.

~ 308

Kashmir Underground In November 1969, at the annual Plebiscite Front Convention in POK

, JKNLF was made the armed wing of the Plebiscite Front.

In January

1971 came the hyjacking of the Indian Airline Fokker Plane “Ganga” by two Qureshi brothers - Hashim and Ashraf. Khan had nothing to do with this daring act but Hashim was to cross swords with him later. Khan was in detention in Gilgit. He was released in February 1972. As mentioned earlier he migrated to UK in June 1976. At that time

in UK were two organisations of Mirpuris from POK (nearly1,50,000 had migrated to UK) but neither of them was able to attract and enthuse

them . On April 12, 1977 at the Convention of Kashmir Plebiscite Front

in UK, Khan got the name changed to J&K Liberation Front from Plebiscite Front. In Britain he wrote and circulated literature on struggle of Kashmiri people. - To World Conscience - The Tragic Story of Kashmir - Independent Kashmir In 1980 he also published a pictorial calender entitled “ Jammu & Kashmir State a Divided Occupied, and Suppressed Motherland”. He also helped to organise many anti -Indian demonstrations in different parts of the world. To protest against execution in Delhi’s Tihar Jail of Mohd. Maqbool Bhat, all Kashmiri

organisations

in Britain, staged

a big protest

demonstration near India House in London, on February 26. 1984. Khan was arrested with many others. In 1983, secretly (without his knowledge) Kashmir Liberation. Army was set up. It abducted Ravindra Mhatre, Indian Asstt. High Commissioner at Birmingham. The captors demanded release of Magbool Bhat from Tihar Jail, Delhi, where he was waiting for execution.

They threatened to kill Mhatre if Bhat was not released immediately.

Amanullah Khan, Hashim Qureshi and another leader were arrested by

British Police. With no response from Indian Government for 54 hours, Mhatre was killed. Khan and Qureshi were released after 72 hours .

Magbool Bhat was hanged in Tihar Jail, Delhi on February 11,1984. Khan visited US for first time in September 1979. He held his first press conference in UN Press Room on October 8, 1979. He established first office of JKLF in US, in New York in October 1979. On October 13,

1979 he arranged a few JKLF activists who sitting in the Visitors Gallery

of UN General Assembly,

liberation of Kashmir.

-

shouted anti- Indian slogans and demanded

Fifteen months he spent in British Jails of Bedford, Liston and Brixton

from September 1985. He was released on December 15, 1986, externed from Britain, and flown to Karachi.

Players and Captains

309

Next five years or so he spent in Pakistan and POK putting the act

together.

He interacted with ISI and other authorties in Pakistan. He

made an arrangement for youth to be motivated in Kashmir Valley, to be brought across to POK for training and being provided with arms, ammunation, subversive literature and money before being sent back to Kashmir with proper directions. Information has become available now

that the abduction of Dr. Rubiya Sayed in December 1989 was planned in Srinagar, but the decision and directions came from across the LOC.

In Rawalpindi on March 3, 1990 he told Colin Smith of Observer (London), “we held her hostage; we did not abduct her.” He justified it by saying that “India has kidnapped our entire nation.” In early April 1990 he was in U.S.A Addressing journalists at UN Headquarters on April 10. 1990 he claimed that JKLF had “recently

started an armed struggle against India”. He owned that arms were being procured from within Pakistan though he said they are purchasing arms in open market. He also owned that training was being imparted to Kashmir youth on both sides of the LOC.

When the General Manager of HMT factory,

Khera and

Vice-

Chancellor of Kashmir University Prof. Mushir-ul-Haq were abducted

in Srinagar on April 6, 1990 and demands were made for release of some detained militants, from New York on April 9. 1990 he declared that

since Indian Government had not conceded demands of the abductors,

the hostages had been shot dead. This was one day before they were

actually shot dead. Perhaps JKLF had decided that orders for execution would be conveyed in this manner.

The Government of India was able to persuade the US Government to cancel his visa in middle of April 1990. This was for his alleged support

to the anti-India terrorist activities. On April 20, 1990 he addressed the

press in the National Press Club at Washington and said “ if Iam expelled , | will go away”. About the killing of Khera and Haq he denied having ordered their execution. He however justified the killing of hostages by

JKLF saying

“ my boys must have had a very, very sound reason for

such an action as they had been specifically told not to harm innocent citizens”. In Washington, on April 22, 1990 he confirmed the support JKLF received from Pakistan in starting armed struggle in Kashmir. In early May 1990 he quietly left USA and went to Nethersland.

From

there he accused Indian Army for killing of Mirwaiz of Kashmir, Moulvi

Mohammed

Farooq saying that no militant from Kashmir could

undertake it. Returning to Rawalpindi in end of May 1990 he shocked

Pakistan by declaring that Pakistan had no locus standi in Kashmir and

asserting, “ Kashmir can never be a part of Pakistan”.

The gulf between

him and Pakistan ISI had widened. Pakistan then started promoting other outfits with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in the fore. In 1989 in POK, he

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Kashmir Underground

was able to bring together eleven political organisations and formed the “Kashmir Liberation Alliance”. This new organisation sent out delegations to Europe and the USA to “educate and inform” public

opinion about situation in Kashmir. By 1990 the Alliance ceased to function because Khan’s domination was not liked by other constituents. Events continued

to move

fast. On June

18, 1990 he announced

establishment of a “Provisional Government of Independent State of Jammu & Kashmir”. This he had done perhaps,without much consultation with his colleagues in the JKLF. Those opposed to this got together and on July 3, 1990 Khan was suspended from the organisation by the Executive Committee and also the Central Committee of the JKLF,

for “his unilateral, inopportune and unauthorised” action creating confusion in the party leadership. Unmindful of the expulsion he continued his campaign for Independent State of Jammu & Kashmir. By the end of 1991 he was able to consolidate his political following and assert himself in the JKLF again. On December 13, 1991 six political parties accepted and signed a declaration proposed by him for “full and complete independence of entire Jammu & Kashmir.” This statement came to be known as the “Lahore Declaration.” In 1991 Khan sulked most of the time, He was disappointed with Pakistan Government and the political elements there in general. He was unhappy because of the treatment meted out to JKLF which had taken upon itself to launch armed struggle for liberation of Kashmir. He gave expression to his feelings in a lengthy interview he gave to Pakistan’s leading Urdu daily Jang in July 1991. He charged the Pakistan Government of attempting to dump JKLF to favour new fundamentalist organisations like Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. He claimed that JKLF had full backing and support of General Zia -ul-Haq and the Pakistan Government.

With General Zia’s death the JKLF

received a big jolt. After Ms Benazir Bhutto came to power in December

1988, a number of terrorist organisations as rivals of JKLF,were raised

creating much confusion. He asserted that most of these groups were fundamentalist in thinking and committed to work for merger with Pakistan while JKLF is secular and wants an independent Kashmir. He accused Hizb-ul-Mujahideen of killing many Kashmir leaders. Khan claimed that JKLF had not indulged in any terrorist activity after

abduction of Dr. Rubiya Sayed. He accused the J&K Students Liberation

Front of abductions and killings and said he disapproved of such criminal activities. He disclosed that JKSLF Chief Hilal Ahmed Beg had spent 3 months in Pakistan and on return rechristened it Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen thus taking it closer to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Khan said he had information

that Jamait-i-Islami and others were about to announce from Saudi Arabia, formation of a Government-in-Exile for Jammu & Kashmir. To

Players and Captains forestall it, Khan

311 in June

1990 hurriedly announced

formation

“Provisional Government of Independent Jammu & Kashmir.”

of a

In January 1992 he decided to observe the death anniversary of Mohammed Magbool Bhat on February 11, 1992 and to do “something spectacular”. He announced that “thousands of JKLF members will cross

the LOC at Chinari (on the Rawalpindi-Srinagar Road) on February 11. He declared he did not recognise the arbitrary line dividing the two parts of Kashmir. From Muzaffarabad he led the march along the road to Srinagar. The marchers were stopped by the Pakistan armed forces.

Khan was arrested. When the crowd insisted on crossing the border , fire was opened by Pak army troops killing 12 persons and injuring 150. Also arrested were 780 supporters of JKLF. Khan criticised the POK “Prime Minister” Sardar Abdul Qayoom Khan, for first encouraging him to violate the LOC and later helping Pakistan authorities to frustrate the attempt. While Khan was in detention JKLF decided to make another | attempt to cross the LOC, on March 30, to synchronise with the first death anniversary of party senior leader Ashfaq Majid Wani. The JKLF also threatened to launch agitation on both sides of LOC, if Amanullah

Khan was not released before March 30. From

detention he refused to

call off the march. Pakistani authorities arrested a large number of political activists and frustrated their attempts to reach the LOC. On January 26, 1993 Amanullah Khan asked India and Pakistan to

concede the third option of Independent State of Jammu & Kashmir. He

told the media in Islamabad that Kashmir issue cannot be treated as a

bilateral dispute between India and Pakistan. He proposed that entire State of Jammu & Kashmir on both sides of the LOC should be put under the UN for next 10 years. At end of this period a plebiscite should be

held to ascertain the wishes of all the people of the State.

He decried the Simla Agreement on February 9, 1993 saying “no

self-respecting Kashmiri can accept that nonsense called the Simla Agreement. It does not even mention the right of self determination for the Kashmiris”. In October 1993 he was invited to attend at Brussels a Conference on Kashmir organised by the Socialist Group of the European Parliament. On

October

18,1993

he was arrested

at Brussels on

the basis of an

international warrant for being involved in terrorist activities. After ten

weeks detention he was flown out to Pakistan on December 29, 1993. After arriving at Karachi on December 30, he asked both India and

Pakistan to vacate Jammu & Kashmir so that its administration is taken

over by the United Nations. With this objective in mind he proposed that January 5, 1995 and thereafter be observed as the “Third Option Day”. On December 30,1994 he called upon Pakistan to allow Kashmir

!

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Kashmir Underground

to become an independent State. If this was not accepted, Khan threatened to start an agitation on both sides of the LOC, to achieve it.

Khan in 1995, was very critical of Pakistan making claim on Kashmir because of majority of population in Jammu & Kashmir being Moslems. In an article he wrote in May 1995 in Pakistani newspaper the” News” published from Lahore, he said, “Pakistan claim

on Kashmir based on

religion of the majority is too weak a weapon to meet the Indian claim

based on the Instrument of Accesion signed by the Maharaja.” He

debunked the fond belief of Pakistan about Kashmiris, when he said,

“Pakistan’s Kashmir policy is

based on the mis-belief that an

overwhelming majority of people of Jammu & Kashmir is for accession to Pakistan.” Khan with this antagonised the establishment in Pakistan

and POK further for harping on independence for Jammu & Kashmir State being the only solution of Kashmir problem. In September

Mohammed

1995, from Pakistan, Amanullah

Khan

expelled

Yasin Malik. , the President of the Kashmir unit of JKLF.

Many of Malik supporters were also thrown out of the party. As

retaliation, the Kashmir unit expelled Khan from the Party. This led toa vertical split. Khan’s supporters in Kashmir rallied under Shabir Ahmed

Sidiqui, who was named leader of JKLF(Amanullah). The top brass of this faction was eliminated in Srinagar in a clash with Kashmir Police’s Special Operation Group (SOG) in March 1996. With this Amanullah’s influence

for the time being,

declined

sharply

in the Kashmir

underground. But his stock abroad did not suffer very much. In the words

of Chairman of the UK Parliamentary Group on Human Rights in UK,

Lord Eric Avebury, “If the legitimate freedom struggle of Kashmiris

prevails, as it must one day, Amanullah Khan will be remembered as the leader who articulated their demands, persuaded them to make the

great sacrifices that gained their freedom , and led them to victory.” Lord

Eric Avebury,

Chairman

of

Kashmir

Committee

of

MPs

planned to organise in London in 1998 a meeting of leaders from both sides of Kashmir to consider commonality of views. Since Amanullah’s expulsion order from UK on December 25, 1986 was in force,

Avebury

requested Blair Government to revoke it to enable Khan to come to London toattend the meeting. The British Home Secretary Mr Jack Straw on March 26, 1998 rejected the plea saying that there was no ground for reviwing the expulsion order of 1986. In March 1998 Amanullah Khan made a scathing attack on Pakistan s “insincere advocate of Kashmir”. In a long letter published in Pakistan's leading Urdu daily JANG be expressed regret of Kashmiris for their choice of Pakistan as their advocate to determine the constitutional position of Kashmir. He wrote, “This advocate has gifted away one sixth of the property of his client (Kashmiri;s) to his friend

Players and Captains

313

(China) and occupied one third of it himself and uses the remaining half as a bargaining counter for trade with the defendent (India).” Further the letter said, “Pakistan advocates the right of self-determination for Kashmiris but in reality it denies this right to them by insisting that it is confined to their choice of accession to either India or Pakistan. Pakistan uses the United Nations resolutions on Kashmir as a weapon to keep

them away from self-determination and had almost no interest in the Kashmir problem and the Kashmiris have lost their support. This arrangement of ours is countered by givng the example of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) support. But what has the OIC done except passing empty resolutions which. India does not recognise.” About the scant respect Pakistan has for facts he states that the total area of the state of Jammu & Kashmir includes areas occupied by Pakistan and China, is a little more than 84,000 square miles. ‘But for some years

now Pakistan Television, which is totally under the government control, has been showing 14,000 square miles of Aksai Chin as part of China

and 27,000 square miles of Gilgit and Baltistan as its own. Thus the PTV

has reduced the area of Jammu & Kashmir to 42,000 square miles”.

In anguish, Amanullah Khan wrote, “Pakistan’s Kashmir policy has

angered Kashmiris but they are eschewing a violent expression of this anger because India may benefit from it. But the zealous Kashmiris would not allow the loot of their property at the hands of their advocate

(Pakistan).”

A few days earlier he seemed to have come to the conclusion that “Kashmir movement had faded away.” An interview that he gave toa Pakistan - based news agency, Kashmir Press International (KPI) was

published in mass-circulated Urdu Daily Jang, he said, “ We must accept the bitter reality that the liberation movement in Kashmir has faded and

that India has succeeded in convincing the world that Dr. Farooq

Abdullah heads a peoples representative government” He said this amounted to Pakistan’s diplomatic failure. He said those militants who are fighting for the socalled “liberation from India” in fact want “Kashmiris to get into the Pakistan cage. By making liberation conditional on accession to Pakistan they are going in for a hug with the bear”. Khan clearly said, “we don’t want friendship with Pakistan as the basis of an autonomous Kashmir: we want an autonomous Kashmir on the basis of hatred of Pakistan.

Kashmiris are changing their attitude

towards Pakistan because of the activities of the pro-Pak elements.” In another statement in Rawalpindi in February 1998 be criticised

all those Kashmiris who invite outsiders. According to him “the biggest

hurdle in the way of leading to freedom of Kashmir was the habit of Kashmiri leaders and parties importing masters from their

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Kashmir Underground

neighbourhood and that these mercenaries were the real and the most dangerous enemies of our motherland”. Amanullah Khan had never taken kindly to the Hurryat Conference. After

Geelani

became

its Chairman, Khan became

more

critical. In

August 1998 Khan accused the Hurriyat Conference of damaging the Kashmiri cause in order to please its masters. In a statement at

Rawalpindi on August 10, 1998 Khan said APHC

had no right,

whatsoever, to claim to be the true representative of Kashmiri people since it denies to them their inherent right to independence. The

statement said APHC Aims & Objectives had clearly stated that the organisation would struggle for right of self determination of Kashmiri people as envisaged in the UN Charter, Khan said “ Kashmiris right of self determination could not be limited, conditioned or circumscribed just because the APHC Chief wanted it to be so.” He also questioned the

relevance of the UN resolutions on Kashmir since “these were not only contrary to basic principles of the right of self-determination of enthralled

nations as they denied to Kashmiris their inherent right to opt for

independence of their motherland but also fell short of basic requirements

of a free and impartial plebiscite because these resolutions provided for

presence of a high number of Indian armed forces in Kashmir during the plebiscite and for the Plebiscite Administrator to be a formal employee of the Government at Srinagar”. Moreover, these resolutions had failed to solve Kashmir issue in the past half a century nor could they do so in future. As such, it was totally foolish to go on harping about these resolutions”, be added.

As its ritual every year, Pakistan decided to observe February 5,

1999 as “Kashmir Solidarity Day”.

At Karachi, the Governor of Sind Province had called a meeting in

this connection, Amanullah

Khan and some other JKLF activists were

invited. Before Khan could address the gathering alongwith his supporters Khan was arrested. Party General Secretary, Dr. Haider Hijazi

condemned the arrest and called the arrest as height of duplicity on part of Pakistan Government. He said that on day when Pakistan was

observing Kashmir Solidarity Day it was “shameful to arrest Amanullah Khan, the pioneer of the ongoing freedom struggle and the torch-bearer

of the wishes and national aspirations of Kashmiris”. When Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee travelled by, bus to Lahore on Februrary 21. 1999, Khan was in Lahore directing his JKLF activists for protest demonstrations. There, he agreed to talk to Indian

Express Correspondent, accompanying the Indian Prime Minister. Ina free wheeling interview Khan pithily said he was not afraid of blood letting, “We believe that unless we shed

enemy - we won't get freedom.”

blood - our own and that of the

Welcoming the Vajpayee - Sharif

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315

meeting he said two neighbours should live in peace. He said he wanted both India and Pakstan to agree to his formula of Independent Kashmir

state with its pre-1947 borders . He was aggrieved

that India was more

hostile to him than to Islamic fundamentalist groups. About Pakistan he was equally peeved., “True, I live in Pakistan but the authorities hate me and try to black me out completely in the media”. Reluctantly, he talked about his organisation’s work.

He claims JKLF has no dearth of

arms, “Pakistan is a good manufacturer of arms. If you have the money, you can buy anything you want.” He further volunteered, “money is no problem. We have members everywhere - some of them quite prosperous. Remember, Jeddah Airport was built entirely by Kashmiri labour - we have eight branches in Saudi Arabia alone. Many contributions come in”. When asked to talk about strength of his organisation he shied away, “Our members live under great threat, none

of them or their children will get service if I reveal too much. In the Valley we are not working openly. Still, I will say this, the majority of educated youth in Kashmir,

is with us.”

Khan, Diler: A militant belonging to Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon. When the group was reorganised on July 8, 1995 he was nominated as Commander for Kupwara District. Khan, Ghulam Mohidin: Also known as “Amjad”. After training in Pakistan he was sent to join Al Barq. In 1992 he was promoted to become Dy. Chief after the incumbent Noor-ul-Hassan was killed. On November

killed.

14, 1992 in an encounter in Handwara area, he was

Khan, Idris: A militant who prefers to operate in low key. When a new outfit “Mujahideen Fil Islam” surfaced in 1992, he became its Chief. Kishtwari, Papa: Real name Ghulam Mohd. See Ghulam.

Khazir Mohammed: Alias “ Col. Padseer”. An experienced militant

who was recruited in 1993 when Harkat-ul-Jehad was established in

Kashmir. His area of operation was North Kashmir. He was killed on November 22, 1993 in an encounter with BSF in Seer - Sangrama village of Baramulla District. Khan, Javed Iqbal: Alias “Haroon Rashid”. A member of Moslem

Janbaz Force. Since 1995 he has been Commander of District Doda. He

was one of 14 important activists of Jammu Province who decided to follow their Chief, Babbar Badr to give up gun and open dialogue with Delhi. He was present at Batote on February 27, 1996 when 14 activists

made this announcement. Khan, Daud: A Pathan of Ghutli Bagh, Ganderbal. A militant of some standing. He had been arrested early in 1989 but was released in

September 1989. He motivated more than 2500 Kashmiri youth to cross over to POK for training. In 1990, POK ISI set up a highly trained group

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of militants as Al Bakr outfit. He was named its Dy. Commander. March 1991 he was arrested at Jammu by State Police.

In

Khan, Mohd. Yakub: Better known as “Chatterjee”. A member of the JKLF. In 1993 was promoted as Area Commander. On February 4, 1994 he was killed in an encounter with Security Forces near Kathi Darwaza area of Srinagar. Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed: Otherwise known as Javed Ahmed.

Better

known as “Izrail Khan”. He was Intelligence Chief (early 1993) of Tehrikul-Mujahideen.

On April 30, 1993, he was travelling in his car in which

he seemed to be transporting some bombs. One bomb burst and car was blown up killing him . Earlier he was one of 5 arrested militants released in exchange of Ms Nahida Soz daughter of Prof. Saif-ud-Soz on March 8, 1991. Khan, Capt. Noor: A militant who in 1995 became the spokesman

of new outfit, “Iqbal Park Coordination Committee”. Khan, Noor (Air Mrshal): Also known as Noor-ul-Haq. One of the pioneers of militancy. When ‘Allah Tigers’ organisation was formed on

August 15, 1989 he was named its Chief. He issued instructions to his cadres to ensure that all Cinemas, Wine shops, Bars, Video Parlours, Beauty Parlours, and the like, were closed down. Within a few days the

order was enforced strictly. Allah Tigers was temporarily merged with JKLF on April 5, 1990 and he was made Chief Organiser. He was arrested on September 20, 1990 but escaped on April 19, 1992 from Soura Medical Institute, while undergoing treatment. He was helped by Al Burq activists and for a few months aligned himself with them but soon returned to revive Allah Tigers. He was again arrested. Khan, Riyaz Ahmed: A senior member of Al-Umar Commandos. He was made Chief Commander in 1992. In an encounter with Security Forces on December 16, 1992, he and 5 others were killed.. Khan, Jabran: Real name ‘Abdul Nasir Khan Rathore. See Rathore.

Khan, Nayeem Ahmed: A senior member of J&K Peoples League.

He has been a

close aide of the Chairman,

Shabir Ahmed

Shah.

For

some time he was also his Deputy. Nayeem was arrested along with Shabir Shah on September 27, 1989 at Ramban while they were on their way to Jammu from Srinagar. He was released in early 1991 but arrested again in May 1991. Once again he was released on September 16, 1992 from Jammu Jail. Yet again he was arrested on May 9, 1993 but released

soon after. In 1997 he developed serious differences with Shabir Shah and the Peoples League about its objectives and strategy to achieve them. The ranks of the party got divided. On February 4, 1998, Khan announced reorganisation of the League with a more marked sepratist stand. He became its Chairman.

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When Shabir Shah announced

Rupees 10 million Trust in April 1998,

Khan accused Shah of hiding donations received and having retained nearly “fifty times more with him.” Khan asked Shah to hand over to Peoples League the “vast funds and property created out of them” or else the League would issue a White Paper. On August 3, 1998 Khan was made General Secretary af the reconsituted Peoples League. Next few months he spent in trying to consolidate his hold on the organisation and to create new bonds of understanding with important members of Hurriyat Executive. After Farooq Government in 1999-2000 Budget, imposed new taxes and increased water and power

tariffs, Nayeem Khan considered this a

good opportunity to unite all anti government elements on economic

issues. On March 9 , 1999 he announced formation of a “National Front”.

In the statement issued by him it was claimed that Front was launched to fight “economic terrorism” allegedly unleashed by the Farooq Abdullah Governmnt against the people of the Valley. Front comprises of intellactuals and leaders of various political parties. It became clear that he was unable to carry his own organisation with him because in 3 days time he was reported to have been “expelled” describing him as “anti - movement “ who had supported a “non movement issue” and formed another organisation without the League having taken decision to form it. Within 2 days his “ideas and plans” were taken over by Kashmir Bar Association who floated “Peoples Forum for Justice” which it said would be a voluntary and apolitical forum. 14 different organisations and associations of Kashmir Valley became members of this Forum. Khan,

Idrees

Mohammed:

Real name

Military Advisor and Intelligence

: Mohd.

Yusuf

Chief (1993) of JKLF.

Shieikh.

With some

important members of [KLF be entered Hazratbal Shrine, taking arms,

ammunition and wireless sets, before October 15, 1993. Alongwith others

he got holed up there for 32 days because of the cordon thrown all round by Security Forces. With ‘Umar’ of “Operation Balakote”, Idris was the principal negotiators with the representatives of the Government . On agreed terms he alongwith other militants inside the Shrine, surrendered after handing over their arms, on November 16, 1993. Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen issued death warrant against him for tame surrender. After staying: under protection for few days, he restarted his own

activities.

On February

10,1995 he was gunned

down allegedly by

activists of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, near Hazratbal Shrine where he had

gone to join Friday prayers. The JKLF announced reward of Rs.50,000

for anyone giving

dead or alive.

information of HUM killers or handing them over

This led to serious differences between HUM

and JKLF.

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Kashmir Underground

Khan, Jaffar: An operative of Pakistan ISI for Nowshera sector of Rajouri District. He was from Pakistan Army, as confirmed by documents found on his dead body. He was “Area Commander’ coordinating the operations of militant outfits in Rajouri & Poonch Districts. On September 10. 1993 he got killed by Army troops chasing him near Nowshera. Khan, Mukhtar:

A well trained member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

He was promoted a Battalion Commander in South Kashmir in early 1998. The Amarnath Yatra (Hindu pilgrimage) was to be spread over two months of July and August same summer. He was charged to disrupt the pilgrimage and cause as much damage as possible. With his group he was camping in Nagbal area in Hapatnar Valley close to the pilgrimage route. In quick operation Army troops surrounded them. In the encounter that followed on July 25, 1998 Khan was shot at and injured. He was then arrested. Khan, Samad: A mémber of Al

Fateh Force. In 1994 he was made

the “Launching Chief”. In July 1995 alongwith a few other colleagues he joined Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon.

Khan, Sher Bahadur: A senior member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon. In reorganisation of July 8, 1995, he was named Divisional Commander

for South Kashmir. Khan, Sher: Alias “Shera”. A Gujar of Poonch District . Orginally of JKLF. He was one of 5 militants exchanged for Dr. Rubiya Sayed in December 1989. Later he joined the J&K Peoples Liberation Army—a breakaway group of JKLF. He became its President. He made frequent visits to POK and Pakistan where his contacts were with high ranking officers of ISI. He was arrested in Srinagar by Security Forces on August 3 1992. He was released later and crossed over to POK. There he was asked to run a number of training camps for Kashmir youths. On July 27,1997 he crossed the LOC in Rojouri sector and was killed by Army in an encounter at Badon, 7 kms. From Rajouri.

Khan,Umar Hyat: A resident of POK. He is founder President of a

less known outfit—Al-Ingalab Mujahideen.

Khan, Yawar: A member of standing of JKLF. In 1993, he was made

District Military Advisor for Badgam. In an encounter with Security

Forces on December 7, 1993, he was killed. . Khan,Yunus: A member of Tehrik-i-Jehad-i-Islamia. Early in 1991,

he was made its Deputy Chief Commander. In an exchange of fire with

Security Council in Handwara on May 21, 1991, he was killed.

Kassana, Khalid: Alias “Lovely”. A resident of Gujar Nagar, Jammu. He is a senior member of JKLF. He is alleged to have been responsible

for indiscriminate firing on December 2, 1990 and also on December 12,

1990 below Gumat Chowk at Jammu, killing many persons. He is alleged to have close liaison with Punjab militants for whom he used to arrange

Players and Captains

319

refuge and was alleged to have been the conduit for illegal arms from

Kashmir to Jammu where those were distributed among new recruits. In middle of 1990 he was made Area Commander for Jammu. In 1991 he

wasarrested and detained under TADA and produced in the designated

court at Jammu on January 31, 1992. Kohistani, Javed: A senior activist of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In 1994

he was made Divisional Commander for Poonch and Rajouri Districts. He was killed on February 17, 1995 in an encounter with Army in KanjiDajan village adjacent to Charar-i-Sharief town. Khan, Nissar Ahmed: Alias Jan Sahib. A regimental commander of Hizbullah. Alongwith his Chief, Mushtaq-ul-Islam, he was arrested on

_.

June 18, 1991.

Khan, Gazab: A dreaded militant who was forced to surrender to

Security Forces at Srinagar on July 27,1997. A delegation from Shopian called on the Minister of State for Home the next day démanding that Gazab Khan be executed in public view since he was allegedly responsible for killing of 126 civilians in Shopian-Kulgam area. Khan, Musa: Alias Abdul Majid. He belongs to Doda District. After training in Pakistan he joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Soon he became a close associate of Qureshi

armymen.

he was

Khan, Musa:

its District Commander Javed Qureshi. Alongwith

killed on November

6, 1997 in an encounter

Alias Abu Musa, A Sector Commander

with

of Hizb-ul-

Mujahideen in the Surankate area of Poonch District. With 2 others he was killed on December 25, 1998 in an encounter with Army troops. Khan, Bahadur: See Shah, Lateef. Khan, Sher: See Sher Khan. Kuchai, Mohd. Ashraf: Alias ‘Aabid’. A senior ‘Commander’

Budgam and Pulwama Districts. It was officially responsible for many killings in 1995 and 1996 Nepalese labourers in March 1996. Many blasts incidents were also credited to him. Security Forces its Chatergam

in Budgam

for

claimed that he was including that of 9 of IEDs and firing closed in on a house

District on October 22, 1997, where Ashraf

was reported to have taken refuge in an injured condition. Before he got killed in the encounter he kept them engaged in firing from his AK-47 rifle which was found to he fitted with grenade launching attachment. Kuchai, Suhail: Elder brother of Ashraf Kuchai. He was a veteran

Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and had at least 2 killings to his credit. He got killed in 1995 in an encounter with Security Forces on outskirts of Srinagar. Khan, Tariq: A senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen who was promoted as District Commander for Anantnag in 1997. In an encounter

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Kashmir Underground

in Dabran village near Anantnag town on December contingent of Police and CRPF, he was killed.

2, 1997 with a

Khan, Shafi: As experienced militant of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was a battalion commander operating in Anantnag District and adjoining areas. In an encounter with Security Forces at Dabran Village on December 2, 1997 he was killed.

Khan, ‘Gen.’ Badshah: His code name was Abu Zubair. An Afghan

national from Kabul. In early 1998, Pakistan ISI Controller at Kotli (POK)

Col. Aftab appointed Badshah Khan as “Wing Commander” for two Districts of Poonch and Rajouri for the Unified Command Council of three outfits—Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Lashkar-i-Toiba and Harkat-ul-

Ansar. He was reportedly involved in killing of over 30 persons in less than two months of May and June 1998 in Surankote area of Poonch District. He avoided using a bullet to kill. Instead he used to slit the throats and let victims bleed to death. On June 25 he was killed by Armymen in an encounter in village Dippar in Surankote area. Since he was a dreaded militant, ISI decided to anoint another

militant as Badshah Khan to confuse the Security Forces. Earlier also

another Badshah Khan had been killed on February 9 in Khwaja Seri village. At one time there were 5 militants bearing this name operating in 5 different areas of these two Districts.

Officials disclosed that Zubair was very senior militant and also

communicated over wireless directly with Syed Salahudin HUM

Supremo. It was learnt that in 4 or 5 months previous to his killing, he was engaged many times by Security Forces but managed to escape.

Khan, Dinga: A commander of Harkat-ul-Ansar incharge of a sector

in Rajouri District. In an encounter with Army troops on December 19, 1998 he was killed. Khan,

Mohd.

Shafi: Alias ‘Obaid’. A resident of Khan

Sahib

(Budgam District). A member of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen. He was made a Commander in early 1997. In November 1997, with 2 other senior members he was sent to Delhi. Soon after his arrival he was arrested in third week November 1997 by Delhi Police. Khan, Idrees: Code name ‘Saifullah’. A Pakistani national. In 1994

he was inducted in Pakistani set-up of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. After specialised training in explosives and making of IEDs he was infiltrated into Kashmir Valley. Soon he become a District Commander. His area of operation was Pattan-Baramulla belt. He indulged in attacks on Security Forces and also blasts on Srinagar-Baramulla Highway. In autumn of 1998 he shifted his base to Ganderbal area in Srinagar District where he was asked to coordinate the activities of foreign mercenaries. On February 2, 1999 in an encounter with. Security Forces in Saloora near Ganderbal

his colleague and he were killed.

Players and Captains

321

Khan, Shanno: Real name: Mrs Shaheena Nazar (22). A member of Dukhtran-i-Millat—a women outfit. She was arrested on July 28, 1998

by Delhi Police from Matia Mahal area of the walled City. During interrogation she disclosed that she joined JKLF in early 1991 when she fell in love with an activist who was later killed in an encounter. She then joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and later became a member of Dukhtaran-i-Millat outfit. She told police that in 1995 she had undergone detention for a fortnight in Srinagar.

Khan, Badshah: Alias ‘Nishat’. He operated in Doda District as a

member of “Crush India” organisation. Due to pressure of Security Forces he surrendered to Doda Police in February 1998. Kataria, Mohd. Shafi: A late comer to militancy but he rose quickly through the ranks. In 1997 in the recently formed outfit Tehrik-i-Jehad,

he was made its Divisional Commander. Before he could achieve much

he was picked up by Kashmir Police from a hideout in Kupwara District, on October 23, 1997. Some arms and a wireless set were recovered from

him.

Khan, Shamshan: Alias ‘Black Cobra’. An Afghan national and a hardened militant with many exploits to his credit before Pakistan ISI sent him to Poonch in late 1997 as Hizb-ul-Mujahideen District Commander. Within a few months he had got involved in many killings and subversive activities in this area. Along with 3 other Afghans, Cobra was killed by Armymen on February 7, 1998 in Peace Topa near Dera Ki Gali in Bafliaz area of Surankote in Poonch District in a major encounter. A good number of arms, sophisticated weapons and 3 wireless sets were recovered. Khalid-i-Sani: Real name Ghulam Hassan. See Lone, G. H.

Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed: A District Commander of Tehrik-e-Jehad for Kupwara District. At Deiver in Lolab area of Kupwara District the Security Forces laid an ambush on March 19, 1999. In the ensuing encounter with his group, Mushtaq got killed. Khalid,

Mohammed:

A Pakistan national

from Sialkot area in

Punjab. He was a Havildar in the Pakistan Army. After retirement he was employed by the ISI and trained in subversive activities. In 1996 he was infiltrated into Rajouri area. With small groups of militants he took part in many actions. During this period he also made friends with many political activists. He was arrested in 1997 and ultimately landed up in Kot Bhalwal Jail. There he came to know Mohd. Irfan and Mohd. Salim—

also members of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. All the three made plans for the escape from jail. Khalid was made the leader of the group. The three escaped on October 1, 1998. In 4 days time they had managed to get

back to Pakistan after sneaking through the closely monitored border.

322

Kashmir Underground Khan, Badshah: A Pak national and a senior member of Hizb-ul-

Mujahideen. After intensive training by ISI and thorough briefing about tasks to be performed in Poonch District, he was pushed across the LOC

in 1997. He was then designated as District Commander and asked to

create disturbances on eve of Parliamentary elections. However, he was killed by Armymen in an encounter on February 8, 1998 in Khawja Seri area near Surankote. Khan, Shahbaaz: Alias ‘Ustaad Jehadi’. A Pakistani national who

was “Ameer-e-Aalla” of Harkat-ul-Ansar in Kashmir Valley in 1997. In

an encounter with Armymen in Yangoora, Ganderbal area on March 23, 1998 alongwith 3 other Pakistani nationals and members of HUA, he got killed. Authorities later claimed that they were members of HUA group that was responsible for ruthless massacre of 23 Kashmiri Pandits at

Wandhama on January 26, 1998.

Khan, Bashir: Alias ‘Hyder’. A Pakistan—trained militant who was active throughout 1997 in Sopore-Kupwara belt. In summer of 1997 he was made Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Divisional Commander. In an encounter ina Sopore village on September 14, 1997 he was killed by Security Forces. Khateeb, Nadeem Ahmed: A well educated and widely traveled son of a retired Chief Engineer Inayatullah Khateeb. A highly trained commercial pilot who spent 4 years in United State. In school in Srinagar he was classmate of a former Chief of JKLF, Ashfaq Majid Wani. After graduation from Srinagar he went to US and got his flying training at South Eastern School of Aeronautics, Georgia. He stayed there for over

18 months and secured experience of over seven hundred hours of flying. He returned to Kashmir in 1996 with his parents who had gone to US. While training for a job he got motivated by active militants. He soon went back to the States and got trained in flying of jets. There he joined Harkat-ul-Ansar. Information available indicates that he participated in some actions in Chechanya and Bosnia. His family had no knowledge that some months ago he had entered Jammu region and was operating there because they used to receive telephone calls from him telling then that he was employed and enjoying his job in the States. Till the family at Srinagar received a telephone call from a London contact on February 27,1999 that Nadeem was killed in an encounter with Security Forces in

upper reaches of Udhampur District and had been buried in Buthal village. His elder brother Waseem nushed to Udhampur, got the body exhumed and transported it to Srinagar. His body was reburied at Rawalpara in Srinagar just before his aged parents departed on March 3, 1999 to perform Haj. The American Embassy informed the State Government that Nadeem had not taken American citizenship as some reports had suggested.

Players and Captains

323

Kitata, Abu: A Pakistani national. A member of Lashkar-i-Toiba who was made a District Commander after he reached Kashmir in early 1997.

Ina day long encounter with Security Forces near Sopore on November

29, 1997 he was killed.

Khalid, Mohammed:

A Pakistani national. He was one of the

pioneers who was sent to Kashmir to establish the units of Harkat-ulJehad-el-Islamia International. He was reported to be hiding in a house

in Seer-Sangrama village of Baramulla District, on November 22, 1993.

The BSF personnel surrounded the house and in the subsequent encounter two of his colleagues and he were killed. Khan, Yousaf: See Dhobi, Mohd. Shafi.

Khuda Bakhsh, Dr.: A senior leader of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in Pakistan to which he belongs. With 2 important colleagues he come to Kashmir Valley on May 2, 1993. After making contacts with local commanders and taking part in few encounters with Security Forces, he managed to cross back to Pakistan. Kukka Parray: See Parray. Khan, Sajjad: Better known as Sajjad Khan Afghani—See Afghani. Khalid: Real name Mushtaq Ahmed Bhatt. See Bhatt. Kaul, Mushtaq Ahmed: Alias Muzzafar Fauji. Also known as Mushtaq Kolpuri. A resident of Kulgam area of Anantnag District. A hardcore since

March 1990, he had received training at hands of ISI in Pakistan. He was

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen District Commander for more than 2 years. The Security Forces hunted him from place to place. He ultimately surrendered in November 1997. Alongwith some wellknown activists of Jamait-i-Islami, at a public meeting in Kulgam on November 4, 1997 he renounced the gun and advised militants to shun path of violence. He criticised Pakistan for sponsoring violence in the name of “Jehad”. Khan, Mohd.

Sajid Ali: A national of Pakistan from Faisalabad A

highly trained commando of Harkat-ul-Ansar who was infiltrated across LOC into Poonch sector in April 1998. He took part in a few operations. On June 17, 1998 alongwith 2 other associates (one Pakistani) he was

killed in an encounter with Armymen in which one Major was also killed. Khan, Wafadar: See Parray, Manzoor Ahmed. Khan, Mir Nissar Ahmed: In early 1998 he was made Commander

of the revived unit of JKLF in Poonch and Rajouri Districts in Jammu region. Alongwith “General” Badshah Khan and Tariq Bhai (LET) he

got killed near Surankote in an encounter with Army on June 25, 1998. Khan, Aamir: Real name Mohammed Hanief. A trained militant who

was a member of Students Liberation Front. Having performed well, on

April 27, 1991 he was promoted as Front’s Deputy Chief. Next day in

company of two other well known

militants, traveling in a car, he was

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Kashmir Underground

shot dead by Security Forces, when the car failed to stop when signalled by the CRPF. Khan, Masta: Also known as Shamsher Khan. A District Commander

of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in Rajouri District. In an encounter with Security Forces in Mandu Galla area of Darhal on July 30, 1998, he was killed. He

belonged to Pakistan.

Khan, Rustam: A Pakistani national. He was Hizb Commander of

Budhal area in Rajouri District. He was an expert in fabricating Improvised Explosive Devices (IDEs). With two colleagues he got killed in an encounter in Mandu Galla area of Darhal in Rajouri District on

July 30, 1998.

Khan, Mohd. Altab: Alias ‘Imran’. He was Publicity Incharge of Shoura-e-Jehad a conglomerate of some pro-Pak militant outfits. He was arrested at Srinagar on April 14, 1998. Khurshid: Also known as “Khan”. He was a senior member of AlUmar Mujahideen. On August 9, 1998 he was arrested at Srinagar by BSF soon after he had come back from Calcutta. Since 1991 when he joined militant ranks, he spent most time in Calcutta selling shawls, with short visits to Srinagar. After his arrest he led BSF to a hideout in Nowhata locality from where large quantity of arms were recovered. Kundji, Arshid Ahmed: Alias ‘Basharat’. He was District Financial Chief of Harkat-ul-Ansar outfit. He was arrested in Srinagar on August

23, 1998

Kashir, Abdul

Bashir:

Alias Abu

Rehan

alias Masta

Khan.

A

Pakistani national who belonged to regular Pakistan Army though an original inhabitant of Mirpur District (POK). For more than 6 months he was operating in upper reaches of Udhampur District of Jammu region before he was surrounded along with his group in Mahore area. In the encounter that followed with Security Forces he was killed on October 4, 1998. From his possession were recovered maps of sensitive areas of Udhampur District and a highly sophisticated wireless set with whose help he was communicating with other foreign mercenaries and with ISI in Pakistan. Khan,

Mehraj-ud-Din:

Alias

‘Dr.

Khan’.

He

was

District

Commander of Al-Umar Mujihideen when he was arrested at Srinagar

on October 26, 1998. He confessed that he was active in early period of

militancy and later crossed over to Pakistan for advance training in Afghanistan. He had recently returned to Kashmir because ISI had asked

him to revive AUM.

Khan, Izrahil: Real name Javed Ahmed. He was an expert in making

IEDs and bombs. A member of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen, he rose to be its Intelligence Chief in early 1993. In Srinagar on April 30, 1993 he was

Players and Captains

325

carrying in his Ambassador car a high-powered explosive device in the outskirts when it exploded and he died, his body blown to pieces. Langrayal, Nassarullah Manzoor: Real name is Mohammed Khan Ghaznavi. Alias Nasir-ud-Din. A Pakistani national from Sind. He was involved in Afghan War since 1980. For many years he has been a member of Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami(International). He claimed to be Chairman

of its Recruiting Group. He fought in Afghan War for 14 years and commanded 800 mujahideen. In 1992 he was deputed by ISI to establish a HUJI group in Kashmir. In a few months he had a 100 strong group of mercenaries drawn from Pakistan, Afghanistan and some Arab countries.

He even claimed to have had a Turk under him. As their Chief Commander he operated in different parts of Kashmir Valley and in Doda Dstrict. Alngwith three others, on November

19, 1993 he was

arrested from village Kapran near Shopian in Pulwama District. According to him Kashmiri militants are neither dedicated nor Islamic. He confessed that he was involved in killing of 10 BSF personnel and 6 civilians in Doda District in June 1993.——.

Lodhi, Bilal Ahmed: A advocate of standing. Practised in Kupwara and in Srinagar. Whe Al Burq was formed in 1990 he became its Chairman, after receiving arms training in Pakistan. A close associate of Abdul Ghani Lone and a senior member of Peoples Conference since its inception. He narrowly escaped death in an encounter with Secutity Forces at Kupwara on June 9, 1991. Later, after an encounter with Security Forces in Uri sector on December 4, 1991, he was arrested, after 40 of

colleagues had been killed. After his release he has moved away from insurgency. After consultations with his friends and colleagues who were also disenchanted, on February 10,1996 he and 3 others offered to have

unconditional dialogue with Delhi. They severely criticised Hurriyat leadership for their failure to protect Kashmiri interests. He was one of the 4 invited to Delhi for meeting with the Union Home Minister which took place on March 15, 1996. A special committee of senior officers of

Government of India under Special Secretary in the Home Ministry, Mr.V.K.Jain, was set up to follow up the discussions. On February 12, 1996, he was expelled from Peoples Conference. Lone, Abdul Ghani: Born in 1932 he had his education in Kupwara

and Sopore. He got his law degree from Aligarh University in 1957. He was a student leader. He joined Congress Party in the sixties.. He was elected MLA in 1967 and again in 1972 on Congress ticket. He was made a Deputy Minister in 1970 and a Minister of State in 1972. Later, he was

promoted as a full cabinet minister. In 1975 he defected to the National

Conference. He joined Janata Party in the Legislative Assembly in 1977. In 1981 he formed J&K Peoples Conference and became its Chairman.

He was an articulate politician in opposition till armed militancy raised

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Kashmir Underground

its head in Kashmir in 1989. He took part in processions and

demonstrations of secessionists in 1990. He was arrested on April 11, 1990 and detained in Tihar Jail at Delhi. After his release in 1992 he

participated wholeheartedly in secessionist activities in Kashmir to help

the on-going movement. In 1993 he went to Saudi Arabia for Umrah

and from there to Britain for treatment of heart ailment from which he had been suffering for sometime. Thereafter, he went to United States

where he met Congressmen and officers of the State Department and Human Rights organisations. When All Parties Hurriyat Conference(APHC) was formed, his party having joined it, he was made

member of its Executive Committee. He was arrested for leading protest

demonstrations against ban of entry into Hazratbal Shrine by armed militants. He was detained for many months before being released in November 1994. From Tihar Jail, Delhi in November 1991 in a statement jointly issued

with three other senior secessionist leaders, he asked for grant of right of self-determination as the only politically acceptable and peaceful solution of Kashmir issue. After his release in 1992, in a few public meetings he addresed in rural Kashmir, he warned Indian Government to desist from using force to suppress the voice of Kashmiri people He declared that the peoples’ movement will be carried on “at all costs.” He said there was no question of any group or party of breaking out of the current struggle. In January 1993 when permission was not granted to him to meet political detenues and undertrials in Jammu

Central Jail, he

ridiculed the policy of transperancy of the Government.

After a five month long tour of Saudi Arabia, Iran, UK and USA

returning to Srinagar in July 1993, Lone claimed that he had been able to inform the leaders and opinion ,makers in these countries about the real

situation in Kashmir. He proposed a diplomatic and political offensive by the Kashmiris because the majority of people of India and the outside world were unaware about the basic issue of Kashmir. Stressing absolute necessity of unity of all secessionist elements he said that even foreign

friends like Lord Avebury in London had told him, “we will help you

here; you help yourselves by forging unity at home.” In August 1993 he criticised the liberal leaders of India and the champions of human rights “for their criminal silence” on the excesses being committed by the Security Forces in Kashmir. He ridiculed BJP leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee who thought that “ Kashmiris can be silenced by brute military force.” He called absurd the Indian charge that what was happening in Kashmir was creation of Pakistan. He claimed the uprising in Kashmir was “totally indigenous.” He praised Pakistan for extending moral and political support to Kashmiris “in hour of need for a just cause.” ‘

Players and Captains In

327

October 1993 Lone was arrested while participating in

a

procession in defiance of prohibitory orders, to protest against people

not being allowed to visit Hazratbal Shrine which was then occupied by

militants. He was detained under TADA, in Tihar Jail, Delhi. When he

was in March1994, produced before the Advisory Board for review of

his detention under TADA, he alleged that he was detained because he

believed that future of Kashmir was still to be decided. He said if this was acrime then the Indian Prime Minister,Mr. P.V.Narsimha Rao should also be made an accused and tried for treason because he had invited Pakistani Prime Minister for bilateral talks to solve the Kashmir problem

since this invitation amounted to acknowledgement of Kashmir being a disputed territory. He was released from Jammu jail on September 30, 1994. In January

1995 he announced that APHC would accept any solution that was

evolved with help of an international mediator by India, Pakistan and

representatives of people of Jammu & Kashmir, for “we want to avoid

an Indo-Pak war which surely would result in a nuclear confrontation.” Lone had surprised many in December 1995 when he said, “our objective is to destroy the existing power structure in Kashmir and build a new one. None of us is interested in an election farce.” He represented the Hurriyat Conference at an International Seminar on Nationality Question held at New Delhi on February 18, 1996. There

he justified taking up gun by Kashmiri youth because “all our attempts failed through democratic and peaceful means Government's implementation of its commitments.”

to seek Indian

With the rise of counter-insurgency groups in Kashmir since middle

of 1995,Lone claims that three attempts on his life had been made. For

his personal protection he has declined government security. Instead,

he had asked for arms licenses for his personal bodyguards which were

refused because Government is against “ creation of private militias.” On April 18,1996 he participated in symbolic Hurriyat march to the

army cantonment at Badami Bagh in Srinagar to ask “Indian Army to quit Kashnmir.” He was one of the five leaders who were arrested from a sitdown strike on the main thoroughfare in Srinagar. He was released in the evening, along with others. Once again he was arrested outside the Jamma Masjid in Srinagar on November 21, 1997 while with other Hurriyat leaders he was taking

part in a protest march against alleged human rights abuses. He was released on bail on May 27, 1998 after furnishing a bond as ordered by the court. : From Jail he issued a statement on May 23, 1998 denouncing any accord that Dr. Farooq Abdullah may strike with New Delhi. He also warned separatist leaders not to fall pray to efforts afoot to include them

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Kashmir Underground

in the proposed deal. He also asked all those who were sympathetic to the ongoing movement not to issue statement favouring Farooq

Government. After his release on May 27, 1998 he told the press that the Kashmiri movement had not been launched to get any political or economic package. “Nothing short of freedom is acceptable to the people,” he asserted. He alleged that Government was making efforts to break up the Hurriyat Conference. He appealed to all the leaders to close their ranks, stand

critical time.”

together and “foil the designs of the Government at this

During detention his health had given some anxious moments. On

June 9, 1998 he was

flown to New

Delhi and admitted

in All India

Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) for urgent treatment. Later, he was

shifted to Escorts Heart Hospital where he underwent Engiography and Baloon surgery for serious heart ailment. He flew back to Srinagar on August 24, 1998.

After Taliban successes in Afghanistan, Dr.Faroog Abdullah expressed apprehensions that Taliban now may divert their attention towards Kashmir. Lone was the first Kashmir leader who gave an open invitation to Talibans to “come to Kashmir to help in the ongoing peoples’ movement”, in November 1998.

Because of his heart problem he underwent a 5-hour long surgery in

Escorts Heart Institute at New Delhi, on November 4, 1998.

Lone, Ashfaq Ahmed: Alias “Col.Faridi”. A member of Jammu unit of Moslem Janbaz Force. In September 1995 he appeared to be a Zonal Commander. When MJF Chief Babbar Badr decided to give up gun and

offered to have dialogue with New Delhi, Lone an d 14 other activists decided to follow Badr. Lone was present at Batote (Jammu) on February 27, 1996 when this announcement was made.

Lone, Ashfaq Hussain: A member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In 1991,Lone was Deputy Chief of Intelligence. From within the walled city

of Delhi, he was arrested on March 25, 1991. It was alleged that 23 bank drafts totalling Rs. 15.5 lacs and Rs. 50,000/- in cash were recovered

from him. He told police that these had been given to him by a student

of Jawahar

Lal Nehru

University, Shahbudin

Ghouri.

Lone

further

disclosed that the money was meant for HUM leaders Mohd. Yusuf Shah and Master Ahsan Dar. He disclosed further

that in November

1990,

Pakistan ISI officer Col. Tariq had visited Kashmir Valley in his company. Lone, Manzoor Ahmed:

Alias ” Hilal.” An HUM

activist of South

Kashmir. He was Group Co-ordinator for Kulgam area in 1993. On January 17,1994 he was killed by Security Forces in an encounter. Lone,Nissar Ahmed: Alias “Shahji”. An active member of Harkat-

ul-Mujahideen. He rose rapidly and at end of 1992 he had become Acting

Players and Captains

329

Chief. His two close aides and he were killed on

March 13, 1993 in an

encounter with Security Forces. First their hideout was cordoned off.

They were asked to surrender. Instead of doing that they hurled grenades and started firing . When

killed.

Lone,

Riyaz

the Security Forces retaliated, all three were

Ahmed:

A senior mémber

of JKLF.

When

the

organisation split in September 1995 he became part of Shabir Sidiqui group owing allegiance to Amanullah Khan.

Lone, Ghulam Rasul: Alias ‘Umar Chacha’. A senior member of

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was named Divisional Commander (North)in 1993. In 1994-95 he had functioned as HUM Launching Chief. On March 14, 1996, he was arrested from Srinagar outskirts by STF of Kashmir Police. He led the police to a hidden dump of arms and ammunition. While these were being recovered militants attacked and killed Lone. Lone, Mushtaq Ahmed:

A District Commander of JKLF. While

escaping from a dragnet, he was shot dead while in a boat crossing Jehlum

river alongwith Acting President, Sheikh Abdul Hamid,on November

19, 1992. His body was recovered from the river three days later.

Lone, Ghulam Hassan: Alias ‘Usman’. A trained activist of the Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen. Belongs to Kulgam area in Kashmir. He was detained in

Jammu Special Jail at Kot Bhalwal under Public Safety Act for one year

from June 15, 1992. He was allegedly involved in assasination of the former Speaker of Legislative Assembly Wali Mohammed Ittoo at Jammu on March 18, 1994. He managed to escape after the shoot out. Lone, Abdul Rashid: Hails from Kupwara District. He went across to Pakistan for training and joined Al Burg outfit. Under Dawood Khan he was made Second-in-Command. He was sent back to Kashmir and made Chief Organiser. He was made responsible to enrol new recruits

and also to arrange from POK, arms and ammunition and then to distribute them to various outfits. On July 3,1997 he was arrested by

SOG of Kashmir Police. Lone, Ghulam Hassan: Alias “Khalid Saani”. He belongs to Pulwama District but was made District Commander for Budgam District by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was arrested from outskirts of Srinagar on January 30,1998. He was one of the longest surviving militants in Kashmir. Police alleged that in past 8 years he was involved in many killings. After preliminary interrogation by BSF he was handed over to Kashmir Police . He led BSF team to a hideout in Srinagar where two important militants were hiding. They were killed by BSF. On January 18, 1998, the Police disclosed that Lone had been killed in an encounter.

Interrogation had revealed that Lone was in Charar-i-Sharief on May

10, 1995, with Mast Gul. The Police disclosed that Lone had led them to

Hizb hideout at 6 different places from where substantial quantities of

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Kashmir Underground

arms, ammunition and explosives were recovered. He also helped the elimination of another HUM Divisional Commander, Imtiaz Alam in

Srinagar. In his interrogation he had revealed that ISI plan to eliminate a number of National Conference legislators and party activists in Kashmir. He also admitted that he had been receiving regularly from ISI Rupees two lacs every month to run his organisation. Lone,Ashfaq: Alias ‘Col.Faridi’. A senior militant belonging to Moslem Janbaz Force. He was made a Zonal Commander in Doda District

in 1995. With 13 other party activists he supported his Chief, Babar Badr in February 1996 when he opted for dialogue with Delhi. Lone, Hilal Ahmed: Alias ‘Tariq’. Belongs to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

In 1997 he became its Publicity Chief. On June 19, 1998 he was arrested

from Nawab Bazar, Srinagar. From him were recovered many fake Police Identiuty Cards. Lone, Nazir Ahmed: Belonging to Kupwara District. He was recruited by Jamait-ul-Mujahideen in July 1997 and sent across LOC for arms training. On return, for some months he operated in northwest Kashmir but on July 10,1998 alongwith a colleague he was surrounded

by armymen ina

village near Kupwara town, and was made to surrender.

He then disclosed that both of them had received training in mujahideen camps at Peshawar and Lahore from Pak Army Officers. Lone, Bashir Ahmed: A resident of Channapora, Srinagar. He joined militancy in 1991 and after training became an active member of Al Jehad outfit. He rose to become a District Commander. He was arrested by SOG, Kashmir Police from Srinagar on October 17,1998.

Lala, Mohd. Ayub: Alias “Biju Ustad”—District Commander (Anantnag) of Al Jehad. Arrested by Security Forces on April 23, 1994.

Lohar, Subhan: A senior militant of Harkat-ul-Ansar. His main area

of operation was Mahu Mangat area near Banihal in Doda District. Here the Police claimed he had indulged in killings, kidnappings and extortions. On

February

5, 1998 his hideout

in Mahu

Mangat,

surrounded by Army jawans. In the encounter Subhan was killed.

was

Manhas, Raja Khalid: A national of POK, who was a major contact

there of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He used to cross over the LOC frequently to confer with HUM Commanders. In July 1993 while crossing over he was killed in an encounter with Security Forces. Manan,

Prof. Abdul: Real name Bilal Ahmed

‘Tanveer-ul-Islam. A member

Bhat also known as

of Hizbullah. In October

1995, due to

differences with the leadership, he formed a separate faction. However

efforts were made to iron out differences and he returned to the fold. On

November 25, 1995 he was made spokesman of the Chief, Shahidul Islam,

in whom he expressed full faith and subordination. The Police SOG

Players and Captains

331

arrested him on April 14, 1997. He was a favorite of Pak ISI with whom

he had trained. He was a X-Ray technician in a Government Hospital in Kashmir before becoming a militant. Masood, Dr. Alam: A member of JKLF. When the organisation split

in September 1995, he sided with Shabir Sidiqi group owing allegiance to Amanullah Khan. After Sidiqi & Basharat Raza were killed in an

encounter with J&K Police STF outside Hazratbal Shrine on March 27,

1996, Dr. Alam Masood was appointed Chief Commander. Masood, Mamoon: Known by this code name. He is an exemployee

of J&K

Police Force. Became

an active member

of Al Jihadia—an

organisation of discharged policemen. He was made its President. On May 5, 1994, Al Jihadia merged with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

Mehmood, Tahir: Real name Ghulam Nabi Mir. Alias Dr. Abrar.

Belonged to Kangan. A senior member of Allah Tigers. In 1992, he was Party Chief. In an interview on November 12, 1992 he said “gun alone cannot be the solution of Kashmir tangle; issue can be resolved across the table.” Justifying use of gun he said “taking to armed struggle became unavoidable. With the help of gun we have been able to inject new life into the Kashmir issue and today if the whole world is concerned about us, it is only because Kashmiri youth took to arms. This is the biggest achievement of the gun.” He however hastened to add that “gun and politics are two faces of same coin but politics should have an upper hand.” Reflecting on solution of the tangle, he said, “we accept and

respect the right of people to decide anything about their future but such a decision should be strictly within the framework of Islamic principles.” After Allah Tigers merged with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, he was made District Commander. The BSF arrested him from Shrinagar on February 25, 1994, while he was in SMHS Hospital trying to involve Doctors and

others of staff in militant activities.

Manhas, Khalid: Hailing from Kishtwar in Doda, he was Al Jehad

Area Commander in Jammu City in 1992-93. Originally a member of

JKLF he joined Al Jehad in 1991. He is alleged to have been involved in

explosion in DC office at Jammu in July 1990, Oil Depot near Railway Station (Rocket attack) in December 1990, and grenade attack near Raghunath Temple in Jammu City on September 2, 1991. On February 1, 1993 accompanied by a colleague he was loitering in a lane in Jammu City at night. People got suspicious and chased them. His colleague fired arid escaped, Manhas was caught and severely beaten He later died in hospital. Malik Niyazi: A member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon. In the reorganisation of the Group on July 8, 1995, he was made Divisional

Commander,

North.

332

Kashmir Underground Manzoor,

Dr.: Belongs

to Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon.

When

it was

reorganised on July 8, 1995, he was put in charge of Anantnag, as District

Commander. Mir, Abdul Ahmed “Salim”: A very active militant on the SrinagarJammu National Highway. Member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Was killed in an encounter on December 30, 1993. Mir, Mohd. Altaf: Alias “Khalid”. An active member of Al Fateh.

He was arrested from Bandipore by Security Forces, on January 3, 1994. Mir, Manzoor Ahmed: Alias “Nazir Khan”. An activist of Ikhwan-

ul-Musalmeen. He was alleged to have been involved in abduction of K.

Doraiswamy, Executive Director, IOC on June 28, 1991. Mir, Mohd. Irail: Alias “Zaffar”. A member of Al Fateh outfit. On January 3, 1994, he was arrested in Bandipore.

Mir, Mohd. Ramzan: Alias “Hayat Khan”. An active member of Moslem Mujahideen. In an intergang clash on September 7, 1994, he

was killed by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen activists.

Mir Niyazi: Real name is Ghulam Nabi Mir. A militant of wide experience who became well known when he was appointed a Divisional

Commander of Al Fateh Force in October 1994. Not seeing much future

in that outfit, in July 1995 he joined Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon. On July 8 he was made Incharge Publicity. When this organisation formed its political wing—Awami League, Niyazi was made its General Secretary. For the

Parliamentary elections in May 1996,he filed his nomination papers from Srinagar constituency. On April 20, 1996 he said, rights of people of

Jammu & Kashmir were safe within India only. “Those talking of Azadi should give account of large feuds they are getting in the name of blood of Kashmiris”, he demanded. He joined Congress Party on August 31,

1996. He was fielded as a Congress candidate for Assembly elections in

September 1996 but failed to get elected.

In February 1997 he returned to Awami League and was admitted

by Kukka Parray on February 3, at a Party workers meeting. He accused National Conference of having failed on every front and called for a

new leadership to.emerge in Kashmir because old traditional leaders had failed the people. Niyazi developed serious differences with Parray and left the Awami League in April 1998. On April6 he announced formation of Insaf Party.

He alleged that Awami League leaders had siphoned off crores of rupees

from Centre and State Governments received for rehabilitation of surrendered militants. He further alleged that for their employment as Special Police Officers, the Ministers and MLAs were demanding 15000/ ~ per recruitment. Mir, Mohd. Qasim: Alias “Akhtar”. He was part of the Al Fateh outfit that came into being in 1991. On January 3, 1994, alongwith two colleagues he was arrested at Bandipore by Security Forces.

Players and Captains

333

Mir, Sajjad: Real name: Mohammed Salim. A gold medalist M.A from Kashmir University. A senior member of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen.

He became its Chief Commander in 1992 after his return from Pakistan,

where he had received advance training in a Camp near the Afghan border. He had allegedly killed one officer and 3 BSF jawans in Batamalloo area of Srinagar on April 7, 1993. He got killed in an encounter with Security Forces on July 28, 1993. Mir, Tahir Ahmed: A member of Students Liberation Front. Later,

he joined the Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen and rose quickly. He was in jail from December 1990 to 1994. It was alleged that he was involved in kidnapping and the murder of H. L. Khera, General Manager of HMT

Watch Factory, in April 1990. During interrogation he revealed that in Pakistan an officer of ISI—Tariq accompanied them all over. They returned to Kashmir with 4 bags containing 3 AK rifles, 3 pistols and some hand grenades. He was arrested then. He was released on June 5,

1997 after the Supreme Court granted him bail. He was arrested again

on November 27, 1997 from Jammu.

From jail on January 12, 1994 he appealed to UN Secretary General to intervene and help solve Kashmir dispute. He expressed grave concern over “silence of world community over gross violations of human rights in the Valley.” According to him “a revolution nourished by blood always grows stronger and that lesson of history Delhi should take note of”.

Mir, Nissar Ahmed: Alias “Yunis Saleem”. Better known an

“Zulkarnain”. A senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In made Commander of Srinagar District. He allegedly was killing of reputed physician, Dr. Ghulam Nabi Ahangar. prime suspect in bomb blast in Police Headquarters at

1993 he was involved in He was also Srinagar on

January 24, 1992. In the blast 5 senior officers including DGP, J.N. Saxena,

were seriously injured. He was killed in an exchange of fire with BSF in a Srinagar suburb on July 24, 1993. Police alleged Mir was s also involved in killing of Dr. A. A. Guru. Mir, Javed Ahmed: Also known as “Nalka” since he came from family of plumbers. A leader of JKLF who has stayed in limelight since 1989. He was born in Srinagar in 1965. Pakistani infiltrators known as mujahideen, in large numbers had come to Kashmir about the same time.

To commemorate that event the new born was named ‘Mujahid Ahmed’ by the parents. Later, he was renamed as Javed Ahmed. While still at school he participated in anti-government demonstrations. In a lathicharge by police once he received head injury. Because of it and also because his heart was not in studies, he left school. His father was an employee in the Water Supply Department and he got Javed a job in

the same Department. However he was dismissed in 1988 because of his subversive activities.

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Kashmir Underground

In 1986 alongwith Yasin Malik and Ashfaq Majid Wani and others he formed Islamic Students League which confined itself to organising processions and staging demonstrations. In 1987 Assembly elections he worked for MUF candidate in Amirakadal constituency—Mohd. Yusuf Shah (later known as Syed Salaludin of HUM). He was defeated. After

elections were over Javed was arrested. After 9 months detention he

was released on parole. Soon he resumed his anti-government activities and because of this his parole was canceled. Instead of reporting to Police as required, he went underground. He crossed over to POK from Lassipora in Kupwara District accompanied by a guide who had been sent from Pakistan. He came back soon. But again in 1989 he went over to Pakistan to meet JKLF Chief, Amanullah Khan. Returning to Kashmir

he helped to strengthen JKLF and was very active in winter of 1989-90 when militancy euphoria was at its peak. He was JKLF Area Commander for Srinagar. , When JKLF was reorganised on April 5, 1990 he was made Incharge, Publicity. When Yasin Malik was arrested on August 6, 1990, Javed was

made Acting Chief. On December 15, 1992, he was named Party President. Till then he had made 7 trips to Pakistan since 1987. In June 1993 accompanied by two close confidantes Nazir and Altaf he flew from Delhi to Khatmandu on forged documents procured at Delhi. From there he flew to Karachi. From there he also travelled to Iran. In the Hurriyat Executive Committee he represented the JKLF many times. In Kashmir he met may diplomats who came at different times. When US Asstt. Secretary of State, Ms Robin Raphael came to Kashmir

in 1993, Javed presented JKLF point of view. In June 1993 ISI invited HUM’s Salaludin and Javed on behalf of JKLF to visit Pakistan for

consultations and to end intergang war between the two groups. Javed returned to Kashmir in December 1993 after 7 month stay in Pakistan and tour of POK. Although he commended Pakistan for its support and assistance but felt that was for its own self-interest rather than for love of Kashmiris. He was critical of the lack of enthusiasm of Kashmiri masses. He also accused the “so-called Moslem countries of the world” of sitting as “mute witnesses” of what he described as “mass murder

and rape of innocent Kashmiris”, and called upon “the self-professed champions of democracy in the West, Bill Clinton and John Major to the rescue of Kashmiris since we have been let down by those who we considered to be our very own. We hold a grudge against those who pledged to support us, but have chosen to sit back and watch the tamasha, instead,” he added.

On

March

12, 1994 he was arrested in Srinagar by

Security Forces. In January 1995 he went on hunger strike for 25 days in

Central Jail, Jammu,

in protest against alleged excesses in Kashmir by

Security Forces. He was however, released on May

25, 1995.

Players and Captains

335

For defying prohibitory orders imposed in Srinagar, he was arrested

on May 18, 1997. He was released after 15 days detention.

Mir, Nissar Ahmed:

Amanullah

A member

of JKLF who

stayed on with

faction following the split in September

Muzaffarabad based General Secretary of Amanullah

1995. The

faction, Haider

Hijazi appointed him Convenor of the Party in Jammu region in early 1998. This was to revive and activise it in Jammu region. With 6 other party functionaries he was having a meeting in a hideout in Faisalabad

village in Surankote area of Poonch District on June 23, 1998 when they

were surrounded by Security Forces. Mir was killed with 6 others including Sajjad, Commander of the area. Mir, Basharat Ahmed:

Alias Sikander Khan.

Comes

from Gogal,

Lolab, of Kupwara District. He was trained in Pakistan. He was Battalion

Commander of Al Burg outfit in 1998.

Mir, Mohd. Yusuf: Alias “Sharief-ud-Din”. Till he deserted and

joined militant ranks in 1989 he was a constable in Police for more than 3 years. He became one of the founder members of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was outfit master planner and a strategist. He rose to become HUM Divisional Commander of South Kashmir. He and another militant were hiding in a house in a village near Bijbehara town when Security Forces cordoned off the house. In the encounter on February 23, 1991, Mir was killed while the other militant succumbed to injuries, later.

Misgar, Mohd. Shaffi: An activist of JKLF. In 1995 he was an alternate representative on the APHC Executive Committee. On May 3, 1995 he was made a member of 3 man Press cell of JKLF (Malik faction).

Miraj, Syed Muzzafar: A member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. In 1993, he was made Military Advisor of the Group. After Daribal incident in which 4 persons were killed, he had given call for strike and protest processions. On August 6, 1993 he thanked people of area for expressing solidarity with Ikhwan by being on strike for 5 days. Mohd. Azim: A member of JKLF. When the Party split in September 1995, he went over to Shabir Sidiqui faction owing allegiance to Amanullah Khan. He was holed up in Hazaratbal Shrine alongwith Shabir Sidiqui in third week of March 1996. Mohammed, Ali: Alias “Munshi”. He was Divisional Administrator

of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in 1994. On February 13, 1995 he was arrested by Security Forces.

Mohammed, Noor: Alias “Bitta Kassai”. An old hand of Hizbullah.

He was promoted Regimental Commander in early 1993. In an encounter

with BSF on December 5, 1993, he was killed. Mohammed, Gulam: Alias “Usman Ali”. A Zonal Commander of

the Jammu Provincial unit of Muslim Janbaz Force in 1995. He was one of 14 activists of the Party who on February 27, 1996 announced that

336

Kashmir Undergrownul

they would give up gun and opt for dialogue with Delhi and

tollow

their leader, Babar Badr. Mohammed Bin Qasim: The youngest detenue of the militancy. He

is son of Ms Asiya Andrabi, the fiery Chief of Dukhtaran-i-Millat. When

he was 5 months old on February 5, 1993, his mother was arrested at

Srinagar airport on arrival from Delhi. The suckling child could not be

separated so he went to jail with his mother. He came out of jail on

February 21, 1994, when his mother was released. Mohidin, Ghulam: A senior member of Muslim Mujahideen. A Deputy of the Chief, Master Ahsan Dar. He was also outfit’s Financial

Chief. He was arrested on December 19, 1993 from a Srinagar hideout,

alongwith his leader Ahsan Dar. Mohidin, Malik: Born in 1936. Did his LLB from Aligarh in 1958. Became an active member of Plebiscite Front. He was jailed many times. Later joined National Conference and still later, Congress on whose ticket he was elected to Legislative Assembly in 1977. Soon after, he was elected Speaker. After his term was over, he started practice in J&K High Court.

On December 20, 1993 he was arrested. He was alleged to have been the

conduit for bringing in from Delhi large sums of illegal money for Master Ahsanullah and use by Moslem Mujahideen. The money was alleged to have been transferred through hawala, from foreign countries. Matta, Afzal Ahmed: An activist of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. Later he became its Financial Controller. Alongwith Mohd. Ramzan Sofi, Chief

Commander JUM and 3 others Matta was arrested on September 11,

1993.

Musa, “General”:

Real name:

Abdul

Aziz

Dar—a

taxi Driver. A

senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was trained in Pakistan. In 1991 he was named Patron. He was arrested on September 23, 1991 and detained under TADA. He was released after 3 months, on bail by Court.

He went underground to coordinate Hizb activities with other groups.

He

was

however,

arrested.

He

was

produced

in TADA

Court

in

November 1997 and again in March 1998. Later he was sent to hospital

for treatment. He reacted strongly to a recent killing of nonmoslem civilians in Srinagar. On May 17, 1998 in a statement he condemned the killing and asked the Moslems to condem it strongly. He said it was duty of all moslems especially militants to protect them. He demanded stringent punishment for the culpurits after they were identified.

Mukhtar, Umar: He is a member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon. In its reorganisation announced on July 8, 1995, he was made Commander of

Srinagar District. He was also made a member of 3-man Committee set

up on February 29, 1996, to look into grievances and complaints of people

in general and to help in their redressal.

Players and Captains

337

Murtaza, Syed

Khalid: A veteran militant who was one of first

members of Hizbullah group. On its reorganisation on October 3, 1992,

he was made Deputy Chief. Mushtaq-ul-Islam: See Islam, Musbtaq-ulMagrey, Abdul Majeed: Better known as “Junaid”. A police deserter who in 1990 joined recently formed Al Jihadia Commandos. When it

merged with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen on May 5, 1991, he was made Chief of

Operations on the National Highway. He earmed a name in January 1992 when he conducted several attacks on Security Forces vechieles on National Highway during BJP leader M.M. Joshi’s Yatra. Later, in 1993 he “imposed” curfew on the Highway to stall the Amarnath Yatra. Junaid was close to Mamoon

Rashid who was considered brain

behind blasts in Police Headquarters in Srinagar on January 24, 1992. In an encounter with Rashtriya Rifles in Hanjipor village in Anantnag District, he was killed on April 2, 1996.

Moghlu, Altaf Ahmed: An active Group Commander of Hizb-ul-

Mujahideen. On June 28, 1995 he was killed in an encounter with BSF in

downtown Srinagar. His outfit however custody. Mohammed, Noor: Alias “Noora”. A Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and later went over rose to be the Doda District Commander involved in 1994 killings of bus passengers

claimed that he was killed in

police deserter who first joind to Harkut-ul-Ansar, where he in 1996. He was alleged to be in Kishtwar and also in killing

of 8 BSF jawans in 1995, in Thatri area of Doda District.

Mehrajudin:

Alias “Usman”.

In 1992 he was made JKLF District

Commander in Srinagar. In an encounter with Security Forces at Bemina near Srinagar on Apirl 12, 1993 he was killed. Mirza, Muzaffar: Alias Asghar. A member of Jamait-u-Mujahideen.

In 1993 he was made Military Advisor. While he was confering with his Chief and others in hideout in Srinagar, the BSF raided it and arrested him on September 10, 1993. Mir, Gulam Rasul : Alias Tariq alias Aamir Sohail. Belongs to Jamait-

ul-Mujahideen and operated mostly in Kupwara District and Srinagar. In early 1996 he was, Acting Chief Commander of JUM.

He was killed

during search operation in Baramulla District by J&K Police SOG on

July 20, 1996. Mir, Hilal Ahmed: Alias Nasar-ul-Islam. See Islam Manhas, Dawood: An active member in Doda District of Harkat-

ul-Ansar. He was involved in many attacks on security forces and was

wanted by police since 1992. On January 15, 1995 he took part in massacre

of 15 members of minority community at Barshalla (Doda). And in June 1996 he was involved in killing of 8 persons at Kalmadi. On May

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Kashmir Underground

10, 1997 he and his associate Qari Zarar were killed in an encounter with

SOG in Gandoh area of Bhadarwah in Doda District. Mir, Bashir Ahmed:

Alias “Shabir” - A senior activist of Hizb-ul-

Mujahideen. Had taken part in some daring actions before being promoted as “Launching Chief” in 1996. He evaded arrest for many months but on August 13, 1997 he was arrested by Field Intelligence

Unit of J&K CID from a hideout. At one time he was HUM incharge of

weaponary.

Mir, Assdullah:

Alias Moulvi

Munir

Hussain.

Alias

“General

Abdullah”. Alias Shaheen Afaquee. Also known as Shahid. A resident of Ganderbal area. Was an early entrant in the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Because he participated in many actions successfully he was made a Divisional Commander. He raised lots of funds for HUM. He was arrested in 1993 and released in 1995 after 2 years detention

under PSA. In early 1997 he was named head of the militants alliance Shoore-e-Jehad. In this capacity he organised many hartals in Srinagar

and other towns of Kashmir. In an encounter wit SOG, he was killed on

July 7, 1997. Shoora-e-Jehad alleged it was custodial death after torture.

He was an employee of Kashmir University, and continued to draw his salary while being a member of an outlawed organisation. Mirza, Muzaffar Ahmed

: Also known as “Asghar” and “Afzal”.

Alias “Aabid”. A senior member of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. He was arrested on September 10, 1993 when he was Military Advisor. In early 1997 he was promoted as its Incharge of Finances, Publicity and Launching. SOG of Kashmir Police arrested him in Srinagar on June 19, 1997.

He was a supervisor in the Govt. Cooperative Department, and continued to draw his salary even when he was underground. Muvassar: A Pakistani national from Sialkot area. He crossed over from Pakistan in 1997. After familiarising himself with areas and sensitive locations he went back to Pakistan in December, 1997.

In first week of

February 1998 he crossed over again and was apprehended. The interrogation led to recovery of hidden arms which were to be used for some killings. Malik, Maqsood : Alias ‘Aijaz Saleem : An active member of Hizbul-Mujahideen, who had many exploits to his credit. In 1996 he was appointed Coordinator of Operations & Adminstration in South Kashmir. He was also overseeing the main Wireless Communication Station of the outfit. On January 27, 1997 in an encounter with Security Forces, alongwith 3 others, Malik was killed. Malik, Bashir Ahmed: Code name ‘Iftikhar’. A reliable and

experienced member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

After spending over two

years in Kashmir Valley he was made the ‘Provincial Commander’ and

Players and Captains

339

put incharge of Doda operations in 1997. When ISI decided to unify the operational command of 3 outfits, Malik not agreeing to it, was sidelined.

Malik, Abdul:

Alias Abu Wagas.

A Pakistan national from Sind.

A trained militant of Lashkar-i-Toiba who was sent to Kashmir for operations in South Kashmir in early 1998. In an encounter with Security Forces in Shopian on July 16, 1998 he was killed with his accomplice Mohd. Tariq. Mir, Hilal Ahmed:

A District Commander of Al Umar.

He was

apprehended in Srinagar by Police on November 5, 1992. Malik, Mohd. Abbas: Alias ‘Abbas Bengali’. He joined Al Jehad outfit in 1990. He surrendered in 1993. He soon escaped and joined Hizbul-Mujahideen. For few years he was involved in many killings and was made Coy. Commander in 1997. Soon he was arrested but managed to escape by jumping into a river while being transported to a prison. Thereafter he joined the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen where he became battalion commander. He took.a member of Ikhwan as hostage. The police got the hostage released and in that shootout Abbas was killed near Anantnag town on February 22, 1999.

Malik, Ghulam Mohd.: Alias “Saddam”.

Trained in Pakistan he

was a member of “Allah Tigers”. In early 1993 he was named a District Commander. In October 1993 he with two associates took refuge in the Kashmir University Campus at Hazratbal. On October 11, 1993 all the 3 were arrested by Kashmir Police. Majid, Abdul: Alias “Khalid Gibran”. A veteran militant. He was one of the first to join Al Burq when it was formed in early 1990. He rose quickly and in early 1993 was made Chief Commander. In exchange of fire with

Security Forces,

he was

killed on October

15, 1993 near

Handwara alongwith 3 others including an Afgan national Abdul Sattar. Magrey, Nazir Ahmed: Originally member of Students Liberation Front. Later became part of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. In early 1993, he was promoted to be Group’s Military Advisor. On May 28, 1993 he was killed in an encounter with Security Forces. Magpbool, Shahid:

A Pakistan born Kashmiri. Well trained in

Afghanistan in handling of sophisticated arms. When Pakistan decided to set up in Kashmir a branch of Harkat-ul-Jehad-i-Islami (International)

HUJI, the ISI chose Maqbool to head it in 1993. Malik, Aslam: A militant of note, who became a member of Moslem

Janbaz Force early. Because of his exploits, by middle of 1995, he had

become its Chief.

Malik, Mohd. Yaseen:

Chairman of JKLF(M). He was born in 1966

in Srinagar ina lower middle class family. At young age he was subjected to political happenings all round. In 1986 alongwith 5 others be founded the J&K Islamic Students League. He took part in protest meetings and

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Kashmir Underground

demonstrations against the Administration. He was twice arrested. In 1987 Assembly elections, he compaigned for MUF candidates. Later, he was jailed for illegal activities. He was released after elections. Soon after he joined JKLF. In May 1986 he crossed the LOC and in Pakistan received

arms training. After 6 weeks he came back to the Valley, along with a

group of trained youth. In September 1988 this group attacked the residence of DIG Police , Ali Mohd. Watali in which one of them, Aijaz Ahmed Dar was killed by

security guards. Police rounded some members of the group. Malik with some others went over to POK and returned only in February 1989. In December 1989 he was alleged to be part of conspiracy to abduct Dr. Rubiya Sayed, daughter of Indian Home

Minister, Mufti

Mohd.

Sayed. When the plan succeeded and 5 senior activists of JKLF were got

released in exchange for Rubiya Sayeed, Malik rode the crest of popularity and was much sought after.

With 3 others he was holding a meeting in a house on April 8, 1990. The house was surrounded by Security Forces and the inmates were asked to surrender. Three others got arrested but Malik jumped out of the window iran attempt to escape. He was injured and was removed to hospital by Police. With help of local doctors Malik was able to escape from the hospital. In the party reorganisation that was announced on April 10, 1990, Malik was made Chief Commander for Kashmir. Four months later he was holding a meeting with his colleagues in a house at Burzala, Srinagar when he was arrested alongwith his Deputy, Abdul Hamid Sheikh and Commander for Jammu Region, Kaka Hussain on August 6, 1990.

During his 4 years detention, he was lodged in Tihar jail Delhi, Central jail, Agra; Special jail at Mehrauli, Delhi; Central Jail, Jammu. Once he had to be shifted to All India Medical Institute New Delhi, where

he underwent heart surgery in April 1992. Later he suffered couple of

strokes.

From Central Jail, Agra, he sent a detailed Memorandum

in

April 1991, to the Tribunal set up to review the Government Order of April 16, 1990

Order.

declaring

as illegal, JKLF, challenging the Government

While he was detained in special jail in Mehrauli, Delhi, on February

2, 1993 he threatened to go on indefinite hunger strike from Febraury 11, 1993 to protest against alleged “ reign of terror let loose by security forces in Kashmir”. He sent a

letter to the Prime Minister P.V. Narsimha Rao,

in which among things he said, “ it is unfortunate that Gandhi's succssors have maligned the sanctity of the great man’s philosophy which teaches respect

for basic

human

values,

irrespective

of caste,

religion

or

nationality.” He further said that while British produced only one General Dyer who massacred

thousands of freedom

fighters,

“in Jammu

and

Players and Captains

341

Kashmir we had hundreds of General Dyers who indulge in brute killings

of men, women and children only because they are asking for their right

to govern their own country.”

On May 19, 1993, Yasin and 11 others were produced before the

TADA designated court at Jammu for the first time since his arrest on August 6 1990. The CBI and the State Police had produced challans charging Yasin and others allegedly being involved with:

(a) (b)

Killing of Ajay Kumar Kapoor on December 1, 1989 Killing of Syedullah, SHO, Maisuma, on December 1, 1989

(d)

Abduction of Dr. Rubiya Sayed, on December 8, 1989

(c)_

(e) ()

(g)

(h) () G)

(k)_

Killing of Abdul Rashid Malik, on November

16, 1989

Killing of one BSF jawan on Febraury 2, 1990

Killing of VK Razdan, IB official, on Febraury

Killing of 4 IAF personnel, on January

25, 1990

12, 1990

Killing of CRPF jawan,on March 3, 1990 Exploding of bombs in Post Office on February 28, 1990

Killing of Prof. Mushiral Haq, on April 10, 1990 Killing of Mohd.

Sharif Dar, on March 5, 1990

Yasin, however challenged registration of cases under TADA against him and his associates. According to him the cases against him were politically motivated and were not criminal charges against him. He alleged that all those demanding independence in J&K State, were being

branded as terrorists. After his health improved he was flown from Delhi to Jammu on September 16, 1993 and produced in TADA court, next day. He was facing charges in about a dozen cases. His counsel presented application

of bail on health grounds. In the court talking to media he ruled out return to pre-1953 position in Kashmir as a possible solution. “It is no use digging the past because such experiments have already failed. We

believe in the pre- partition status of entire Jammu & Kashmir State” he said. : Because of his ill-health, the designated TADA court at Jammu on

October 11, 1993 released him on bail. While in detention he went on hunger strike from December 10, 1993.

A case of attempt to commit suicide was registered against him. On the orders of the Supreme Court, Malik was released on bail on

May 17, 1994 from Sub-Jail, Mehrauli, Delhi. He returned to Srinagar on

May 18, 1994 and on arrival was given a rousing reception. On reaching his residence at Maisuma, while addressing the gathering, because of

exhaustion, he collapsed.

In June 1994 he went on indefinite fast to protest against entry of criminal elements into JKI.F and other militant outfits. After 3 days of

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Kashmir Underground

confabulations, senior secessionist leaders assured him of taking action

against criminal elements, in next 4 weeks . He broke his fast on June 4,

1994. Hurriyat leaders described his fast as un-Islamic while some militant groups accused him of playing Indian game to weaken the on

going movement.

In 1995 differences developed between him and JKLF Chairman Amanullah Kkan (based in Pakistan). Khan expelled Yasin from the organisation on September 21, 1995. Malik after consulting his colleagues in Srinagar, expelled Amanullah Khan from JKLF. With 6 others Hurriyat leaders on April 18, 1996, Malik participated in March to Badami Bagh Contonment in Srinagar to ask Indian Army to quit Kashmir. Alongwith others he ws arrested but released in the

evening.

In May 1997 he went to Delhi to meet “some like-minded persons”. On May 12, he decided to sit at Jantar-Mantar Park, on an indefinite fast to demand that Human Rights organisations and representatives of Indian NGOs should immediately visit Kashmir and investigate alleged violations of human rights by the Security Forces. Soon he was joined by four APHC leaders—2 from Kashmir and two from Jammu. Next day his condition deteriorated because he refused to take even water or medicine. He was visited by former Union Ministers George Fernandes

and Subodh Kant Sahay. On late evening of May 14, he was arrested and lodged in Tihar Jail, after his condition deteriorated further.

The Citizens for Democracy Chairman, Kuldip Nayar on May 15, announced that this human rights group would send to Kashmir a 7member delegation in response to Malik’s request. Malik broke his fast late in the evening after assurances had been secured by Kuldip Nayar from the Union Home Minister that no one involved in human rights abuses would be shielded. In July 1998 he was invited to Hyderabad to participate in the State Conference of “Telangana Jana Sabha”—an organisation pursuing the

cause of separate Telangana state. Speaking there on July 5 he had said

that determination of people of Kashmir has kept the movement alive

all these 50 years despite heavy repression by successive governments. According to him Government was spending Rs 30 crores a day on security in Kashmir. He said no solution of Kashmir problem would be possible without involvement of true representatives of Kashmiri people. The APHC had reacted strongly when Peoples War Group (PWG) was banned by Andhra Pradesh Government in 1996. In a statement on July 26, 1996 APHC

had

stated,

“It was

reimposed

after PWG

had

publicly supported our demand for right of self-determination”. PWG had invited Hurriyat leaders to Hyderabad and they participated in PWG seminars and rallies.

Players and Captains

343

The AP Government grew apprehensive of close links being forged between the Telangana Jana Sabha and Hurriyat Conference of Kashmir.

Malik and two other Hurriyat leaders had visited Hyderabad in recent months. Newspapers published from Hyderabad severely criticised

Malik for “interference in AP politics” after Malik declared, “We, the

people of Kashmir, are with you in your fight for separate Telengana

State”. The Presiding officer of the TADA Court, Jammu on October 5, 1998

extended Malik’s bail for 3 more months. He presented himself in the Court in cases investigated and challaned by CBI. His colleague Showkat Bakshi was also produced by police before the Court. He reacted sharply to Pakistan’s claim that while dealing with India, she represented Kashmiris. On November 11, 1998 at Delhi he told Press

that Pakistan had no locus standi to negotiate on behalf of Kashmiris as it is nobody's property. “We Kashmiris are mature enough to discuss

our own future” he asserted , According to him “Pakistan should refrain

from deciding on behalf of Kashmiris as the people of Jammu & Kashmir are the final deciding factor when the question of dispensation of Kashmir comes.” He also asked Pakistan to hand over Gilgit, Baltistan and Hunza

to Kashmir because this area belongs to Kashmir and nobody could just walk away with it. The so-called constitution of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir prohibits anybody from demanding anything except accession of Jammu & Kashmir with Pakistan. “We will never bow before the dictates of Pakistan, come what may”, he said.

Mudasir, Abdul: Also known as Abu Mudaszr. A militant belonging to the elite group of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. By 1997 he had climbed many

rungs and was made a District Commander of areas around Sopore. In an encounter with Security Forces in a village near Sopore on November 28, 1997 he was killed. Two other militants both foreign mercenaries

were also killed. They were identified as Umar Zaman of HUM and Abu Kitoda of Laskar-e-Toiba. Malik, Hanief: A resident of Darhal in Rajouri District. He was trained in subversion and collection of military intelligence by ISI Col.

_ Sayeed at Kotli (POK).Along with an accomplice Maqsood, he was infiltrated into Rajouri in November 1997. With some arms they were to surrender, win over confidence of the authorities, collect intelligence and

pass it over to Pakistan. Before the plan could be put into action, Malik who was designated as Rajouri District Commander of Tehrik-i-Jehad.

he was arrested by State Police on December 15, 1997. A good number

of arms and explosives were recovered at his instance. Malik, Nazir Ahmed: A resident of Chadora in Budgam. He was a daring member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and soon became a close associate of Khalid-i-Sani, Budgam District Commander in 1997. He participated

in many actions. His most daring act was infiltrating into an Army Camp

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Kashmir Underground

in Bagh-e-Mehtab locality of Srinagar in 1995 and slitting throats of 5 helpers and a pregnant woman,

wife of a person he wanted

to settle

scores with. The Police arrested him from a Badgam village on March 5, 1998, where he was hiding.

Muzaffar, Raja: A senior leader of JKLF. Operates mostly out of Pakistan. In 1994 he was made Sr. Vice-President of JKLF. Since entry of Chairman Amanullah Khan, was banned into USA and UK, Raja traveled

abroad and met political leaders to inform then of ongoing movement in Kashmir. Murtaza, Khalid: A Pakistan national who was an important leader of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen set-up across the LOC. On May 2, 1993 he infiltrated into Kashmir Valley and took part in few encounters with Security Forces. He was able go back to Pakistan on June 1, 1993. Muzamil: Alias Mohd. Yousuf. See “Yusuf”. Mangloo, Abdul Salam: A hardcore militant of Al Jehad outfit. In

1997 he was deputed to kill political leaders and important citizens in

Jammu. Before he could act he was arrested on September 20, 1997 at

Jammu. During interrogation he revealed that he was involved in many killing in Anantnag District, earlier.

Mustafa, Bilal: Son of Mir Mustafa, first former MLA who was killed

by HUM militants in March 1990. Bilal was lured into joining militant ranks in 1991. He became part of Al Jehad and soon was made its “Military Advisor”. In March 1992 in an operation in Lasjan Village he was killed by BSF. The local population and Al Jehad described it as “Shahdat for Islam”—Martyrdom for Islam. Magrey, Riyaz Ahmed: Alias ‘Umar’. Resident of Hyderpora near

Srinagar Airport. In 1997 he was made Deputy Chief of J&K Islamic

Front (JKIF). He was arrested on June 1, 1998. He confessed to police

that he as involved in chanelling of foreign funds for militant groups into Kashmir through hawala operations. Majid, Abdul: Alias ‘Usman Majid’—Belongs to Bandipore. Mota, Ahmed Azad: A member of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. In early 1993 he was made Srinagar District Finance Incharge. Alongwith 2 other JUM members he was arrested by BSF on September 10, 1993. Munshi, Javed Ahmed: Alias Nasir Ahmed Bhat. He was Srinagar District Commander of Tehariq-ul-Mujahideen. He was sent to Delhi in March 1999 to carry out blasts in crowded area during Ram Naumi celebration in last week of March. The alert Delhi Police arrested him on March

23, 1999 and recovered

from him

1 kg RDX

and 5 electronic

detonators. Malik, Mohd. Afzal: A JKLF veteran. Early in 1992 he was promoted as Vice-Chief of JKLF. Soon after the Security Forces launched their “Operation Tiger”. Malik was killed in September 1992.

Players and Captains

345

Mufti, Bashir-ud-Din: Mufti-i-Azam of Kashmir. Normally a non-

political being. At one stage militants were able to put pressure on him and he was made to issue a statement as required by them. On October 24, 1993 he sent an appeal to UN General Secretary and to Heads of all Commonwealth Countries “to intervene and to stop human rights violations, custodial deaths and genocide in Kashmir”. Mir, Ghulam Ahmed: Alias ‘Gulshan Abbas’ alias Ali. He was Chief

of Hizb-ul-Momineen—a Shia outfit. On a visit to Delhi in 1995 he was arrested by Delhi Police. He was detained till April 1997 when he was

released in Kashmir. While in detention, on February 1996, he had issued

a statement threatening USA to attack its missions around the world if it “persisted in its diabolical plans against the Islamic Revolution in Iran” and Islamic world as a whole. In 1998 his colleagues and he were trying to regroup when on July 23 he was arrested with others by a BSF party. Makhdoomi, Peerzada Hafizullah: While still a student he joined

newly floated Political Conference in June 1953. Soon after he was arrested. For sometime he was associated with J&K Plebiscite Front.

Between 1953 and 1980 he was jailed 5 times. When the J&K Peoples Conference was founded by Abdul Ghani Lone, he joined it. Later, he was appointed its General Secretary. Nabi, Hakim Ghulam: A senior member of Jamait-i-Islami. He was its Amir (Chief) in 1993. He was arrested on November 27, 1993. Naikoo, Ghulam Mohd.: A member of Moslem Conference. An old

guard of the secessionist movement. In middle of 1993 some senior activists decided to work politically also and formed Peoples Political Front an overground organisation, Naikoo was made its General

Secretary.

Najaar, Ghulam Qadir: Alias “Saleem Afghani”. A member of good standing of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. In 1993 he was made Badgam District

Commander. On March 30, 1994 he was arrested by BSF.

Najam-us-Saqib: When a new outfit “Kashmir Army Force” KAF was formed by ISI, he was made its Chief. When 10 groups merged to form Al Mujahidi Force, Najam was made its Chairman. He formerly was Chief of Kashmir Army Force (K-2).

Nasir, Abrar: A former militant. Was made General Secretary of a

newly formed political group under the banner of Islam Students League. He was earlier General Secretary of Peoples’ League (Rehmani Group).

Nasir-ul-Islam: Real name Hilal Ahmed Minn early Eighties he had helped to form Ansar-ul-Islam. In 1990 this was merged with Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen. When that was formed by Master Ahsan Dar and others.

He was made Chief of its Youth Wing. In 1993 he had disclosed that

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Kashmir Underground

Ansar-ul-[slam had started armed training of Kashmiri youth from early 1980s.

On June 29, 1991 he allegedly kidnapped Kashmir Director of Food and Supplies, Mohd. Iman Khan. For sometime he headed a breakaway group of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen called “Islam Ka Fauji Baazoo”. He felt all along that Kashmir’s future lay only in Pakistan. According to him, “a

fundamentalist is a real Moslem. Our mission is to Islamize the whole universe as God has ordered us”. He was soon made Chief Commander

of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen, which was new name of HM’s Youth Wing. On March 13, 1993, In an encounter with Security Forces, he was killed

though his colleagues claimed he was shot and his body thrown away. Till 1990 he was working in Rural Development Department, when

Governor Jagmohan terminated his services for subversive activities. Nasreen, Nahida: A leading woman secessionist. She is General Secretary of Dukhtran-i-Millat, an outfit of militant women. A close aide

of Ms. Asiya Andrabi. Nayeem-ul-Haq: A senior militant. Was one of the earliest to join Al Umar Mujahideen. When Chief Commander Riyaz Ahmed Khan was killed on December 16, 1992, Nayeem was made new Chief. On February

1, 1993 he told newsmen he was against violence and would prefer a political solution of Kashmir issue. Noor-ul-Hassan: A veteran militant. Member of Al Burg. He was made Deputy Chief in 1992. Soon after he was arrested by BSF. While in custody he died of kidney failure, which was disputed by the outfit. Noor-ul-Hassan, Syed: A former Chief Conservator of Forests. A leading Human Rights activist. He has been associated with some Kashmir based Human Rights Protection bodies. To air the alleged human rights abuses in Kashmir, he traveled to Geneva to represent an NGO at the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Commission. In 1994 he was made Chairman of J&K Human Rights Committee. He parrticipated in Kashmir Conference organised by US Institute of Peace in New York on January 12-14, 1994.

Nasir, Hamid: An active member of JKLF. When the Party split in September 1995, he sided with Yasin Malik. In the reorganisation effected on May 3, 1995, he was nominated on 3-member Press Cell.

Naseem, Abdul Ghani: He was made Spokesman of the JKLF (Sidiqi) in March 1996. On March 26, 1996 he announced that agreement had been reached with Government and that Party President Shabir Ahmed Sidiqui and others had agreed to leave the Hazratbal Shrine, which they had forcibly entered two days earlier. Later he joined the National

Conference. He successfully contested elections in September 1996 from Khan Sahib constituency of Budgam District.

Players and Captains

347

Noor-ul-Amin: Alias “Umar Jan”. Also known as “Sunni”. In June

90 he had joined Allah Tigers, motivated by its Chief Commander, Abdul Majid Wani alias Ghazi Illyas. Two years later he switched over to Hizbul-Mujahideen. During elections in 1996 he issued many threats asking leaders and government employees not to participate. Early in February 1998 he was arrested by Police from Srinagar. Najar, Ghulam

Mohidin: Alias ‘Naseer’. An active member

of

Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen who became its Ameer-e-Aala in 1997. The State Police’s SOG arrested him in Srinagar on October 28, 1997. Nabdi, Fayaz: See Ahmed, Fayaz.

Naba Azad: Real name Ghulam Nabi Azad—See Azad. Noor-ud-Din: A Section Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen for Kishtwar in Doda District. He was arrested on February 21, 1996 after a short encounter with Security Forces in village Nagin, close to Kishtwar

town.

Nana Ji: Real name Mohd. Rafi—See Rafi.

Nassarullah: A foreign militant who crossed over from POK in early 1997 and soon was made Commander of Rajouri-Poonch Districts for Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In an encounter on July 11, 1997, he was killed. Naseeib-ud-Din, Ghazi: See Ghazi, Naseeb-ud-din.

Nasir, Abdullah: In June 1998 he surfaced as the Deputy Chief of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In a statement following the Indian and Pakistani nuclear tests, he asked India to give up its “stubborn attitude towards Kashmir to prevent your own disintegration”. Najar, Abdul Rasheed: Alias ‘Lala’ alias ‘Maqbool’. Comes from the Budgam District. A senior member of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen. He rose to be a Commander in 1997. In November 1997 he accompanied two others to Delhi to arrange for a ‘winter hideout’. Before he could do that he was arrested by Delhi Police in third week November 1997. Nasibudin: Alias ‘William’. An Iranian national from Tehran. He was a sharpshooter having received special training. He was one of group of 15 mercenaries who were infiltrated from POK into Kupwara District, in second week of August 1998. The group took refuge in Jagarpora village where the Armymen engaged then on August 11, 1998. He was one of 15 militants killed. Owais, ‘Gen.’: Originally from Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. When a

splinter group separated and formed the Jammu & Kashmir Ikhwan, he

was made Deputy Chief Commander in 1996.

Pervez, Anwar: Connected with ‘Allah Tigers’. In October 1991, he

was made Incharge of Publicity.

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Kashmir Underground

Parray, Mohd. Yusuf: Better know as “Kukka Parray” Code name was ‘Jamshed Shirazi’. He comes from Village Hajan on left bank of

Jehlum river, in Baramulla District. Born in 1958, he has had little formal

education. In his youth be was a popular singer and a folk dancer. He also writes poetry in Kashmiri. He drifted into militancy and became an activist of JKLF in 1989. He went cross to POK for arms training. Later he moved over to Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. Due to differences with Ikhwan leadership, he left the group. With a bunch of likeminded persons and “3 guns I started my Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon. Today I have thousands”. His Ikhwan came into being around Hajan is spring of 1995 and he was as made its Chief. In March 1996 he revealed that fascinated by a call for

Jehad, he picked

up

the gun

in 1989, under

Liberation Front and was active till about with the activities of different groups which objective. He also saw through the Pakistani and Kashmiriyat. He made up his mind

the banner of Students

1994. He was disappointed were far away from the real game of destroying Kashmir to end Pakistan sponsored

terrorism in Kashmir, ensure return of peace and normalcy and return

of non-moslem population. His Ire was directed against the Jamait-iIslami and the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen “who forbade all the practices and customs dear to Kashmiris”. Parray says it with a frown, “you can never trust these rats. Scores of then come to me with promise of having turned a new leaf in their lives, but I know how false these promises are”. In July 1995, his men abducted 4 scribes; two out of them, were

released next day. Parray announced that they would be released only if he was assured by Srinagar press that his organisation would receive due space in the media. 42 presspersons traveled to Hajan next day to give the assurance, personally. He told the presspersons that Hizb-ulMujahideen and Jamait-ul-Islami “dubbed everybody else as a traitor and infidel and our organisation was not spared. 70% of my activists were killed by them, and their property snatched”. However, he claimed

that he enjoyed popular support and asserted “future is ours”. He alleged that local press was allied to Jamait-i-Islami and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. There is little difference between the editors and the HUM

and the Jamait;

journalist are writing posters and pamphlets for them”. To allegations that his men are engaged in illegal timber trade, he owns that it is so but then “how do I sustain my cadres. It costs Rs 4000/

- to Rs 5000/-, per month, to maintain each man and I have over 8000 of

them. We are not being paid by Pakistan like others”. He also denies charges of extortion but admits that he gets his funds from seizure of money sent by ISI into Kashmir for subversive activities. “In one raid,

we seized about 1000 gold biscuits, Rs 20 Jac in cash and 600 packets of

brown sugar from the house of a Jamait leader, who was working actively for the Lashkar-i-Toiba—a group of foreign mercenaries. The brown

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sugar was destroyed in presence of villagers. He also claimed to have recovered stolen property to run his outfit. Recently he recovered Rs 8 lac cash, lot of gold jewellery and 200 qtls, of G. I. Sheets. “I get the money I need from my supporters” he added. Once in a while he holds a Robin Hood-like meeting where he distributes cash and clothes to victims of militancy like widows and orphan children. In February 1996 he started an Urdu newspaper as party's official organ. It is titled “Tehreek-i-Kashmir”—the Kashmir Movement. In March 1996, he also published a collection of poems in Kashmiri, entitled “Jam-i-Jam”. It reflects blend of romanticism and Sufism, so dominant

in him.

At a press conference in Jammu

on March 23, 1996 he demanded

setting up of a high level Commission of Inquiry under a Supreme Court Judge to probe various hawala and other rackets which have helped terrorism in developing into a “profitable industry in Kashmir”. He

expressed concern about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits after their exodus

from Kashmir Valley. He said he would help create conditions in Kashmir for their honourable return and accord them security and protection. For this to become possible he wanted the Government to undertake expeditiously the work of vacation of Kashmiri Pandit houses from unauthorised occupants and their reconstruction in cases of destruction by arson. He said he stood for “revival of peace, involvement of people in the peace process, establishment of authority of Government and making it accountable”. About his decision to participate in Parliamentary elections he said one principal reason was to tell Pakistan that things can be done in Kashmir even against its wishes. On March 31, 1996 addressing Kashmiri migrants at Nagrota (near Jammu) he announced launching of “Kashmir Bachao-Bharat Bachao”— “Save Kashmir—Save India—movement whose important objectives would be to eliminate gun culture, restore peace and normalcy, return of migrants to their homes and restoration of real Kashmiriyat. He patronised establishment of Awami League—as a political wing of his Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon, under his Deputy, Ansar-ul-Hag in MarchApril 1996. The Awami League put up 4 candidates for Parliamentary elections in May 1996. For contest Parray chose Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag and Poonch-Jammu constituencies. The candidates proposed were two former militants, a Kashmiri Pandit and a Dogra.

To surprise of many he declared on April 21,1996 that given a free hand, in three months he would liberate POK and reunite it with Kashmir Valley. In a statement he said his group with support of people, was a position to meet Pakistan ISI’s challenge in Kashmir. Rather sadly he recalls the days of his involvement with armed

insurgency,” sometime in 1992

fiftytwo villages in Banayari area were

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Kashmir Underground

cordoned off by Security Forces to apprehend him” but because of cooperation of people he could not be arrested.” Later, he spent about 9 months in Wular lake area, he added. In Delhi in summer of 1996, Parray reminiscensed that lack of formal

education like large number of Kashmiris he too was swayed by the

powerful propaganda from across the border, motivation by ISI trained

militants and the respect the gun-wielding men commanded in Kashmir then, made

him join the underground.

With others he went over to

Pakistan where he was trained in use of sophisticated arms and in subversion. He came back to Kashmir in end of 1990 and helped to start Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. Soon he felt uncomfortable because of domination of Hizb-ulMujahideen. Some of his Ikhwan colleagues were killed by Hizb activists. When Ikhwan Patron, Dr. Qazi Nissar Ahmed, was killed, Parray was

fully disenchanted. This feeling got compounded when the Shrine of Charar-I-Sharief was burnt down by militants. He decided to subdue armed militants and end gun culture. By and large, due to his leadership of the Ikhwan, the level of militancy in Kashmir could be brought down to controlable limits. Because of this, it became possible to hold elections in 1996.

He decided to contest the Sonawari seat in Legislative Assembly as candidate of Awami League - Ikhwan’s political wing. Before polling in September 1996 he toured Jammu. He visited Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine on September 15, 1996. He told a public meeting at Katra after visiting the Shrine that he had gone to seek blessings of the Goddess for success of his mission to spread peace and love. He won the Assembly election from Sonawari - his home constituency — handsomely. From a folk singer, to an armed insurgent, to a peace crusader, to a legislator, was a tortuous and eventful journey for Jamshed Yusuf Kukka Parray. In his maiden speech as MLA in the Assembly on October 25, 1996 Parray expressed regret that no member of the House had uttered a word of praise to those men of his outfit who had stood up against the cult of gun, sacrificed their lives and made elections possible. He described “these brave men” as “Mujahid-i-Azams” of Jammu & Kashmir. He

asserted that elected government had become possible because of hard work of his men who had courage and conviction. He paid tribute to his men killed while “fighting ISI, Pakistanis, Afghanis and Sudanese”.

He

said, they died to “restore normalcy, protect the Indian soverignity on Jammu & Kashmir, foregone luxuries of the life leaving behind widows

and orphans in their families”. He claimed that he had travelled to Delhi to persuade Dr. Farooq

Abdullah to get back to political field. While offering full cooperation to

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the Chief Minister, Dr. Faroog Abdullah, Parray warned him of agents in the State machinery. He alleged that there were a large of police officers, engineers and teachers whom he described as of Pakistan”. He offered to identify each one of them if the Chief agreed to eliminate them. He claimed militancy could be ended months.

Pakistan number “stooges Minister in a few

In January 1997 Parray’s Awami League decided to “lend all possible

support to Dr. Farooq Abdullah to end militancy in the State”. Parray felt dissatisfied with Government efforts to deal with militancy and measures for rehabilittion of surrendered militants. For

about 15 to 18 months be spoke on these subjects mostly in the Legislative

Assembly. But by middle of 1998 he decided to speak out. Ina press interview on August 22, 1998 he expressed himself strongly bordering on sense of betrayal. “ Militancy is back to the stage where we can compare it to the days of 1990. There are more foreigners (mercenaries) now in Kashmir. People who had worked hard to see the

change in situation are feeling betrayed. They are even today ready to

die for the cause. But the Government is not with them.” About spurt in militancy he said, “ Militants have their supporters everywhere - in political parties, State Cabinet, bureaucracy and even Police.” He was bitter about the measures government had taken to look after the militants who had surrendered. “The Government has appointed only 10% of our boys as Special Police Officers who get Rs. 1500/- p.m. The Government of India has earmarked Rs. 4.5 crores for the rehabilitation of the surrendered militants. Our boys got nothing”. On being asked how long the militancy will last in Kashmir, pat came the reply, “militancy will never end here. There is no political will to eradicate it.” In this context

he said,

“there

will be no

Kukka

Parray

in future.

The

Government did not encourage us.” Parray’s residence at village Hajan near Sumbal was attacked by

rockets on the night of December 13-14, 1998. Parray and his family were

in the house but were unhurt. However, part of the house and the outer wall were damaged. Two rockets were fired on the house and these were followed by heavy firing from automatic weapons. Police believe that a group of about 6-8 foreign mercenaries were responsible for this attempt on Parray’s life. However, on December 17,1998 Hizb-ulMujahideen claimed responsibilty of this attack on Parray’s residence. Two weeks later, on December 28, armed militants fired on Parray

residence at Hajan.

Parray and his family were out of station.

security guards fired back. In the crossfire a girl was injured.

The

At Jammu , in December 1998 he participated in a seminar organised by Army on “Human Rights in Jammu & Kashmir “. In his speech he

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Kashmir Underground

hit hard against armed militants whom he called the “vicious violators of human rights” in Jammu & Kashmir. Parray, Manzoor Ahmed: Alias “Wafadar Khan”. Nephew of Kukka Parray. He was Chief Commander of counter insurgent outfit “Ikhwanul-Mysalmoon”. With 7 other colleagues he was travelling in a Gypsy on June 21, 1998 from Sumbal to Hajan in Baramulla District when a

landmine blew up the BP vehicle killing him and 4 others on spot, 3 others were seriously injured. Parray, Bashir Ahmed: Alias Bashir Yaar. A senior member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon. While he was travelling in BP Gypsy with 7 others on June 21, 1998 from Sumbal to Hajan, he was killed when the Gypsy blew up when it hit a landmine. Pehloo, Ghulam Mohd.:

Alias Gul Pehloo.

He was member of the

core group of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon. On June 21, 1998 he was travelling with 7 others in a BP Gypsy on Sumbal - Hajan road. Gypsy hit a landmine and blew up killing him and 4 others. At the time of his death, he was Ikhwan’s Deputy Chief. Punju, Amin: A Pak trained militant who was operating in Baramulla District in 1998 as Area Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In an encounter in Sumbal area with BSF on July 5, 1998, he was killed

alongwith his colleague Shabir Ahmed.

Parmoo, Ghulam Nabi: Alias Mitha Parmoo. A Pak-trained militant

member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In early 1998 he was made Deputy District Commander for Srinagar. He was alleged to be involved in some killings and had also indulged in extortion of money from people. Pathan, Rasheed:

A senior member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon. In

early 1996, he was made Deputy Superme Commander. On May 14, 1996 in an encounter with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen activists in Tullamulla village in North Kashmir, he was injured. Padroo, Bashir Ahmed: An activist of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen who had 3 months training in Pakistan in 1991-92. He comes from village Damalhanjipora in Kulgam to which the former speaker of Legislative Assembly, Wali Mohd. Ittoo belonged. Padroo was one of the six who conspired to eliminate Ittoo. On March 18, 1994, as Ittoo was returning from Friday prayers in Talab Khatikan area of Jammu City, Padroo allegedly shot him dead from close range. He then fled through the narrow lanes. Peer Baba: Also known as Ghazi. Known to be a Pakistani national. He came with first batch of activists of Harkat-ul-Ansar in early 1993.

Gradually he went up the hierarchy and in early 1997 was made HUA Chief in Kashmir Valley. On May 6, 1997 while he was having meeting in Iddgah area of Srinagar with leaders of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and

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353,

Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen, BSF raided the premises. In the encounter he was killed. Parray, Master Ghulam Mohammed: Alias ‘Naeem Siddiqi’. Belonging to Daulatpora, Baramulla, he was senior member of Hizb-ulMujahideen who was made Baramulla District Advisor in early 1994. On May 11, 1994 he was arrested from his residence but was killed in crossfire, while being taken out. However, the outfit alleged that he had been killed in custody

Col. Padseer: Real name Khazir Mohammed. See Khazir.

Pahalwan, Samander: A fully trianed militant who rose to be the Divisional Commander for Kupwara District for Harkat-ul-Ansar. In 1998 he was also asked to coordinate work of all the foreign mercenaries, in the area. In an encounter with Army in Hafradha forest in Kupwara District on June 18, 1998 alongwith another foreign militant, he was killed. Qadir, Ghulam:

Alias “Qwais Afghani”.

One of the first to join

Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. In late 1993 he was made Commander for Srinagar District. On March 30, 1994 alongwith Commander for Badgam District, Qadir was arrested by BSF.

Qayoom, Mian Abdul: A leading lawyer of Srinagar. When militancy was at its peak in first 6 years of the nineties he was President of the Kashmir Bar Association. An active sympathiser of the on-going movement he was able to secure the KBA support at difficult times. At one time he urged all lawyers to set their watches and clocks at home and office to Pakistan Standard Time. He also asked them not to attend courts on Fridays as was being practised in Pakistan when it was decided to bring different secessionist organisations under one umbrella in first few months of 1990, the Tehrik-i-Hurriyat-e-Kashmir of 11 organisations was set up. Qayoom was appointed its Convenor on March 4, 1990. During the Hazratbal Shrine crisis he played an important role to

bring succour and relief to holed-up militants in the Shrine in October-

November 1993. A few months earlier his Passport was impounded. On May 6, 1993 he was not allowed to leave for Saudi Arabia. It was alleged that he was going to Jeddah to attend Pakistan sponsored Kashmir Conference. Speaking on the occasion of Kashmir Conference on Human Rights on March 27, 1998 at Srinagar he urged people of the State “to remove the stigma of enslavement and rewrite history.” Qazi, Dr. Mohd.

Nissar:

A theologian and a scholar of

Arabic.

Mirwaiz of South Kashmir. He came into prominance in 1984-85 when the Governor, Mr. Jagmohan gave him recognition. He soon floated his outfit Umat-e-Islam on March 4, 1986. He supported MUF in Legislative Assembly election in 1987. He was a good orator and since there were in

4

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Kashmir Underground

interest wanting to weaken hold of Mirwaiz Kashmir, Moulvi Mohd. Farooq, Dr. Qazi Nissar received support and assistance from diverse sections. When militancy erupted different militant groups wanted him to allign himself with each one of them. Though he broadly supported the secessionist movement, he declined to accept supermacy of any supremo of an outfit. The Hizb-ul-Mujahideen had reasons to be annoyed with him because he had snubbed its leaders number of time’. On June

19, 1994 Dr. Qazi Nissar had gone to Bon Dyalgam a few miles out of Anantnag town . He wanted to return to Anantnag and got a taxi. It was brought by a Hizb militant Farooq Baba (Mohd. Sadiq). Baba and another militant Ghulam Nabi Reshi alias Gadda also got into it . A little distance away the taxi was made to stop and Qazi Nissar was ordered out and made to raise his hands. Many more militants emerged from behind nearby trees. Many bullets were fired and Qazi slumped dead. When

news spread there were big anti-Pak and anti-Hizb demonstrations. Qureshi, Omar Hyat: Alias “Dr. Haider.” Originally belonged to Students Liberation Front. When it was converted to the Ikhwan-ulMusalmeen he was given greater responsibility. When the Group Chief

Commander

Abu Arshad was killed on October 3, 1992, Quereshi

stepped into his shoes. However

within one month, on November

1992 he was killed in an encounter with the Security Forces. Quereshi, Wajahat Bashir:

7,

An active member of JKLF. When it

was reorganised on Apirl 5, 1990, Quereshi was made one of the 7 Area Commanders in Srinagar. In 1993 he was arrested and detained under TADA. He has been challaned by CBI in the TADA designated court’ for alleged involvement in assasinations and kidnappings. The TADA court released him on interim bail on June 28, 1995. He was rearrested

by police as soon as he stepped out of gate of Jammu’s Central Jail. Qadeer, Abdul: Joined militant ranks in 1990 and rose quickly. Reportedly made two trips across the LOC. In winter of 1996-97 he became the Chief Commander of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen. In April 1997 in statement he alleged that BSF had planned to set a Kashmiri against a Kashmiri and start a civil war. He said this effort would be frustrated by the Shoor-e-Jehad. Qureshi, Javed:

Alias Muzaffar Sheikh - Resident of Doda. One of

first local militant also started operation in 1990. An experienced and highly trained militant who was made the District Commander for Doda District in 1996 by the High Command of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. However,

on November 6, 1997 he was killed in an encounter with Security Forces

at a village a few miles north of Doda town. Qureshi, Abdul

Karim:

A trained member

of Harkat-ul-Ansar.

Belonging to Rajouri District. In 1997 he was made HUA Recuritment Chief for Jammu Division. He was able to motivate some youth from

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355

Jammu region to go across the LOC for training and induction. However, in December 1997 in Jammu City he was arrested alongwith his colleague Shahdab Ahmed Malik. Quereshi, Mohd. Yousef:

A militant who was close to Azam

Inqalabi. In 1993 he was made Chief of Mahaz-i-Azadi. Qayum, Abdul: Alias Jehangir. Also known as ‘Bittu’. Belongs to Basantgarh in Udhampur District. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Commander for Ram Nagar area. He was arrested on May 12, 1998. He helped police to recover arms and ammunition from Basantgarh area. He had been active in Latti, Dudu and Basantgarh area for over 2 years. Qasim, Maulana Mohd.: An Afghan national. He claims to head

Lashkar-e-Hyder - a Taliban Group - which is reported to have over 1100 trained Afghan mercenaries. In early November 1998 “somewhere in Kashmir” he claimed that they had 28 training camps in North Kashmir to give new impetus to Jehad in Kashmir. Qureshi, Mohd. Akbar: Alias ‘Akbar Bhai’.

An Afghan national .

In Afghanistan he was member of Hizb-I-Islamia. During Afghan war against Soviets , he was a body guard of Mujahideen leader Gulbudin Hekmatyar. He was sent into Kashmir Valley in August 1991 with a group of well trained Afghan and Pakistan militants. They made Sopore area centre of their operations. On August 7, 1993, under his command about 200 militants gathered near the State Bank of India building in Sopore, to capture it. The BSF frustrated their attempt. During the encounter Akbar Bhai got killed. Qarim, Abdul:

A hardcore militant who spent whole of 1998 in

Mahore area of Udhampur District spreading terror. In this area he headed a group of Harkat-ul-Ansar members and he specialised in bleading his victims. The BSF ultimately spotted him in Dandot village, challenged and shot him dead. Quereshi, Ashraf: A young Kashmiri who in 1970 was motivated by Hashim Quereshi to join him in hijacking an Indian plane and taking it forcibly to Lahore on January 31, 1971. The plane was blown up at Lahore airport. Ashraf and Hashim were first lionised as heros but later were tried as Indian agents by a court and sentenced to impresonment.

In June 1992 in a long interview given by Ashraf was published in an Urdu weekly “Horizons” in Pakistan. Ashraf disclosed that the hijackers of the Indian plane “Ganga” in 1971 were trained in Pakistan

and it was at the instance of Pakistani authorities that they blew up the plane after it had been taken to Lahore from Srinagar. Ashraf said that

after the Pakistani attack on Kashmir in 1965 failed, some Kashmiri youth

led by Magqbool

Bhat organised terrorist

activities and the credit

for

this was taken by Pakistani Ministry of Kashmir Affairs which also got funds from the Government for this purpose. He goes on to talk of

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Kashmir Underground

“training camps ina forest near the border”. Hashim was sent to Kashmir and on his return to Pakistan he was given training in hijacking, said Ashraf. After hijacking the plane from Srinagar they “wanted to take it to Rawalpindi but because of shortage of fuel we contacted Lahore airport authorities who were very helpful and guided us to the airport, The Government of Pakistan was aware of the hijack plan but was not actively involved in its formulation and implementation. Ashraf said it was not their plan “ to blow up the plane but we were made toset ablaze the plane. A senior police officer of Lahore provided us the petrol for burning it.” Quereshi,

Aftab

Ahmed:

Alias Abu

Arshad.

A member

of the

original Students Liberation Front. He took part allegedly in bomb blasts in the Bakhshi Stadium on the occasion of Independence Day Parade at Srinagar on August 15,1983. He was arrested soon after. After his release he worked under the guidance of Hilal Ahmed Beigh and Iqbal Quereshi. He crossed the LOC in January 1990 to go to Pakistan for arms training. On return from there he joined Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. He was resoponsible for organising a Death Squad to counter Security Forces’ “Operation Tiger” in 1992 after he had been named Ikhwan Chief on August 3, 1991. He soon after issued a stern warning to all detractors including JKLF. He was made Chief Commander on October 3,1992. In

an enccounter with Security Forces on October 3, 1992, he got killed. He was brother of Ashraf Quereshi who was co-hyjacker of Indian Airlines Fokker plane “Ganga” in 1971 taken to Lahore. Quereshi, Faz] Haq: He was member of an underground outfit Al Fateh which was formed in 1971. Later that year, with others he set up

Students Revolutionary Council. Soon after, he was absorbed in Government service but he did not last there. While in service he indulged in subversive activities. He was dismissed from service. He then joined Peoples League and because of dedication assumed importance in the organisation. When Shabir Shah (League Chairman) was arrested in September 1989, Quereshi was named his successor. Soon he went over

to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was arrested in February 1990 and was detained under TADA. He was released on June 3, 1992. The same day he issued a statement that war would not solve any problem. He proposed a “purposeful dialogue for settlement of the long standing problem of this unfortunate State”. Soon after he launched a new organisation, J&K Peoples United Front and was named its Chairman. He changed its name on August 8, 1993 to J&K People Political Front.

Quereshi, Iqbal: A brother of Hashim Quereshi, a former Chairman of JKLF. A senior member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. He was involved

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mostly in guiding and directing the active cadres. A close associate of Hilal Ahmed Beigh—a one time Chief of the outfit. Quereshi, Mohd. Hashim: A co-founder of JKLF. He was born in

1948. During schooling he was a nonconformist. In 1969-70 he went to Pakistan to participate at Peshawar in his sister's marriage. There he

met Mohd. Maqbool Bhat who had already founded National Liberation

Front (NLF). Hashim impressed Maqbool with his courage and readiness to take risks. Hashim soon joined the NLF. He was asked to return to Kashmir Valley and enrol members. In Kashmir Valley he stayed only a few months and went back to Rawalpindi by crossing the CFL in Kupwara sector. In Pakistan he was instructed how to hijack a plane. He was only 23 years old. He returned to Srinagar and waited for an opportunity to attempt hijacking an Indian plane. He discussed the plan with Ashraf Qureshi and persuaded him to participate “in the adventure”. On January 31, 1971 two of them successfully hijacked an Indian Airlines Fokker plane on its Srinagar-Delh flight. The plane named “Ganga” was forced to fly to Lahore. It landed safely. All pasengers and crew members were safely returned to India. The plane was burnt on the tarmac. Hashim disclosed years later that, “Pakistan authorities gave us instructions to set the plane on fire. They provided us with petrol. Since it had been witnessed by large crowds, this evidence was produced in Pakistani Special Court”. Hashim and Ashraf were tried. Hashim was sentenced to 19 years rigorous. imprisonment on various counts. This

was later reduced to 9 years. After spending this period in Pakistani jails he was released in 1980 by Pakistan Supreme Court. In October 1990 from Nethersland, Hashim disclosed “When we hijacked ‘Ganga’ aircraft under the guidance of late Maqbool Bhat, Sarder Qayoom Khan (President of Azad Kashmir at that time) sent his brother Gaffar Khan to late Maqbool Bhat in Lahore with an offer to give credit of hijacking of ‘Ganga’ to his ‘Al Mujahid’ outfit just to save his skin. And for that he offered Rs 10 lacs to him and assured late Maqbool Bhat to make him Commander of ‘Al Mujahid’. But he (Maqbool) refused this offer”. After being released from jail Hashim did not find the atmosphere in Pakistan congenial. He had been branded an Indian agent at times. He decided to go into self-exile in Holland. He now holds Dutch passport. He also fell out with Amanullah Khan, JKLF President because

of his plans to assassinate Indian diplomat, Ravindra Mhatre at

Birmingham (UK) on February 3, 1984. He had told Khan not to kill the

Indian diplomat because India would surely retaliate by executing Magbool Bhat who was in Delhi’s Tihar Jail awaiting execution. Within a few days of Mhatre’s killing, Bhat was executed in Delhi on February 11, 1984. The British Government externed Hashim & Khan.

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Kashmir Underground

He made his base in Holland. He came to Pakistan in September 1993 and toured POK as well. On return to Holland he wrote a long article which was published on October 14, 1993. He said he had realised now that the Kashmiris have suffered the most because of the politics of gun. “Unless they give up the gun, the world will not sympathise with them” he said. The article blamed Pakistan for having raised a large number of terrorist organisations in Kashmir thus dividing the Kashmiri

people further. “Young, immature and indisciplined boys have been

given guns and now they are out of control of the organisations they belong to. They are indulging in rape, kidnapping and killing of innocent people. Those who manipulate those boys are the worst enemies of the Kashmiris” he said. He accused Pakistani politicians of having looted and ruined Kashmir. Hashim attended a couple of sessions at Geneva of the UN Human Rights Commission, where he pleaded for end of violence in Kashmir.

He suggested that efforts should be made only for a peaceful solution of Kashmir problem. He also accused Pakistan of destroying flower of Kashmiri youth. He alleged that ISI was pumping money and munitions to fuel violence and destruction in Kashmir. He said he stood for an Independent Kashmir but he wanted first

Pakistan to bring all territories like Gilgit, Baltistan etc., occupied by it,

under Azad Kashmir Government and then allow people there to decide their own future. He said India should do the same. Hashim had not taken any part in JKLF activities after he settled in Holland in 1986. JKLF Chairman Amanullah Khan in 1990 expelled him from the organisation. On October 18, 1993 even JKLF (Yasin) in Kashmir disowned Hashim calling him an Indian agent. Soon after this he started consultations with likeminded political activists in different countries. It took many months but ultimately

resulted in formation of Jammu & Kashmir Democratic Liberation Front.

Hashim was made its Chairman. Concerned with disunity among various militant groups in Kashmir, he appealed

to them in June 1994, to forge unity among

themselves,

have a common agenda and prepare for a tripartite dialogue with India and Pakistan before “Kashmir goes Afghan way”. He said Islamic war in Afghanistan has killed more Afghans than were killed during the war against Soviet occupation. “The religions militants want a similar war in my

State, Kashmir”,

he lamented.

According

to him

the “Kashmiri

national movement has lost international sympathy because it has been projected as a war for an Islamic order”.

At Geneva in April 1998 he was able to address the UN Human

Rights Commission. He urged the delegates on April 24, toimpress upon Pakistan to end violence and gun culture in Jammu & Kashmir for

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“Pakistan’s real face on Kashmir has already been exposed”. He referred to recent massacre of 26 Hindus in Udhampur District of Jammu region and said that there was ample proof of devastation wrecked by foreign terrorists whom he preferred to call as “occupational forces”. When Dr. Ghulam Qadir Wani, a separatist leader was killed in early November 1998 in his village near Bandipore in North Kashmir by armed militants, Quereshi reacted strongly. In a statement from Holland on November 10, he said this was part of a “deeprooted conspiracy of our enemies to liquidate the idealogues of the freedom movement so that Kashmiris are coerced into abandoning the cause for which they have made tremendous sacrifices during past decades”. Wani’s assassination is “another moment of deep introspection for the people of Kashmir. They should have no difficulty in understanding that a welcome call given to the ‘guest mujahideen’, mercenaries and the Taliban militiamen by some leaders is nothing but to invite the destruction of our motherland and liquidation of the leading lights of our struggle. It should be remembered that those who promote or spread violence, will be consumed by violence, sooner or later. Kashmir has always suffered at the hands of outsiders who have engineered their destruction in the guise of sympathisers or co-religionists”, he added. Quereshi wanted Kashmiris to learn a lesson from their past history, “the motive of the mercenaries in liquidating the intellectuals and the idealogues is to create a situation in which Kashmiris become helpless and succumb to intimidation”. Quereshi had been working on a book on Kashmir for quite some time. In March 1999 he published in Pakistan, his “Kashmir: Unveiling the Truth”. According to this the ISI wanted Quereshi to lure youth from

Kashmir Valley for being trained to fight Indians in Kashmir. He writes,

“I told them, you yourself are an occupying force.... And you want to give us arms to fight India. Such a struggle can serve only your objectives; we will not be a party to any struggle which uses our young people as gun fodder”. The book makes sensational disclosures about large funds being collected in name of Kashmiri struggle for freedom and being used for purposes other than this. The book while saying that Jamait-i-Islami receive large amounts from Pakistan, alleges that it raises finances abroad “through its front organisations like two being run by Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai in US and Dr. Ayub Thakur in UK. These jamait organisations run. full page advertisements in newspapers with large circulations among Moslems in these countries. These advertisements are placed specially during the holy month of Ramadan to help the needy in Kashmir”. The

book goes on to say that “funds which come in the from of donations to the public relief trust run by the Jamait is spent on lavish lifestyles led by

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some Jamait and militant leaders, while the younger generation is fed to the lions”. It goes on to say that Jamait and other militant leaders also

run fundraising compaigns during the Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia most of which are siphoned away by Hurriyat leaders, militant commanders and POK leaders such as Amanullah Khan and Sardar Abdul Qayoom Khan. Quereshi disclosed that slush funds were being channelised through Pakistani and Kashmiri traders in the Gulf. “These funds are also being used to keep alive the sufferings of the people of Kashmir, particularly the youth through ISI-backed militancy”, he said.

Quereshi

has alleged

that Supremo

of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen,

Syed

Salahudin “lives in a palatial house in Muzaffarabad with foreign cars at his disposal and the Hurriyat Chief Syed Ali Sheh Geelani had collected Rs 10 crores in the name of Charar-i-Sharief”. Rasul, Ghulam: Alias ‘Gohar’. He had crossed over to Pakistan in

1991. For six months he was given intensive arms training there and in Afghanistan. On return in 1991 he was assigned to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and was asked to operate in his own area of Pampore in Pulwama District. In 1995 he was made the Area Commander because of his exploits in subversion. A few months later the expanding Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon posed threat to him and his colleagues. They managed to get away and reached Goa where they lay low. The police allege that before leaving for Goa they had extorted large sums from local affluent persons and this helped them to have a good holiday. On their return to Kashmir in March 1996 he stopped over in Jammu. He was arrested from a local

hotel on March 23, 1996.

Raza, Basharat: Also called “General”. See “Basharat”. Rasul, Syed Ghulam: Alias “General” Abdul Bari—A militant of 6

years standing. Was made Chief Commander of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen on September 11, 1993 Wanted by police in 3 cases but evaded arrest till

June 19, 1997 when he was arrested by SOG

Sriangar, along with his Financial Chief.

Rauf, Abdul: Real name Mohd. Yousuf

from Gow

Kadal area of

Shah. See Shah.

Rafi, Mohammed: Alias ‘Nanna Ji’ An active member of JKLF. He

was alleged to be involved in killing of Police Inspector Saif-Ullah on December 1, 1989. He was arrested in January 1990. He was granted bail on June 28, 1995 by TADA Court. He was released in July 1995 Rafiq, Mohammed: An active member of JKLF. When the Party was

first reorganised on April 5, 1990, Rafiq was made one of the 7 Area Commanders for Srinagar. Rafiq, Mohammed:

A member of Moslem Mujahideen. Its Chief

Ghulam Nabi Azad decided to take part in Parliamentary Elections in

May 1996 and nominated him to contest from Anantnag Constituency.

Players and Captains

361

Rafiqui, Mushtaq Hussain:.Alias Syed Yavar Abbas. He was Dy.

Chief Commander

for Jammu

region of Moslem Janbaz Force. On

February 27, 1996 alongwith 13 other party activists he announced support to MJF Chief, Babar Badr to start dialogue with Delhi for solution of Kashmir problem. Rauf, Abdul: An active member of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. Alongwith

its Chief Commander “Gen”. Abdullah and 3 others, he was arrested in Srinagar by the Security Forces on September 11, 1993. Rauf, Mohammed:

A Bangladeshi national. Member

of Inqalabi

Mahaz (Islami Revolutionary Front). He is alleged to have planned blasts in Delhi in 1993. Presently in detention. Rahi, Imran:

Real name

Ghulam

Rasul Shah.

An active and

committed member of People’s League till 1989. He was arrested in 1990. From the Srinagar Central Jail, alongwith 12 other inmates, he dug a tunnel and escaped from jail. Soon he crossed over to POK. He received intensive training and instructions and was sent back to Kashmir in November 1991 to join Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Since he was known to the

Chief then, Master Ahsan Dar, he was made a Divisional Commander

incharge of Kupwara and Baramulla Districts. He was arrested in May 1992 from Seer, Sopore. In jail he was active discussing situation with

other detenus and organising condolence meetings. At the time of.his arrest he was Dy. Chief Commander. In November, 1995, he was released. With 3 other he formed J&K Forum for Permanent Resolution of Kashmir.

He was one of the 4 important militants who on February 8, 1996 offered to enter into dialogue with Delhi. He also severely criticised the Hurriyat leadership for ‘non-performance “to give lead to people at difficult time in Kashmir history. Alongwith 3 others he was invited by the Union Government to meet Home Minister. He and his colleagues met Mr. S. B. Chavan. Later a Central Government Special Committee under Mr. V. K. Jain, Special Secretary, Home Ministry, had meetings with him and others. The Forum disintegrated soon. Imran bided some time. In July 1998 he joined Shabir Shah's J&K Democratic Party. Rashid, Ibn: A member of “Operation Balakote” outfit. In 1993, he

was made spokesman of the outfit by its Chief, Azam Ingalabi. On January 16, 1994, he issued a statement admitting that his outfit had been severely battered having lost 475 of its active cadres in 1993. Also 29 activists had been arrested. Rashid, Abdul: A member of Kashmir Freedom Movement. He was

arrested in Bombay on March 13, 1991. KFM Chief, Nazir Ahmed was also arrested with Rashid. Rouf. Moulvi: Real name Rafiq Ahmed Bhat —See Bhat.

-

362

Kashmir Underground Rashid, Abdul: Alias ‘Pattan’. A member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon.

In the party reorganisation of July 8, 1995 he was named Divisional Commander for Central Kashmir. Rasul, Riyaz: Hizb-ul-Mujahideen’s Divisional Commander for Srinagar and Budgam District in 1993. On June 15, 1993 he got killed by the Security Forces in an encounter. Rathar, Abdul Salam: Alias ‘Khalid’. Originally he was a member

of Peoples’ League. Crossed over to POK in June 1990 for training and instructions. Back in Kashmir he helped to coordinate work of training of Kashmiri youth for the Moslem Janbaz Force. During this period ISI wanted Kashmiri youth educated in science subjects to be sent over for training in wireless communication. In Kashmir he was arrested on November 11, 1991. Soon he was

released. He rejoined Peoples’ League. In 1997, he decided to side with Nayeem Khan against Shabir Shah. In the reorganised set-up he was

made the Vice-President of the League. But Shabir’s pull was there all the time and on June 25, 1998 he joined Shabir Shah’s

Democratic

Freedom Party. Rathod, Ghulam Mohd: He was connected with Tehrik-ulMusalmeen. Early in 1992 he was named its Chief Organiser. In 1993 he was reported to have gone to Saudi Arabia and allegedly brought back Rs. 5 crores in a clandestine manner. This money was to be used for subversive purposes. He evaded arrest for over 2 years but was finally arrested by BSF on December 16, 1993. Reshi, Ghulam

Nabi: Alias ‘Gadda’. An

activist of Hizb-ul-

Mujahideen. He is alleged to be one of two eye-witnesses of the abduction

and killing of Dr. Qazi Mohd. Nissar, Mirwaiz of South Kashmir on June

19, 1994 on the Dyalgam-Anantnag road. Alongwith Farooq Baba he got into the taxi of Javed Ahmed at Dyalgam. After some distance taxi was made to stop and Dr. Qazi made to get out and raise his hands before he was shot dead. Asa crucial witness he has been in protective custody of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Rub, Syed Abdur: An active member of Moslem Janbaz Force. A statement by him on March 1, 1996 disclosed that he had assumed the office of Chief Commander. Rathar, Shabir Ahmed: Alias ‘Abu Bakr’ A Pakistan-trained member

of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen. He was its Divisional Commander for South Kashmir. The Police arrested him in Srinagar on October 28, 1997.

Rishi, Gulam Mohidin: Alias ‘Mehda Moulvi’ A senior member of

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Trained in Pakistan. He was active in Srinagar and

Budgam Districts till he was named Launching Commander for the Districts of Budgam and Baramulla. On November 27, 1997 State Police

arrested him.

Players and Captains

363

Rashid, Abdul: Alias ‘Akhtar’. A resident of Sopore A very active member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In late 1997 he was in Pakistan where with few others he received directions to disrupt Parliamentary elections in Jammu area. With an accomplice he infiltrated into Kathua area and traveled to Jammu. Before he could cause a bomb explosion he was

arrested on February 2, 1998 by Police. Rigoo, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din: A resident of village of Chandarhar, near Pampore in Pulwama District. By profession he was a lawyer. The people of the locality asserted that he had nothing to do with militancy. The Police however, claimed that he was a militants with many exploits to his credit and was a Divisional Commander of the Al Burg outfit. Army troops had picked him up from his residence on February 3, 1998. Officially it was stated that thereafter he led the troops to a hideout near by where a grenade blast killed Rigoo and 3 armymen received injuries.

The local villagers however, said he had been killed in custody.

Rasheeda: A female militant (27) from Shopian in South Kashmir First she was member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and later joined Lashkari-Toiba. On March 8, 1999 the Armymen arrested her from Badoon in Rajouri District. Rs 60,000 in Indian currency, a hand grenade and incriminating documents were recovered from her. She disclosed that she was member of a gang of four including her husband Nazir alias

Bilal.

Rather, Abdur Rashid: Alias ‘Tahir’. A resident of Tangmang area. He was a prominent member of “Moulvi Feroz group” of Hizb-ulMujahideen, and a close associate of District Commander Jehangir. In

an encounter with Kashmir Police near Beerwah (Budgam District) on

May 24, 1998. Police said Tahir was alleged to be involved in may killings

and many more attacks and violent incidents. Rathar, Khurshid Ahmed: A highly trained member of Ikhwan-ulMusalmoon. When a BP Gypsy on June 21, 1998 traveling on HajanSumbal road was blown up by a landmine, he with 4 others in it, were

killed.

Rehman, Abu: Alias ‘Masta Khan’. A Pakistani soldier GHQ of Pakistani Army. In October 1998 he got killed in an with Security Forces in Arnas area of Udhampur District. Rishi, Khurshid Ahmed: A Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant days. He had many actions to his credit. He surrendered on

serving in encounter from 1989 February

21, 1999 at Srinagar. He told that he decided to surrender because of

“hijacking of Jehad by foreign mercenaries.” He vowed he would return to militancy the day senior Hurriyat leaders children too divorced their

luxuries and picked up the gun. He alleged that on one side, “cottages of

poor Kashmiris were getting destroyed and on other hand, separatist leaders were building fortunes.”

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Kashmir Underground

Raheel Kashir: Real name ‘Shafiq-ur-Rehman. See Shafiq.

Rathore, Abdul Nasir Khan: Alias ‘Jabran Khan’. Belongs to POK

and is a self-confessed IS] agent. He was a Commander of the Hizb-ulMujahideen. Alongwith 2 others he crossed over in Jammu sector from Sialkot area on November 15, 1998 after he had been specially trained in a Camp in Illaqa Ghair near Pak-Afghan border. During training he had been told of atrocities being committed by Indian security forces on Kashmiri moslems but founed this to be untrue here, he decided to

surrender. This he did on January 1, 1999 alongwith 6 others who had received training with him but had infiltrated on different dates. He said he had been told to kill important political leaders. Rehamani, Mohd. Farooq: Chairman of J&K Peoples League. In 1974

he brought some youngmen together to form the League. For some time he edited the Jamait Urdu newspaper “Azaan”, a couple of years later, League was joined by many young activists. In May 1985 a writ petition was filed in Calcutta High Court on alleged ban on Holy Koran. Rehmani took up the cause in Kashmir. He asked people to boycott the celebrations of Republic Day and Independence Day. In August 1988 he called for establishment of Nizam-i-Mustafa. When militancy erupted he went underground and then surfaced in Pakistan. He made a member of trips to Kashmir for consultation with important secessionist leaders. Once again he was made Chairman of Peoples League. Rasheed, Abdul: Alias Hyder alias ‘Green Zero’. He was local Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen for Banihal area along the JammuSrinagar National Highway. He was gunned down on March 20, 1999 during an encounter with Army troops in Sarachi village. For over 2 years before this he had been involved in attacks on Security Forces and killing of civilians. Saleem,

Mohmmed

:A seasoned

member

of the Hizb-ul-

Mujahideen. He was made Chief Organiser in 1991. In September 1992 in the “Operation Tiger” launched by Security Forces,he’was killed. Saleem, Mohd.: A member of Lashkar-i-Toiba. In 1996 he was made

District Commander

for Jammu.

Soon after that ,he went across to

Pakistan. He returned to Jammu in May 1997 but was arrested on June

8,1997.

.

Salim, Mohammed: Belongs to JKLF. When it was reorganised on

April 5,1990 he was made one of the 7 Area Commanders for Srinagar.

Salim, Mohammed: A resident of POK. He was a member of Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen. After special training he was infiltrated into Rajouri area in 1997. After taking part in a few actions, he was arrested and ultimately got lodged in Kot Bhalwal Jail near Jammu City. There he met Mohd. Irfan and Mohd. Khalid—both of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Under Khalid’s

leadership the three planned escape from jail. Successfully they managed

Players and Captains

365

jailbreak on October 16,1998 They were able to cross back into Pakistan four days later where they got heros welcome because of the daring escape from high-security jail. Saleem ,Mohammed : Alias Nanaji. An active member of JKLF. He

was nominated on April 5,1990, an Area Commander in Srinagar District.

He was later promoted as Deputy Commander.

April28, 1991. He was released soon.

Sahrai, Ashraf :

He was arrested on

Founder-President of Jamait-i-Tulba(1977)—

studeent wing of Jamait-I-Islami. While referring to Kashmir problem in

his address at the first annual Conference of Jamait-I-Tulba at Srinagar

in July 1978 he said,"It is struggle for independence of Kashmiri people and would go on till achieved.” He was arrested on July 31, 1990. Sikander Azam: Real name is Fayaz Ahmed Wani. See Wani. Sehri, Dillawar:

A senior member of Allah Tigers.

Soon after its

formation on August 15,1989,he was made its Chief Commander. Shafiq-ur-Rehman : Alias Raheel Khan. A Pakistani national. He was a senior member of JKLF. In 1998 he was appointed “Political & Military”Commander of Jammu Province amd was asked to reactivate

the outfit in whole of Jammu region. With 2 colleagues he was infiltrating into Bhimber Gali area of Rajouri-Poonch sector on February 5, 1999 when the group was ambushed by Security Forces and he was killed. Salahudin Ahmed, Syed : Real name is Mohammed Yusuf Shah. In Legislative Assembly elections in March 1987 he contested election on MUF ticket from Amirakadal constituency of Srinagar. He lost the election. Disgusted and dejected he decided to cross LOC and to go Pakistan to try his luck. There he received arms training as also in subversion and soon became part of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He has made numerous trips to Pakistan across the LOC in past 9 years. In 1991 he quickly became a prominent office-bearer enjoying the confidence and support of senior officers of ISI in Pakistan. With the exit of Master Ahsan Dar from

HUM,

Salahudin

was named

the new

Patron and Chief

Commander on November 11, 1991. With induction of foreign mercenaries, his stock with Pakistan fell steeply. On May 5, 1992 even he said there were no idealogical differences among the various guerrilla

groups or with Pakistan. H wanted all the militant groups to come to

one platform. He said he had managed to bring five groups to form a United Jehad Council. He tried to dispel the impression that HUM was the military wing of Jamait-i-Islami claiming that it was totally a separate and independent body. He wanted ranks of HUM and other organisations to be ‘ cleansed’ by throwing out persons who had defamed the peoples’ movement by indulging in harassing innocent citizens, looting, extortion, kidnappings, rapes and other criminal actions. He

refuted the allegation that their movement was either fundamentalist or

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Kashmir Underground

communal

and

said,

“Anyone

who

believes

in Islam

cannot

be

communal.” In 1993 Pakistan ISI invited him over to discuss the restructuring of the secessionist movement in Kashmir and to increase the induction of foreign mercenaries. He spent many weeks in Pakistan and POK. He had to fall in line with ISI thinking and with the new strategy devised by them. He soon returned to Kashmir. In November 1994 he again went across the LOC and surfaced at Muzaffarabad on November 15. He however returned to the Valley in 1996 for a special meeting with local commanders before returning to Pakistan. In asurprise statement in Pakistan made by him in middle of August 1997 he admitted that Pakistan indeed was providing support to militants in Kashmir in terms of money, arms, training and much more. He even called Pakistan, “mother of insurgency in Kashmir”. He expressed his apprehension that under international pressure Pakistan may cut down on its assistance but asserted that notwithstanding this, Jehad in Kashmir

would continue. His stock with ISI had declined somewhat because under his leadership the Hizb cadres failed to disrupt the elections in 1996 in Jammu & Kashmir. The ISI was generally not satisfied with Kashmiri militants and with Salahudin. They started patronising a Pakistani of Kashmiri origin, Masood Sarfraz. In February 1998 credible reports were received from across the LOC that ISI was about to announce Salahudin’s replacement by Sarfraz. This failed to materialise and Salahudin was reelected as HUM Chief.. On May 11, 1998 he was re-elected Chairman of 14-part, United Front

Jehad Council at Muzaffarabad. There he reiterated his resolve to

strengthen the movement and fight unitedly to “achieve cherished goal.”

Following this he moved closer to Pakistan Jamait-i-Islami and its Chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmed.

In Islamabad’s Shah Faisal Mosque to observe the anniversary of

establishment of ‘Azad

Kashmir’ Government,

the Pakistan Jamait-i-

Islami organised a big public meeting claimed to have been attended by over one hundred thousand persons on October 25, 1998. Syed Salahudin

addressing the meeting claimed that hundreds of Pakistani youth under the banner of Hiz-ul-Mujahideen were fighting against the Indian troops in Kashmir. According to him Kashmir was a part of Pakistan and the fighting in Kashmir was a war of survival for Pakistan. He exhorted more Pak youth to participate in Jehad in Kashmiur. The Jamait Chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmed supporting Salahudin said, hundreds of Pakistani youth “are being regularly sent to Kashmir to fight.” During this meeting Salahudin also appealed for liberal contributions

for the Jehad fund. It was reported that many lacs of rupees were collected

during the 3-day conference.

Players and Captains

367

Sailani, Ghulam Qadir: A member of the J&K Liberation Council..

In 1992, he was appinted Head of its Legal Cell. Syed, Mohd.Ashfaq Anwar: He belongs to an outfitcalled Al Madad Yalgar-i-Ali. In early 1991 he was made its Chief. The Security Forces arrested him on July 10,1991

Saraf, Ashraf: A senior member of JKLF. Before crossing over to POK in January 1990,he was a temporary lecturer in Government College, Baramulla. It is alleged that he had a hand in ordering killing of Prof. Mushir-ul-Haq, Vice-Chancellor of Kashmir University, on April 10,1990. This was confirmed by a Press Release issued from JKLF Hgs.at Rawalpindi (Pakistan) on April 20,1990. It clearly said that instructions for execution had been conveyed to Srinagar by Saraf under instructions of Brig. Imtiaz of ISI. Saraf now lives in Rawalpindi. From there he coordinates arms supplies to militant groups in Kashmir. He is reported to have shifted his loyalties to HUM and now co-ordinates its work. Sartaj: A well-trained activist of JKLF. When 20 year old in 1990 he

crossed the LOC and returned in November 1991. He was under training

in Pakistan and Afghanistan for over 14 months. He disclosed that all those who received training with him, were made to sign a pledge that

on return to Kashmir they would work for Kashmir’s merger with

Pakistan. Within a few months of his return he was made Base

Commander of Tral-Pulwama area. He told an Indian journalist at Srinagar on November 14, 1992 that JKLF objective was independent Kashmir but if this cannot be achieved they would “prefer India over Pakistan.” Shahwali: This is codename of an Afghan militant who was operating in Kashmir Valley before he was transferred to Poonch District in 1997 as Hizb Commander. He

was eliminated on October 6, 1997.

Shah, Mohammed Yusuf: Alias Abdul Rauf.. An active and senior

member of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. He was later made the Launching Chief. On September 11,1993 he was arrested by Security Forces, alongwith 4 others including its Chief Commander ‘ General’ Abdullah. Shah, Javed Ahmed: Alias ‘ Ansar-ul-Haq’. He was a member of J&K Police Force from 1981 to 1989. That year he got swayed by the “freedom wave and fight for Azadi in the name of Jehad” as he put it. In 1997 he felt it was blunder for him for “I had jumped into it without applying my mind.” He went across the LOC in 1989 for training in arms and returned in 1990 when he was entrusted work in Bandipore

area as local Chief of “Jehad Force”. Soon he was made its Chief Commander. This outfit got divided into ‘Al Jehad’ and ‘Jehad Force’. At one stage be was made Supreme Commander of Al Fateh outfit.

During this period he was arrested twice but bailed out. Shah recalls him visits to Pakistan and says. “I worked in several groups and had

368 relations

Kashmir Underground with

ISI of Pakistan,

Jamait-i-Islami

and

several

other

international agencies. I observed that everyone was working for its own interests and nobody was really fighting for ‘Jehad’ as Islam was never in danger at least in Kashmir.” “In Pakistan I have been to Punjab, Gilgit and Pakistan occupied Kashmir and realised that real Islam exists in Kashmir Valley. It is in Kashmir where the teachings of Islam and Prophet Mohammed are taught.” In 1994 and 1995 he got associated with Kukka Parray. When Parray launched his Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon in early 1995, he joined him. In February 1997 Shah made disclosure about his erstwhile colleagues in different militant outfits, which made them very uncomfortable in

eyes of public. In a press interview on February 2, he was very harsh on Hurriyat leaders. He accused them of pushing thousands of Kashmiri

youth into Jehad while keeping away their own children from violence

and killing. He wanted to know how many of their sons and relatives took part in the holy war in Kashmir and how many of their houses have been destroyed . About Syed Ali Shah Geelani who also is a senior leader of Jamait-i-Islami, Shah disclosed that one of his son is a practising doctor and other is a DFO in the Forest Department. He also revealed that another Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Lone had set up business for his son with crores of rupees. He said, “ in the name of martyrs, who had laid down their lives, their leaders collected huge sums of money which was being used by them to run their business houses. Refering to Shabir Ahmed Shah, Javed said , “He introduced me to militancy and told us to work for Allah Tigers which had ordered closure

- of bars and cinema halls.”Javed asked, was not Shabir Shah aware that

Tata Sierra Wagon given to him on release from jail, was bought from money collected from these bars and cinemas. When Kukka Parray launched his Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon - a counterinsurgency outfit - in early 1995, Javed became its founder member. In the Party.reorganisation announced on July 8, 1995, Javed was nominated as Deputy Supreme Commander. Soon he developed differences with Parray but these were cleared and on March 7, 1996 Javed accepted Parray’s supermacy and “resolved to sacrifice his life for elimination of the gun and heaps of dynamite from the state.” When Parray formed the political party, Awami League , Javed

became

a member , and nominated its General Secretary.

He was the

party candidate for Baramulla Parliamentary Constituency election in May 1996. He lost the election. In November 1996 he resigned from Awami League and joined the National Conference. In February 1997 he accused Kukka Parray of having misused huge sums of money which was actually meant for the cadres. He did not make any specific charge.

Players and Captains

369

He told press on February 2, 1997 “ If the Government of India allows us to operate officially, provides us with necessary vehicles, necessary ammunition and under the supervision of the Army I am confident we can wipe out militancy from the Valley within four months.” He disclosed that he had 1236 men working with him but the Government was not paying anything for them. ‘ In March 1997 he was elected as NC member of the Legislative

Council. When S. Hamid, Chairman of Shoura-I-Jehad was killed in an encounter with SOG of State Police in April 1998, Javed Shah in the

Legislative Council on April 20, 1998, praised the SOG for eliminating Hamid, who according to him was responsible for largescale destruction during nine years of militancy.

Being unable to persuade the National Conference leadership and

the State Government to fullfill promises made to the surrendered militants, Shah became highly critical of the party leadership. On August 11, 1998 he went public with the harsh criticism and said he was prepared even for expulsion from the ruling party. He even threatened to launch an agitation against the Government criticising the Farooq Government

(he is a party nominated MLC) he accused the government of gross

mismanagement According to him government than Government who

resulting in deteriorating law and order situation. more people had been killed during the rule of elected at peak of militancy. He was also critical of the Union also have done nothing concrete in this direction.

Shah, Ghulam

Mohammed:

A milltant trained in Pakistan.

He

moved from one outfit to other till he joined Tehrik-e-Jehad in 1995-96 winter. In 1997 he was made its Chief. The Police claimed that Shah was eliminated in January 1998.

Saleh, Siddique: Real name Mustaq Ahmed Bhat. See Bhat. Shah ji: A highly trained Pakistani militant who was made Commander for Rajouri and Doda Districts by Lashkar-i-Toiba. In an encounter with Security Forces he was killed on July 10, 1997 in hills of Rajouri District.

Sher Khan: A senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was deputed from Kashmir to Rajouri District in 1997 as Area Commander. In an encounter with the Security Forces close to LOC on July 27, 1997 he was killed. Sher Khan: An operative of Pakistan ISI deputed to Rajouri District in 1998 to coordinate militant operations. In an encounter on February 2, 1999 with BSF in Kot Ranka area of Rajouri District, he was killed. But

since Sher Khan

is acommon

name amongest the militants, confusion

prevailed about the real identity.

Shah, Mushtaq Ahmed: Alias Muzam Ali. Son of a government employee. Belongs to Ganderbal area. After being motivated by Syed

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Kashmir Underground

Tajamul Islam, Chief of Al Barq, in September 1990 he went across LOC for arms training. After 9 months training he returned to Kashmir and was made Area Commander of Al Barg. When its Chief Commander Khalid Gibran was killed in 1993, he was named ‘Supreme Commander’ on October 20, 1993. He was arrested by BSF in Srinagar on May 29, 1994. During interrogation he disclosed that Al Burq was being supplied arms and ammunition by ISI. It also was sending regularly Rs. 5 lac every month to sustain Al Burg operations. Shah, Fayaz Ahmed:

Divisional Commander of ‘Jehad Force’, for

" Srinagar and Budgam Districts. While he had taken refuge in a house on outskirts of Srinagar, the Security Forces surrounded it on January 21, 1994. In the encounter he got killed though his outfit alleged that he was killed in custody. Siddiqi, Naeem: Real name Master Ghulam Mohd. Parray. See Parray . Shera: A Pakistan national from Karachi. An alleged criminal sentenced to death was pushed by ISI across the LOC in 1997 for subversion and killings. He was given charge of activities of Hizb-ulMujahideen in Rajouri and Poonch. Since mid May 1998 he has not been

spotted.

- Siddiqi, Farooq Ahmed: Alias “Zain-ul-Abdin”. A senior member of JKLF. When the Party Deputy Chief Noor Mohd. Kalwal was arrested on October 8, 1991, his place was filled up on December 13, 1991 by Siddiqi. In 1994 due to inter-gang rivalry he was abducted by Hizb-ulMujahideen but released after a few days following an understanding reached. Party claimed he is not a militant but a politician and Chief Spokesman. He was arrested on February 1, 1993 by BSF from Nageen

area.

Siddiqi, Shabir Ahmed: An active member of JKLF since 1990. He came to be noticed prominently when he was Publicity Secretary and was holed up inside the Hazratbal Shrine alongwith Basharat Raza. Divisional Commander, Mohd.

Idris and others in October 1993. After

he gave up arms and came out of the Shrine, he was released in a few days. He started developing difference with JKLF’s local leadership of Yasin Malik, soon after. On February 26, 1994 he was arrested by JK

Police. He was released later. With his group he operated in the vicinity of the Shrine, where he set up his headquarter. When JKLF was reorganised on May 3, 1995, Siddiqi was sidelined. In September 1995, the JKLF split. Amanullah Khan, Party Supermo from Pakistan, appointed Siddiqi as JKLF President in Kashmir. On March 24, 1996, he and many members of his faction forced entry into the Shrine. Police on duty resisted and in the shoot out 8 militants and one Police official died. After negotiations Siddiqi agreed to leave the Shrine and returned to his

Players and Captains

371

office outside, with

16 others, on March 26, 1996. Police claimed to have

evidence that the group holed up inside the Shrine, had tried to tamper with lock of the safe in an attempt to reach the Holy Relic. In view of this on March 30, 1996 the Special Operation Group of J&K Police cordoned the two houses in the vicinity of the Shrine in which the Group had its office, and asked the militants to come out and

hand over arms.

Government claimed that the inmates started firing on the police and in the encounter the building caught fire and all 25 militants died. Siddiqi was also one of them. JKLF however disputed this version and asserted that few of them had been arrested and killed in custody. Sidiqui, Kaleem:

3, 1992 he was made

A well known activist of Hizbullah. On October

Incharge Publicity

Sofi, Ghulam Mohd.: A senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. From 1992 he has been the Chief Coordinator of training of party cadres. He lives in Rawalpindi and operates from the other side of LOC.

Sofi, Mohd. Ramzan: Alias “General Abdullah”. A seasoned activist of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen. In March 1993 he was made Chief Commander

after the present incumbent Nassar-ul-Islam was killed. On September

10, 1993, alongwith 4 aides he was arrested by Security Forces from a hideout in Balgarden, Srinagar. Shah Jehan:

A code name. He is Chief of a lesser known outfit

“Kashmir Guerrilla Front” which came into being in 1991. Shah, Nazir Ahmed: Alias ‘ Aziz-ur-Rehman’. In early 1994 he

was made “Salar-I-Allah” - Chief Commander of Al Jehad. On June 18,

1994 in Bemina , Srinagar in an encounter with Security Forces he was

killed.

Shah, Syed Irfan Ahmed: An Area Commander of JKLF in Srinagar in crucial months of January to June 1990. He was killed on August 3,

1990 in an encounter with the Security Forces. Shah, Javed Ahmed: See Ansar-ul-Haq. Shah, Abdul

Rashid:

An important member of Siddiqi faction of

JKLF. He was one of the group that tried to force its entry into the Hazartbal

Shrine on March 24, 1996 and was killed by SOG

of J&K

Police. Shahnaz, Alam: An experienced member of the Ikhwan-ulMusalmeen. He was appointed Chief Organiser of the set up on June 15, 1993 at a special meeting of its Command Council.

Shah, Commander Manzoor: A Pakistani operative. He was made Chief of the United Jehad Council in 1994. He was under direct

supervision of ISI.

Sofi, Manzoor Ahmed:

A hardcore member of the JKLF. He was

allegedly involved in many killings alongwith others. In 1993 Police presented a challan against him before TADA designated court at

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Kashmir Underground

Jammu. He was arrested before that for his involvement in alleged kidnapping of Dr. Rubiya Sayed in December-1989. TADA court released him on bail on January 30, 1999. Shah, Mushtaq Ahmed: A activist of JKLF. He was deputed outside

the State to make contacts with other anti-Indian groups. He went to Gujarat. On February 13, 1994, he was arrested from a hide out in Surat by Gujarat Police. Shaila Ms.: Operated under this code name. A young educated woman. Heads the pro-pak “Muslim Khawateen Mahaz” — Centre for Moslem women. Shalla, Javed Ahmed:

A senior member of Students Liberation Front

(later Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen). He is alleged to be involved in abduction

and killing of General Manager of HMT factory, H.L. Khera and Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, Prof. Mushir-ul-Haq and his Secretary Abdul Ghani. All three from two different places in Srinagar were abducted on April 6, 1990.

Khera’s dead body was found on April 10,

1990. Prof. Mushir-ul-Haq and Ghani were killed the same day in a field outside Srinagar. Shalla was arrested in March 1992 Ikhwan-ulMusalmeen demanded his release in return for the hostage K.

Doraiswamy, Executive Director of Indian Oil Company (IOC). After

protracted negotiations, he was released on bail on August 20, 1991, as soon as Doraiswamy was freed in South Kashmir. In March 1992 he was arrested by BSF from a Bemina hideout. Later he was reported to have escaped. Shahid-ul-Islam: See “Islam - Shahid-ul” Shafgat-ul-Islam: See “Wani - Bashir Ahmed” Sheraf, Kuka: A senior member of JKLF, killed in an encounter on December 24,1992 Sheikh, Muzaffar: Alias Javed Quereshi. See : Quereshi. Shams-ur-Rehman:

A militant trained in Pakistan, was made Chief

Commander of a new outfit “Lashkar-e-Tayuba” set up in 1994-95. On June 29, 1995, with 5 colleagues in an encounter with Security Forces in Badgam District, he was killed. Shams-ul-Haq: Real name : Ghulam Mohd. Mir. He was a founder member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and was named its Ameer in 1991. In college he was a brilliant student and passed his M.A exam with distinction. He was also a member of Jamait-Islami for many years. In the Hizb he was incharge of Teaching and Training Wing. In a gun battle with the Security Forces near Beerwah on December 16, 1993 he was killed alongwith 3 other colleagues. Shoaib, ‘General’: Real name “Nissar Mohammed Gujari”. He was made ‘Patron’ of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen on September 23, 1991 on the

arrest of the then Patron “General” Mousa.

Players and Captains

373

Police alleged that he was one of the principal operatives involved in bomb blast in the Police HQ at Srinagar on January 24, 1992 in which 5 top Police officers, including Director General, were seriously injured. Sheikh,

Mehraj-ud-Din:

Alias

“Din

Katora”.

A resident

of

Maisuma, Srinagar. He joined militant ranks in 1990 and got trained in handling of arms in Pakistan. On return he became a member of hardcore of JKLF. He took part in many operations and shuttled in an out of Kashmir frequently. In May 1998 he was reported to have returned from Nepal and as Military Adviser of banned JKLF was to regroup different factions for renewed activity. The Police on a trip off raided his hideout on June 10, 1998 and arrested him. Later Kashmir

IGP Mr. P.S. Gill told

press that Mehraj was allegedly involved in killings of many persons. According to IGP, Mehraj confessed his involvement in different crimes as under : (a) Killing of Saifullah SHO Maisuma, with Yasin Malik, Rafiq Dar Nanaji, Manzoor Sofi. (b)

(c)_

(d)

Killing of Lassa Koul, Director of Door Darshan Kashmir, with

Showkat

Bakshi and Amir (dead)

Killing of Mohd. Yusuf

Halwai, with Mushtaq Latrum.

Shalla, Showkat

and others.

Killing of IAF officials, with Yasin Malik, Rafiq Dar, Manzoor Bakshi

The IGP also said Mehraj had disclosed names of his associates as

Saleem Haroon, Dy. Chief JKLF, Rafiq Dar, Chief Commander, Altaf Qadir, Publicity Chief, among others.

Sheikh, Nazir Ahmed:

Alias Miandad. Also known as Shahnawaz

Publicity Chief of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was also incharge of an arms

dump. According to Police, Nazir was responsible for many killings including one woman in 1996. He allegedly was involved in murder of Bilal Ahmed Beig alias Alva in 1996 in Srinagar. He was arrested in Srinagar in end of June 1996. Shakeen, Abu:

A Pakistani national. He headed Al Badr Coy of

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In an encounter with Security Forces close to Srinagar - Baramulla Highway on November 13, 1998, he was killed after his group fired upon the BSF patrol. Shahbaaz: A guerrilla fighter from Afghanistan. He was one of group of 15 mercenaries which was infiltrated from POK into Kupwara District in second week of August 1998. Next day in Jagarpora village the group was engaged by Armymen. He was one of 6 Afghans among 15 mercenaries who were killed. Sheikh, Nazir Ahmed:

An active member of “Kashmir Freedom

Movement”. In 1991 he was made Deputy Chief. He is alleged to have

been

responsible for abduction on October 26, 1990 and then killing of

.

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Kashmir Underground

BSF Inspector Dharamvir Singh. Sheikh was arrested in Bombay on

March 13, 1991.

Sheikh, Wahid: A well known operative of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In 1993 he was made Military Adviser of the outfit. On December 30, 1993, he was arrested by Armymen, alongwith his bodyguard, from a hideout in Budgam District. Sheikh, Saleem:

Alias “Prince”

A longtime member of JKLF.

Allegedly killed Abdul Aziz Khan, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar on August 24, 1990 according to challan presented to TADA designated court at Jammu. He was arrested in 1991.

Sheikh, Mohammed: Alias “Cobra”. An activist of Ikhwan -ulMusalmeen. In early 1992 he was promoted as a Battalion Commander. On November 9, 1992 he was arrested. Shah, Ahmed: Alias Bahadur Khan, Shayaryar alias “ Bombaar” resident of Chattergul, in Sindh Valley. He was member of Al Burq

outfit and

rose to become its Deputy Chief Commander. Later he

surrendered and joined mainstream politics. In September 1996 he contested Assembly election unsuccessfully as Janata Dal candidate. Later alongwith 9 associates he joined Hizb-ul- Mujahideen. In an

encounter with Security Forces on June 14, 1997 he was killed .

Sheikh, Abdul Hamid:

See “ Hamid - Sheikh Abdul”

Shigan, Abdur Rehman: Alias “Inayat”. A member of Hizb-ulMujahideen. It is alleged that he was involved in the conspiracy to kill Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohd. Farooq. Police allege that Shigan with Mohd. Abdullah Bangroo and Mohd. Ayqub Dar went inside Mirwaiz residence in Nageen Bagh on May 21, 1990. Mirwaiz did not know them but asked them to sit down and asked purpose of their visit. Bangroo fired first at close quarters and then Dar and Shigan also fired at Mirwaiz. Shigan and other two then left the house. An accomplice car was waiting outside in which the assailants fled away. Shah, Yusuf:

Alias Abdul Rauf. A senior member of Jamait-ul-

Mujahideen. He was launching Chief in 1993. The JUM Chief and others including him were holding a meeting on September 10, 1993 when the BSF arrested him from the hideout. Shah, Mohd. Abdullah: A front rank militant belonging to Hizb-ulMujahideen. In 1997 he begame its Financial Chief in Kashmir. On January 21, 1998 the SOG of State Police arrested him from a village in Kupwara District. Shirazi, Abbas:

A member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon. At the time

of its reorganisation on July 8, 1995 he was made Commander Pulwama District. Shaffi, Mohd.:

Alias “ Haroon Rashid”.

An important member

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen who was made incharge of

for of

Srinagar - Jammu

Players and Captains

375

Highway. As such he was responsible for mary attacks on Security Forces vehicles. In an encounter on December 30, 1993 he got killed..

Sheikh, Ghulam Mohd. : In 1991 he was the Adminstrative Officer,

Jehlum Valley Medical College, Srinagar. It is alleged by police that he had been an active ISI agent since 1962 and in 1965 he was contacted by Maj Mansha of Pakistan Army Inteligence for organising disturbances in Kashmir Valley. He also had meeting in April 1985 in Delhi with Mustafa

Hussain Ali, Counsellor in Pak High Commission

at whose

instance Sheikh visited Rawalpindi for meetings with ISI officers. He also visited Nepal 3 times thereafter in 1991 to meet with ISI and those in the Pak High Commission. He is alleged to have received Rs. 6.5 lacs from Pak High Commission for setting up a shop in Kathmandu as a cover. In Delhi he is alleged to have received Rs. 14 lacs for Kashmir militants. He was arrested in Delhi on February 13, 1992. According to CBI chargesheet presented in February 1993, before Add. Session Judge, New Delhi, he was charged with conspiracy for murder of HMT General Manager Khera and Kashmir University Vice-Chancellor. Prof. Mushirul-Hagq in April 1990. Sheikh, Mushtaq Ahmed:

Alias “Jaan Kachroo”.

Was a member

of Studénts Liberation Front. He was member of the group who conspired to allegedly abduct Kashmir University Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mushir-ul-Haq and Abdul Ghani in April 1990. Later Haq’s body was found ona road, having been shot dead earlier. Mushtaq was later arrested along with others. Sheikh, Zulfgar: A militant who received training in Pakistan and rose quickly. In 1996 he was made Chief of “Al

Jehad”.

SOG

of J&K

Police arrested him from a suburb of Srinagar on July 28, 1997 Showkat, Ghazi: He was a Pak trained militant who rose quickly in the ranks of Al Burg and in 1996 he was promoted as its Chief Commander. In end of June 1997 he was arrested in Kupwara. Sofi, Mitha:

A very active member of Ikhwan-ul- Musalmeen since

1992. In 1996 he was named its Chief. As such he also became an Advisor

to J&K Islamic Front when that came into being late in 1995. On July 7,

1997 he as arrested by SOG from Srinagar.

Sofi, Ramzan: Alias “General Nissar” of Kupwara. An important activist who was arrested in Srinagar in June 1997.

Samadullah: A senior leader of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In 1997 the ISI designated him Chief Commander in Pakistan and sent him across the LOC to take charge of Doda region. Because of severe presstire of

the Security Forces, the 3 major

militant outfits Hizb-ul-Mujahideen,

Harkat-ul-Ansar and Lashkar-e-Toiba lay shattered and in low moral. He was asked to regroup them ad coordinate their operations. However, his plans did not succeed fully though he was able to activise them

somewhat.

376

Kashmir Underground Shah, Sonaullah:

Alias Zulfikar Ali.

Also known

as Sultan and

Magbool to different people. An active militant since 1989. He started with Al - Barg. Then moved on to Hizb-ul- Mujahideen and shifted his loyalties to Harkat-ul-Ansar. In 1996-97 Pak ISI decided to float a new outfit ‘Tehrik-ul-Jehad’. He was made its Chief and charged with task of recruiting cadres . He was a native of Kupwara District. He made frequent trips to Pakistan across the LOC. While he was hiding in a hottie in Trehgam in Kupwara District, the Police arrested him on December 15, 1997. His interrogation led Police to a big arms cache. Shah, Lateef: Alias ‘Bahadur Khan’. A resident of Chattargul village near Kangan in Sindh Valley. A prominent militant of the area who was Deputy Chief of Al-Burq outfit in 1995. In summer of 1996 he laid down arms and joined Janta Dal which put him up as its candidate from Kangan Constituency in Assembly elections in September 1996. He lost the election. He lived in Srinagar in Government accomodation with security provided. In early 1997 he disappeared leaving his PSO and a bulletproof Gypsy. On February 8, 1998 a strong blast blew up his residence at Chattargul in which five members of his family were killed. His brother

Ghulam Qadir was taken in custody. However, there was no,news of

Lateef.

Sulaiman, Abu: Code name ‘Ghaznavi’. A Pakistani national. Since

1991 he was active in Kupwara District. In 1996 he was made District Commander of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen. He was involved in large member of killings and blasts in different parts of northern Kashmir. As such he was considered to be the longest surviving militants in this part of Kashmir. A party of Security Forces were combing Charmandi Magam forest in Kupwara District on April 1, 1998 when they came under intense fire. In the encounter Ghazanvi was killed. From his hideout large member of rifle grenades and grenade guns were recovered. _Sayed,

Irfan: Alias ‘Syed Abdullah’.

A Pakistani national from

Multan. A senior member of Lashkar-i-Toiba who had been operating in South Kashmir in 1997. In an encounter with Security Forces near Shopian on October 27, 1997 he was killed. ‘ Samavi, Hafiz Anwar: A senior leader of JKLF. Part of Amanullah

Khan faction. In 1996 he was made Party Chief Organiser. He is based in Pakistan at Rawalpindi. Sultan, Umar: A Pakistani trained member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

He was made a Divisional Commander in 1997. In an encounter with

Police in February 1998 he was killed. He was a founder Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Sofi, Mohd.

Ramzan:

A Pakistani

trained

militant and a senior

member of Telrik-ul-Mujahideen where he was made Chief Organiser in 1997. In February 1998 in an encounter with Police he was claimed

killed.

Players and Captains

377

Shafgat-ul-Islam: Real name Bashir Ahmed Wani. See ‘Wani’

Sarfaraz, Masood: A Pakistan national. In February 1998 the Pak ISI appointed him as Chief Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in place of Syed Salahudin (a Kashmiri) who seemed to have objected to ill treatment meted out to Kashmiri militants under training in Pakistan. The HUM cadres in Kashmir Valley still treated Salahudin as their Chief. Sajjad: Alias ‘Tariq’. A highly trained militant of JKLF. In early 1998 he was sent by Amanullah faction from POK to take charge of operations in Poonch District. He was asked to coordinate with newly appointed party Convenor for Jammu region, Nissar Ahmed Mir. While they were

conferring with some colleagues in a house in Faisalabad village near Surankote in Poonch District, Security Forces surrounded the house and

in ensuing encounter on June 23, 1998, Commander Sajjad and 6 others

including Mir, wer killed.

Seera, Prof. Alpha: A Pak national from Islamabad. Code name of

the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen District Commander of Poonch, in first half of

1998. In an encounter with Armymen in Sangla area of Surankote (Poonch) on June 24, 1998 he was injured but managed to escape. Three of his accomplices (Afghans) were killed—They were: Abdul Dindi, Tahir and ‘Code 99’. Shah, Syed Shabir Ahmed: He is a well-known secessionist leader who became important during militancy because of his consistancy and sacrifice. He did not resort to gun.

He was born

on June 4, 1954 at

Kadipora in Anantnag. He comes froma middle class family engaged in business. He had his schooling in Srinagar. In 1968 at young age of 14 he helped to set up Young Mens League which organised protests against the visit of Jai Prakash Narain. For this he was arrested and detained for

3 months. He joined Peoples’ League in 1974. Alongwith Hamid Wani (S. Hamid). Ghulam Mohd. Hagroo, Mussadiq and Faroog Rehmani, he opposed Sheikh Abdullah’s Accord with Mrs Indira Gandhi. Subsequently for next 14 years he was in and out of jail. In early eighties he was made Chief of the Peoples League. In 1987 Assembly elections he was part of Muslem United Front (MUF). His brother Mohd. Syed Shah (MUF) won the Anantnag seat and was an active member of the

Legislative Assembly till it was dissolved in February 1990.

On September 27, 1989, he was arrested at Ramban. He was brought

to Srinagar for detention. News of his arrest sparked off protests and

demonstrations. For the next 5 years he was detained in Srinagar, Jammu

and in Tihar Jail at Delhi. During his incarceration he developed problems

of heart, kidney, ear and foot, for which he was treated in Government

Hospital at Jammu

and AIIMS at New

Delhi. He was released on

September 30, 1994. He was given a rousing welcome District and at Srinagar, on arrival.

through Doda

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Kashmir Underground

In all he has completed 20 years in captivity and for this he is also called “Nelson Mandela of Kashmir”. During his last detention he earned the distinction of being named by the Amnesty International, a “Prisoner of Conscience.” He is the first and so for the only Kashmiri to have been so named. He is not known to have wielded the gun and is considered to be moderate in his political views. Because of these reasons, when he was released in September 30, 1994, there was hope and anticipation that some breakthrough on the political horizon in Kashmir may become possible. It is now known that twin pressures were built round him to ensure that he does not take any such step. The militant groups did not want the primacy of the gun to be reduced and the traditional leadership now mostly under the Hurriyat umbrella did not want him to steal the limelight. Gradually the lustre wore off and he was made part of the ineffective Hurriyat Conference. There also he tried his best to make it an effective forum but all his attempts were successfully frustrated. In December 1994 when he was invited to the General Council meeting of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, addressing the members, he suggested that all the constituents should dissolve themselves and join the Hurriyat Conference as equals. His proposal was to have one party with single objective of securing the Right of Self Determination for people of Jammu & Kashmir. It would have only one leader and have one constitution. He also suggested that the base of the Hurriyat Conference be broadened with representatives from Jammu and Ladakh region and also ensuring early return and security for all migrants especially Kashmiri Pandits, who had, left Kashmir in recent years. He further suggested a unified command for all the militant outfits. As was expected, the Shah proposal was not acceptable to the constituents. Termed as impracticable it was shot down primarily by the Jamait-i-Islami. It was pointed out that most of the constituents were

religions, political, educational, social or

professional bodies which would not end their existence to become cyphers. Shah’s proposals came to a nought. He charted a different path when he criticised the Harkat-ul-Ansar move to ban the Amarnath Yatra in 1995 summer and asked Al Faran to release four hostages who were foreign tourists and had no political involvement. He has been meeting Indian leaders and intellectuals in Delhi. He even met Atal Behari Vajpayee, a leading light of Bharatiya Janta Party and the Leader of Opposition, in early 1996. Before Vajpayee became the Prime Minister, Shah had said that he would prefer Vajpayee to be

the Prime Minister, than any other Indian leader. In Delhi he had meetings with Ambassadors of many foreign countries, both Western and Moslem. He also met Riaz Khokhar, the Pakistan High Commissioner, at Delhi.

Players and Captains

379

In May 1995, at New Delhi he had a meeting with Pakistan President, Sardar Faroog Ahmed Khan Leghari, at which the Pak Foreign Minister, Sardar Aseef Mohd. Khan, was present. Back in Kashmir, on April 18, 1996, he participated in march of 6 Hurriyat leaders to Badami Bagh Cantonment to ask Indian Army to quit Kashmir. He was disallowed, arrested but released in a few hours. He spends a lot of time in Jammu. He has toured Doda, Poonch and

Rajouri Districts of Jammu region and met a large member of people to get their views on Kashmir situation. Former Prime Minister V.P. Singh met him at his Srinagar residence on May 22, 1996. They discussed Kashmir situation for more them two hours. Later, at Delhi, V.P Singh said that he had made it clear to Shah

that he did not agree with his demand for tripartite talks on Kashmir issue. “I told him that it was not a feasible option”, Singh added. The Hurriyat Conference did not take kindly to these independent actions of Shabir Shah. Differences widened between Shah and other members of the Hurriyat Conference. When the announcement of the visit of the American Ambassador Frank Wisner to Kashmir was made in July 1996 the APHC decided not to meet him and discuss anything. Shabir Shah not only had a long meeting with him but also exchanged gifts. Later when US Senator Hank Brown came to visit Kashmir, Hurriyat again decided to boycott his visit. But Brown called on Shah and spent considerable time discussing Kashmir and proposed that secessionists contest elections. On August 8, 1996 the Executive Committee of Hurriyat Conference under Chairmanship of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq took decision to suspend Shah from AHPC for party indiscipline. Shah said he had no intention of replying to the charge of indiscipline. He said “I cannot close my doors for anybody if he comes to know about Kashmir and Kashmir problem”.

Shah said he would go ahead with his own way and if necessary “seek public verdict on my conduct”. Shah criticised the working of APHC and said it had lost its basic purpose and that it was now a profit making body for some people with vested interests. Shah termed notice to him as a white-wash by some APHC leaders to “brighten their blackened face”. Talking of his differences with Hurriyat he said these centred round return of migrants, inclusion of more and genuine parties to APHC and regular elections to APHC Executive Council. His perception is clear and his view are unambiguous. His views on important subjects : “Liberation” struggle: It s not a 6-year old child. It had been going on since 1947. The only new element is the introduction

of the gun. The gun according to him had become an integral

part of the liberation struggle but it has to be backed by a strong political movement. The gun has given an edge to this movement.

380

Kashmir Underground Alluding to the havoc played by the indiscriminate use of gun, he wanted it to be used properly and purposefully. He feels fake militants had started sabotaging the movement by indulging in un-Islamic acts. He alleged that the Indian intelligence had planted and promoted these fake militants. He is pained at the

actions of such elements which defame the movement.

According to him work of identifying and weeding out such

elements had started and was bound to show results. He wants

“convictional cadres of mujahids” to be created so that a new direction can be given to the liberation movement. Pakistan's assistance: He appreciates the moral and diplomatic support being given by Pakistan to the liberation movement. “What we need is political support all round to focus world attention on Kahmir”. Right of Self Determination: He feels that the people of the State cannot be denied this right when it had the sanction of the international law and had been conceded by India 45 years ago. UN Resolutions: India had initially agreed to these Resolutions. Pakistan also after some hesitation agreed to them. Both the countries were obliged to withdraw their troops from Jammu & Kashmir as envisaged under the UN Resolutions. Dixon Plan: Since this envisaged partition of the State this is not an acceptable solution. This is yet another device to divide the people of the State. Ultimately what prevails is the will of the people of Jammu & Kashmir. This he feels was the rationale

behind the Charter of American Freedom, also that of Indian

freedom. Kashmiris were fighting not only for the cause of Kashmiris only but also for people of Jammu and Ladakh. He wanted the people of these two regions to join the movement for furtherance of their love for the entire Jammu & Kashmir

which he loves, to describe as their country. Solutions: He would like the UN Resolutions to be implemented. If any insurmountable hurdles is encountered then he proposes tripartite talks among India, Pakistan and representatives of people of all parts of Jammu & Kashmir. “Pakistan is a party to the dispute and no talks can prove meaningful unless she is associated with it. We want a permanent settlement not a temporary arrangement”, he has opined.

Independence: as an option, he said that it is not provided in the UN Resolutions. “We will however, go by what the people have to say. The final verdict will lie with the eople of the State.” About the alleged excesses of the Security Forces and abuses of human rights, he wanted these to be investigated independently.

Players and Captains

381

He also wanted that the Security Forces should desist from such acts.

He reacted very strongly to reported suggestion made by Union Home Minister Inderjit Gupta in late August 1996 that a “Kashmir

solution could be a trifurcation of Jammu & Kashmir State(later denied

by Gupta). Talking to press at Srinagar on August 31,1996 Shah said this was a “concerted plan to create communal and regional polarisation in the State.” This is fraught with serious consequences, he added. He declared that his colleagues and he would fight it to the last. On May 12, 1997 it was reported that Shoora-e-Jehad had asked Shah

and some Hurriyat leaders to explain source of their income and the details of expenditure. Next day Shah denied that he had received any such letter. He said there was no question of his entertaining any such notice from a militant outfit. When many militant outfits decided to ban the Yatra to Amarnath

Cave between July 20 to August 22, 1997, Shabir Ahmed Shah announced

that his Peoples League would welcome the pilgrims. In statement on

July 5, Shah said, “I would like to assure our Hindu brethern that they

will be received warmly by my people. Camps will be set up enroute and refreshments will be made available.” His views on Kashmir Pandits return to the Valley were markedly

different from other separatist leaders. He said, “The Kashmiri Pandits

have been a vital part of our common heritage and must return to their homes in the Valley at the earliest.” Shah went to Calcutta in September 1997 to participate in the funeral

of Mother Teresa. Paying tribute to Mother, Shah said it was great loss

for the mankind. He described her as an “extremely precious gift of God to man.” Differences between him and most of the constituents of Hurriyat Conference had been developing for many months. While he was away to Calcutta and Delhi, the APHC

Executive Committee expelled Shah

after they failed to get his satisfactory reply regarding the funds he had collected and donations received by him which APHC claimed belonged to it.

Dissensions within his Peoples League had appeared from early 1997. His colleague Nayeem Khan had parted company earlier in the year. On October 18,1997 Shah announced that he was planning to launch a new political party with a new comprehensive programme. He also announced a plan to lead a protest march to HQof UN military Observers Group in Srinagar on October 27 - the anniversary of landing of Indian

troops in Srinagar in 1947. Shah was arrested by Police on October 22 and put under house arrest at his Srinagar residence from where he was released a weck later.

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Kashmir Underground

The 43- year old bachelor had avoided marriage in his youthful years because he felt that he was wedded to such politics which took him to jail frequently. When he was admitted to GMC hospital at Jammu in 1993 he was being looked after by Dr.Bilkees Iqbal. This was beginning of their mutual liking which resulted in their marriage in November 1997 at Jammu.

He found the Kashmir resolutions passed by OIC at its Tehran meet in December 1997, inadequate. While commenting on them he said if the Moslem countries were “ really sincere towards the Kashmir issue they must pressurise the Government of India at economic, political and

diplomatic fronts.” Shah roundly condemned the Wandhama massacre of 23 Kashmiri

Pandits by some militants on January 25, 1998. He felt that the “killings cannot be executed by local militants as it directly affects their movement. We have doubts on some foreign mercenaries including Al Faran group.” On February 2, he visited the GMC Hospital at Jammu to inquire about the condition of some Kashmiri Pandits who were injured in Police lathicharge previous day while they were protesting against government

failure to protect Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir Valley. Shah was assaulted

by some unidentified persons in which he was injured. He alleged that the assailants were “government agents.” There had been allegations that large amounts had been received by Shah as donations for the ongoing movement which had not been accounted for. On April 13, 1998 Shah announced formation of a Trust to which he would transfer assets worth ten million rupees which he considered “amanat (held in trust) of the nation.” According to him the trust money would be spent on the welfare of orphans, widows, destitutes and for the education of youth besides marriage of young girls. The corpus could be five million rupees in cash and 4 buildings in Srinagar and Jammu. Explaining the source of the collections Shah said, “Kashmiris living abroad had sent these donations for the (freedom) movement.” He named Trustees including two from Jammu and one from Delhi Next day his erstwhile colleague Nayeem Khan severely criticised Shah for having declared only part of wealth allegedly accumulated as Party Chief. According to Khan, over 500 million rupees had been collected by Shah since eruption of militancy. Being an active political being Shabir had been consuting many likeminded persons in Kashmir and some in Jammu for many months. On

May

25, 1998 at a Press Conference

at Srinagar

formation of a new organisation—Jammu

he announced

& Kashmir

Democratic

Freedom Party. He said the political leaders in Kashmir had “failed to redress the grievances of the people with the result that social fabric has

Players and Captains

383

been destroyed beyond recognition. We will work for permanent peace. We earnestly feel that there is serious need to review our course of action.” As

he started

activising

his DFP,

the confrontation

with

the

Government increased. On July 8,1998 led by him DFP supporters staged a protest demonstration at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk against alleged human rights abuses by security forces, the police dispersed them and arrested Shah and 22 others including some supporters from Jammu. Anerstwhile member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and later a co-founder

of J&K Forum for Permanent Resolution of Kashmir Problem, Imran Rahi threw his lot with him and joined the DFP on July 17,1998.

On July 27,

Shah appealed to National Conference legislators to join him in solving the problems faced by the people. While leading a motor rally on way to Bandipore on July 30,1998 Shah was arrested at Pattan but released later in the day. On August 6 while staging a sit-in strike at Anantnag town he and his supporters were arrested. On August 7, 1998 police prevented him from leaving his residence at Sanatnagar Colony of Srinagar. He had to cancel his visit next day to

Uri, Karnah and Gurez areas.

He had many sympathisers in Jammu City. To meet them and to interact with them he went o Jammu. On September 3, he was to address them in a hall. After he had addressed them some of this supporters outside became restive, shouted slogans. Police said it was an unlawful

assembly and arrested Shah and some of his supporters. They were released in the evening. The American music group known as “Black Star”, on September 29,1998 released a music album of specially composed songs, in Japan, USA and Europe. The Album was dedicated to “Shabir Shah and the people of Kashmir—and oppressed people everywhere—do not be dismayed; justice is sure footed and in time may God grant us victory.” Like many Kashmiri leaders - pro-Indian and anti-Indian - Shabir Shah reacted strongly to Pakistani claim to speak for Kashmiris. In a statement on October 8, 1998 he asked Pakistan to refrain from deciding

on behalf of Kashmiris as the people of Jammu & Kashmir were the final deciding factor. “We are mature and sensible enough to speak on our

behalf,” Shah asserted.

In October in New Delhi he submitted a memorandum to the UN Representative Feodor Starcevic for being forwarded to UN Secretary

General Kofi Anan. The memorandum demanded “immediate and serious international efforts to stop the alleged human rights violations in Kashmir.” {t also urged the Secretary General to use his good offices to work towards the overall abolition and dismantling of all nuclear weapons in the world.

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Kashmir Underground

Shah decided to lead a protest march of his party workers from its

headquarters to Lal Chowk

in Srinagar’s Civil Lines, on December

10,

1998—eve of World Human Rights Day. The Police stopped the marchers twice. Later, Shah alongwith many of his party activists were arrested but released later. During

his visit

to Delhi in second

week of January

1999, Shah

pleaded for peaceful resolution of “Kashmir dispute.” He met many political leaders and interacted with office-bearers of some organisations. He had cordial meetings with important members of “Friends of Kashmir” headed by Prof.A.M.Khusro. He urged them to help end miseries of Kashmiris. Before returning to Srinagar Shah met some foreign diplomats including the British Acting High Commissioner, Mr. Nicolos Wair. Twentytwo innocent civilian in Rajouri and adjoining Udhampur District were shot dead by foreign militants on February 19,1999. Shah expressed his shock and resentment on these massacres. In a statement at Srinagar on February 21,1999 Shah said, “The people who have carried out these acts should be caught and punished severely. One thing is certain, the perpetrators of this act are foreigners in Jammu & Kashmir, enemies of people and are not welcome here. They should leave our land and take away their barbarism with them.” Continuing he said, “If they wish to kill my countrymen, they should kill me first.” He called upon the international community to take serious note of violence in Jammu & Kashmir. . The Trust that he announced on April 13, 1998 to provide relief to people who had suffered during militancy, failed to take off. In March 1999 he decided to give relief to deserving people. On March 24 and 25 at Budgam and Srinagar respectively he distributed five million rupees to nearly 1200 families. These included survivors of the infamous Sangrampura massacre of March 22, 1997 in which 7 Kashmiri Pandits had been killed. He disclosed that next phase will include those from Baramulla, Pulwama and Anantnag Districts. The third phase will include Kashmiri migrants in Jammu region. Tajmul-ul-Islam, Sheikh: One of the earliest secessionist leaders.

Even in 1980 he was President of the Islamic Jamait-i-Tulba. In March

1980 he had stated publicly that Indian Army had “captured Kashmir”.

On August 5, 1980 he told the press that Kashmiris did not want to be

part of India and would create conditions for an Islamic revolution like

Iran. He said he stood for plebiscite and right of self determination for Kashmiris because he considered Accession to India, a conspiracy and a

fraud, He said he wanted to enforce Nizam-i-Mustafa (Islamic society) in Kashmir.

Players and Captains

385

After the Party was banned on April 16, 1990, he went underground. Tajmul-ul- Islam, Syed: An important member of ‘Al Burg’. In 1991 he was made the “Ameer-i-Tanzeem” - Chief of the Organisation. Two of his brothers who were party activists were killed in encounters Syed Showkat Ali and Syed Muzamil. In November 1991 he condemned abduction as counter productive. Tariq, Abu: A member of Al Mustafa Liberation Fighters. Rose rapidly and in 1991 became its Patron. Tari, Mohammed Abdullah: A member of Tehreek-ul- Mujahideen. In 1992 he was made a District Commander. A few months later he was arrested. Tayub, Maulana Abu: A member of Harkut-i-Jehad-i-Islami when

this group and Harkut-ul-Mujahideen decided to merge and form

Harkut-ul-Ansar on December 23, 1993, Tayub was made its Chief.. Timur, Malik Mohammed: Also known as Mohd. Akram. Was

associated with Al Barq formed in early 1991 in Kashmir by ISI. In October 1995, he was made the Chief Commander. From Rawalpora locality of Srinagar he was arrested on March 14, 1996.

Tipu, ‘Col’.: A member of JKLF. When the party split in September

1995, he sided with Shabir Ahmed Sidiqui (Amanullah faction). He was

made District Commander for Baramulla. He was one of those who were killed on March 24, 1996, when this group tried to force their entry into Hazratbal Shrine. Turki, Hamid:

A member

of Harkut-ul-Ansar.

Later was made

incharge of the Al Faran group which abducted in July 1995, 6 foreign tourists form Lidderwat area. On December 4, 1995 in an encounter with a Rashtriya Rifles detachment in Dabran village near Anantnag town, he was killed with 4 of his colleagues. Tramboo, Abdul Rouf: A militant of standing and member of Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen. He worked as its Finance Chief for over two years till he was arrested on August 6, 1998 from his bunglow in Hyderpora, Srinagar. Tramboo, Gulzar Ahmed: Alias “Khalid Baloch” - See Baloch.

Tantray, Mohd. Maqbool: An experienced militant of Hizb-ulMujahideen. Since 1995 he operated in Lolab area of Kupwara District. In 1996 he was made District Administrator of Kupwara. In a search operation in the rural area on June 15, 1997 he was killed in an encounter by Security Forces. Tahir, Abu:

A member

of Harkat-ul-Ansar who was deputed for

operations in Doda District. He surrendered to Doda Police on February 15, 1998.

Teli, Irshad Ahmed:

Belonging to Khanpora in Baramulla. After

receiving his training in a camp in Pakistan he joined Hizbullah group and was assigned tasks in northern Kashmir. Gradually he climbed up

386

Kashmir Underground.

and in 1997 he became Acting Chief. Kashmir Police was able to arrest him from Handwara area on March 5, 1998. Some pistols and grenades

were recovered from him. Tariq, Mohammed:

Alias Abu Shahid. A Pakistani national from

Bhawalpur. He was part of Lashkar-i-Toiba group which was trapped

in Shopian town on July 15, 1998 and killed in encounter with Army.

Tantray, Farooq Ahmed: Also known as “Moulvi”. He was Hizbul-Mujahideen expert in explosives and IEDs. He was active between 1995 and 1999 and was close confidante of HUM Divisional Commander Sharief-ud-Din. He had organised a number of landmine blasts in Anantnag District in three years before his death. Both of them had taken refuge in village near Bijbehara and were killed in an encounter with Security Forces on February 23, 1999. Toofani, Masood: A Pakistani national from Baluchistan. A member

of Harkat-ul-Jehad -i-Islami who infiltrated into Rajouri District in early 1998. He was totally committed having been trained by Dawat-ul-Arshad. Academy. He headed a group under Area Commander Abbas Firdaus. In an encounter in Darhal area of Rajouri District on August 12, 1998. Firdaus and Toofani both got killed. Ubaid, Abu: An experienced activist of Harkut-ul-Ansar. He was appointed Chief Commander of the outfit on February 20, 1996 after the incumbent Sikander Khan was killed on February 16, 1996 while handling a landmine in a vacant house. Umar Khalid: An important member of “Operation Baiakote” outfit. Alongwith others he was holed up inside the Hazratbal Shrine from October 15, 1993 to November 16, 1993. Alongwith Idris of JKLF he was one of two principal negotiators on behalf of holed up militants. With his arms he surrendered on November 16, 1993. Umar, Qasim: A member of Hizbullah outfit. In the reorganization

announced on November 25, 1995, he was made Divisional Commander

for South Kashmir and Doda District. Usman, Mohammed: Alias “Kaka Kotwal”. A member of good standing of Moslem Janbaz Force. In September 1995, he was made MJF Chief in place of Babar Badr who had developed differences with his party colleagues. Usmani,

Tufail:

An

active

member

of

Hizbullah.

When

reorganisation was announced on November 25, 1995, he was made Divisional Commander for Jammu region. Usman Majid: Wakoori,

He became

Real name Abdul Majid. See Majid

Shafat:

A resident of Wakoora

village near Ganderbal.

an activist of Iizb-ul-Mujahideen in 1991. By 1993 he had

.

Players and Captains

387

become a District Commander. On February 11, 1993 he allegedly killed in Wakoora, 7 persons including a Kashmiri Pandit teacher, who had

stayed on, after others had left. Two others he had “arrested” bought

their freedom by paying ransom of Rs. 20,000 each. He was alleged to have killed in all 6 persons. He was also alleged to have cut down or sold 90 big standing Chinar trees in Ganderbal area. His fellow villagers believe that he was arrested in Jammu January 1997.

Waseem, Umar: A Pakistan mercenary from Baluchistan. He came to Kashmir as member of Harkat-ul-Ansar and operated mostly in forest

areas of Kupwara District. On June 4, 1998 he was killed in an encounter

with Armymen after his hideout was raided at Dudipur in Rajwar area. Wangroo, Zahid Ali: Alias Nazir - An active militant member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was named a Coy. Commander for a Srinagar sector in early 1998. However in late June 1998 he was arrested.

Wani, Abdul Majid: Alias “Gazi Mohd. Ilyas”. A founder member of Allah Tigers. As Commander-in-Chief of the outfit he announced on

October 8, 1991, its merger with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

Wani, Ashfaq Majid: A pioneer of the secessionist movement. A founder member of the Islamic Students League which came into being in 1986. One of the four members of HAJY group which laid the foundation in Kashmir Valley of JKLF. He was involved allegedly in conspiracy to abduct Dr. Rubiya Sayeed in December 1989. He also was one of two principal militant negotiators with Government and later secured release of 5 top party activist in detention in exchange for Rubiya. Police alleges that Pistol fired by Showkat Bakshi to kill Lassa Koul (Director Doordarshan) on February 13, 1990, was given by him. He also conveyed instructions from Amanullah Khan, Chairman JKLF from New

York to kill Koul. Wani was then Chief Area Commander for Srinagar. On March 30, 1990 while he was preparing to hurl grenade on a BSF party, it exploded killing him on spot. Wani, Farooq Ahmed:

A senior member of J&K Peoples’ League.

In 1991 he was made Secretary of the organisation. He was arrested on

October 4, 1992.

Wani, Bashir Ahmed: Alias Shafqat-ul-Islam”. A senior member of Hizbullah. He was made its Acting Chief in early 1994. On September

22, 1994 he was killed by Security Forces while he was riding a motorbike

ona Srinagar street. He was signalled to stop, instead he tried to speed away. His companion riding behind him Wani,

Dr.

Mohd.

Afzal: A pro-Pak

was arrested.

political activist. When

J&K

Liberation Council was set up on August 1, 1992 he was named Head of Council’s Human Rights and Medical Wing. Wani, Ghulam Rasul: Alias “Khadim”. A political activist when the

J&K

Liberation

Council

was

formed

he

was

named

[lead

of its

388

Kashmir Underground

Political Cell on August

1, 1992. His work was appreciated and when

J&K Islamic Front was formed by Hilal Beg in June 1995 he became an important member. After Sajjad Kenno and Hilal Beg were killed in 1996,

he was made the Chief Coordinator of this organisation whose Patron, Bilal Beg was functioning from across the LOC. Wani used to receive his directions from Beg and implement those in Kashmir. He was sent to Iran where he received advance training in subversion. On his return to Kashmir, he was nominated as JKLF representative on Shoore-e-Jehad -

a militant alliance. Kashmir Police arrested him from a hideout in Srinagar City on January 24, 1997.

Wani, Javed Ahmed: Alias Raja. A Pak trained Hizb militant. He was reportedly involved in many militancy related crimes including killings and launching of grenades at busy places. He was arrested from Srinagar in June 1998. Four of his HUM associates who were charged with revival of militancy in Srinagar City, were also arrested. Large quantities of arms, ammunition, wireless sets etc., were recovered from

‘the 5 militants. Wani, Mohd. Sayed: A Battalion Commander of Hizb-ulMujahideen. A resident of Khanyar, Srinagar. He was arrested by Police on August 23, 1998 and during interrogation he confessed that he had

taken part in attacks on many mainstream political activists in Srinagar City. : Wani, Farooq Ahmed:

Alias ‘Abu Jabar’. A member of Lashkar-i-

Toiba. In mid - 1998 he was made in Srinagar District its Launching

Commander. Kashmir Police arrested him on December 30, 1998. Wani, Dr Ghulam Qadir: Resident of village Erin near Bandipore

on the banks of Wular Lake. A boy who was adopted by Jamait leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, became a staunch activist of JEI. A graduate of Sopore College he got his doctorate in Urdu from

University, New

Jawahar Lal Nehru

Delhi. He edited Jamait’s official organ, “Azaan”

for

many years and later became editor of Urdu daily “Uqaab”. He strongly opposed Sheikh-Indira Accord of 1975. Unsuccessfully he contested Assembly elections in 1977 as Jamait candidate. In later 1980s he fell out with Jamait leadership. He was one of the founders of Moslem United

Front (MUF) in 1987 and was made its General Secretary. After elections he was detained for a few months, By now he was established as an idealogue of secessionist thought and used his powerful pen to further

it. When militancy erupted in 1990 he joined JKLF and was made its Publicity Chief. He soon developed differences with its leaders and left it to join an alliance of militant outfits - Tehriq-e-Hurriyat-i-Kashmir. In 1991

he went over to Pakistan. As

a Kashmir secessionist leader ,

Players and Captains

389

Pakistan sent him to Europe and USA as also UEA to plead Pakistani case on Kashmir. Ata London seminar on Kashmir he found that different countries were using Kashmir problem to further their own national interests. He flew back to Delhi in 1997 and was arrested. Soon he was released and he returned to Kashmir. He gave up secessionist politics and cult.of violence. He came back to live in his village and engaged himself in social work. On

November

4, 1998 unidentified

armed

militants entered

-his

village home and killed him and his niece. There was widespread anger and resentment on his killing by militants.

Wani, Mohd. Yusuf: A trained militant. In 1993 he was made a Divisional Commander in the Moslem Janbaaz Force. On July 8, 1993

the Security Forces arrested him alongwith 3 other Divisional Commanders and its Chief Recruiter. Wani, Naseer Ahmed: A

senior activist of Moslem Janbaaz Force.

Also known as “Dawood Jabbar”. He was made Jammu Provincial Chief

in 1995. He was close to the erstwhile Chief Babbar Badr. When in February 1996, Babbar opted for dialogue with Delhi, Wani with 13 other associates decided to support him. This announcement was made on February 27, 1996.

Wani Rafiq: A member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. He was allegedly involved in abduction (April 6, 1991) and killing on April 10, 1990 of H.L. Khera, Gen. Manager, HMT Factory, on Srinagar outskirts. CBI presented a challan in this regard in the TADA designated court at Jammu on August 1, 1991.

Wani, Jan Mohammed: A youngman who became a militant in 1992. In 1995 he became a member of Al-Fateh Force and in 1996 was

made a

after.

Battalion Commander. The BSF was able to arrest him, soon

Wani,

Saleem:

A senior member

of little known

Al Mustafa

Liberation Fighters. In 1991 he was made the Chief of the group. Alongwith 7 of his colleagues, Wani was arrested on December 5, 1991 from Poshwan village near Trehgam in Kupwara District. Waseem, ‘Col’: A member of JKLF. When the party split in September 1995, he threw his lot with Sidiqui faction under leadership of Amanullah Khan. He was part of Sidiqui faction squad which was

fully armed and tried

to force its entry into the Hazratbal Shrine on

March 24, 1996. In the encounter with J&K Police’s SOG, he was one of 7

militants who were killed. At that time he was described as Budgam District Commander.

Waza, Abdul Ahad: Asenior leader of JKILF. Has been in and out of

jail a member of times. He was arrested first in March 1990. released in October 1993.

He was

390

Kashmir Underground

He was highly critical of the lavish expenditure on erecting welome gates and festive meals that were arranged by different militant groups

when Shabir Ahmed Shah was released

from 4 year incarceration on

September 30, 1994 and motored through Doda District and Kashmir

Valley before reaching Srinagar. In a statement on November 6, 1994 he

severely criticised Shah for wasting precious funds for celebrations on his release. He said

that

“large number of persons including widows,

orphans and children who have sacrificed their near and dear ones in the path of Azadi needed to be assisted materially.” Waza criticised Shah for not having mentioned in his reception speaches anything of oppression by Security Forces to crush the ongoing movement. Waza was critical of Shah for having shown his concern over the plight of Kashmiri Pandits but did not mention the “miseries and sufferings faced by Kashmiri moslems. The statement described the gun as symbol of the ongoing movement. According to him the gun alone had caused a flutter in New Delhi while lectures, public meetings and processions had not had any effect. Waza was opposed to fundamentalism and wanted India and Pakistan to respect Kashmiris urge for independence. In a statement on January 10, 1997 he decried attempts by some elements to denounce demand for Independence as un-Islamic. Wani, Shams-ud-Din: Alias Shabir. A senior member of the Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen. On return from visit to Pakistan he was appointed as

Divisional Commander for Doda District. He was asked to coordinate

with LET Commander Khatib Bhai but declined and got into trouble with his superiors.

Wani, Tariq Ahmed: Alias ‘Shahji’. A Pakistan trained militant who rose quickly to be made the ‘Ameer-e-Aala’ - Chief Commander - of + Kashmir of Harkat-ul-Ansar whose controlling headquarter was in Pakistan. After Abu Turab HUA Chief was killed in 1996 Shahji took his place and guided outfit’s operations in Kashmir. He also represented his group on the militant alliance “Shoora-e-Jehad”. His radio call sign was “OI”. He was very daring and had made a dramatic attempt to smuggle components of a wireless system into New Delhi’s Tihar Jail so as to provide a facility to another detained Harkat Commander Sajaad Afghani to enable him to communicate with ISI in Pakistan. Kashmir Police arrested him from his Srinagar residence on February

17,1998. Next day he was taken to Ganderbal area for effecting recovery

of hidden arms. While returning the party was fired upon by HUA militants. In the encounter Shahji tried to escape and was shot dead. The

* militants however insisted that he was killed in custody.

Police alleged that he played major role in reorganising militant cadres in Ganderbal - Safapur belt and reactivising them. Investigation

Players and Captains had

revealed

:

that massacre

of 23 Kashmiri

391

Pandits at Wandhama,

Ganderbal on January 26, 1998, was a joint operation mounted by Harkatul-Ansar and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. .

Wani, Fayaz Ahmed: Alias “ Sikander Azam”. A senior member of

the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit. In 1992 he was named Chief of Pulwama District. In third week of December 1992 in an encounter with Security Forces he was killed. Wani, Hilal Ahmed: A former militant who in August 1996, formed a body called “Jammu & Kashmir Realistic Front”. After Indian and Pakistan nuclear tests in May 1998, he pleaded with two countries to start a dialogue to iron out differences because nuclear and other weapons will not solve any problem, instead destroy both the countries. Wani, Mohd. Ramzan: Alias Aijaz. Resident of Dadsar, Tral in Pulwama District. Known to be the District Administrator of Hizb-ulMujahideen in early 1998. On a tip off the State Police arrested him from a hideout near Shalimar Garden on June 14, 1998. When he was

leading them to an arms dump on the Airport Road, this party came under fire of an ambush party. In the encounter Wani was killed. Jamaiti-Islami however said he was not a militant and was killed in custody. JEI claimed him to be a religious preacher and a member of Jamait’s Central Advisory Council. Yawar, Salman:

Alias “Nikka Bhai”. An active member of JKLF. In

Yusuf, Mohd.:

Alias “Sheikh Sikander”. A senior member of Al

the party split in September 1995, he sided with Sidiqui faction (Amanullah group). He was promoted as Deputy Chief Commander. When a group of armed militants of this faction was directed to force its entry into Hazratbal Shrine on March 24, 1996, he was one of them. Within minutes of the action he was killed by Special Operations Group of J&K Police. Umar Mujahideen. In 1994 he was made organisation’s Deputy Chief. In 1995 he left Al Umar to join Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon. Yusuf, Mohammed: Alias “Muzamil”. A senior member of Al Jehad.

In 1995 he was promoted as Divisional Commander. On July 3, 1995 he was killed in Srinagar in exchange of fire with Security Forces. Al Jehad however contested this and claimed that he was killed in custody after he was arrested. Yatoo,

Mohd.

Sharief:

Alias

‘Karate’.

An

activist of Hizb-ul-

Mujahideen. He was arrested in 1991 and detained in Sub-jail at Kot Bhalwal near Jammu. Soon after along with 11 other inmates he made

an unsuccessful attempt to escape. ‘Yusuf,

Mehmood:

A

Pakistani

national

from

Hazara.

After

thorough training he was inducted into Harkat-ul-Ansar and infilterated

392

Kashmir Underground

into Kashmir Valley in 1997. In an encounter in Goagal in Lolab Valley in Kupwara District, with Armymen on August 16, 1998 he was killed alongwith another militant. Zaffar-ul-Islam: An active member of Moslem Janbaaz Force. In

April 1993 he was made incharge of Publicity.

Zargar, Javed Ahmed: A senior member of JKLF. A TADA detenue

in Udhampur Jail in March 1996. His trial was notified to be conducted in Rajasthan but was challenged . In April 1998, J&K High Court was told by Govt. that he would be now tried by TADA designated court at

Jammu in CBI case. Zargar,

Mohd.

Salim:

Alias “Fayaz”.

A member

of Ikhwan-ul-

Musalmeen. Allegedly involved in conspiracy to kidnap (April 6, 1990) HLL. Khera and to kill him (April 10, 1990). CBI presented a challan

against him in TADA

designated court at Jammu on August 1, 1991.

Zaman, Er. Mohd.: Belongs to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In early 1996,

he was South Kashmir Divisional commander. On February 27, 1996 he

pledged to continue to “fight to the finish.”. Zargar, Iqbal: Alias “Bitta Ledri”. A wellknown member of Al Umar Mujahideen. In early 1992 he was Deputy Chief of the organisation. When the acting Chief , Mohd.Yasin Bhat was arrested in April 1992 he was made officiating Chief. When the J&K

Police launched its “Operation

Tiger”, Iqbal was killed in an encounter on September 3, 1992.

Zargar, Mushtaq Ahmed: Alias “Latrum’” (one who roams around recklessly) Born in 1966 he had little formal education. For many years he was connected with AAC. He was one of the first to be trained in Pakistan. When he returned to Kashmir he was made Chief of Al Umar Mujahideen with about 600 strength in June 1990. The police put 4 lac prize on his head and that shows his importance. He was arrested on May 15, 1991 from Rajouri Kadal area of downtown Srinagar. First he

was lodged in Jammu Central Jail,but he was shifted to Delhi's Tihar Jail

in September 1993 During interrogation he had disclosed that he was specialy trained in Muzaffarabad for high security subversion and to fire LMG and AK rifles. In Jammu Jail he had been asked why he had

taken to gun he said, “ When we were betrayed by Kashmiris themselves, what other choice did we have.” On February 1, 1993 he was made political Chief of AUM. In 1995

he filed an affidavit that Tihar Jail authorities tried to force him toattend

Republic Day celebrations in 1994 against his will.

In February 1998 he was shifted from Delhi’s Tihar Jail to JIC at

Jammu. His brother Fayaz Ahmed and sister Tanveer were allowed to meet him on June 3, 1998. They told Press that Mushtaq was in poor

health.

They asked the authorities to shift him to Srinagar.

Players and Captains

393

Earlier, Nazir Ahmed Ronga, President of Kashmir Bar Association,

Srinagar, was allowed consultations with Zargar regarding his petition for shifting Zargar to Srinagar in view of his health. The petition was dismissed on October 26, 1998 by the High Court. Zain-ul-Abdin:

A Pakistan trained militant. Joined Al Feteh early.

Zain-ul-Abdin:

See Sidiqui, Farooq Ahmed.

Zamaan, Umar:

A Pakistani national. A senior member of Lashkar-

In late 1995 he was made

its Commander.

Zargar, Shabir Ahmed: Alias “Braroo” (cat-like). A senior member of Moslem Mujahideen. When the party split in January 1995, he sided, with faction led by Bilal Sidiqui which wanted to continue the armed struggle. Before the year end he was made Acting Supreme Commander. On February 6, 1996 he expelled from organisation leader of other faction , Ghulam Nabi Azad who was for participation in Parliamentary election in May 1996. Zubair, Mohd. : Also called “Malik”. Belongs to Muzaffarbad (POK). He crossed over to Kashmir in 1991 and took part in many actions organised by Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. In October 1993 he was holed up inside Hazratbal Shrine. Alongwith with his arms he surrendered on November 16, 1993. In January 1994 he was pushed back into POK across LOC. He was part of Jamait-ul-Musalmeen outfit. In Kashmir he was alleged to be on payroll of ISI receiving Rs. 2000 every month. Zulkarnain: Code name See Mir, Nissar Ahmed. I-Toiba. He was killed on December 30, 1997 in an encounter with SF in Panzwani forest in Kupwara District which for past 3 years was known a “Chotta Afghanistan”. Zubair, Abu: A tall swarthy Sudanese mercenary. A veteran of Afghan war and a member of Lashkar-e-Toiba. He infiltrated across LOC into Poonch District in early 1997. By his strength and reputation of consumpation of about 5 kgs of mutton at one meal he had created a scare in the area. Between April and September 1997 he had killed a dozen persons by slitting their throats and bleeding them to death. According to one report, “on July 15 he entered a house of a local armyman in Surankot, made absent soldier's wife Razia lie on the ground

and severed her head with the sword . He also beheaded wife of Arif Mohammed and similarly tortured and killed his son later.” He always left headless torsos behind taking the severed heads as trophies to be displayed elsewhere. Zubair was also Incharge of recruitment and launching of militants from POK to this area and then on to Kashmir

and Doda. He was on wireless communication with ISI Lt.Colonel Sayed based at Kotli in POK. The Army troops following him located him in Senail village near Surankot on Novemeber 2, 1997. In the encounter he

was shot dead.

394

Kashmir Underground Zargar ,Tariq Ahmed

: Alias Nikka Zargar. A Pakistani trained

militant who joined Al Burg on return from training. He was its Divisional Commander in early 1998. The police arrested him on May 20, 1998. Zubair, Khalid: After Amanullah Khan reorganised his JKLF group

in Kashmir Valley in early 1998,he appointed Khalid as JKLF Chief

Commander of Operations. Under his direction, on October 6,1998 the

office of the Urdu Daily “Afaaq” in Srinagar was attacked and ransacked. Next day he claimed that JKLF wanted Kashmir Press to be “totally free”. “Our war is against the slavery of pen,” he said. Zubair, ‘Col’:

Real name is Mohammed

Aslam. See Aslam.

Violence There is violence everywhere Peace here is nowhere Anger and fear is on everyone's face But smiles ‘n laughters are on no one’s fate. Everywhere the blood is shed For weeks some one are not fed Hatred is in everyone’s heart But love is in no one’s heart O! Dear friends some thing must be done. To bring the peace once again So that we will have that fun again.

TRAM QAIYUM RAFIQI

(The Daily Excelsior - April 4, 1993)

4 Unlawful Organisations In 1987-89 many organisations in Kashmir Valley had been preaching and promoting secession of J&K state from Indian Union. They also indulged in acts of terrorism and violence off and on. The State Government did not consider it necessary to declare them unlawful and ban their functioning. Even after Mr. Jagmohan as Governor took over

the administration on January 19, 1990, he did not ban their activities till

April 16, 1990. On that day 6 separate Notifications were issued from Srinagar by the Home Department of Jammu & Kashmir Government

declaring under J&K Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1983 the following

APN

organisations as unlawful associations : Jamait-I-Islami J&K

Islamic Students League Islamic Jamait-I-Tulba

Mahaz-I-Azadi Peoples League

Jammu

& Kashmir Liberation Front

None of the banned organisations either protested or contested the promulgation of the Notifications. Only JKLF thought it of using this opportunity to propagate its stand and make known widely its ideology and objectives.

Its Chairman, Mohd. Yasin Malik, who was in Central

Jail at Agra (UP) sent a long statement in April 1991 to the Tribunal set up by Government to hear any objection about the ban. The Statement made it clear that JKLF did not submit to the jurisdiction of the Tribunal nor did it admit the charges. Yasin Malik did not cooperate with the Tribunal other than send the statement. The JKLF later published it as a small book.under the title “Our Real Crime”. The Tribunal confirmed the ban.

This ban expired after two years.

A fresh Notification was

issued by the Government of India (since J&K State was under President's

rule) declaring JKLF an unlawful organisation from February 18, 1992 for a two-year period. This was extended for a period of two years again from

February

18,

1994.

The

Union

Government

again

issued

a

Notification on March 28, 1996 extending it for 2 years. And yet again on February 18, 1998 it was extended for 2 more years by a new

Unlawful Organisations

397

Notification issued by the Central Government (under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967). The Tribunal confirmed the ban on August 14, 1998. The Home Department of J&K Government under Jammu & Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1983, declared as unlawful organisations,

by two separate Notifications on September 18, 1996 : 1. Harkat-ul-Ansar (HUA) 2. Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HUM) The texts of the Notifications are given as Annexures.

Terrorism — A Vicious Trap Terrorism is a stigma on society It arouses fear and anxiety.

Terrorism is driven by heinous elements,

Liberty of masses it torments.

Unemployed youth fall in its stratagem

It further aggravates the problem. Gruesome killings, the terrorists indulge in, Sheer acts of inhumanity and sin. National progress is hampered by terrorism This is aired by religious fanaticism Terrorist wield deadly ammunitions,

And ruthlessly ruin societies and nations. When will their ways, the terrorists mend When will the dastardly act come to an end Let’s find an amicable solution,

To end this chaos and commotion. VIKRANT MAHAJAN

(The Kashmir Times)

5

-

Foreign Guests In the first two or three years of open insurgency in Kashmir, there was no evidence of any marked presence of foreigners except as a few fraternal Pakistanis and Afghans assisting and guiding the local outfits. It is now clear that ISI of Pakistan had changed its strategy a number of times during this period when the tempo of the Kashmiri secessionist movement was rising. After the ground had been prepared in the Valley in the second half of the Eighties, ISI decided to give full and unequivocal support to the JKLF but soon realised that it was neither sound policy nor would suit Pakistan’s long term objective. It started promoting parallel groups. Some of them were dissatisfied elements of the JKLF and others were from the large number of Kashmiri youths who had crossed over from the Valley in the first few months of 1990 with the first flush of success. For a few months ISI watched this experiment carefully and evaluated it rather closely. The Kashmiri militant leadership did not measure up to ISI standards like the Afghan mujahideen had done earlier. According to them the Kashmiris were not able to stand upto the Indian Security Forces and needed backup and direction in action. The other development was more urgent and overawing. There were

over 3 mn Afghan refugees in Pakistan and with Soviet withdrawal from

Afghanistan, Pakistan was keen that a majority of them should return

home

for they had created numerous

administrative, social and ethnic.

problems, economic,

political,

Then a large number of Afghan

mujahideen and the foreign mercenaries who had been invited, hosted,

trained, equipped and then deployed by ISI, had finished the job in Afghanistan and “had to be used elsewhere”. It was like creating a Frankenstein who would destroy the creator if not kept busy elsewhere. ISI decided to kill two birds with one stone. They devised a plan under which large number of them were to be located in semi-permanent settlements in sparsely populated areas of POK. A few thousand selected out of them were to be sent across the LOC,

into Kashmir to virtually

take charge of the different outfits. These were the ones who had been trained in the Markaz-I-Dawaar Al Irshaad. Its headquarter is near Lahore and controls and directs three main training centres, one each in

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Kashmir Underground

Pakistan, POK and Afghanistan. Intensive indoctrination, philosophy of Jehad, training in handling arms both conventional and sophisticated, and subversion form part of schedule of training in these centres. It was reported that 35 experienced experts from Libya in terrorism instruction had been got on loan by ISI.

Markaz-I-Dawaar Al Irshaad holds an annual convention with

congregation of about 30,000 including delegations from about 20 muslim countries. Many Kashmiri militants attend these conventions and make direct contacts with leading foreign terrorist organisations. Near Peshawar is: located a large training establishment called “Maktaba-I-Khidmat” which was described by the New York Times as the “University of Jehad”. This is where recruits are brought for

indoctrination and training. They come from all over, Palestine, Arab countries, Algeria, Bosnia and Kashmir included. This training centre

was run and directed by Abdullah Azam ~a fiery fundamentalist orator ~ to start with. Spearheading the Azadi movement in Kashmir in 1989 was the JKLF which enjoyed full backing and support of Pakistan's ISI. Soon it was realised by ISI that JKLF may become strong and popular in Kashmir and may no longer accept its overlordship. Primarily on account of that, ISI decided to promote other outfits. By 1992 the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen emerged as the strongest outfit. It was fully under ISI control. It was directed by it and totally provided for by ISI. Not wanting to face a situation in Kashmir where any outfit could stand up and confront or defy it, the ISI helped start scores of new organisations — big or small. Some were fractions which broke away from existing outfits. The most important problem faced by ISI was that most of these groups were ideologically not prepared to toe the Pakistani line. They also were not bold and tough as good guerillas should be. In 1991 a few foreign militants were sent by ISI to Kashmir as “fraternal colleagues” to assist the Kashmiri youth. In 1992 many more came as guest militants. But in 1993 two groups were inducted in Kashmir valley by Pakistan. These were : Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami. Among them were veterans of Afghan war, from Sudan, Lebanon, Algeria, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Yemen.

These two Harkat groups also set up a couple of training camps in remote jungle areas. The Security Forces found a well-equipped training camp run by Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami at Kapran in Anantnag district in

November 1993.

About this time these two organisations merged in Pakistan to form Harkat-ul-Ansar. This pattern was followed in Kashmir as well, where a Pakistani national Maulana Masood Azhar was asked to take control. In the meantime the stand-off at Hazratbal Shrine had ended peacefully

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401

and all 62 militants holed up inside, surrendered meekly to the Indian Army. This provided another reason to ISI to send more foreign mercenaries to lead most of the outfits and thus overshadow the local Kashmiri militants whom ISI was increasingly distrusting. The ISI had been studying and assessing the end results of the actions and exploits of the Kashmiri militants operating under different outfits. They seemed to be “thoroughly dissatisfied” with the casualties they were able to inflict. The number of personnel of Indian Security Forces

killed or injured seriously was not commensurate with their “investment”

in number of trained militants who had been provided with unlimited supply of latest and sophisticated arms. Besides, they enjoyed “massive support “ in Kashmir. The ISI felt that in contrast, the casualties suffered by militants were proportionately higher than should be. The ISI then decided that militants should be inducted from outside - they would be inbred with a sense of purpose, steeped in spirit of Jehad, bolder and not afraid either to kill or be killed. They were highly motivated fanatics bred on verses of Koran and fired by the concept of Ummah - an Islamic world that does not recognise borders and frontiers. A leading secessionist leader Abdul Ghani Lone has said “We would welcome them because they have come to help us in our cause”. The UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) in April 1996 described a mercenary as follows: “A mercenary is neither a hero nor the consummate romantic guerilla, but a criminal whose acts are associated with violent crimes against life. The States and society must become aware of, prevent, punish and morally condemn mercenary activities.”

The UNHRC had also appointed a Rapporteur to submit a report on use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights. Mr. Earique Bernales Ballesteros in his report to UNHRC recommended that governments should prevent organisations linked to mercenaries from operating in their territory and also disband intelligence on security machinery which used mercenaries for covert operations. Pakistan did not pay any heed to this. Right from 1992 it pursued the plan to push more and more foreign mercenaries but became more pronounced after the Kashmiri militants in November 1993 gave themselves up after being holed up for 32 days in the Hazratbal Shrine

on the outskirts of Srinagar.

According to DG of BSF, Mr. D.K. Arya in

February 1994 an estimated 3000 or more foreign mercenaries were operating in Kashmir Valley. He told Press in Delhi they were mostly Afghanis, Pakistanis, Sudanese, Lebanese and Egyptians, invariably fugitives in their own countries - persona non-grata - where they would

be either tried or shot dead.

‘

402

Kashmir Underground In May 1997 the IG BSF in Kashmir Valley, Mr. C.M. Bhat, said that

while 2500 militants were

active in the valley, 400 out of them were

foreign mercenaries who had crossed LOC in small groups. A year later

— in April 1998, Mr. P.S. Gill, IG of State Police (Kashmir Range) said

that mercenaries sent by Pakistan now were mainly ex-servicemen and Madrassa-trained fundamentalist Islamists. He claimed that most of the infiltrating groups comprised of mercenaries of varying backgrounds

— petty thieves, criminals, beggars, ex-convicts and unemployed youth.

Army Commander Lt. Gen. S. Padmanabhan asserted on June 13 that “about 60% of militants active in Kashmir Valley were foreigners mostly from Afghanistan trained by Pakistani ISI”. In summer 1998 the number of foreign militants in Jammu & Kashmir was estimated to be around 2000 against 700 or so in 1997. In Jammu region nearly 70% militants were outsiders - mostly Pakistanis and Afghans. Army Chief Gen. V.P. Malik when asked if Afghans were operating in Jammu & Kashmir said “Ah, yes Afghans ? Of course they are there — 65% are foreigners.” GOC at Rajouri in September 1998 said that in Poonch and Rajouri Districts about 300 foreign militants were active. They come from

Pakistan, POK, Afghanistan and Sudan.

After the Hazratbal standoff, the ISI paid attention to strengthening the Harkat-ul-Ansar so that it could undertake some spectacular actions which would attract attention. The Harkat-ul-Ansar’s first big exploit was the kidnapping of the British tourists in June 1994 - Kim Housego and David Mackay. A year later 6 more foreign tourists were kidnapped by Al-Faran — a faction of Harkat-ul-Ansar. One escaped, the second was brutally killed and 4 others have been held hostages about whom nothing is known to the world after November 26, 1995 when last contact was made by J&K Police

with the Al-Faran captors. As early as 1992 (November) Afghan ‘guest militants’ had taken charge of some sections of a couple of outfits like Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. After a meeting in a secret hideout of Hizb Commander Syed Saluludin

near Sopore, Richard Ehlreich reported in the Washington Times on November 2, 1992, that “Hundreds of Muslim militants from the Middle

East are in Kashmir to take part in an Islamic “Jihad” against the Indian Government”. In his despatch Ehlreich said he got the report from an Afghan Battalion Commander of the Hizb, 36 year old Mohd Abu Nasar who “proudly introduced” two senior foreign militants to him. “One of them a burly Afghan named Akbar Bhai showed off a sinister two-inone AK-47 assault rifle with a built-in rocket launcher that Bhai said he

had captured from Soviet forces during the 10-year war in Afghanistan”. Another foreigner Yasin Salim Masood who was introduced to Ehlreich

Foreign Guests

403

told him that he came from Khartoum in Sudan. “I went to Afghanistan two years ago to fight and then I travelled to Kashmir one month ago. I came here to take part in the Jehad”. Ehlreich wrote that Masood volunteered further “there are 300-400 Arabs here from Libya, Algeria,

Bahrain, and other places. My organisation in Sudan, the Akhwan-ulMusalmeen (Moslim brotherhood) sent me to Afghanistan and said “If you would like to go to Kashmir, go. They sent me for the experience. You feel the meaning of Islam in Jehad.” In the next few months came more foreigners — some experts in their respective fields. They had intricate knowledge about arms, making bombs from local materials, fixing of explosives to blow up bridges, buildings and installations. A few were experts in electronics and wireless communications. All of them were equipped fully with latest sophisticated arms. Another reason for Pakistan to push more foreigners was distrust of Kashmiri militants. Some sections had started showing fatigue, some had started surrendering and others were lapsing into inactivity. Pakistan wanted better control over the activities of Kashmiri militants and hence needed to induct foreign militants. By sending them across to Kashmir, Pakistan loses nothing except some money. Some of the mercenaries had much knowledge about the political motivations of Pakistan and its designs. In 1994 the ISI planned to raise separate independent outfits for each

district in Kashmir, directly under its command.

Since the Pakistan

Government was against it, this plan did not materialise then, but in 1998 the ISI earmarked specific outfits for the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri. An outfit linked closely with Pakistan Jamait-I-Ulema-e-Islami,

Harkat-ul-Mujahideen as part of Harkat-ul-Ansar was inducted in Kashmir in 1992-93. Harkat-ul-Ansar’s cadres at that time comprised entirely of Pakistanis, Afghans and Arabs. In January 1994 Maulana Masood Azhar was sent from Pakistan to take over as Harkat-ul-Ansar chief. About the same time some elements of Al-Mujahideen Force (AMF) from POK were also inducted into Kashmir. The AMF had been floated in POK by Sardar Abdul Qayoom. In 1995-96 the ISI decided to send cadres of highly trained and motivated Lashkar-e-Toiba (LET). The LET is raised,

trained

and

directed

by

Markaz-ul-Dawa-Al-Arshad

in

Pakistan. The number of outfits and foreign mercenaries was increased or decreased by the ISI depending on its strategic requirements. The J&K

Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena in June 1998 in his assessment said that “these

mercenaries were battle-hardened and trained in mountain warfare”. According to him insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir now had more

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Kashmir Underground

external ramification and Pakistan had pulled out all the stops and had blatantly exported terrorism. He informed that level of infiltration was down and local component had declined steeply. There were about 3000 active militants in Jammu & Kashmir. Only three major outfits were active — the Harkat-ul-Ansar with 60% foreign element, the Lashkar-e-

Taiba with 90% foreigners and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen which had about 35% foreign element.” Around August 1998 official sources confirmed that in Poonch District the LET and HUJI were the active ones.

In Rajouri District the

Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen were operating and in Udhampur District the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was not active though some elements of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen were also present. In late autumn 1998 reports from Pakistan mentioned that Pak Government was seriously thinking to restructure commanding organs of the Proxy War in J&K. The reports spoke of plans to hand over control of the “liberation movement” exclusively to Lashkar-e-Toiba and the Harkat-ul-Ansar. In November a conference for-coordinating their activities was held in Punjab along with the Pakistan Jamait-I-Islami. Discussion was reported to have centered around how to “strengthen the truly Islamic identity of Jehad in Jammu & Kashmir”. It was decided

to sideline all other outfits which were for “Azadi” or Independent Jammu & Kashmir. These outfits would be kept out of the core group of anti-Indian movement, which increasingly should come under control of non-Kashmiri commanders.

On November

24, 1998, Kashmir IGP

Mr P.S. Gill confirmed that command and control of all major outfits had been given to foreign mercenaries by the ISI. At present no Kashmiri militant was top commander of any group, he confirmed. Right from the beginning (1992) when the mercenaries was just inducted, they were given more sophisticated and latest weaponary. In 1992 some Afghans had two-in-one AK-47 assault rifles with a built-in rocket launcher which were claimed to have been got from captured Soviet soldiers in Afghanistan. The ISI was giving foreign mercenaries same explosives and weapons identical to what had been earlier supplied to Afghan Mujahideen. Towards middle of 1994 the mercenaries were equipped with sophisticated sniper rifles and 160 mm mortars besides the usual AK-47 rifles and rocket launchers. According to DG of Border Security Force the concerned authorities across the LOC dump sophisticated weapons like sniper rifles along the border and then pass on the information to the mercenaries.

They dig them and move them

whenever the need arises. In 1998 the mercenaries were found to be equipped with AK-47/ 56 assault rifles, anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, grenades, rocket launchers, carbines, and SAM-7

missiles.

For

quick and safe communication they had advanced and lates' wireless

Foreign Guests

405

sets — some even carried the latest digital sets that can be carried in a pocket. The foreign militants frequently air false transmissions to tie down the Security Forces. The correct messages are relayed with the help of jamming and scrambler devices fitted into the militant sets. The Army Commander Lt. Gen. S. Padmanaban on June 13, 1998

claimed that in recent months different types of weapons had been recovered from the foreign mercenaries. These included surface to air missiles, small mortars, medium machine guns and latest rocket

launchers.

A few months later, in Poonch and Rajouri Districts the security forces recovered from the foreign militants telescopic devices and night vision equipment. Over the years, the Pak ISI has been changing its techniques of

motivating the mercenaries. First it was the Islamic card. Reports of alleged atrocities on Moslems in Kashmir were widely circulated. “Islam

in danger” was what was the refrain dished out to them. Specially produced video cassettes were screened which highlighted that Moslems in Kashmir were not allowed to pray, say Namaz in mosques and generally not allowed to live as Moslems. “I am to share in Jehad” one militant in custody told press. Money is used to lure youth to join Jehad

and this is a big attraction for unemployed youth. Then there is the thrill of handling a gun and killing a Kafir (infidel). In training camps they

are put through brainwash sessions. They are told of opportunities in Kashmir of extortion of money, forced marriages, local hospitality and entertainment by Kashmir girls. An Afghan mercenary in custody told DG BSF in February 1994 that he had raped 82 Kashmiri women since his arrival from Pakistan. Some other arrested foreign militants have confessed that they had gone to Pakistan for seeking employment and were lured with attractive promises by ISI agents to “doing duty for Islam by joining Jehad in Kashmir”. Some of them turned out to be paid serial killers with no personal or emotional involvement with Jehad. The foreign militant is sent to Kashmir on contract for 2 years. He is

paid Rs 2 lacs (US$ 5000) on deputation.

On return after successful

sojourn he is paid another Rs 2 lacs. For any major exploit they are rewarded. Against this an Indian security person is paid less than Rs 8000 per month. A Kashmiri militant is paid Rs 1500/ 2000 per month. A slain militant’s family is compensated with a few thousand Rupees. A foreign militant who motivates a Kashmiri youth for training in Pakistan gets Rs 5,000 for each recruit who is promised Rs 15,000 as an initial payment. Unemployment and poverty are fully exploited. Since the foreign militants are not familiar with the topography and terrain they are provided relay guides to cross the LOC.

They work in

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Kashmir Underground

series. Every guide is paid (in 1998) Rs 5,000 for escorting a militant through his area and to hand him over to the next guide. The ISI is reported to spending around Rs 5 crores a month only on maintenance of foreign militants though the annual budget for the Pak Inter Services Intelligence agency’s Kashmir operation is around Rs 300 crores.

The foreign militants were given special training on orientation for operations in Kashmir by ISI at the training camps in Pakistan. In January 1994 at many of the 90 odd training camps being run in PoK and Pakistan the small batches of foreign militants were specially trained. These camps were manned by Afghan Mujahideen, veterans of Afghan War.

The training includes learning rudimentary Kashmiri language and being familiarised with topography of the area of infiltration so that they are able to operate without many problems or without raising suspicions. With the help of local guides the militants identify their own routes of infiltration across the LOC. In October 1998 a credible report became available about Taliban in Afghanistan being used for training of militants for being inducted into Kashmir by ISI. According to Sunday Times, London, Osmana Bin Laden had given clear orders to his Islamic mercenaries “to bring terror to

unleash repression in Kashmir”. It said that the mercenaries had been helped to cross over by locally recruited militants in the Kashmir Valley such as a certain Ghulam who they said had kept in touch with the militants through a radio set using code words from Koran. The report said Ghulam had completed a 90-day training at Bin Laden’s camp at Khost in Afghanistan and was paid Rs 50,000 to lead a 10-member terrorist team into India. The report quoted Ghulam as saying that the mercenaries had been instructed to keep Kashmir on the boil by selecting soft targets like civilians and foreign tourists. In 1994 the ISI in Pakistan decided to raise special groups for different Districts of Kashmir. This was done to train them specially for operation in specific Districts. They were familiarised with its topography and important aspects of lives of people living there. Besides other training they were familiarised with local dialects to enable them to perform their task properly. One of their aims was to spread terror. Some of them turned barbaric. Some Afghans and Sudanese among them broke off their victims and then slit their throats till they bled to death. They also indulged in beheading some of their victims. Rape of women was almost a regular practice with most of them, Many were subsequently killed because the militants did not want to leave any trace of their crime. Cases have been reported where victim's eyes were gouged to instill fear among

the local population to force them to cooperate with the militants. gruesome case came to light after 3 years.

In May

A

1990 one Brij Nath

Foreign Guests

407

Koul was abducted alongwith his wife and sister. The two women were stripped naked, molested in public and then gangraped. Later they were dragged behind a moving jeep on a mountainous road causing their death. It got reported only in June 1994. Foreign militants in small groups in the next two years moved frequently from place to place to create more trouble spots. ISI started using porters and ponies in the winter of 1997-98, separately to send across the LOC, consignments of weapons. About the same time ISI sent fresh instructions to foreign mercenaries to hit soft targets or concentrations of minority population for ethnic cleansing. In the next few months

Wandhama,

Prankote, Sangrampura,

Gool,

Chapnari incidents took place resulting in gruesome massacres. Handpicked foreign militants were specially trained and then deputed to target VVIPs. Because of proper intelligence security was beefed up around them and the militants did not achieve much in this field. In Poonch and Rajouri Districts the foreign mercenaries seemed to change their tactics in June 1998. Because a gunshot usually draws attention of the people nearby, the militants started beheading their victim for some time. Strategies had to be changed because local people started distancing themselves from them. They were told by ISI to win over the local people. They started demonstratively praying regularly. They also

started showing respect to elders and women to regain their confidence and earn goodwill in many areas. The religious image of the foreign militants helped them to keep the flame of Islamic resurgence alive which in turn lends a wider purpose and meaning to the separatist movement. At different times and different areas the foreign militants were seen using Indian Army uniforms and turbans like Sikhs to avoid detection. In Champnari massacre in Doda, the militants were using uniforms of Army’s Rashtriya Rifles. Pakistani Major Saifullah of ISI who

masterminded the Wandhama massacre of 23 Kashmiri Pandits in

January 1998 was later killed when he was wearing an Indian Army Officer’s uniform. The foreign militants usually sport long locks of hair and flowing beards. In the summer of 1998 the foreign militants changed their strategy. They started resorting to increased use of landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Since then 80% or so attacks on security forces have been with mines and IEDs. This is relatively cheap and inflicts heavy casualties besides keeping the perpetrators out of sight and safe. This was also resorted to because they also wanted to avoid direct confrontation with security forces. Also because IEDs can be made locally

with readily available materials.

It was reported that they were lately

using claymore mines that are planted many metres above ground and

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Kashmir Underground

hence are difficult to detect with mine detectors. Hospitals in Srinagar have reported that 50% of injured hospitalised in the second half of 1998, were victims of these blasts. The figures of foreign militants killed and arrested in the first half of 1997 confirmed the change of tactics of Pakistan ISI in sending increasing numbers of foreign militants. In the first six months of 1997 the Security Forces arrested 108 foreign militants against 106 arrested in the previous six years from 1991. The breakup of these 108 is as follows : Pakistanis 43 POK residents 27 Bangladeshis 24 (They were detected for the first

time in 1994)

It is of interest to compare this with the figures of 1995 when 93 had been arrested. These comprised of : 79 from PoK 11 from Afghanistan In six years between 1991-95, 241 foreign militants were reported to be killed but in 1996 alone this rose to 213. The breakup of 564 foreign militants killed between January 1991 and June 1997 is :

Pakistanis 198 Afghans 178 PoK residents 21 Sudanese 5 Bangladeshis 4 Turks 2 Chechenya 1 Unidentified Nationality 154 The waning interest of people of the state in militancy and Pakistani efforts to send increasing number of mercenaries is borne out by the rising percentages of foreign militants killed to total militants killed in every succeeding year given below :

Total % of militants killed

1991

1992

2 0.3

6 14

1993 72 8.1

1994 78 7.2

1995 61 9.5

1996

1997

1998

155 129

215 140

321 384

Till end of 1998 in all 1,078 foreigners have been killed. Out of them 400 were Pakistanis, 190 Afghans, 5 Sudanese. 45 were residents

originally of POK.

135 foreign militants were apprehended since 1991.

Various reasons are there for the steep decline in friendly relations and bonhomie between the foreign “guests” militants and the

Foreign Guests

409

homegrown militants. However, the most marked is the mutual hatred that has become apparent at the end of 1998. Thousands of Kashmiri youth who have been involved in insurgency here, are by and large looked down upon with contempt by the foreign militants, who were welcomed as “guest militants” by all insurgents and secessionists. The poor opinion that the foreign militants had for the Kashmiri militants, foisting of commanders from outside over them, mercenaries disregard for local sensitivities including respect and regard for the Kashmirian Islam, their forced entry into Kashmir home, rapes of local girls, extortions and similar things led to widening of the gulf. By 1995-96 the welcome of foreign guest militant had turned to tolerating them and they were almost “unwanted guests”. But the camel was in the tent of the Arab and it was difficult to throw him out. The destruction of the Shrine at Charar-I-Sharief hurt the Kashmiri psyche. Then came the kidnapping of 2 British tourists in 1994 and taking of hostages American, German, British and Norwegian tourists 1995 and beheading

of the Norwegian tourist. And all this by militants directed and commanded by foreign mercenaries. The kidnapping gave the Kashmiri militants a bad name and adversely affected the secessionist movement. In July 1995 the Kashmiris felt that these foreign mercenaries had “no refined culture and no values. We have no common bond with these foreign gunmen” said a senior Kashmiri militant.

He further said “They

clothes at a stream and ordered them to wash

their clothes also, and

don’t have the same dedication for the cause we are fighting for, as this is not their land of birth - they are here only for material gains. They loot, kill and destroy and seem to be taking our Valley on the same path of destruction as that of Afghanistan”. “Recently, Isaw around 20 armed Afghans enter our village, walking like hulks. They stopped in front of some village girls who were washing they stripped themselves in front of the girls. Next they ordered the villagers to cook a feast for them. None dared even look up” said a terrified villager. “What is most worrying is that the Afghans have started marrying local girls in villages which means the guest militants are here to stay” said old Altaf Ahmed. Fortunately this did not catch on. A local teacher said “The aim of the Afghans seems to destroy the infrastructure in the Valley - to erode the social fabric - Charar incident shows it up”. As was mentioned earlier the Kashmiris started turning against

foreign militants in 1995 because of their pervert nature supported by right wing ideologies peddling communal hatred. Their presence in Kashmir brought about qualitative escalation in fighting which has multiplied the number of casualties. From 1992 when the foreign

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Kashmir Underground

militants were infiltrated there has been steep increase in number of terrorism related deaths which shot up from 1303 in 1991 to

:

1909 in 1992 to 2385 in 1993

Some cases have come to light where in remote areas foreign militants have killed local militants on suspicion of non-cooperation. In 1998 local

militants were upset because reports had come in that in Pakistan, ISI

was trying to replace even the handful of Kashmiri commanders of some outfits with non-Kashmiris.

Persistent reports said that Syed Saluhidin,

Chief Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was to be replaced with Sarfraz —a Pakistani national. Kashmiri militants started showing signs of disenchantment with Pakistan. In June 1998 in Poonch District local militants informed the Security

Forces

of presence

of Badshah

Khan,

Commander

of the Unified

Command of LET and HUA cadres. Khan was quickly eliminated. There are many such cases of cooperation between the Security Forces and disgruntled and disenchanted local militants. Foreign militants now avoid urbanised areas even well frequented villages for fear of locals informing the Security Forces. Local residents are reluctant to provide shelter especially because they feel that the foreigners are not concerned about their lives and property. Abdul Wahid, a senior member of Harkat-ul-Jehad Islamia (HUJI)

after surrendering in October 1998, said “They take away all our recruits. It is we who do the hard work in convincing our brethren to join our Jehad but once they train and return from across (after training) they are inducted in Lashkar-e-Toiba (LET) and we are left isolated”. Another erstwhile disenchanted member of HUJI, Abdul Majid gave expression to his disappointment by saying “Jehad-I-Azadi nakaam hai” (Holy war for liberation has no meaning). “We are not being given our new consignments of weapons promised by ISI. They now doubt our capability to use these weapons and fight”. Abdul Qayoom — a Commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HUM) said “We are poorest of poor. The money promised to us is never given. We are handed over a few hundred Rupees for our expenses. This forced us to extort money from the rich. Even this money is denied to us as we are forced to part with a major share to LET. They, on the other hand, are on

contract basis. They get a handsome salary and reward for killings. They made me do all that which freedom fighters will be ashamed of. The whole dream of liberation was without foundation”, he lamented.

Others were bitter for other reasons. Mohd. Sadiq, code name Abu

Talab of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen said “They rape our women but we get the bad name. Our members have to live in sheer humiliation. This also

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411

invited revenge action from the families of the aggrieved just because we are all branded together as militants”. Having failed to find local girls to become comfort girls for foreign militants, IS] formed an organisation “Anjuman-I-Khawateen” of Pakistani women to woo local girls for this purpose. Again, fortunately this ploy did not work. A senior secessionist Kashmir leader Hashim

Quereshi, who now

lives in Netherland and heads the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Party (IKDLP), has warned Kashmiris not to depend on foreign militants. In a statement on November 10, 1998 Quereshi said “Kashmiris must put a

question to themselves whether these mercenaries are their saviours or destroyers? A nation that depends on others, particularly the mercenaries, must know that all that they do is helping themselves pass from slavery to slavery and not from slavery to freedom”. The JKDLP also appealed to people of Kashmir to reject the mercenaries, reject the leadership that persuades them to welcome the mercenaries, and their sponsors. It also appealed to them to shun violence and fratricide and think of positive but non-violent ways of achieving their objectives. The motives of mercenaries in liquidating the intellectuals and ideologies is to create a situation in which Kashmiris become helpless and succumb

,

to intimidation, added Quereshi.

The senior civil and military officers size up the foreign militants,

differently. The State Governor, Mr.G.C. Saxena, in early December 1998,

felt that the “character of militancy has changed. Now it is in full control of foreign militants who are ruling the roost. It is easy to deal with foreign mercenaries than the local ones”. Asenior Army officer who has personal operational experience said “Unlike the Kashmiris, the Afghan mercenaries are highly trained, fully motivated and are keen fighters. They can survive by hiding 3-4 days without food or water”. Another senior officer rates Afghan militant as good doughty fighter out of hordes being pushed into Kashmir by Pakistan. “They tend to make optimum use of their ammunition and are highly motivated against Kafirs (infidels)” ‘he added. Major General R.K. Kaushal, GOC of Victor Force which is engaged in counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir Valley said his troops differentiate between the local militants and the foreign militants. While they appeal to locals to lay down arms and join the mainstream, no quarter is shown to the foreign militants. The GOC asserted “I have no mercy for foreign militants. Even if they surrender, I am going to kill them”.

According to him it is no longer “home grown insurgency but

insurgency by more organised and well-trained guerillas. Gun culture has not destroyed us but it will rebound on them and annihilate them.

412

Kashmir Underground Lt. Gen. S. Padmanabhan, GOC-in-Command of Northern Command

before he relinquished charge in end of 1998 after 2¥% years as overall

commander of Jammu and Kashmir, said “Proxy war in J&K State has

become foreign oriented, foreign inspired and foreign directed. Its dimension has changed with Pakistan banking on infiltrating foreign mercenaries from Afghanistan and other countries. The ISI seems to have lost interest in recruiting Kashmiri youth and are concentrating more on trained and highly motivated foreign militants”. They are battlehardened, more accurate, more committed fighters and keep fighting till finish. Another senior officer said “Foreign militants seek desolate jungles where they make underground hideouts or select deep caves where not even aerial straffing would dislodge them”. Thousands of Kashmiri youth who have been involved in insurgency in Kashmir are by and large looked down upon, almost with contempt by the foreign mercenaries. These very mercenaries in 1992-93 were welcomed as “gi'2st militants” by the entire underground in Kashmir. This contempt of the foreign mercenaries comes out strong and loud in the comments made by some of their leaders. Fahadullah, an Afghan war veteran from Pakistan fighting alongside Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in Doda District remarked “we believe in fighting from 2 meters unlike the Kashmiris who attack from a mile”. Nassarullah Manzoor Langyal, the former chief of Harkat-ul-Jihad-

e-Islami, who

came

to Kashmir

in 1992, feels Kashmiri

militants are-

neither dedicated nor Islamic enough. While in custody in November 1993 he told press that “Kashmiris are liars, bad fighters with a lot of weaknesses. There is little chance of militancy succeeding in Kashmir”. He disclosed his group had 80 militants - all foreigners - and had been operating for over a year. He said they had sophisticated weapons and high frequency wireless sets for communication with their bases in Pakistan and PoK. Their aim was to spread “puritanical Wahabi Islam” he declared. According to him, the aim of HUJI was to topple all pseudo Islamic Governments as he described them, with real and pure Islamic

Governments. Another Afghan war veteran and an Afghan national who was a senior commander

of Harkat-ul-Ansar,

Sheikh

Jamaludin

while

in

custody told Press that “Kashmiris are poor fighters. They look here and fire there. They are afraid of the noise and impact of guns”. He said his objective is “Khilafat” under which all territories of Kashmir, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and beyond, should become one without

barriers or borders. He said he least cares whether Kashmir comes part of Pakistan or remains independent.

Hamid Afghani, a Divisional Commander of Lashkar-I-Toiba who came to Kashmir in 1994 alleged that Kashmiri militants were not

Foreign Guests

413

“dedicated enough to the cause. We believe in fighting from close range unlike Kashmiri militants who avoid close encounters”. He was quickly refuted by a Kashmiri militant Mehboob-ul-Mir standing nearby who rebutted “we certainly are dedicated to our cause but the difference is that we use our brains unlike these aliens”. Abdul Nasir Khan Rathore

of Islamabad, who surrendered at Jammu, told Press on New Year's Day

of 1999, “the call for Jehad in Jammu & Kashmir by ISI is a total fraud

and if per chance I met those ISI agents who pushed me to this side of

the border, I will shoot them down. Syed Khalid Hussain Bukhari, another mercenary from Pakistan, was very critical of JKLF saying “The JKLF is not even a true Islamic group. Their manifesto is in English,

meant for Europeans and it talks of a secular Kashmir.

speak of an Islamic nation” he added.

In Urdu they

Mohd. Masood Azhar, a Pakistani

national who was Secretary General of Lashkar-I-Toiba outfit said “We fight for religion, for the spread of Islam. We don’t believe in the concept

of nations.

Whenever a Moslim needs our help, we will be there”.

He

further said he had been shown video cassettes of “atrocities” on the Kashmiris. Back home his organisation was told that Kashmiris could not even pray in mosques and that their women were raped. “Which Moslim can tolerate this? Our soldiers will protect Islam with their gun if necessary” he told press while in custody. Harkat-ul-Ansar commander, a Pakistani national also in custody, Sajjad Khan told press “For us Moslems to die for Islam is martyrdom which is bliss”. Hassan, a 22-year old Arts graduate from Algeria, told press on

January 6, 1994 “We do not believe in borders or laws.

We have set our

priorities for liberating different countries of the Moslim world from the tyranny of Kafirs (unbelievers).

I, alongwith some of my colleagues,

have come to help our Kashmiri brethren”. He felt Kashmiri militants could fight better if they had good commanders. He claimed in Kashmir he had participated in 11 major militancy operations in Sopore, Baramullah, Kupwara areas in past 5 months.

He said he had earlier

fought in Afghanistan as a close aide of Gulbudin Hikmatyar, supremo of Hizb-ul-Islami. He said in Kashmir alongwith a 25-year old Yemeni, Qatir Abdullah, he was “assisting” Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

He said he

was against inter-group clashes for that “weakens the movement”. He further said he was also against killing of “Moslem brothers” after branding them as police informers.

Wahid Mehmood (Lebanon), Sheikh Jamal-ud-Din (Afghanistan), Syed Khalid Hussain and Imitiaz Ahmed Bhat, both from Pakistan, while

in custody told press persons in February, 1994 that they were not sorry for having come to Kashmir after being told that they were being sent to

Kashmir for Jehad. But the reality in Kashmir is different, they stated. Another foreign militant - a lebanese - Mehmood Faid Alhaj (36) was

414

Kashmir Underground

arrested by BSF in June 1993 from near Pahalgam when he was disguised asa labourer. Back home he was a member of the “Democratic Front for Liberation of Palestine”.

guns.

He is an expert in mortars and anti-aircraft

He claimed, in Kashmir where he worked as a trainer with Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen, he had trained more than 500 local militants in Pulwama District alone. He was also a specialist in assembling of fire-arms. In presence of media persons he assembled a Kalashinikov rifle, blindfolded.

He also claimed to be close to Hizb Chief Syed Salaludin and in his company he had taken part in many operations. He said he had come to India as a tourist on a Palestinian passport. After touring many places in India down south he came to India as a tourist on Palestinian passport. Here he came in contact with the Hizb members who forced me to impart arms training to their cadres and participate in their Jehad”. He told press persons “Kashmiris are simple people with no in-built militant tendencies. I think they are being misled by the militant groups. I made a mistake of joining these groups and spreading terror in this beautiful region”. Mast Gul is perhaps the best known militant from outside. Soon after he came to Kashmir to oversee the operations conducted by Hizbul-Mujahideen,

he talked

to a small

clutch of media-persons

near

Anantnag town on July 18, 1994. He was deputed there to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra (Hindu Pilgrimage) to a Shiva Cave above Pahalgam. He made two terse remarks. About Indian Army he said “Indian troops are not as brave and tough as Russians or the traditional warriors he had faced in tribal fights in his area”. He resented being called a mercenary and said “We have not been hired and it is the conscience which has driven us to come to the rescue of the Moslems here. This is Allah’s territory and we don’t belong to any particular nation”. Another factor contributing to the arrival of foreign mercenaries is the archaic Arab system of “Kafil”. A source disclosed that rich Arabs who were devout Moslims but have no time or inclination to participate in Jehad, sponsor volunteers. Some of the “foreign guest militants” belong to this category, perhaps. They may have been sponsored from Saudi Arabia or Sudan where regular payments are made to the respective families of the sponsored militants. These foreign militants brought a “gift” for Kashmiris. In December, 1993 the Indian Army Medical authorities were startled that two Afghan mercenaries Abu

Baria and Abu

Al Umar of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, who

were wounded in an encounter in Sopore were found to have AIDS. Their blood was tested before blood transfusion. They however died

- soon after. The Administration was very concerned because by wielding the gun most of the foreign militants were indulging in forced marriages

and rapes. It has come to light that in 2 or 3 years of 1992-95 hundreds of

Foreign Guests

415

unwanted pregnancies were medically terminated at Udhampur and

Jammu. Kashmiri Moslem girls (in company of relations) travelled to these two cities in Jammu region and some even went to Amritsar, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Delhi, because in Kashmir Valley, doctors

had declined to undertake these abortions because of fear of militant guns. The despicable chapter however did not last long. The danger of spread of AIDS in Kashmir because of presence of foreign militants played an important role in the local population distancing itself from them. Pakistan has all along insisted that this is an indigenous movement

and that no outsiders were involved. In October, 1998 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr. Farooq Abdullah said “Solid evidence is

available that Pakistan is. pumping in arms, money and foreign mercenaries into Kashmir. Had it been an indigenous movement where was the need for sending Afghan and Pakistani mercenaries?” he asked. The Minister of State for Home, Mr Mushtaq Ahmed Lone on December

11, 1998 told the Press “Today, the Kashmiri youth is disenchanted and alienated with militancy. It is for this reason that Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) had been sending foreign mercenaries, who have little affinity with Kashmiri land. Approximately 80% of militants are foreigners.

These mercenaries are committing all sorts of atrocities on

people and not sparing even women.” “Hizb-ul-Mujahideen’s Kashmiri Supremo, Syed Salaludin who had been living in Pakistan for more than 3 years, in October 1998, declared “hundreds of Pakistani youth were waging war against Indian Army in Kashmir, under the banner of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. He was addressing a large gathering in grand Faisal Mosque in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, organised by Jamait-I-Islami. In presence of Jamait Ameer, Salaludin claimed “Kashmir is part of Pakistan and the fighting in Kashmir is a war Of survival for Pakistan”. International organisations usually do not usually commit or condemn unless the evidence is so evident or overwhelming. The Amnesty International in its Report released in March, 1999 said that there was evidence

that Pakistan

had

provided

men,

training and

militancy support to some groups seeking accession of Kashmir to Pakistan.

The Report, however, said that Islamabad had denied this.

The Al Report seemed to be categorical about the induction of foreign militants. It said that the complexion of militancy had undergone a serious change. It was no longer an urban phenomenon; the foreign militants had come to dominate terrorist brigades. Afghans, Sudanese and Egyptians were far more deadly in their operations than locals and

targetting innocent civilians was easy for them, the Report added. It further said that trained Islamic fighters from a range of Moslem countries

416

Kashmir Underground

including Sudan and Afghanistan, believing themselves to be holy

warriors, engage in some of the most brutal abuses, especially targetting

the Hindu community. Kashmir has been defiled, despoiled and desecrated by foreign mercenaries because they have no attachment with it.

~

$

AS? Sw}

NOW, BILL, ALL THE PRATIES HAVE GANCED UP AND THREATENED 7

DAS) ag 7 INTERFERE WIM thy Bones

ai)

Courtesy - R.K. Laxman The Times of India of February 24, 1994

6 Larger Canvas With the first flush of success the Kashmiri militants were directed to make forays out of Kashmir Valley by ISI in Pakistan. It had two objectives to achieve. It wanted Kashmiri militants to get close to the Sikh militants in Punjab and form a nexus foundations for which had been led in

Pakistan itself where meetings between them had been arranged. The other purpose was to set up a nucleus of subversives and ISI agents at locations in India where there was concentration of Muslim population. In these locations it will be easier to find refuge and shelter because ISI believed that muslims in general were prepared to “do something for Pakistan”. ISI had planned to make these nuclei as centers of subversion all over India. For Kashmiri militants later these became places to escape to when pressure was built up by Security Forces in Kashmir. By tradition Kashmiri businessmen had been visiting different places in India where the tourists and affluent people were ready customers for attractive shawls and beautiful handicrafts for which Kashmir has been known for decades. In all important stations there was Kashmir Arts Emporium set up. Generally these emporia were places where Kashmiri businessmen and hawkers used to meet to get news of back home. In past 20/30 years many shops had been opened by Kashmiris in places like Delhi, Bombay, Goa, Jaipur, Agra, Madras, Hyderabad,

Calcutta. In all these places people had got used to see the Kashmiris around. So when a few more were seen around in the early nineties hardly anyone suspected them to be anything but genuine sellers of handicrafts and fruit merchants. The ISI capitalised on this and in due course it was able to have “dependable agents” in those places. From Punjab reports were received of nexus having been formed between some Kashmiri militant outfits and some Sikh extremists. Credible reports were also received that consignment of arms and ammunition were being passed on from one to other. First the Punjab extremists, used to pass on consignments received from across the border

to Kashmir militants. After smuggling across the Pakistan-Punjab border became very difficult because of fencing, floodlights and intense

patrolling, the Janmmu-Samba sector and the LOC in Jammu & Kashmir

418

,

Kashmir Underground

was used to bring smuggled arms and explosives, and pass on some to extremists in Punjab. At one stage—in early 1996—reliable reports became available that ISI had managed to set up a new outfit for “better coordination and smooth transport of arms”. In also planned to use this cooperative effort to spread violence and terrorism in different parts of India. The new setup was named “K&K International”. Its headoffice was at “Sri Amritsar” with a Sub-office at “SIRI NAGAR”. Not much of its activities were noticed for next couple of years. In December 1998 information was available that ISI had enlarged the area of activities of “K&K International” to include Assam as well. It was charged with revival of militancy in Punjab and stepping up of subversive activities in Jammu & Kasmir and Assam.

Nepal was being used for transit of Kashmiri militants to and from Pakistan. Since no passport was required for Indian nationals for entry into Nepal no problem was faced by the militants. Once in Kathmandu, fake travel documents including Passports were prepared for them by ISI operatives. Then they could travel to any country. The return was the same way. In this regard allegations had been made that Pakistani Embassy was providing “all help”. Other allegations had spoken of a naturalised Nepalese politician Mirza Dilshad Beg as being a major player in this network. In Kathmandu also Kashmiri shopkeepers are a common sight so presence of more Kashmiris did not raise much suspicion. In 1990 militancy in Kasmir seemed to be riding a popular crest. It had also achieved some visible results which made them some kinds of heros. Those who died during attacks and encounters were described as martyrs. The Indian security forces were in the process of building pressures and were revamping their intelligence network. The militants in Kashmir did not have to go out of Kashmir Valley to save their lives. The ISI wanted insurgency to show some spectacular results in Kashmir rather than spread out into other parts of India. First major strike in Delhi was on the night of August 14, 1990 on Janamashtami (Lord Krishna's birth anniversary). In a bomb blast 5 persons died and more than 20 were injured. Next day at Srinagar, the JKLF claimed responsibility for this attack. Its spokesman informed newspaper offices that “JKLF has sent squads to all parts of the country to strike at vital installations.” In 1991 many militants traveled to Delhi. Some went to-escape the pressure of the Security Forces and others on directions fromthe ISI to establish bases and to motivate sympathisers to become harbourers and operatives. In early 1991 there were blast at Delite and Jubilee Cinema halls, Nirulas Fast food Restaurant, Mohan Singh Place and Palika Bazar Parking lot. Special branch of Delhi Police arrested three alleged militants belonging to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen on March 26. On May 6, Delhi Police

Larger Canvas

419

arrested a Kashmiri militant—Ashfaq alias Mohammed Ayub alongwith two local accomplices—Mohammed Tahir and Mehmood Paracha. According to Police Commissioner Arun Bhagat, Ashfaq had confessed having been trained in Pakistan for a month. He also admitted having

received Rs 35,000/- from a Kashmiri militant outfit for carrying out the

blasts in Delhi. He was involved in 4 cases of terrorists violence in Kashmir, earlier, Police disclosed. Blast at Nirula’s had killed one person

while the blast of Palika Bazar Parking had resulted in 3 deaths.

In March 1991 Delhi Police arrested a student of Jawahar Lal Nehru

University. Shahabudin belonging to Rampur (U.P.) claimed he was a journalist and as such had contacts in Pakistan. He further said that as a

Human Rights activist he was in touch with some people in Kashmir.

Police alleged that he acted as courier to bring a letter for Hizb-ul-

Mujahideen, from Pakistan which he visited from February 25 to March 17. Police further claimed that he had received Rs 16.50 lacs from a local hawala dealer and passed on this amount to militant outfit through one

Ashfaq Hussein Lone, a civil engineer in Kashmir. On December 15 Delhi Police claimed to have arrested 5 important Kashmir militants belonging to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen who had received special arms training to create terror in Delhi. They were also told to get

sympathetic youngmen to help to establish hideouts from where they could operate. The arrested militants were Zahid Ahmed Sufi (22), Aashiq

Hussain Butt (31), Mohammed Shafi Shah (27) Bashir Ahmed Mut (32)

and Nazir Ahmed (35). It was alleged that interrogation revealed Sofi

was an Area Commander and had managed to stay as guest in J&K Government House in Chanakyapuri. Nazir Ahmed, a Pakistan—trained militant was involved in death of a DySP in Kashmir. Sofi had managed to get a Passport and secured a Visa for Pakistan to escape there. After lying low for many months, in early 1993, Kashmiri militants again became active. On Marck 6, Ashiq Hussain Kanth was arrested. Police claimed he was fully trained in handling arms and for subversion.

He made two visits to Delhi for establishing a base for members of his

outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. On May 9, Feroz Ahmed Dar was arrested. Police alleged that he was going about as a shawl merchant and when arrested he was carrying weapons wrapped in shawls. With his group it was alleged that he was involved in many attacks in Kashmir earlier. Delhi Police in October arrested two hardcore Kashmiri militants. Ghulam Nabi War of Muslim Mujahideen and Mir Arshad Salim of J&K Muslim Conference. They were allegedly planing to kidnap several politicians including former Governor, Jagmohan. About a kilogram of

RDX was alleged to have been recovered from them. Delhi Police after receiving reports that a good number of Kashmiri

militants had made Delhi their base stepped up close monitoring of likely

420

Kashmir Underground

areas. On March 3, 1994 Police was able to arrest one Mushtaq Ahmed

alias Irfan, a member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, from New Delhi Railway

Station. He was reportedly trained in Pakistani training camps at Rawalpindi and near Afghan border but reentered India in December 1992. He had visited many parts of the country to establish contacts with

various groups of Ahle Hadees and the Students Islamic Movement of India.

Mushtaq’s interrogation disclosed that militants visit Delhi and even

find refuge with Kashmiris who spend winter months in different localities of Delhi, including Defence Colony, South Extension, Lajpat

Nagar and Jangpura, besides Shahdara, Seemapuri and congested walled city areas. Nasir Ahmed Ganai (of Baramulla) alias Darzi with code name Mujeeb, was arrested on May 11, 1994 when he was about to plant a

bomb in the Regal Cinema Hall in Connaught Place. During interrogation

he confessed that he had planted a bomb in Odeon Cinema on January

30 three months earlier. In this 18 persons had been injured. Nasir had initially joined JKLF but later went over to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. For the Odeon Cinema bomb he said he had been paid Rs 5000/- by HUM. For

6 months or so before he was caught, he had been living in Delhi to

make contact with other militants who regularly went there from

Kashmir.

During 1995 the Kashmiri militants who had sought shelters in Delhi lay low. However, in October 1995, the Police arrested Faiz Ahmed Malik. He had been trained in subversion in a camp at Muzaffarabad (POK).

He had crossed LOC into the Valley and come to Delhi a few months earlier. He was a member of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen. Another explosion

took place in Connaught Place area on November 21 in which 30 persons were injured.

The events were moving fast in Jammu & Kashmir and the Security

Forces had mounted pressure all round against the militants. Those who

could manage to leave and had the means and the contacts in Delhi,

went to the Capital in the winter of 1995—96.

In the busy and congested Saddar Bazar area of central Delhi in the

afternoon of January 3, 1996 a powerful explosion took place in which 6 persons were killed while 32 Were injured, four seriously. A lesser known Kashmiri militant outfit, Jammu

& Kashmir Islamic Millat claimed

responsibility for the blast. Next day Police arrested two alleged perpetrators, Faroog Ahmed Handoo and Riyaz Ahmed Bhatt. Handoo had joined militant ranks in August 1990 and undergone training in arms for 3 months. Bhatt was “Military Advisor” in Al-Umar outfit, earlier. Both arrived in Delhi in last week of December 1995. Bhat was also

Larger Canvas

421

involved in case of alleged extortion in Srinagar in 1993—94 of Rs 1.10 lac from Pashmina traders. An important militant—Mushtaq Ahmed Mir (28) a Pakistan-trained member of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen, was arrested on January 16 from

Lajpat Nagar area. A resident of Khanyar locality of Srinagar, Mir was

alleged to have been involved in abduction of Prof. Mushir-ul-Haq, Vice

Chancellor of Kashmir University in April 1990. He was also involved in many ambushes on Security Forces and a Bank dacoity in which Rs 15 lac were looted. Mir had been arrested in July 1990 at Srinagar, earlier. He was later released in exchange of Sheikh Fayaz, son of J&K Chief Secretary, Sheikh Ghulam Rasul. Sheikh Fayaz had been abducted on

March 19, 1992. Following his release Mir was made Deputy Chief of Ikhwan-ul-Musalmeen. Again he was arrested in July 1993. In custody,

he developed a problem in one eye. He was shifted to Police Hospital in Srinagar, from where he escaped in September 1993. Earlier in 1991 Mir

was also involved in abduction of K. Doraiswamy, Executive Director of

Indian Oil Company, near Srinagar.

From Chandni Chowk area of Delhi, the Police on January 19, 1996 arrested Hafiz Jan Bhat. He was reported to be District Commander of

Muslim Janbaaz Force of Badgam in Kashmir Valley. He posed to be a tourist having assumed new name of Aziz Ahmed Wani. Bhat had joined militancy in 1990. He was sent across LOC to Muzaffarabad (POK) where with 90 other militants for 3 weeks, he was trained in handling of arms

and subversion. He crossed back to Pakistan in October 1994. Traveling through Nepal on fake Passport, he returned to Kashmir in January 1995. Delhi Police on January 22 also arrested from Adarsh Nagar area 3 highly trained militants of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, who were living there as fruit merchants. They were identified as Manzoor Ahmed Sheroo alias

Wasim, Ghulam Mohammed

Dar alias Gulshan and Ali Mohammed

Teli alias Nasir. Manzoor disclosed that he had joined militant ranks in March 1991 and received arms training at Muzaffarabad (POK) and on return to Kashmir took part in many attacks on Security Forces. Dar also revealed that he received his training in POK but on return was soon arrested. After 2 years in jail he was released in 1993 and soon after rejoined the old outfit. Teli was earlier a stage artiste and was known as Nasir. On behalf on HUM he used to write threatening letters to targetted individuals. He also wrote and distributed, inflammatory posters.

Two days later the Delhi Police arrested 2 more militants belonging to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. They were arrested from Saddar Bazar area. They were Iftikhar Nabi Saladi alias Sajjad and Zahur Ahmed Wani, both of

Srinagar. In Delhi they were going about as shawl dealers. The third militant arrested from Rajghat area was Nisar Ahmed Rathar of JKLF.

While Iftikhar had been trained in Kashmir, Wani was trained in a

422

Kashmir Underground

Pakistani camp; Rather had been sent to Deli to take photographs and

make sketches of important Government buildings and installations.

Mohammed Ashraf Lone, a member of AL Jehad group was arrested

on January 29 from West Delhi. In 1990 he joined Muslim Janbaz Force

in Kashmir. Soon, as part of a group, he was sent to POK for arms training.

On return to Kashmir he became part of Al Jehad group which undertook many attacks on Security Forces.

This arrest led to arrest of 4 other Kashmiri militants in the next two

days. Habibullah Shah, a senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, was taken into custody in Adarsh Nagar locality where he was known as

Mohammed

Iqbal,

an

apple

orchardist

from

Kashmir.

During

interrogation he disclosed that having joined militancy in 1990 he went

across to Pakistan with a group of 125 recruits for arms training. On

return he indulged in attacks on Security Forces. Miraj-ud-din Teli and Abdul Rashid Teli, both belonging to HUM, were arrested from another locality. Both were trained in use of arms in Pakistan in 1991. The fourth person arrested that day was Ghulam Mohidin Sheikh of Pattan in Baramulla District. He was a religious preacher belonging to Jamait-iIslami. Police claimed that all the four were in Delhi to arrange safe hideouts for Kashmiri militants for transit to Pakistan and Nepal. Within a week, Delhi Police arrested an important member of Harkatul-Ansar from Majnu-ka-Tilla area. He was identified as Muzaffar Ahmed Mir alias Aziz who was alleged to have been involved in attack on Army picquet near Hazartbal (Srinagar) in July 1995 in which 5 civilians lost their lives. Mir joined militant outfit Harkat-ul-Ansar in 1994 and received his training in a camp in Afghanistan. On return he took part in subversive activities and in many ambushes on Security Forces in Kashmir Valley before travelling to Delhi. Tbrahim Battoo was a member of a new outfit Hizb-ul-Momin. This Shia Muslim group had links with some Iranian militant groups who had helped to set it up in Kashmir. Battoo had been trained for more than 3 months in Pakistan in 1991 and before landing up in Delhi he had taken part in a few incidents in Kashmir. He was arrested from Jama Masjid area on February 14, 1996.

Delhi Police stepped up their vigilance firstly because of reports from Kashmir that a good number of militants had come to Delhi and secondly

because they had arrested more Kashmiri militant in Delhi in January

1996 than in whole of 1995. Bilal Ahmed Butt of Anantnag District in Kashmir was a taxi driver before he joined JKLF in late 1992. In 1993 he took part in a few attacks on BSF personnel. Once he took part in intergang clash with Hizb-ulMujahideen when two of its members were killed. Soon HUM

cadres

abducted Butt who was operating under code name Bittoo. After being

- Larger Canvas

423

released he shifted to Delhi for sometime. In April 1994 he returned to Kashmir and joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Later in the year he returned to Delhi where he worked as HUM contact man till he was arrested on February 18, 1996.

Two days later Delhi Police arrested 4 Kashmiri members of Hizbul-Mujahideen. Police claimed that they were responsible for Saddar Bazar bomb blast in which on January 3, seven person had died and 36 injured. While Sadiq Mohammed. Sheikh, Nazir Ahmed, Mubarak and

Aftab had been arrested, 3 of their colleagues were absconding. Their interrogation revealed that all of them received arms training in Pakistan. They were also trained in subversion. Sadiq had been arrested in Kashmir in 1992 for militant activity. He was released in 1995 and soon rejoined HUM. He was deputed to Delhi in November 1995 while others joined him in December. Their interrogation led to recovery of arms and ammunition from a village in Baramulla District and another village in Pulwama District in Kashmir Valley. Delhi Police Commissioner Nikhil Kumar disclosed on February 20,

1996 that a consignment of 361 pistols confiscated from a Motor Caravan

of Two foreign tourists recently arrived from Pakistan, were meant to be handed over to 3 Kashmiri militants Haji Anees, Haji Manzoor and Ahsan, who had fled from Delhi.

A Pakistani national and a members of Pakistan’s ISI, Sajjad Ahmed » alias Abid Bhai was arrested on March 1, 1996 by Delhi Police assisted by Army Intelligence Unit. Sajjad in Delhi was going about as a Kashmiri Shawl merchant, though he was a Science graduate from Faisalabad (Pakistan). His interrogation disclosed that he had close links with Harkat-ul-Ansar and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfits in Kashmir where for many months he had taken part in attacks on Security Forces. He also admitted having guided in 1995 infiltration of about 200 militants of Harkat-ul-Ansar across the LOC in Jammu region. He also claimed close

association with Hurriyat leader Abdul Ghani Lone who had given Sajjad

Rs 30,000/- for terrorist activity in Soura area of Srinagar. Within in week, Delhi Police arrested another Kashmiri militant also

from Adarsh Nagar locality. He was Mohammed Ramzan Sheikh who belonged to Baramulla District in Kashmir. He received his arms training in Pakistan and at time of arrest he was a member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen which he had joined in 1993. Ramzan had joined JKLF in 1991 and soon he crossed over to Pakistan where alongwith 600 other recruits he received arms training for 3 months in Pakistani run Al Badar II Camp. On return to Kashmir he participated in many actions in 1992. Later that year he took part in a bank dacoity. During interrogation he told Police that a score of hardcore members of HUM had arrived in Delhi and had found refuge in different localities.

424

Kashmir Underground Another militant arrested in March 1996 was Bashir Ahmed Dhinda,

a resident of Badgam District in Kashmir. He was an official in Pakistan ISI. Even after joining militant ranks he continued to have access to BDO office in Charar-i-Sharif and CMO in Budgam. While there he was involved in killing of 15 Army personnel at Beerwa and of 14 civilians at Nowhata in Srinagar. He came to Delhi in 1993 and stayed on to

coordinate Kashmiri militants work in Delhi. Besides this, a “solidarity

base” had to be established, “safe houses” had to be identified before

any mission was undertaken. This setup was also to arrange jobs for militants coming from Kashmir, so that they have a “legitimate front.” These “boys” were provided employment with Kashmiri businessmen and shopkeepers. Some were sent round as hawkers to enable them to gather information and move about without suspicion. Delhi Police arrested Mohammed Amin Sheikh alias Nayeem

Sidiqui, an experienced militant of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, in last week of March 1996. Soon after he decided to become HUM member, he was

sent to Pakistan for arms training. Before returning to Kashmir he was given by ISI an AK-47 rifle a loaded magazine and two spare magazines and two hand grenades. This was indicative of ISI faith in him. In 4 years between 1991 and 1995 with his associates in Kashmir he took part in many operations in which many important HUM functionaries Ghulam Nabi, Manzoor Ahmed, Haider Zamil and Mohd. Ali Imran, Pakharpura

Area Commander also took part. Amin was hotly pursued by Security Forces and left Kashmir and went to Delhi in December 1995. Early in April 1996, Delhi Police succeeded in arresting a highly trained member of Hizb-ul-Mujahudeen. Abdul Hamid Lone alias Zahid

belonging to Anantnag District, soon after his induction into HUM was.

sent across to Pakistan, in 1990. With 450 other Kashmiri boys he received for 3 months arms training in Jhala Camp. Later he was sent to another Camp near the Afghan border and then to Khost Camp in Afghanistan for specialised training in LMGs, rocket launchers , big mortors and anti-aircraft guns. Alongwith 40 other militants and a large supply of arms he returned to Kashmir in 1991. For next 3 years he participated in 8 important encounters and a few ambushes of Security Forces. After his brother Abid Hussain, also a militant, died in an encounter in August

1995 he expressed a desire to quit militancy. As a result his Kalashinikov rifle was taken away by his Commander. To escape punishment at his

hands,

Lone

went to Delhi, he confessed.

Delhi Police arrested in first week of April 1996 Ghulam Mohammed

Khan who was a member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Belonging to Kupwara

District

he was inducted into

HUM

in 1993 and received training in

sophisticated arms and later took part in many actions. His interrogation

revealed that he had managed to get recruited into Indian Army’s J & K

,

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425

- Light Infantry Regiment at Srinagar in August 1994 “with a view to infiltrate into the Army”. He completed his regimental training in August 1995 and next month he deserted and went back to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Ishaq Hussain Dangroo, a resident of Zadibal in Srinagar came into militant field in 1989 and became a member of JKLF. In Delhi he was

arrested on April 15,1996. His interrogation revealed that with 12 others he had crossed over to Pakistan in 1989 where for 5 months he was trained to use arms and in techniques of subversion . On return to Kashmir he indulged in various raids and assaults. In 1992 he was arrested and detained. On his release in 1994 he joined HUM and was assigned

operations in Bandipore area where soon he was made the “Area

Commander”. When the Security Forces increased pressure he decided to leave the Valley. In February 1995 he reached Delhi. To escape detection he shifted his: residence frequently from one “safe house” to

other. All this while he posed as a shaw] hawker or a carpet darner.

In Paharganj locality in a tourist lodge on April 21, 1996 there was a blast which killed 9 persons. Next day at Srinagar, little known outfit Islami Harkat-ul-Momineen claimed responsibility for the blast. Abdul Rashid

Bhatt

alias Aziz, was arrested from Jamma Masjid

area on April 25, 1996 . He was a resident of Kupwara District of Kashmir

and a senior member of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. He was involved in many operations in north Kashmir and the Security Forces were hot on his trail. He escaped from the Valley. He first stayed at Jammu, then at Chandigarh

,Jallandhar and Ludhiana before reaching Delhi.. During

interrogation he disclosed that he had received arms training in Pakistan. Having been trained in subversion he was infiltrated into Kashmir Valley to cause explosions. Next day Police nabbed from near Liberty Cinema Hall on New Rohtak

road,

a wanted

militant,

Bilal Ahmed

Zargar,

a District

Commander ( in Kashmir)of fanatic Al Jehad outfit. Operating under

three aliases of Raja, Gosa and Mukesh Kumar, Bilal had operated in suburbs of Srinagar indulging in attacks on Security Forces. During interrogation he confessed that he had crossed over to Pakistan in 1990 where he received intensive training in use of arms and subversion. In April 1996 he was deputed to Delhi to engineer a major terrorist strike. He frequently shifted from one guest house to another to avoid suspicion because he knew that he would get caught one day because of his record in Kashmir on number of killings in which he was involved. Two days later Delhi Police was able to arrest from Adarsh Nagar

(West Delhi)a senior member

of

Moslem Janbaaz Force (MJF). Gohar

Sultan Malik alias Gohar had been sent to Delhi to engineer incidents during Parliamentary elections.

426,

Kashmir Underground

In crowded shopping centre of Central Market in Lajpat Nagar, on May 21,1996 a big blast took place in a parked Maruti car killing 25 persons . Same evening at Srinagar a militant outfit Lashkar-i-Sajjad, an offshoot of Islami Front claimed responsibility of this blast. The Police picked up threads and arrested two persons who had telephoned from Srinagar, a news agency making the claim. The were brought to Delhi and based on information provided by them, the Delhi Police made first arrest on June 14 from New Delhi Railway Station when Iftikhar and

Naushad were taking train to Gorakhpur to cross over to Nepal. Police later arrested Latif and Mehmood Killey at Gorakhpur. Naza who had gone to Mussorie, was arrested there while Syed Maqbool Shah was arrested in Delhi. Naza was identified as Mirza Nisar Hussain and Iftikhar as Mirza Iftikhar Hussain. Delhi Police said that RDX explosives had been placed in a bag and put in the Maruti Car before it was parked in the Central Market . A week later, Bilal Beg and Javed Karwal and two other members of JKIF were arrested at Kathmandu, after they

escaped from Delhi.

Hizb-ul-Mujahideen sent one of its Pakistani- trained militant to Delhi to assist other HUM members already there to organise terrorist strikes. Mohammed Sabir Khan had joined HUM in 1995 after training in POK and in next 8 months he took part in laying ambushes in Kashmir against Security Forces in which many lives were lost. He was arrested

at Delhi on June 22, 1996.

Twenty days later another member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was arrested from Jamma Masjid area of Delhi. Ghulam Nabi Sheikh alias

Javed also known as Pervez was inducted into HUM in 1994 and sent

across to Pakistan for arms training. On return he took part in 10 major incidents of attack on Security Forces before shifting to Delhi. Before July end, Delhi Police claimed to have arrested a senior member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen who had arrived in Delhi to engineer a strike during Independence Day celebrations on August 15. Abdul Rehman Thakore was arrested from Azadpur Sabzi Mandi area. Thakore

told his interrogators that he had joined HUM in 1991 and been trained

in Pakistan where he had developed good contacts with ISI officials who were his training instructors. In Kashmir, with his colleagues he had taken part in many encounters and a couple of kidnappings. In late 1994 in Anantnag District he was involved with blowing up of an Army truck. Another militant who had been sent to Delhi to take part in some terrorist strike around Independence Day, was arrested on its eve ,from

Chandni Chowk area. Nissar Ahmed Khan was a member of Al Jehad

outfit in Kashmir. During sustained interrogation Nissar disclosed that he had received training in handling of firearms and explosives in POK in 1992 when he went over in a batch of 20 militants. On his return to the

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Valley in October 1992 he along with some others of his outfit participated in 8 attacks on BSF patrols and its bunkers. In all they were able to kill 9 personnel of BSF and 8 other civilians in these operations. In December 1996 Delhi Police arrested a young militant who had 4 years record of violent actions in the Valley. Bashir Ahmed Kalwal was

an active member of Al Umar Commandos ,a terrorist outfit where his

code name was Fayaz. He told Police that he had participated back in Kashmir ,in many attacks on Security Forces. In first half of 1997 not many Kashmiri militants descended on Delhi. But few who did were nabbed by the Police because of the information provided by some local Kashmiri shopkeepers. To cause some blasts in

Delhi around Diwali festival some outfits in Kashmir sent

selected

militants. On October 26, 1997 three hardcore members of Tehrik-ulMujahideen (TUM) were arrested from a guest house in Safdarjung Enclave alongwith over 1 kg of deadly RDX. They were Mohammed

Shaffi Dhobi alias Yusuf Khan, Abdur Rashid Najar ind Abdul Ahad

Butt. Their interrogation revealed that Najar and Butt had gone to Kathmandu where they met Dhobi. All three returned to Delhi to engineer some blasts. In Delhi they posed as Kashmiri businessmen. All three had received training in ISI run camps in POK. In the first week of November 1997 three young Kashmiri militants reached New Delhi and were promptly arrested. They had been sent from Kashmir by two senior members of Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen(TUM) to Delhi. Mohammed

Imtiaz Butt

alias Salim (19), Mohammed Shaffi

Khan alias Ubaid (20) and Faiz Ahmed Butt alias Bilal (18) were arrested in Nizamudin area while they were waiting for TUM Military Advisor Adil Rehman, who was to make arrangements for their stay in Delhi and give them other instructions. From Delhi they were to be sent to Kathmandu and then on to Pakistan for training in arms and subversion. During interrogation it was revealed that in Nepal they were to be received by Latif alias Mota, a senior member of TUM and a major coordinator of the outfit. On the last day of 1997 Police was able to arrest from Jamma Masjid area of Delhi a Pakistan-trained militant of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Abdul Hafiz Mugal (34) alias Qazi. During interrogation he revealed that his brother Abdul Wahid was also an active militant based at Kotli in POK and that from Surankot (near Poonch) he had been in touch with him. He admitted that he had been receiving large amounts of many from Pakistan through hawala channels, that he had worked as a security agent in Bombay between 1986 and 1988'and had many good contacts there. He also admitted that he had visited Saudi Arabia also. He disclosed that HUM had sent him to Delhi to locate safe hideouts for

428

Kashmir Underground

militants coming from J&K State. He was to visit Bombay for doing same

there.

Kashmiri militants in 1998 continued to make Delhi a place of refuge when pressure against them increased in Jammu & Kashmir. Javed Ahmed

Nazar on arrival at the ISBT Bus Station on April 3,

1998 was arrested by Delhi Police. On interrogation it was learnt that he was a member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and in 1994 had gone to Pakistan for training in subversion and arms. He was trained specially in use of rocket launchers, remote control devices and making of IEDS. He was

also deputed to Afghanistan for advance training. He was sent back to India in 1997 with a big consignment of arms for HUM Commander of Rajouri region. When he returned to the Valley and the Security Forces pursued him hotly, he made a friend of his to send a latter to his father intimating him about Javed’s death in an encounter. His family performed his funeral rites. But he was soon spotted and fearing his

arrest his Commander decided to send him to Delhi where he would

work with other HUM cadres already hiding there. A fortnight later the Police arrested a JKLF militant who was working as a Liaison officer of a private Company in South Delhi locality. Bashir Ahmed Shalla had joined JKLF in 1990 and received arms training in POK. Back in the Valley he took part in attacks on CRPF patrols and also extorted money from businessmen. When things became too hot for him he went to Pune where he was employed in a Handicraft Emporium: He went to Kathmandu after few months and after working there for sometime and having got fresh instructions from ISI contacts there, he

returned to Delhi.

Delhi Police was able to arrest 3 Kashmiri militants from two different

area on May

27, 1998. Mukhtar Ahmed

Mohammed

Wani

Bhat pf Al Umar Mujahideen

was picked up from Bhogal area. He had sought refuge in Delhi after hot pursuit in Kashmir. His interrogation disclosed that he joined militants ranks in 1992 and got arms training in POK and Pakistan. The other two were arrested from Jamma Masjid area. They were Ali of JKLF and

Bilal Ahmed

Sheikh of Hizb-ul-

Mujahideen. Both had received arms training and participated in “action” against Security Forces in Kashmir. A Muslim Burmese member of Harkat-ul-Ansar was arrested from Jamma Masjid area on July 10. Karim (20) during interrogation revealed that 7 years ago he had joined Burmese militant movement but when the pressure of Security Forces there increased his parents and he crossed over to Bangladesh and settled there. He entered India in 1994 illegally and travelled to Kashmir where at Sopore he joined HUA outfit. He was member of a group that was deputed to attack Army personnel and

their vehicles in Baramulla District, resulting in death of many armymen.

.

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429

In 1995 he crossed over to Pakistan. Recently he returned to India through Bangladesh. A Kashmiri woman militant was arrested on July 28 from Jamma

Masjid area. Mrs Shaheena Nazar (22) alias Shanoo Khan claimed that she was member of CRPF which on verification was found to be untrue. Police said she was in reality a member of women outfit, Dukhtaran-i-

Millat. During interrogation she disclosed that she joined militant ranks

in 1991 after she fell in love with a JKLF militant who soon after died, in

an encounter. She then decided to avenge her husband's death. Some time later she joined Hizb-ul-Mujahideen but soon went over to Dukhtaran-i-Millat outfit. She disclosed that in Kashmir she had been detained for two weeks in 1995 when she was apprehended for trying to infiltrate into a security instalation. She had been sent to Delhi to help organise terrorist activities on Independence Day. Three days later the Police acting on disclosures made by detained Kashmiri militants arrested 5 insurgents belonging to Lashkar-i-Toiba

(LET). They were arrested from the New Delhi Railway Station and 2 kg

of RDX, 1 kg PETN and 10 detonators were recovered from them. These were to be used to disrupt Independence Day celebration 17 days later. In Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) Delhi there was a bomb blast ina Haryana Roadways bus on July 26, 1998 resulting in extensive damage. The Police intensified work of getting hold of those responsible for it.

On August 17, it was able to arrest Kashmiri militants belonging to Hizb-

ul-Mujahideen. They were Mushtaq Ahmed Gilkar, alias Haider Ali, Fayaz Ahmed Paddar alias Tahir, Mushtaq Ahmed Butt alias Jawed and

Sohail Idris. Gilkar was reported to be outfit’s Chief Administrator. Sohail was using STD calls from Srinagar to receive massages for Gilkar. This way the Police was able to get vital information about Ali Mohammed Dar, HUM Acting Chief Commander, which was passed to Srinagar Police. Based on this Dar’s hideout in Srinagar was raided and Dar with his two accomplices, was killed. Dar had carried a prize of Rs 10 lacs on is head. Following this, Delhi Police Commissioner expressed his deep concern that too many anti-social elements were seeking a base in Delhi with deadly weapons and explosives. Large quantities of RDX and other explosives and weapons with over Rs 47 lacs in cash were recovered from the truck in which these 4 HUM militants were travelling when arrested. In September,

Delhi Police arrested three members

of Harkat-ul-

Ansar alongwith 4 kgs of RDX and PETN explosives which was to be used to cause explosions in different parts of Delhi. Abdul Gafoor and

Suhail who headed HUA operations in U.P., after arrest, led Police to Tasleem’s hideout. Tasleem’s brother Salim Kari according to Police was

Chief Organiser of H1UA operations in Delhi and U.P.. He is claimed to

430

Kashmir Underground

be an expert in explosives. Sohail was trained in use of arms in POK. Kari had reportedly gone to Pakistan. Many tourist places in Rajasthan have attracted Kashmiri shopkeepers selling handicrafts. Jaipur has a large number of them. It was natural that some militants would seek refuge there. In September 1996 in a suburb of Jaipur, five Kashmiri youngmen were arrested when they were fleeing in a vehicle after robbing a Petrol Pump salesman.

In 1994 the Anti-Terrorist Squad of Gujarat Police had information

that nearly 150 JKLF Kashmiri militants had taken refuge in different parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra after having taken part in terrorist acts and subversion in Kashmir. In February, the Police arrested Manzoor

Butt and Mushtaq Ahmed Shah from Kim village near Kosamba in Surat District. Mushtaq was reported to be a JKLF Commander. During interrogation he confessed that be had motivated large number of Kashmir youth for arms training in ISI camps in POK. After joining JKLF he had taken 200 Kashmiri youth in March 1990 to POK where they received training under retired officers of Pakistan Army, in 20 training Camps set up for this purpose. They were trained in use of sophisticated weapons and special techniques of blowing up bridges and army camps with remote control devices. It seems that Police was not able to arrest all the militants who had taken refuge in Gujarat. In June 1996 in Ahmedabad the Police arrested

one Jawed Ali Khan who later confessed that he had transported a bagful of RDX to Delhi where it was used for a major explosion in Lajpat Nagar

Central Market on May 21, 1996.

Gujarat Police had intimation of may militants from Kashmir having gone over to different parts of Maharashtra.. In September 1993 in Bombay, three Kashmiri militants were taken into custody. During their intensive interrogation locations of many hideouts of the militants from Kashmir became known. On September 26, Police raided a Guest House in Central Bombay and took 3 Kashmiri militants into custody. Explosives and chemicals used for making IDEs were reportedly siezed. Interrogation revealed that one arrested was an explosives expert and the second was involved in an explosion in Jammu earlier which took

toll of 8 lives. Those arrested was identified as Mohammed Aslam Khan

(53), Mohammed Sajjid (28) and Irfan Abdul Latif Khan (20). Police said

they had planned to use IEDs to create terror during Ganpati festival. In May 1996 Bombay Police received intelligence report that a hardcore Kashmiri terrorist Assadullah had come to Bombay with a consignment of deadly RDX explosives. He was reported to be a senior member of Lashkar-i-Toiba, a Pakistan based outfit. The RDX was to be

handed over Kashmiri militants already ensconed in hideouts in the metropolis, for use at “appropriate time.” A red alert was sounded. Police

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431

suspected that LET militant was part of gang which was responsible for recent bomb blasts in Delhi and Rajasthan. The Police stepped up monitoring of Kashmiris living in different localities of Mumbai. Bangalore’s Kashmiri population went up manifold after eruption of militancy in Kashmir in early 1990. The number of outlets selling Kashmir handicrafts mushroomed. Kashmiri students in thousands secured admissions in professional collages in Karnataka and particularly in Bangalore. Towards end of 1993, Police had reports that some groups of Kashmiri militants had taken up residence in Bangalore. In December the Police raided some hideouts and arrested 14 militants who had recently arrived from Kashmir. Kashmir’s shaw] sellers were annual visitors to Calcutta in winter but after 1990 their number was noticeably increased. This created suspicion in the Police. Besides, reports had been received from Kashmir that with the pressure of the Security Forces having increased, many militants were escaping from the Valley and some would land up in Calcutta. On June 4, 1997 the Calcutta Police arrested a Deputy Commander

of outfit Al Umar Commandos from the mess run by the employees of Kashmir Government Arts Emporium. Aijaz Latif had arrived in Calcutta same day. During interrogation he disclosed that he had joined the Al Umar outfit in 1992 and was sent across the LOC for arms training. Back in Kashmir he took part in many armed attacks including 5 on security

forces camps. He carried a prize of Rs 5/- lacs on his head and had been

arrested in 1994 in Kashmir. In 1995 he was released and went back to terrorist activities. Latif admitted that from Calcutta he had planned to go to Nepal. Hyderabad had attracted Kashmiri militants because of large muslim population and also because it was nerve center of Peoples War Group (PWG) which also believed in violence to settle scores. On November 29, 1992 there was a shootout in Brindavan Colony in which a Special Intelligence Bureau officer and a constable were killed. The Police suspected hand of Kashmiri militants who had frequented Hyderabad since 1991. The Police detained 5 persons including two women, suspected to be involved in shootout. The Police suspected nexus between the Kashmiri militants and “some local groups.” On November

11, 1993 Hyderabad

Police arrested two Kashmiri

militants and a local associate. Gowhar Amin Mir (24) and Nisar Ahmed

Bhat (34) both belonging to Srinagar, were members of J&K Ikhwan-ul-

Musalmeen. Mir had registered as a student of local College of Indian Medicine. Bhat had recently arrived from Srinagar to recruit a fresh batch

of local youth for arms training in Pakistan. Some batches sent earlier,

were expected to return soon. From Bhat's hideout Police recovered arms,

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Kashmir Underground

ammunition and Rs 20,000/- in cash. Their local contact Liaqat Khan was also arrested later. Police suspected more militants to be in the City and decided to intensify their vigil including questioning of Kashmiri shopkeepers. Bilal Ahmed Kaloo, coming from Badgam District in Kashmir, had been living in a house in old city area of Hyderabad and posing as a professional tailor. On January 20, 1994 the City Police arrested Kaloo alleging that he was “Jan Billa” a very active member of Al Jehad in Kashmir. He had taken part in encounter with Security Force and was alleged to have murdered a police informer in May 1992. In Hyderabad he was engaged in motivating local youth to go to Pakistan for training in arms and subversion. He also had planned explosions in different parts of Hyderabad, Police alleged. Azam Ghouri and his associate Abu Talha were arrested by Jammu Police on September 23, 1998 when they crossed the LOC in Surankot area of Poonch District in J&K. Ghouri’s interrogation revealed that he

belonged to Andhra Pradesh (Warangal District) and was an active

member of PWG till he got injured in a grenade attack about a decade ago. Later he shifted to Bombay from where he went to Pakistan and there he joined Lashkar-i-Toiba outfit. He maintained his contact with PWGat Hyderabad and paid a couple of visits when question of supply

of arms to PWG was finalised. PWG also made some contacts with certain

militant groups in Kashmir. These groups were reported to be having latest and sophisticated arms etc., with them. Some underground dumps in Kashmir could become the supply points for PWG, to enable it step up guerrilla activity in Telengana region. When Ghouri was arrested,

Jammu Police also recovered large quantity of arms, ammunition and

explosive materials. A number of areas in Uttar Pradesh have pockets of concentration of muslim population and Kashmiri militants thought they would get sympathisers and therefore secure safe shelters. Ina hotel in Agra in second week of February 1993 there was a bomb blast. The local police alleged that Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen of Kashmir had a hand in it. Two days later at Srinagar, the outfit spokesman vehemently denied that its members were responsible for the blast. In last week of March 1993 in a cinema hall in Lakhimpur (Kheri District) in a bomb blast 4 persons died and 40 were injured. The U.P. Police suspected some Kashmiri militant group for this. In 1992 in a cinema hall in the same District a bomb blast had left 3 dead. Its responsibility had been claimed by Kashmir-based Ikhwan-ulMusalmeen.

In October 1994 a major strike was made by Kashmiri militants in concert with ISI and Pakistan Jamait-i-Islami, when 4 foreigner were

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433

abducted from Delhi and held hostages in Ghaziabad and Saharanpur. On October 31, the US national Bela Joseph

Nuss

(43), one of the 4

hostages was rescued from a house in a village outside Ghaziabad by Police after an encounter. Nuss had been abducted on October 20. On November 1 the three Britons were got released from a house on the outskirts of Saharanpur after fierce encounter in which two police officials and one militant were killed. The 3 Briton hostages rescued were: Rhys Curget Partridge (27), Christopher Miles Crosta (28) and Paul Benjamin Ridout

(26). A hitherto unknown

organisation,

“Al Hadid”

based

in

Afghan tribal area, claimed responsibility for the abduction. On behalf of the outfit a letter in a closed cover was delivered in New Delhi office of BBC Correspondent. Letter addressed to Chief of World News Service included photocopies of Passports of all 4 hostages and two Poloroid photographs showing the hostages with guns held against their heads. Similar letter was sent to the office of Voice of America, in Delhi. The

letter mentioned, “Our hostages are yet unhurt. Unless our brothers are released, our Western hostages, the guests of Indian Government, will be beheaded one by one.” It was made known that Al Hedid wanted release of 10 Kashmiri militants, belonging to various groups detained in different jails. They were Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar alias Latram, of Al Umar Mujahideen, Ahsan Dar, founder member of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Other 8 included Sultan Ahmed, Mohammed

Salim, Irfan (Anantnag),

Akram (Sopore) and Mushtaq Ahmed Goga. The 3 Pakistani militants also in Kashmir jails whose release was demanded were Mohammed Masood Azhar, Nassarullah Largayal and Sajjad Afghani. The Police was able to arrest 5 militants from the house where 3 Britons were held. The abduction was masterminded by Ahmed Omar Sheikh Sayed alias Amir, a British national and a former student of prestigious London School of Economics. In England he was persuaded by a UK based Kashmir militant outfit to so to Pakistan and receive training in arms and explosives. In 1993 he arrived in Pakistan and soon got in touch with Jamait-i-Islami who arranged for his training. Amir after being arrested near Ghaziabad told his interrogators that he came by air from Lahore on July 26 and started living in a hotel in Paharganj area of Delhi. Some

Kashmiri

militants contacted

him there. Among

them was

Mohammed Nazir alias Saifullah who was also arrested after Amir was nabbed. Amir befriended the foreign tourists, meeting them separately. Since he was British national and a student of LSE the 3 Britons and one American did not suspect him, when he invited them to Ghaziabad and

Saharanpur. During interrogation Amir disclosed that he had been

trained also in Bosnia in camps paid for by Pakistan. Pakistan’s High Commissioner in London dismissed the claim that Pakistan funded the

training that Amir received.

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Kashmir Underground

Meerut has a big colony where scissors are made in thousands by traditional muslim families. The area is called Kainchianwali Basti because there are over 500 units making scissors of different sizes for various purposes. In middle of March 1996 the Police arrested 5 Kashmiri militants who had sought refuge with one family. They were found to be meeting frequently members of a fundamentalist organisation. This alerted the Police who kept close watch for many days before arresting them. A bomb blast in Modinagar near Ghaziabad on April 27, 1996 killed

16 persons. The claim for the blast came from a little known Kashmiri militant group J&K Islami Harkat-ul-Momineen. Western U.P. has a muslim population of over 20% and with hurt feelings since demolition of Babri Masjid, Kashmiri militant groups found the ground conducive for recruiting youngmen for terrorist activities as planned by ISI. A reliable report claims that about 75 local youths were recruited there after December 1989 and received arms training in Kashmir. In June 1994 a Kashmiri agent of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Mushtaq Ahmed Rathar was arrested. Though ostensibly studying Unani Medicine at Gaya, he was arrested for recruiting young muslim from Meerut and Saharanpur. The Naib Imam of Delhi Jamma Masjid, Ahmed Bukhari

about this drive remarked, “Unemployment and oppression can force the youth to take to terrorism”. Moulana Asad Madni of Deoband and a former Congress Member of Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) said, “no one can give a guarantee for the muslim youth (on whether they will take to terrorism). Today, no father can give a guarantee for his son.” Punjab had special magnetic pull for the Kashmiri militants because of 12 year long spell of Pakistan inspired militancy in Punjab. The ISI had brought together some representatives of Punjab and Kashmir militant outfits, somewhere in Kashmir where certain understanding was reached on supply of arms and coordinated operations in two neighbouring states. It was therefore logical for Kashmiri militants seeking refuge outside to go to Punjab. Beside, for decades Kashmiri labor had in winters migrated in large numbers to cities and town of Punjab especially Amritsar, Jallandhar, Ludhiana and Chandigarh. In September 1993 Chandigarh Police unearthed two hideouts of Kashmiri militants. It arrested Ghulam Hussain Sheikh of Hizb-ulMujahideen. He told Police that he was trained in use of arms and subversions. He said in Chandigarh, he was to locate hideouts for militants who were to arrive later from Kashmir. From information given

by

him,

Police

arrested

militant

Ghulam

Mohidin

from

residential area. Both were posing to be rickshaw pullers.

another

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In 1995 the number of terrorist strikes had gone down in Punjab and neighbouring States. Chandigarh was chosen as a safe centre for the Kashmiri militant commanders to hold a meeting to chalk out plans to escalate violence to show their presence and spread terror. On March 11, 1996 when they were holding a meeting at Kharar in Ropar District, Police arrested 6 militants belonging to Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Jamait-iMujahdeen and Rukne Jammat, a fringe fundamentalist wing of Jammat-

i-Islami. The militants identified were: Mohammed Muzaffar Mir alias Sher Khan, Mohammed Yasin Sheikh alias Yasin, Mohammed, Maqbool Dar, Ali Mohammed Khan, Ghulam Mohammed Mir alias Saleem and Abdus Salam Lavey. Their interrogation revealed that they were planning an all India network of hideouts for coordinated action in Punjab, Delhi and beyond on advice received from Pakistan. They confessed that they received training in two camps in Pakistan. In Jammu & Kashmir they were involved in over 20 incidents of firing on security forces, killings, kidnappings and extortion of money. Within next two weeks three Kashmiri militants were arrested in Ludhiana. They were identified as Mohammed. Ayub Khan alias Zuber Khan, Ghulam Mohammed

Malik alias Wahid and Ashiq Hussain alias

Wasim. All 3 were members of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. According to Punjab Police they had been sent to Punjab to kill VVIPs and spread terror. The interrogation revealed that Ayub with 45 other boys had crossed over to Pakistan for training, in March 1990. He was also sent to Afghanistan for advance training in guerrilla warfare. Before end of the year he returned to Kashmir and took part in action. Ashiq Hussain went to Pakistan in 1991 and returned after 7 months training. Malik also received training in a Pakistan camp. According to Punjab Police all three were wanted in many cases in J&K State. Because of the Parliamentary elections being held then, the Punjab

Police had mounted extra vigil for suspects. They were monitoring

movement of Kashmiris in different cities. From Qadian in Batala District on April 12, 1996 the Police arrested a Kashmiri militant Abdul Majid

Sheikh along with 4 handgrenades and a German Mouser (Revolver). Qadian being the headquarters of Ahmediayas, is a special target of fundamentalist muslims belonging to Wahabi school of thought. By May 1996 Punjab Police seemed really worried because of growing number of those Kashmiri militants who had surrendered in

Jammu &Kashmir and

-had migrated to Punjab for safety. Active and

senior militants were visiting different cities of Punjab to contact them and persuade them to return to their fold for being activised. Police believed this was being done on instructions of ISI.

Anrritsar Police on May 14, 1996 apprehended Asghar Ali Khan, a Kashmiri “Area Commander” of Harkat-ul-Ansar. Khan operated under

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Kashmir Underground

code name of Naseer Ahmed. During interrogation he disclosed that he was contacting surrendered militants living in different parts of Punjab, rearm them and place them under a Punjab militant outfit for operational directions. In next couple of years, Punjab Police did not lower its guards. It had some success in apprehending a score of Kashmiri militants. Himachal Pradesh has long common border with Jammu region’s Doda District,in high mountains. Between its Bhadarwah Tehsil and Chamba District of HP there are a number of high passes which have provided passage to bakerwal and gaddi nomads and to those wanting to travel from one area to the other. The racial stock is same; dialects

spoken are not much different. The border between the States in this mountainous area was not manned by police till mid 1990s. In June 1991 Jammu Police informed Police in Himachal that many

Kashmiri militants had gone to Simla. Acting on this information the HP

Police arrested on June 22, six activists of JKLF from Kusumpti near Simla.

All of them belonged to Kupwara District in Kashmir Without being detected, militants during 1992 kept crossing over from Bhaderwah in Doda District into Chamba District (HP) upper reaches and identified safe hideouts there. In June 1993 a Himachal Police party on patrol outside Jalori village,was fired upon by 6 armed militants. They quickly fled back to Bhaderwah. They reportedly left behind a note on behalf of Hizb-lMujahideen. The police in both States got alerted and patrolling on 80 km stretch of border in this part, was stepped up. Five new Police posts were set up. But this did not deter the Kashmiri militants to make forays into Kihar and Teesa areas near the border. Two HP policemen were shot dead in Singhladhar area of Chamba District by Kashmiri

militants on September

14, 1993. The other 3

policemen returned fire and chased the militants away. The Police intensified their efforts to nab the militants. On September 30, the police was able to arrest from Chili village near the border, two militants,

Abdullah and Qasim Mir. They confessed to police that they were part of the militant group that fired on Police Patrol on September 14, in Teesa area. The HP Police kept up the search of the jungles in the upper reaches of Chamba District. In an encounter on November 10 at Kundi Maral in this forest, one militant was killed while others managed to escape. This was third major incident

in as many months

of

Kashmiri militants

striking in Chamba District. In May 1994 eight Kashmiri militants were arrested from NapthaJhakri Project area near Jhakri in Upper Simla, in a police raid jointly

conducted by HP and Punjab Police. The militants were working as

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labourers on the Project but were alleged to belong to Hizb-ulMujahideen outfit and were wanted by Punjab Police. For next three years or so the Kashmiri militants kept low profile in the border areas of Chamba District. However, the HP Police kept a close watch on Kashmiris working in the State. The Police arrested from Jawali area in Kangra District in September 1997 one Zakir Hussain of Harkat-ul-Ansar. Police alleged that he had been impersonating as an Army Major and was caught while kidnapping two widows of deceased armymen. After taking them hostages, Hussain planned to demand in return release of one of his colleagues in a J&K

jail. During interrogation he confessed that he had been earlier actively

involved in terrorist activities in Kashmir Valley as also in Doda District and Jammu City. He admitted that he had taken part in 7 encounters with armymen in Jammu & Kashmir in which many had been killed. He was engaged in recruiting youth in Kangra and Chamba Districts to engage in terrorist activity. He had also persuaded the moslem herb collectors in the forest area to receive arms training after joining militant ranks. Militants not connected with Zakir Hussain, were able to kidnap 21 herb collectors and kept them confined. They were released only after their colleagues and relations were able to pay a ransom of Rs. 11,500/-

a big amount for poor herb collectors.

In the summer of 1998 the herb collectors resumed their activity. In

early July the Kashmiri militants crossing over from Bhaderwah area of

Doda District killed four herb collectors. For poor herb collectors as it was it had become a difficult proposition. This being their only livelihood they are hesitant to venture out fearing killing or abduction. The Security Forces man only the the beaten track of Langera-Khundi Maral route between the two States but herb collectors have to go to upper reaches

of the forest areas. In the upper reaches of Chamba District, Baragarh-Pangi road was

under construction and all along there were labour camps. One such camp was at Kalaban. On the night of August 2-3,1998, Kashmiri militants,15 to 20 in number, surrounded their tents. They had long

beards and were dressed in black Pathan suits, accordng to the survivors.

The J&K Police DG Gurbachan Jagat believed that the militants belonged to Lashkar-i-Toiba outfit. They reportedly crossed from Doda District to Chamba District through Malur Pass since there was hardly any police presence there. Two labourers who managed to escape said that the militants separated moslems from the rest and took them away. The Hindu

labourers were

taken out of tents, their hands tied with ropes

lying around in the tents and they were lined up. Some were shot dead

there but others had their throats slit leaving them to bleed to death..

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Kashmir Underground

This was in Khovey Behi Camp. Two women whose husbands were killed escaped under cover of darkness and ran 10 odd kilometers to Baragarh to secure help. In the meantime after killing 24 persons the militants went over to Satrundi Camp some two hours walk through dense forest. There they shot 11 labourers and others while 12 were left injured. On August 4, there was mass cremation of 35 victims at Teesa and Shimba

villages. The fleeing militants took along with them 9 persons to carry the loot from the two labour camps. While 3 hostages — Latif, Ahmed

Din and

Mohammed

Sharif—were

released, other 6 were

taken as

hostages. The militants were believed to have escaped to Pangi Valley via Saach Pass on their way to Kishtwar area in Doda District. Following the Chamba massacre the Police forces of J&K and Himachal Pradesh refashioned their strategy. Powers were given to Police in both the States to enter each others territory while chasing militants. The Jammu Police decided to set up picquets all along the 80 kms long mountainous border between the two States from Thanla to Ishtiyari. Intensified patrolling was to be undertaken at Sheru,Yugsar and Ishtiyari. The Police continued to trace involvement of others in the massacre. Punjab Police had arrested from Gurdaspur area one Billu Gujar. He is reported to have a kotha (a gujar mud and log hut) at Baju ka Bagh near Khuni Maral close to Doda border. His interrogation and that of Sharif (one of the three hostages released by militants earlier) corraborated and the police was able to locate many other hideouts and get information about some local links. But the Police was not absolutely certain that Billa Gujar was the real ring leader of those involved in the massacre. The search continued for the right “Gujar”. He was suspected to be Din

Mohammed

Gujar,

an

Area

Commander

of Hizb-ul-

Mujahideen operating in eastern parts of Doda District for past two or three years. The Police kept track of this prime suspect on both sides of the border. On February 12, 1999, the Army personnel were able to track

down three militants in Thathri area of Doda District. In a three hour encounter all the 3 militants were killed. One of them was identified as

Din Mohammed Gujar who, police was certain, had masterminded the Chamba carnage and had led the attack on the camps. He was alleged to have been ina series of killings, kidnappings, extortions and rapes all over Doda District. Earlier to this, the Police forces of the 3 States of Punjab, Jammu &

Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh joined hands, revised the strategy and

launched coordinated operations in big mountainous border area

between Doda and Kathua Districts in Jammu & Kashmir and Chamba

District of Himachal. The ITBP and Rashtriya Rifles from Paddar in northern part of Doda District, J&K Police and CRPF from Bani in Kathua District and

HP

Police,Punjab

Police

and

Indian

Reserve

Police

from

Larger Canvas

439

Chamba. In all ,over 3000 police personnel combed the area to clear it of

militants from the border areas, from August 19,1998.

In the meantime, the Himachal Government intensified its vigil on the large Kashmiri population which is spread in different cities and towns of

the State as also the interiors where Projects have been taken

up. Since eruption of militancy in Kashmir, increasing number of Kashmiri workforce have been coming to Himachal Pradesh. A good number of Kashmiris have also made inroads into tourism and hotel trade. After consultations at various levels over a period, it was decided

that the area of Himachal bordering on Jammu & Kashmir need to be freed of militants and later ensured that no infiltration of militants takes place. The Chamba region was entrusted to the ITBP since it was also engaged in counter insurgency operation in adjoining areas of Doda District and South-eastern parts of Kashmir Valley. The DG of ITBP claimed on 25the March 1999 that Chamba woods had been “freed from militants as the ITBP had destroyed sixteen well built hide-outs of

militants and taken control of the area”.

India has nearly 1850 km long border with Nepal. This border is by and large, porous with not many manned checkposts. Traditionally, there has been no strict enforcement of immigration law. The travel from one country to the other for Nepalese and Indian nationals, is without restrictions. No passport or visa is required to cross the border for these nationals. Pakistan enjoys good diplomatic relations with Nepal. Pakistan also invited the King and Queen of Nepal to pay a State visit. Pakistan maintain the second largest Embassy at Kathmandu, next only to India. Pakistan’s Habib Bank is also a partner in Nepal’s Himalayan Bank. There are three air services a week between Kathmandu and Karachi. As things are at present, it is not difficult to get a genuine Nepalese Passport. All that is required is a citizenship certificate which can be issued by any of the 75 Chief District Officers. Such certificates are reportedly being issued after 10 days stay and of course, a price-from 5000/- to 10,000/- Nepalese Rupees. The muslim population in the Kathmandu Valley is small but in the Terai region, it is sizeable. The ISI concentrated its attention on the

southern parts of Nepal which have common border with Gorakhpur Division of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and northeastern parts of Bihar. In past 4 or 5 years there has been spurt of activity of fundamentalist on both sides of the Indo-Nepal border. Reports speak of mushrooming of mosques and madrasas numbering over 300 with financial assistance coming from outside. The muslim population in adjoining Nepalese areas has shown substantial increase in this period. The ISI has reportedly

managed

to recruit many operatives from among this population.

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Kashmir Underground

Smuggling of arms, narcotics and electronic items takes place on large scale but Police is unable to do much because of considerable patronage the smugglers enjoy, of important leaders of different political parties in both the countries. As far back as 1992 the Pakistan ISI had decided to use Nepal as a transit base for the Kashmiri militants to travel to and from Pakistan since going across the LOC was becoming more and more difficult especially for more important militants. The modus operandi was simple. Militants were trained in Pakistan and traveled to Nepal on Pakistan Passports. From Nepal they could enter India as Indian nationals without suspicion ad get back to Kashmir. Allegedly, Pakistan Embassy is being used by ISI operatives as a convenient and protected place to work. Though Kathmandu was made a base by Pakistan ISI in 1992 it took many months to have basic structure for its operations. Many hideouts

were decided upon, some local contacts were cultivated, communication

channels decided upon, locations for crossing the Indo-Nepalese border decided, dependable operatives decided and tested. Next couple of years were used to have many “dry runs” of the routes to be followed and to give confidence to militants from Kashmir to use Nepal as a transit base for visits to and from Pakistan and also as a safe haven after operations in Indian territories. In middle of December

1996, Nepal Police seized over 20 Kgs of

RDX at Kathmandu from a Kashmiri from Gangbon locality. Many Kashmiris had been living in a house there and Police had kept a close watch on them because of information that a consignment of explosives including RDX was to be sent shortly to India. One of the Kashmiris,

Manzoor Ahmed one day went to a communication centre in Tahmil locality. As he collected a fax message, Police questioned him. The message was from India. According to Additional IGP the message gave details and diagrams of the explosives including the method to detonate

them. Manzoor Ahmed turned out to be a senior activist of JKLF. He led

them to the house from where the RDX consignment was recovered. Manzoor during interrogation, told Police that the explosives were meant to be sent to Delhi for use to create disturbances there around the Republic Day (January 26, 1997). According to the aborted plan RDX was to be planted in microphone near the VVIP enclosure during the Parade, besides being used at other locations as decided by ISI. An accomplice of Manzoor, was also arrested next day. He was identified as Salim Ahmed

also a member

of JKLF.

Four

member

of J&K

Islamic Front

including Fayaz Ahmed Shah were arrested on January 18 from Lazimpet alongwith 18 Kgs of RDX. The year 1997 saw Kathmandu being used very frequently by Kashmiri militants. They used it to transit to and from Pakistan without

-

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441

any difficulty. It also became a safe haven for all those who wanted to make a quick getaway after undertaking an important assignment especially in Northern India. Every major Kashmiri militant outfit had positioned a senior and reliable representative at Kathmandu who was in contact with ISI operatives and some selected officials in the Pakistan Embassy. Among others, Mohd. Shaffi Dhobi was one such militants who was stationed at Kathmandu. He belonged to Tehrek-ul-Mujahideen and had been sent there in 1992 and stayed on though he made many trips to Delhi n the next 4 yeas. TUM resident representative was one Latif Mota alias Nawazish who had developed good contacts with Government officials and political workers. He was reported to be a “close friend”of “Nayeem” who was an important functionary of ISI stationed at Kathmandu and mostly arranged funds and forged passports for Kashmiri militants. Dhobi and two others, Abdul Rashid Najar and Abdul Ahad Bhat

went to Delhi in October 1997 for an important meeting with some militants who had reached there from Kashmir. All three were arrested

by Delhi Police from a Guest House on October 27.

Kathmandu Police in middle October 1997 arrested 6 members of J&K Islamic Front from the Airport when they were about to board a direct flight for Karachi. They were travelling on forged passports reportedly issued by a travel agent based in the Pakistan Embassy. One of the arrested militants produced a letter issued by an official of Pakistan Embassy stating that “Mohd.Shaffi Khan is a Pakistani citizen who has lost his passport and he should be allowed to return”. Nepal Police confirmed this fact. India had all along conveyed its concern about the Indian militants using Nepalese hospitality for activities which India found to be objectionable. Her anxiety got heightened when in January 1997 the Nepalese Police found 30 kgs of RDX in diplomatic bags bound for Pakistan Embassy at Kathmandu. The Nepalese Foreign Office singled out Pakistan diplomatic contingent whose official baggage was searched at Tribhuvan Airport. The Indian Ambassador took up the matter with the Nepalese Government calling it a “matter of grave concern”. He said that “movement of explosives and ISI activities is serious”. Mirza Dilshad Beg was an Indian national from Deoria Distrtict of eastern Uttar Pradesh. In the 1980s he shifted to Nepal and soon became a “ man of means and connections.” He floated a small political outfit. Later he joined

the Rashtriya

Prajatantra

Party.

He

fought

two

parliamentary elections from Kapilvatsu constituency in Western Nepal. Successful both times, he was made Minister of Stae for Housing and Training in Girija Prasad Koirala Government in 1997, When Koirala Government fell, as leader of moslems

in Nepal he became a sought

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Kashmir Underground

after Member of Pratinidhi Sabha (Lower House of Parliament ). On the night of June 29, 1998 he was shot dead by unidentified gunmen as he alighted from his car to go to the house of his second wife. His driver

was also killed.

In about 4 years before his death he was believed to have become a

close friend and partner of Dubai-based Dawood Ibrahim, a worldknown operative. Beg was known to be the major conduit of the Pakistani ISI for funnelling arms, ammunition, explosives etc.,into India for terrorist acts. He was alleged to have been the “prime person” in Nepal who was “Godfather” for the Kashmir militants who found him very helpful in finding hideouts, arranging funds and travel documents, getting arms and explosives safely transported etc. Police records show that when he died there were eight criminal cases registered against him

in Gonda and Gorakhpur police stations in Uttar Pradesh for alleged

gun running and gold smuggling. According to records, seven AK-47 rifles were recovered from his vehicle while he was going to Mahendernagar in UP from Krishnanagar in Nepal. It took many months after his death before somebody could fill the void. Two persons emerged as contenders. One is Dilshad’s confidante Tahir Shah Tapoo and the other is Dilshad’s nephew, Afzal Beg. Neither of them has been able to win over the confidence of major outfits of Kashmiri militants. More than that, it will be the ISI decision whether

the Kashmiri militants will come under the wings of one or the other. But Nepal will continue to have some place of importance for Kashmiri

militants.

In November 1998 over 19 kgs of RDX was seized in Kathmandu. Interrogation of suspects disclosed the involvement allegedly of Pakistan Embassy officials. At least 3 officials were named by the suspect. They were First Secretary Arshad Cheema, Counsellor Ejaz Hussain Manhas and a clerk, Aslam Saboor. It was suspected that this RDX consignment was being sent to Delhi for use to engineer terrorist acts during the Republic Day celebrations in January 1999. India soon took up the matter with Nepalese authorities. The Nepalese newspapers covered it widely and condemned Pakistani role in encouraging and abetting terrorism in the region. Editorial in the “Commander” dated December 4, 1998 said, “It has become clear to all that Pakistan is encouraging Islamic terrorists to use Nepalese territory for anti-India activities. The RDX episode has further highlighted the role of these smugglers who are trying to suppress news and are covering up the involvement of Pakistani diplomats. If these smugglers are not exposed, those who are inciting Islamic terrorists against India can also encourage the use of RDX against Nepal.” Other newspapers including “Janambhoomi” and “Asan Bazar” also criticised the alleged involvement of Pakistan Embassy officials.

7 Postscript: Kargil In peace sons bury their fathers, in wars fathers bury their sons. Where are the Kashmiri Mujahideen?

No evidence is available to support Pakistani claim that Kashmiri Mujahideen had participated in Kargil war. No Kashmiri speaking Mujahid has been captured, found dead among the rocks or killed in any encounter. Even in the wireless intercepts by Indian troops there has not been a single one in Kashmiri. These have been in Dardi, Balti, Shina, Pushto, Persian, Turkish, Gilgiti, even Chilasi languages.

Out of the numerous militant outfits that have surfaced in

Kashmir in past nine years or so, none other than three have put forward any claim that they had their members operating in over 140 kilometers long LOC in Kargil sector. These are: Lashkar-iToiba; Al Badr Mujahideen and Harkut-ul-Mujahideen. The LET is based in Muridke near Lahore. Besides Pakistanis, mostly Punjabis, a large number of Afghan Talibans are reported to be in its cadres. The Al Badr Mujahideen is the militant wing of the Pakistan Jamait-

iIslami. A sizable number of its cadres has reportedly received

training in camps in Afghanistan managed by Osmana Bin Laden’s organisation as reported in London “Observer”. Harkut-ulMujahideen is the new label under which Harkut-ul-Ansar has been functioning after US Administration had pronounced it as a terrorist organisation back in 1997. The only other body that has been heard of, is the United Jehad Council based at Muzaffarabad

(POK). Over a dozen pro-Pakistani militant organisations are reported to be its constituents. Syed Salahudin (Supremo of Hizbul-Mujahideen) is its current Chairman. Three or four persons on behalf of these organisations had denounced Sharif-Clinton Washington accord of July 4, 1999. The

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Kashmir Underground

loudest have

been

the leaders

of Pakistan Jamait-i-Islami.

On

to Pakistan

Qazi

Hussain Ahmed its Chief was in the States when the Washington agreement was announced. From there he denounced it as “invalid

and

unacceptable”.

return

the Qazi

termed

the

agreement as a “disgrace to the nation”. He said that the national prestige of Pakistan had been badly damaged by the withdrawal of Mujahideen from Kargil. He said there was need to “inspire the

masses to create a war culture”. In this regard one cannot ignore the

Pakistan Government's proposal to raise a “Peoples Army” by imparting military training in schools and colleges in order to

strengthen Pakistan’s defence.

While the Qazi was away to USA, Jamait’s Acting Chief was

Syed Munawar Hussain. In a statement from Swat (NWFP) he claimed that Pakistan Army gave full support to infiltrators. “The

Army is fully supporting them” (this was before Nawaz Sharif “appealed” to Mujahideen to withdraw). He issued a stern warning to Sharif saying, “Those who sabotage the successes of Mujhaideen (in Kargil) will meet the fate of Sheikh Mujib-urRehman.”

The Founder of Lashkar-i-Toiba, Hafiz Mohammed Saeed rejecting the Washington Declaration said his cadres were under no obligation to withdraw from Kargil heights because if they do, the “Kashmiri struggle will suffer a serious setback”. Sharif may be under some sort of pressure to accept Clinton’s advice but

“Mujahideen are under no such pressure. The war is on. We have changed our strategy and we, will continue our fight. Instead of withdrawing we will change our positions,” he added. He went on to say, “Shariah does not allow any withdrawal and we have

conveyed this to the Government and the world.” LET’s Publicity Chief Mansoor Ghaznavi, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi (LET Ameer) and Abu Shakir LET Commander at Muzaffarabad (POK) are the other three LET functionaries who have been belching fire condemning withdrawal: from Kargil sectors. Others who have

been very vociferous condemning the Washington Declaration and Pakistan directive to withdraw,

included

Fazal-ur-Rehman

Chief of Harkut-ul-Mujahideen and Maulana Mohammed its Islamabad-based

Chief

Commander

Ameer;

Maulana

Mushtaq

of Jamait-ul-Mujahideen;

Ahmed

Abdulla

Khalil,

Farooq,

Kashmiri,

Ghazali,

Ameer-e-Aalla, Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen; Abdul Rashid Turabi, Chief of POK Jamait-i-Islami; Umar Ingalabi, Chief Commander of Al

Badr and his Deputy, Ahmed Hamza. The only known Kashmiri mujahid leader of note who spoke strongly is Syed Salahudin, who

Postscript as Chairman

445 of the United Jehad Council based at Muzaffarabad

(POK) said, “Mujahideen did not seek permission from Pakistan to capture Kargil heights nor would they vacate it by asking Pakistan. We will not act upon their instructions.”

Syed Salahudin’s Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was the only Kashmiri

organisation

which

issued

from

Srinagar,

a strongly

worded

statement saying that it rejects totally the Sharif-Clinton agreement, asserting that, “we will not withdraw from Kargil since it is part of Kashmir.”

It is only the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in Kashmir which has shown some reaction. This has been confined to call for strike

in Kashmir

towns on two

occasions and issuing statements

“disapprove” the Washington Declaration Mujahideen resolve not to withdraw.

and

to

to

support

By and large the mood in Kashmir is one of indifference about

the Kargil war.

The

seccessionists

feel terribly let down

and

disappointed with Pakistan—which first put on heat with full scale attack and then meekly agreed to withdraw. The militants and secessionists in Kashmir Valley, who saw a “ray of hope” in

Pakistan attack on widely spread area in Kargil sector, consider Pakistan’s decision to pull back and withdraw to the Pak side of _ LOC as an “abject and shameful surrender”. The Kashmiri sympathisers consider this as a “psychological defeat thrust on Kashmiri militants”. It is feared that the Underground will keep smarting under this for a long time and may distance themselves from their “colleagues across the LOC”. The faith and confidence of the Kashmiri secessionists in Pakistan‘s capacity to “help them achieve their objective” has received a serious blow.

The Hurriyat Conference has been less concerned with Pakistani

withdrawal from Kargil areas but terribly upset with American backing to Indian stand on invoilibility of the LOC. The Hurriyat

Chief, Syed Ali Shah Geelani has said, “Kashmiris do not accept the

Simla Agreement”. He said it followed that the LOC is not recognised by them. On July 17, 1999 at Srinagar, he said that Kashmiris would not accept LOC as international border between India and Pakistan even if the world seems to be coming round to this as a possible solution of Kashmir.

He declared, “This can take

place only on our dead bodies, otherwise our struggle for right of self determination would become irrelevant.” About Pakistan’s acceptance of LOC invoilibility he said, “Pakistan is supporting us

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Kashmir Underground

diplomatically, morally and politically but we have not given them

the right to represent us.” As soon as Indian armed forces launched operations in different

sub-sectors of Kargil area to evict the Pakistani occupiers of territory on the Indian side of LOC, almost in a chorus the Pakistani orchestra played the only tune they had rehearsed. From Pakistani

Federal Minister for Information Mushahid Hussain, to Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz to Army spokesman Brig. Rashid Qureshi, to ex-Generals Aslambeg, Hamid Gul, and Assad Durrani to Islamic

fundamentalists

Saeed

and

like Qazi Hussain

Maulana

Ahmed,

Fazal-ur-Rehman

Hafiz Mohammed

Khalid,

to

Pakistani

Mujahideen leaders, all claimed that it was purely an operation

launched by Kashmiri Mujahideen

and the Pakistani Army

had

nothing to do with this transgression into the Indian territory. Even three days after Nawaz Sharif committed to Clinton that Mujahideen

will be withdrawn within time specified, his Information Minister Mushahid Hussain said in Islamabad, “It is not a remote controlled

operation and we cannot stop this.” The Mujahideen leaders first said that since they were not

under command of any Pakistani authority they were not obliged to take any direction from Pakistan Government. Specifically, after

Washington Agreement, when Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif “appealed” to them to withdraw from the occupied areas, most of the Mujahideen leaders rejected the appeal. It seems that the screw was then tightened by the Pakistani Army and the ISI because soon

the tune changed. “Because of coming winter we might withdraw,” said Umar Ingalabi, Chief Commander of Al Badr Mujahideen at Skardu Cantonment. At Islamabad, the Chairman of the United Jehad Council, Syed Salahudin declared, “The Mujahideen can think about withdrawl if the International community explicitly assures us that it will settle the longstanding dispute according to the aspirations of the Kashmiris.” The Lashkar-i-Toiba Chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, who claimed to have over 3000 cadres fighting

in Kargil, referring to the appeal for | withdrawal said, the Mujahideen were not a party to Washington Agreement. But he conceded, “We have changed our strategy and will continue to fight. Instead of withdrawing, we will open new fronts.” The only political figure in opposition who supported withdrawal of Mujahideen was Sardar Abdul Qayoom Khan, former President of POK. He advised the Mujahideen to withdraw to “keep security of Pakistan uppermost in their calculations. There is no harm in

Postscript

447

sacrificing a small gain for a bigger cause.” The Foreign Minister

Sartaj Aziz and Minister for Kashmir Affairs Majid Malik held meetings with representatives of different Mujahideen groups and “convinced” them how important it was that all occupied areas across the LOC are vacated forthwith. Enough evidence has become available that it was regular forces of Pakistan armed forces with a sprinkling of Mujahideen

belonging to “safe and dependable” outfits which were infiltrated

into uninhabited areas in Kargil stretching from Zoji La on the west

to Turtok on the northeast in past few months—in any case much before the admitted second week of April last. The foreign press

has provided plenty of material to confirm these assertions of India. The “Independent” daily from London reported on May 29,

1999 that foreign mercenaries who were infiltrated by Pakistan into Kargil sector were “specially trained and equipped in 40 staging camps by the Pakistan Army near the LOC”. These trainees numbering about 3000 were Arabs and Afghans and the camps were in Minimarg close to Marpo La and north of Pindras and Matayan on the Kashmir Ladakh Highway. The report by Patrick French further said, “There has been persistent support, infiltration and training of terrorists by successive governments.”

A despatch in London “Sunday Telegraph”, same day said that a group of “Pakistani and Afghan Mujahideen who crossed over to

Kargil sector had been reportedly trained by Pakistan’s InterServices Intelligence Directorate in guerrilla warfare and highaltitude fighting. Another report in the same newspaper said that

at least 6 British Muslims after being fully trained “in mountain techniques and high altitude warfare” were deputed to Kargil sector. The report said they were trained in “remote valleys near Skardu in Pakistan-held Kashmir” and further said “over 400 guerrillas—a mix of Afghans, Pakistanis and even international Moslem militants were ready to infiltrate from Gilgit”. Independent reports spoke of Skardu Cantonment area swarming with

Mujahideen—Lashkar and Talibani elements. The American news agency AP reported on May 31, 1999 that “in the mountains of Pakistan thousands of Islamic militants are preparing for a holy war next door in India. They crawl on their bellies, plant landmines and practice marksmanship”. The report said dozens of camps have been set up by Pakistani authorities to

train Mujahideen in sabotage techniques, hif and run raids, shooting,

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Kashmir Underground

skills and train them how to in Kargil sectors.

disrupt traffic on Ladakh Highway

The Oxford Analytica, a well-known analysis firm of Oxford

which provides analysis of worldwide political, social and economic developments, said on June 12, 1999 that a group of 2000/3000

Taliban force “are ready to cross the Kashmir border and launch the

Jehad”.

The prestigious US weekly said in early July, that “Pakistan had smuggled as many as 1000 soldiers to the Indian side of the Line of Control in Kargil area last spring and then announced they were Kashmiri freedom fighters.” The British media in the third week of July reported that Pakistan Government fearing backlash from

withdrawing mercenaries from Kargil sector has started disarming them before allowing them to move out. Then they are being sent in escorted convoys back to Punjab and Sind. Reports also spoke of withdrawn

mercenaries

being encouraged

to sneak deeper into

Kashmir Valley from other soft sectors in the northern stretch of Loc.

Strategic Importance of Kargil The importance of the Kargil sector has been well-known since 1947-48. It is unfortunate that the concerned authorities have learnt

no lessons from what happened then. In their future planning and preparing for all eventualities they don’t seem to have kept any of that in view. Early in 1947 war, Pakistan, realising the importance of Kargil sector, had over-run whole of Gilgit Agency and Baltistan (except

Skardu town where a small Indian garrison held out for 8 months) and captured the heights around Zoji La, occupied Kargil town and raced up the Indus Valley to Nimu—about 30 kilometers short of Leh. In north they attempted to enter the Shyok Valley (Trutok area). Our Commanders in Kashmir then were quick to comprehend

the situation in its correct perspective. In September 1948 two-attempts were made by our infantry to dislodge the enemy from heights dominating Zoji La Pass and the ‘Gumri basin beyond it. The Maharatta Light Infantry in their first attempt tried to overwhelm the enemy on Mukund Hill and the Chabutara feature but failed because holding the heights the enemy did not allow them to come close. A week later, it was decided to use

two

battalions—Maharatta

Light

Infantry

and

the

Jats.

The

Postscript

449

Maharatta

attack

on

Mukund

failed

and

so

did

Jat

attack

on

Chabutara. Heavy casualties were suffered. Later, it was decided to use tanks to dislodge the enemy from these heights. The secret and brilliantly executed operation surprised

the enemy

and he fell back many

casualties—beyond

correspondent to be an

enemy

Pindrass.

miles after suffering heavy

I was

privileged

as

a

war

eyewitness of this unique operation. The

sat atop the Batkundi heights of Brown

Hill and Anant

Ridge south of Mushki Valley. Here again the enemy was able to

hold us up. Our determined attack—frontal and diversionary— unnerved him and he retreated after offering some resistance. He withdrew north to Mushki Valley and to Thasgam beyond Drass. The liberation of Drass on November 15, 1948 (Guru Nanak’s birth anniversary) was ‘celebrated that night by Patialas, Rajputs and Gorkhas. Because of the rapid advance of the Patialas to Drass, the local commander of Pakistani hostility, Major Ishmail had to escape at dawn from Drass. He escaped to Mushki Valley. A wireless intercept next night from Major Ishmail to his Brigade Commander spoke of Ishmail’s participation in the Indian celebrations at Drass. He said he had come to Drass to retrieve important documents and maps from Drass and he was successful in his mission because “Indian troops were busy celebrating”. I am relating this anecdote only to highlight that passage from Drass to Mushki Valley is not arduous. Liberation of Drass would not mean much unless Kargil was

secured. The GOC, Major General K.S. Thimayya, therefore, asked Patlialas and Gorkhas to race on to Kargil which was also liberated © on November 23, 1948. The General had rightly decided that enemy

should only be allowed to withdraw through Kaksar but not allowed to escape towards Khaltse on the Indus nor to go across Humboting La to Batalik in lower Indus Valley. Leh Garrison was, therefore, asked to send posthaste two coloumns down the Indus. One coloumn under Col. Parab reached Kargil on November 24 on horseback. The other column also riding ponies pushed on regardlessly down the Indus towards Marol but got held up about 5 kilometers short on account of enemy’s stiff resistance. However,

these moves had cleared whole of Indus Valley and secured the flanks of Kargil. : On the northern front in Shyok Valley, plenty of moves had

taken place. The enemy

was in full retreat from

I.ama

House area,

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Kashmir Underground

Mondari and Unmaru. Thoise and Kharu villages had been liberated.

Earlier, Pakistan had come up the Shyok Valley and captured some commanding heights in the area. The Leh Garrison could not spare

many troops, being short of them, themselves. The local youth

decided to organise themselves in Nubra Guards. One of the young

zealous straplings was 17-year old Chewang Rinchen. With some arms supplied by the Army, the Nubra Guards took upon themselves the task of clearing the Shyok Valley of the enemy. With about a 100 gutsy Nubrans, Rinchen made courageous assaults on Pakistani

ocupied Lama House, Tabedo Hill and then on Takkar and cleared them. For this valiant feat he was awarded MVC and in 1948 he was the youngest MVC awardee. His greatest exploit was in December 1971 when he led the assault on a post 18402 feet above Turtok and captured it. Till date this is the highest enemy post captured in the

world’s military history. Major Rinchen (now in Ladakh Scouts) in

10 days’ time had advanced 22 kms and occupied over 800 sq. kilometers of enemy territory. He was awarded MVC Bar for this outstanding feat. In a book written in Urdu by a Balti, Mohammed Yusuf Ahidi, “Baltistan Par Ek Nazar” — A profile of Baltistan— the author paid tribute to Rinchen in these words, “If Commander Rinchen had not foiled our attacks, we would have over-run whole

of Nubra

and then crossing Khardung

La and occupying the

airfield of Leh, we would have been the masters over the entire region of Ladakh.” In 1986, sitting comfortably in his Ibex Hotel in Leh, one evening while reminiscing Col. Rinchen told me that if he had one

battalion more which he had requested for, he would have gone ahead and liberated Siari,

Marcha and even Khaplu in the lower

Shyok Valley. In November 1948, in a hurry to liberate as much area as possible and consolidate and stock before the snows come down heavily, it seems to have escaped the attention of the local commanders that Pakistan was in occupation of a pimple across the Kargil town, which overlooked not only the township but also the

Advance Landing Ground on Kharbathang plateau and even could

keep constant vigil on the road from Drass and going

down to

Pashkym. This pimple became famous as Pt. 13620. The Indian Army was on the lookout for an opportunity to dislodge Pakistanis from this feature from where even a mortor could hit the Brigade Headquarters in Kargil. With the attention diverted

towards

Rann

of Kutch,

the

indian

troops

launched

an

Postscript

451

attack on this feature 13620 and took control of it on May 17, 1965. Due to intervention of the UN Chief Military Observer sought by Pakistan,

it had

to be

given

back

to

Pakistan

soon

after.

When

Pakistan, in early August 1965, sent armed infiltrators into Kashmir, Indian Army on August 15, again took over the feature. However, it was given back to Pakistan under the Tashkent Agreement of January 10, 1966. The Indian Army was very reluctant to give it back because it claimed that feature 13620 fell on the Indian side of

the Cesaefire Line as delineated and demarcated in 1949.

During the December 1971 war, the Indian troops took over the

entire hill in a 3-day battle from December 7-9. Besides this feature,

many villages on the northwestern slopes were also liberated.

These liberated areas and those in Turtok area in Shyok Valley were not given back to Pakistan when the Line of Control was finalised between the two countries. At the end of every military operation, every formation is

expected to produce an assesment and appreciation report. This

also mentions lessons learnt from any particular operation. Various formations from Battalion to Corps involved in the operation from Zoji La to Leh in 1947-48 had prepared and submitted such reportes. I have had access to an exhaustive report prepared by BGS

V Corps as also those of the then Western Command. To top it all, is the detailed Report on the Operations in Jammu & Kashmir 1947-

48 published by the Ministry of Defence. Then there are number of books by retired military officers. One of them is the well-written “Operation Rescue” by Lt. Gen. S.K. Sinha (presently Governor of

Assam). These reports and books have made numerous recommendations about what should be done and what should be best avoided. It seems there is a tendency not only to ignore them

but even not to read them. Even a correspondent like me, who had the privilege to cover the three

wars of 1947-48, 1965 and 1971 and witness the various

battles in Kargil-Ladakh sector, learnt a lot of lessons which were useful on my later visits to this area. Many problems faced by our Armed Forces in recent Kargil War could have been avoided or overcome without much difficulty if reference had been made to these recommendations. And if the authorities

were

really

serious,

expeditions could be studied. Badakhshan,

marched

from

then

In January

Kashgar

experiences

of

1533 a Chieftain

through

Ladakh,

earlier

from

spent some

©

452

Kashmir Underground

time in Kargil areas and crossed Zoji La in mid winter and entered Kashmir. Fifty years ago when a small garrison was under siege in

Skardu,

two relief columns

were sent from Kashmir

again in mid

winter. They encountered lot of difficulties, were ambushed and never reached Skardu. But the remanant gave reports which need

to be studied. The

ten-week

Kargil

war

has

cost

the

country

dearly.

In

financial terms the cost will take time to be computed but preliminary

estimates vary from Rs. 7000 to Rs. 10,000 crores. However, the most precious and invaluable has been the loss of our soldiers,

airmen and officers. According to the latest official figures available, we lost 487 men including 25 officers. Besides, 1190 were injured and this included 71 officers. Four persons are still missing. The number of civilians who were killed or received injuries, is not available

at present.

However,

according

to one

Government

estimate over 32,000 persons had to leave their homes

and seek

refuge in distant camps. For the loss of houses, cattle, fuelwood (stock is gathered for 8 winter months) and fodder, standing crops,

etc., estimates will take time to be collected. But this cannot be less than Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 crores. Till the Pakistani infiltration in this sector was detected in the second week of May, the presence of our Army was reported to be

only one Brigade—though inflated. To meet the challange, and quickly too, one full Mountain Division was moved within days ~ from Kupwara area in Kashmir Valley to Drass-Kargil sector. Many more troops were also exepditiously moved from other areas in the State and outside. These troops could not go through the mandatory 4-week drill for acclimatization for operation in high altitude areas. The Army has not given out any details of soldiers who suffered

on acount of Pulmonary Odema or other high-altitude ailments or

severe frostbites. This was also on account of our troops in such large numbers not being provided at such short notice special arctic clothing and equipment. Most of the troops- deployed in the area full of boulders, cliffs and conical peaks were not at all trained in mountain warfare or to fight in high altitude areas. Having realised that heavy artillery alone would be useful to achieve its object, Pakistan had moved over 200 artillery guns across the LOC with the aim of providing cover to its troops occupying Indian territory and also to counter Indian artillery fire. India had moved 13-15 regiments of artillery guns. These included

. 75 mm,

guns.

105 mm,

Thanks

130 mm

to the

and,

most

live coverage

importantly,

by various

TV

155 mm

Bofors

channels,

the

ind

zed rin

aid ed

Postscript

453

world viewed the awful spectacle of batteries of these guns in arid

plains of Drass and Kargil firing salvo after salvo. According to one estimate over 1,50,000 rounds were fired by these guns. It is learnt

that these guns fired shells worth over Rs. 2 crores a day.

The decision to use airforce planes to dislodge the enemy from

different areas in Kargil sector, was difficult and challenging. ay the 1S,

Firstly, the danger of this turning into a full fledged conventional

war was there. Far more serious was the prospect of lunatic fringe in Pakistan putting its finger on the nuclear button. Never before

dle,

had airforce planes been used in such mountainous areas with

che

linear strip of 4 to 6 kins deep area, where every few yards pimples,

not ent

rek ps ess

serious handicaps

as limited and

restricted

manoeuvrability

in

hills, sharp towering, conical peaks would pop up. There was no

precedent anywhere in the world and therefore our pilots could not

have been trained for such operations. It was their grit, innovative

skills, deteremination and professional capabilities that brought them success. The atmosphere around 20,000 ft is rarefied and

therefore aircraft fly faster than in normal atmosphere. This raises

the

radius of a turning aircraft which reduced the flexibility for

manoeuvre. The planes had to fly 9 kms above every position lest the aircraft be targeted by surface-to-air missiles (SAMS). Crossing

the LOC while flying had its own implications in being shot down. Since the enemy was holding ridges and heights of 15,000 to 18,000 ft, the LAF had to fire

rockets and launch bombs from heights of

18,000 to 20,000 ft while flying at about 700 kms. per hour, danger

of attack by Stinger missle notwithstanding.

The IAF will need to modify its aircraft for future operations in

the northern frontiers, mostly mountainous, or it will have to look around the world for suitable aircraft for use in the Himalayas.

Weapon systems and appropriate tactics will have to be devised to enable the IAF to play a more positive role in mountain warfare against highly trained hostile forces equipped with the most sophisticated weaponry and: equipment.

In 49 days of air operation IAF flew 550 strike missions, 150

reconnaissance missions and over 500 escort sorties. Helicopters undertook 2185 sorties besides flying 925 hours for evacuation and airlifting. The IAF used normal 1000 lb. bombs modified with a kit which received laser emissions and tagged along with laser beams to hit the target.

Besides,

Remotely

Controlled

Vehicles

(pilotless

aircraft) were also used along the LOC. These helped to fix the coordinates of enemy artillery guns for counter-bombardment

454

Kashmir Underground

purposes, detecting movement of enemy troops and locating the

bunkers.

The loss of MI-17 Helicopter and of aircraft MIG-27 and MIG21 was serious but the death of its personnel including a highly trained pilot was tragic and irreparable. Is There no Line of Control? After

14

months’

war

in

Kashmir

in

1947-48,

both

India

and

Pakistan agreed on a ceasefire with effect from January 1, 1949. The basis was the Resolution of August 13, 1948 passed by the UN Commission for India and Pakistan (UNCIP). For 9 days from July 18 to 28, 1949 the military delegations of India and Pakistan met at Karachi under the benign Chairmanship

of the UNCIP Chairman, Mr. Hernando Sampier (Colombia). The

Pakistani delegation was headed by its Deputy Chief of General Staff, Major General W.J. Cawthorn while the Indian side was led by Lt. Gen. S.M. Shrinagesh, the Army Commander. After hard bargaining an Agreement was signed on July 27, 1949 regarding

establishment of Ceasefire Line. In Part B of the Agreement the Line agreed to on ground, was clearly stated. The pertinent part in the Kargil sector was spelt out like this :

A.2.

(c) From Point 12879 the line runs to Point 13647 (Karobal Gali to be shared by both side). The Ceasefire Line runs thence

through

Retagah

Chish

(Point

15316)

thence

through Point 15889, thence through Point 17392, thence

through Point 16458, thence to Marpo La (to be shared by both side) thence through Point 17561 thence through

Point 17352, thence through Point 18400, thence through Point 16760, thence to (inclusive to India) Dalunang. A.2. (d) From Dalunang eastwards the ceasefire line will follow the general line Point 15495, Ishman, Manus, Ganggam, Gunderman, Point 13620, Junkar (Point 17628), Marmak,

(Point Where

Natsara,

15700),

Shangruti

Chalunka

(on

thence north to the glaciers. the CF Line ends is known

(Point

the

17531)

Shyok

Chorbat

river),

as Point NJ 9842.

La

Khor,

At the end of 1965 war, all the areas that Indian Army had liberated were handed back to Pakistan following the Tashkent Agreement on January 10, 1966. This included the dominating feature

13620 opposite Kargil

town.

Postscript

455

In 1971 war, the Indian troops had liberated areas in different sub-sectors in Ladakh, totalling 434 sq. miles. This included areas north of the Point 13620 but major portions were in Shyok Valley

(Turtok). At the Simla Agreement Indian side did not yield and all

the liberated areas in this northern sector became permanentally

part of the areas on the Indian side of LOC.

In the Simla Agreement of July 3, 1972 the article relevant to

LOC is as under :

Gi)

In Jammu & Kashmir, the line of control resulting from the ceasefire of December 17, 1971 shall be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognised position of either side. Neither side shall seek to alter it unilaterly, irrespective of mutual differences and legal interpretations. Both sides further undertake to refrain from the threat or the use of force in violation of this line.

The Simla Agreement was approved by the Parliaments of both

India and Pakistan. Subsequently, military delegations of the two countries met to delineate and demarcate the LOC. In NovemberDecember 1972 these meetings stretched to 12 days. The Indian

delegation was led by Lt. Gen. P.S. Bhagat, V.C. The two delegations signed detailed set of 19 maps on which agreement was reached. The Secretary General of the Pakistan Foreign Ministry, Mr.

Aziz Ahmed

spelt out Pakistan’s commitment to the LOC. In a

statement on December 11, 1972 at Rawalpindi, he said that Indian

Government had informed Pakistan that withdrawal of troops would start “simultaneously” with the adjustments of ground positions which will be carried out in conformity with the line of control in Jammu & Kashmir as approved by the two Governments. The line of control as stated by the Indian Minister of External Affairs, Sardar Swaran Singh, is not an international border but obviously a new cease fire line.

“The control line”, Mr. Ahmed said, “is a temporary line and will remain so as long as the Kashmir dispute

is not finally settled. Under the Simla Agreement this line will be respected by both sides without prejudice to the recognised position of either side.” According to Mr. Ahmed, India had claimed it had seized 434 sq. miles of Pakistan territory during the war, but according to line now

delineated, she had 341 sq. miles. Pakistan’s claim was 59 sy.

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Kashmir Underground

miles on the “Indian

retains all the territory.

side” of the

cease fire line and Pakistan

With such explicit commitment by Pakistan, how

could her

present Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz say that LOC was not properly

defined and that Pakistan had never accepted the LOC as invoilable? But almost in the same breath he tried to put his own interpretation on the Washington Declaration by announcing at London on his way back from US that “Pakistan has agreed to request and appeal to freedom fighters to withdraw from Kargil if India also agrees to

vacate areas that it occupied on the LOC after signing the Simla Agreement.” This contention was rejected the very next day by the

United States. Its spokesman said that Clinton-Sharif talks were “Kargil specific” and anything else has to wait for the Indo-Pak dialogue.

The second ploy that Pakistan then tried was to catch hold of “Kargil specific” part of the US interpretation and claimed that

Washington Agreement binds Pakistan to “honour sanctity of the

LOC only in Kargil sector.” The US State Department spokesman James Foley had to clarify the next day that the “sanctity of the Line

of Control (LOC) referred to in the joint statement of President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif extended to its entire length in Jammu & Kashmir and was not confined to just Kargil

area.”

Was it not a Pakistani War?

The impression that was sought to be conveyed by Pakistan was that Kashmiri Mujahideen had intruded into certain areas of Kargil mountains north of Kashmir-Ladakh Highway in early spring with intention of “liberating Kargil region”. The Indian establishment

also unwittingly lent its weaight by suggesting that this was an operation launched at the behest of Pakistani Army Generals and that neither Premier Nawaz Sharif nor the ISI had any knowledge. Perhaps the basis was the recorded tape of the telephonic conversation between the Pak Army Chief General Pervez Musharaf (from Beijing) and his confidant Lt. Gen. Aziz, Chief of Staff at Islamabad, which came into Indian hands courtsey some foreign intelligence agency. This impression could not be easily accepted on the face of it. An operation of this magnitude in a difficult area could not have been mounted in secret without the approval of the highest Government authority. In fact, General Musharaf disclosed

Postscript

457

later that Prime Minister Sharif was well informed throughout when

he

said,

“every

one

has been

on

board”.

The

Pakistan

government also released photographs of Nawaz Sharif on a visit to Skardu and forward areas of Gultari near LOC in February 1999. A Pakistani report had mentioned that he was made to step on to area on Indian side of the LOC which had been occupied by Pakistanis, and Sharif was made to hoist Pakistan flag there

slogans like “Kashmir benega part of Pakistan.

amidst

Pakistan” — Kashmir will become

Pakistan first denied that any soldiers of its Army were involved

in the “intrusion” by Mujahideen which, they conceded, had taken place “sometime in April with melting of snows”. Even when Pak

soldiers had been captured, when dead bodies of its soldiers were recovered, when

from their persons documentary

evidence was

made public, they denied it to be authentic. The Pakistan Army top brass felt unnerved when Indian Army came out with details of exact locations from where 249 enemy bodies were recovered and when 244 of them were buried on the

sites. And the TV channels showed it live. The discomfiture of the Pakistan Generals reached new heights when the Indian Army released

names,

rank,

serial number

and

formation

of 38 other

ranks and JCos and 30 Pak Army officers including one Brigadier, one Colonel, 12 Majors, 11 Captains. The Indian announcement had

said that in case the Pakistani Army accepted them as their own, dead bodies could be handed over otherwise those dead bodies would be given a decent burial with full military honours. Two dead bodies of their own officers, Capt. Kamal Sher of 12 Northern Light Infantry and Capt. Imtiaz from 165 Morton

Regiment were not accepted by Pak Army for many days in the plea that since no officer of the Pakistani Army was involved in

Kargil operation they were not obliged to accept these dead bodies. May be, pressure from their families or from brother officers was built up

and after many days Pakistan finally agreed to accept

these two dead bodies. These were handed over in New Delhi to

the International Committee of Red Cross and flown to Karachi. Almost the same day, Premier Nawaz Sharif accompanied by General Musharaf and many Cabinet Ministers, including the Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, flew to Skardu. He went to Pion nearby where he announced scheme of assistance for families of those servicemen killed in action. Later he went to forward areas near LOC in Shyok Valley and addressed troops of the Northern Light Infantry. He lauded the high morale of the troops and

458

Kashmir Underground

announced that the legal heirs of martyrs would be given a house in the city of their choice, besides compensation of five lac rupees each. From there he went to Bunji and Gilgit where also he addressed the families of armymen who got killed in Kargil operations. Paying tribute to their armed forces he said that they had proved that when required they can emerge successful in every trial. Since US General Zinni and later President Clinton had

confronted Nawaz Sharif with evidence of participation of Pak

armed forces in Kargil war and there was unrest in some sections

of the Army committed in the Northern Territories, Pakistan decided ultimately to come clean and own publicly that Pakistan Army was really involved in the Kargil war. First, they admitted that their troops had crossed the LOC in January 1999 and

occupied

some commanding heights. But a day later, Brig. Rashid Qureshi, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations claimed that process of capturing heights in this sector had been started by Pakistan in September 1998. At the same Press Conference, the Pak Federal Minister for Information, Mushahid Hussain admitted that in Kargil war 267 army personnel had been killed, 204 were wounded and 24 were still missing. With this also came, a day later, admission by Pak Finance Minister Ishaq Dar who told BBC that Pakistan

had

spent

on

Kargil

war

over

US

$ 700

million

which

according to him was nearly 20% of Pakistan’s current year’s defence budget. Pakistan's clever Kargil plan turned out to be misadventure with serious consequences which may continue to haunt her for many years. This disaster will overshadow the future course of Pakistan both internally and externally. The Kargil operation was planned in total secrecy with

beginnings made 2/3 years ago. The area

selected was strategically

artillery had

town

important, militarily neglected by India and people of the area needed to be punished for having declined to associate themselves with Kashmir’s secessionist movement. For past 2/3 years Pakistani pounded

not only

Kargil

but also targeted

portions of Kashmir-Ladakh Highway near Drass. After Pakistan

was satisfied that other than pure retaliation of artillery fire, India

had not strengthened its position in this sector, Pakistan seriously

decided upon this operation in summer of 1998. When the Pakistani troops were well entrenched on the Indian side of the LOC in nearly 140 kms_ long stretch, India by chance discovered their

Postscript

459

presence in the first week of May 1999. Twenty precious days were

spent in probing different sub-sectors. This time was also used in transporting additional troops and artillery pieces from Kashmir

and beyond. When situation became “really difficult”, New Delhi decided to bring in Air Force to assist the ground forces to dislodge the enemy from “Indian territory”. Month of June was spent in intense fighting and the Indian troops retaking difficult hieghts and ridges. The names like Tiger Hill, Tololing, Jubbar, Kukarthang, Munthu

Dhalo,

Batalik and Turtok and

many

more

have been

etched in Indian mind thanks largely to media. After Indian forces had built up sufficient troops and logistics strength by June 6, things seemed to be moving fast. Pakistan started having second thoughts but when on June 13, Toliling north of Drass, was cleared of enemy, Pakistan became worried about the

future course of its operations. First indication was Pakistan’s offer to send her Foreign Minister to Delhi for a meeting with his counterpart to “sort out things”. This visit bore no fruit because Pakistan struck to its stand that Pak Army was not involved in the fight which was fully in hands of Mujahideen over whom Pakistan had no control. One may ask if this was so, why were daily briefings being held by Pakistan Defence Forces? Why were the Ministers and special envoys being sent abroad to explain their

case? If the Mujahideen had _ rejected the Washington Declaration

outright who was Pakistan to assure US that withdrawal will be

accomplished in time?

In retrospect, it has been established that recapture of Tololing was the turning point. Two days later Clinton asked Nawaz Sharif

to pull out of Kargil since its own intelligence reports had confirmed all-pervading presence of Pakistani troops in entire Kargil sector. The US State Department had evidence that Pakistan’s 10 Corps had been deployed in Kargil operations. The same week leaders of G-8 industrialised nations meeting at Cologne in Germany asked Pakistan to withdraw its troops from the Indian side of LOC and honour the sanctity of LOC. The Foreign Minister and the Prime Minister of Pakistan separately visited Beijing to secure China’s support but returned with China asking them to honour LOC and

to deal directly with India to settle their differences. France, Japan

and Germany as also Russia separately advised Pakistan to withdraw its troops and Mujahideen on to their side of the LOC. Since Pakistan did not seem to be in a mood to listen to US telephonic

advice, US despatched to Pakistan the Commander of the Central

460

Kashmir Underground

Command, General Zinni. This was a major signal that US desired that Pakistan should withdraw from Indian side of LOC and restore sanctity of LOC. Pakistan still seemed to be reluctant. In

the meantime the Indian armed forces kept their resolute march forward. Nawaz Sharif seems to have been left with no option other than to beseach Bill Clinton to “pull him out of this mess”. When finally, India mounted its main assault on the Tiger Hill, Sharif telephoned Clinton seeking immediate meeting in Washington. Realising his desperation, Sharif was allowed to fly straight and meet Bill Clinton even on the big day—American

Independence

Day. After a 3-hour meeting a short and crisp joint statement was issued at Washington on July 4. Nawaz Sharif committed himself to immediate withdrawal of troops to Pakistan side of LOC. He also gave assurance that he would appeal to Mujahideen to withdraw. He also assured that sanctity of the LOC will be restored. While agreeing to these conditions Sharif must have known the attitude

of his powerful Army, he must have also known that if the Army wanted they would twist the tail of the Mujahideen (those few who were in the Kargil area) and they would fall in line. He must have also known that the Opposition parties like Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan

Peoples

Party

and

Altaf Hussain’s

MQM,

Islamic fundamentalists would be baying for his life.

besides

the

On way back home from Washington he stopped over at London to secure some support from British Premier Tony Blair.

Instead, he was told to implement without any delay the Washington

Agreement and restore the sanctity of the LOC.

Since Pakistan Army was the one which had planned operation, it gave full support to Sharif. So did his Cabinet and National Assembly where he enjoys overwhelming majority. India gave six days to Pakistan to clear out of the Indian of LOC or else India would “throw them out”. Most of

the the side the

Pakistanis went back in time. Perhaps for domestic consumption,

Pakistan allowed some posts to be held even after the withdrawal deadline was over. The US officials told Pakistan to ensure total

withdrawal even of the remanants since the Washington Agreement had to be implemented fully. The Baltistan-Gilgit areas that comprise Northern Territories are directly being administered by the Pakistan Federal Government. Most of this area is mountainous with towering peaks, massive glaciers and is strategically most important because on the east it

461

Postscript

has Ladakh and in the north the Chinese province of Sinkiang with. two Trans Himalayan Highways connecting the two. To man this area special trained armed forces are required. The Gilgitis, Chilasis, Hanzkuts and the Baltis are hardy and courageous fighters. Even before 1947 during the Kashmiri Maharaja’s time, a sizable number of them had found employment in the State Forces.

But between 1935 and 1947, when Gilgit Agency had been leased

out to the British Indian Government by the Kashmir Maharaja, the

British had raised commanded by a Government raised Chitral Scouts and

a special force—the Gilgit British Officer. After 1947 other specialised forces Bajour Scouts. All these

Scouts which was Pakistan’s Federal like Chilas Scouts, were reorganised,

equipped with modern weapons and given rigourous training for high altitude, snowbound, glaciated areas. In 1973 all these forces

were combined to form the Northern Light Infantry. Reportedly, it has 14 Battalions. In 1993 this force was merged with the Pakistan Army and its Regimental Centre was located near Gilgit. NLI Battalions have been operating in Siachen war theatre with Skardu as the Brigade Headquarters. When Pakistan Army started planning the Kargil operations, may be 3 years ago, the NLI troops were earmarked, selected and then put on special training in rock-climbing, anti-heliborne commando operations, survival techniques, living in high altitudes and

isolated

posts.

Latest

and

the

most

sophisticated

light

equipment, arctic clothing and wherewithal like snow-mobiles etc.

were bought from “any source, at any price”. It is reported that from Europe last summer Pakistan Army bought 50,000 pairs of

special lightweight high-altitude climbing boots for deep snow and glaciers. They also purchased specially designed snowmobiles and snow-scooters

for personal transportation

and

to provide rapid

logistic support. The NLI battalions were part of Pakistan’s X Corps. This Corps has 4 Divisions under it and one is stationed at Skardu as Force Command

Northern Area. The involvement of X

Corps in Kargil operations was confirmed by US State Department spokesman. Before launching Kargil operation, Pakistan three more Brigades into Skardu area, it was reported.

moved

Besides suitability of local Dardi and Balti troops for operation

in Kargil was, on acount of proper acclimatizaticn from birth. Another reason for Pakistan it seems, was that in case of “things going

wrong”

as

they

did,

the

backlash

would

be confined

to

462

Kashmir Underground

Northern Areas, which were being administered directly by Pakistan. It has now been reported that the Commanding Officer of NLI5 Battalion had been already relieved of his command on grounds of “incompetance” in Kargil operations. Other frustrated officers have

been pacified with enhanced monetary benefits, it has been reported. Some others may be given postings abroad in Pakistan embassies. Pakistan does not want to add to its troubles in Baltistan-Gilgit area

because for past 40 years or so local population has been agitating for securing fundamental and basic rights like right to vote, to have a representative Assembly and have own administration not imposed from Islamabad. There is not much social and economic development in this area. Pakistan’s Greater Karakoram

Plan

If a proper study is made of the intentions of the Pakistan Army

and the strategy it employed in various sub-sectors in the Kargil

area from Zoji La on the west and Turtor in the

east, things start

falling into place. The Grand Plan of the Pakistan Army takes shape in the form of Greater Karakoram Plan. Intensive study of topography of every sub-sector, detailéd study of climatic conditions, intensity of snowfall, time of thawing

and melting of snow, natural caves and rock ledges on the cliffs and mountain-sides had been studied in the past few years by pakistan, it now transpires. With this base for detailed planning of occupation of areas on the Indian side of LOC, had been drawn up. For the past 3/4 years Pakistan had been sending patrols off and on into these areas on the sly to thoroughly recce the areas. The local inhabitants, mostly shepherds, who saw them came back and reported but the authorities seem to have disregarded these reports. Study of snowfall and the time of melting was to determine when should the Pakistanis advance this side of LOC and occupy important and strategic features and the passage which would become suply and reinforcement routes later. These recces were also made to establish the fact that there was no Indian presence at

a particular time. In the Zoji La sub-sector, Pakistani intention was to undertake an assault southwards and capture Batkulanganj Pass and to come down to block Gumri by occupying Chabutara and Mukund features. The National Highway could be effectively blocked here. The choice of Mushkoh Valley by Pakistan is obvious because of its

Postscript

463

easy access from

Pak base at Gultari in the north and

its direct

approach to Drass. With Tiger Hill and Tololing under their occupation Pakistan had stranglehold on a sizable stretch of Kashmir-Ladakh Highway. .

The Kaksar sub-sector has its own importance because that is

the gateway to Kargil township from Pakistan-held river drains through this Valley, to join Indus a Oblingthong—an important base for Pakistan troops. are important villages of Gunderman and Brielman

area. Shingo little beyond. In this Valley which were

liberated from Pak occuaption in 1971. Overlooking this valley is

the dominating feature of Hathimatha which is strongly held by Pak troops. Pak objective in this sub-sector was to pound the National

Highway

and

not

allow

any

movement

and

at the

opportune time to overwhelm Kargil town. Thereafter they would have moved up the Suru Valley, to Sankoo to cut off any relief to arrive from Drass region via Umba La. Then they would have pushed to Suru to block any reinforcement reaching from Kashmir Valley through Chilling Valley. From Suru Valley one plan could be to push through to Anantnag District in Kashmir and Doda District in Jammu region. Through Doda and also through Zanskar

they may have planned to gain access to Himachal and along the mountains to Garhwal and Kumaon Hills. Some may think this to

be far-fetched but...

With Kargil . secured the Pakistanis would have pushed to sit astride Humboting La and roll down to Batalik in the Indus Valley towards the north. Having got the Jubbar Hill under their control,

Pakistani objective was to race its troops up the Indus river from Batalik to Khaltse. Here the National Highway from Kashmir through Kargil enters the Indus Valley and then along the right bank of Indus goes up to Leh. Pakistan objective clearly was to control Chorbat La and secure the southwestern flank of the Shyok Valley. After taking into consideration the progress on other fronts Pakistan would have

launched a major attack in the Turtok sector from its strong bases in Siari and Khapaly. From all accounts this perhaps would have been its most crucial attack of over a Division strength. The aim would be to make a major thrust, quickly reach Thoise and try and capture the airstrip. This would not only deny the IAF use of this forward air base to maintain Siachen Garrison but to occupy it and " use it for landing airborne Pak troops, transport and artillery pieces

.

464

Kashmir Underground

for onward drive to Indian Brigade Headquarters at Partapur. From here the Pakistani objective would be to make a dash to Khardung La (18380 ft) and block arrival from Leh of any reinforcement. The other column would be moved up the Nubra Valley to Panamik and Sasoma to encircle the Siachen Garrison. Simultaneously another column of Pakistani Mountain commandos may be rushed through Saser La to Daulet Beg Oldi, last Indian outpost south of Karakoram Pass (18290 ft) in its desire to draw its own LOC from south of Siachen Glacier. The Pakistani purpose of operation in Kargil sector had to be much bigger than just intrusion and few skirmishes. Before any country starts a war, it focuses on its objective. As a Pakistani commentator Ayaz Amir wrote recently that “objective cannot be conquest or liberation of Kashmir because Pakistan lacks the strength for it”. He commented further “Mature nations do not seek unfavourable wars. Nor do they risk life and death for secondary objectives.” This then was Pakistan’s Greater Karakoran Plan, which was very deftly frustrated by the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force acting in concert. i Reality is Bitter Now that the Kargil war is over with all its toil, tears and blood, the public has a right to ask questions about it. Why did it come about? Who are responsible for gross negligence, incompetant handling, and grave lapses on part of our multiplicity of intelligence agencies? The situation was made more complicated by senior functionaries of the Government claiming categorically that there had been no lapse on the part of the intelligence agencies. Following the clamour for a thorough high-level probe, the Government has set up a 4-member Inquiry Committee headed by the well-known defence analyst K. Subrahmanyam. If it had been a statutory body it could have been more effective and would have inspired better confidence. The Army on its own has also set up a, Committee headed by a Colonel, for internal probe in alleged failures. The findings of the Army Committee is not likely to be made

public,

but

Subrahmanyam

Committee

report

after

three

months should be released for public scrutiny and debate, unlike the famed General Henderson-Brooks Report following the Chinese War in 1962, which is. still under wraps.

465

Postscript

There are hundreds of questions which Government has to answer. However, a few important ones that are being asked frequently, include : 1. Kargil town and its environs have been almost daily targets of Pakistani

more.

Other

than

shelling for past three years or

artillery retaliation

from

our

side,

what steps were taken to meet this threat to over 50,000

population in Kargil town and 23 affected villages?

Pak shelling was accurate and indicated that directions

were being given the Indian side. were being used investigated and culprit?

from a vantage point in Kargil from It was reported that STD telephones to send messages across. Was this were Government able to nab any

Since Pak shelling had made direct hits on AIR and Doordarshan buildings, DC’s office, Army and IOC oil depots, did Governemnt plan to relocate them? Pakistan

also destroyed the all-important foodgrains store? Has that been relocated and dispersed?

Because of frequent shelling and repeated migration of civilian population, did Government propose to make new settlements or construct adequate number of

bunkers or safe hideouts for the harassed and scared

population?

History of past 50 years and experience of past Pak

wars provided enough indication of entire Kargil region from Zoji La to Turtok. Even then, why did it. not receive the attention it demanded? Why was the presence of the Indian Army minimal in this region? One Brigade though

inflated,

located

at

Kargil

was

given

responsibility to guard over 140 kms. long stretch of LOC which is not only mountainous but climatically

hostile? Was there no periodical appreciation undertaken of changes

in threat perception from Pakistani side?

Either these were amateurish or the required inputs

were not made available. The threat in early May did not appear out of the blue. It must have taken months to build up. What were our formation commanders doing all this while? From the local Brigade Commander through Divisional Commander to Corps and then to the Army Commander at Udhampur are answerable to

Kashmir Underground

466

the nation. Was there not gross negligence of duty? The

public would like to know why no attention was paid

to this glaring weakness in the system of border defence? Is it a fact that first intrusion by Pakistan was deteced

in 1993-94 in Zoji La—Drass sector? In September 1997 Pak artillery pounded Kargil town and our response was quick and heavy. In April 1998 Pakistan made

strong attempts to disrupt traffic on Kashmir-Ladakh

Highway. Our heavy guns gave a fitting response. Starting September 1998 Pakistan made 14 atempts to

dislodge Indian defenders from towering posts on Soltoro Ridge on western side of Siachen glacier. With all these happening why could not our Generals assess the

escalating

situation?

Or

was

it on

account

of

structural lapses in the system analysing information that pours in from different sources? What steps were taken to protect the National Highway, increase

surveillance and patrolling of highly strategic sensitive area along the LOC in Kargil sector? Did the authorities have information that Pakistan constructing a road to Chorbat La in 1997 and had sent infiltrators to Yaldora Valley? What action

taken? Was

and

was also was

there any effort to monitor the unusual rise in

temperature in February-March this year in this sector leading to early melting of snow and making it possible to reach early the posts at heights which in every autumn were vacated due to severe winter? When the Border Roads Organisation cleared Zoji La of millions of tonnes of snow about a month earlier than usual, did the Generals not think of reoccupying the abandoned posts

immediately?

Cannot

pinpointed? | Why were the troops who

10.

the

negligence

be

took part in the Kargil

operations not suitably clothed and adequately equipped for arctic conditions? Was any thought given to reducing weight of equipment that a single jawan has to carry while operating in such climatic conditions and topographical situation, now that we have had 15 years experience in Siachen Glacier areas? An Indian jawan in such conditions has to carry

Postscript

467

load of about 24 Kgs. Then he is expected to walk many kilometers in knee-high snow or on ice or climb clifflike mountain faces. Against this the Pak soldiers in such areas used ultra-light Swiss Rucksacks, waterproof feather jackets, lightweight water proof arctic tents, lightweight climbing boots good for snows and

11.

mountain climbing. Was it only the question of budgetary grants or was it apathy and insensitiveness on the part of MOD bureaucrats? When did the Government learn of largescale intrusion and occupation by Pak Army of nearly 2000 square

kilometers of area on the India side of the LOC? Was it

really on May 5, 1999 as claimed by the Army that two

of its patrols in snow-covered Yaldora sub-sector northeast of Kargil detected some Pakistanis or was it earlier as reported by the intelligence agencies? Did it take 21 days, in emergency conditions to gather adequate

12.

13.

14.

force with proper logistic support to launch an attack to evict the enemy?

There are some nine different intelligence agencies operating. Did they all fail to report the build up that was going on in areas in Pakistan side of LOC in the past few months? Or was it that though the reports had been received there was lack of co-ordination and lack of proper analysis and assesment? Or did the Armed Forces fail to react immediately?

Is it a fact that Intelligence Bureau operatives (and there are over 400 of them) in Ladakh had reported in October 1998 that 300/400 persons were receiving training in the vicinity of Olthingthang—a Pakistani army base on the other side of LOC? Later reports had also hinted that these groups may infiltrate in April next into Kargil area. Is it a fact that the Intelligence Bureau goofed up completely in Turtok area by not taking action against the concerned persons when one of its undercover agents Ibrahim left Turtok village along with his family, crossed over to Pakistani side in 1994 and started living there and reportedly started working for them? Did he

not make frequent visits to this side to recruit agents for

468

Kashmir Underground

the enemy and also to bring arms and ammunition and leave them here in safe custody with dependable sympathisers whose loyalties had been won over by Pakistan (this area had been under Pakistan for 24 years)? Is it not a fact that early in June Ladakh Police arrested 24 Pak agents from Turtok and 3 nearby border villages and seized large cache of arms and ammunition? If not nabbed this could have become a major base for insurgency

15.

in

this

crucial

part

of

Shyok

Valley

endangering the Indian defences in Siachen Glacier area. Have the Leh citizens not petitioned the Union Home Minister to order a CBI inquiry into this unpardonable lapse? The country is spending over Rs. 2000 crores annually to maintain the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Is it worth it, if it fails the country at its most crucial hour

at Kargil? Why did not its agents in Pakistan pass information of the big build-up in Baltistan taking place since last year? Why did not its agents in Europe send information back home that Pakistan was on a shopping spree buying unusually large quantities of high-altitude

and

alpine

equipment,

clothing

and

sophisticated instrumentation? What were its Gulfstream ‘and Learjet aircraft specially fitted for aerial photography with oblique cameras and aerial surveillance, doing all this-while? And did its Aviation Research Centre (ARC) 16.

Boeing 737 not pick up any communication intelligence?

Did the RAW report that Pak Army Chief had visited Skardu and stayed 4 days in the Brigade Headquarters last summer?

Did

RAW

not find it unusual

for the

Army Chief doing that in a Brigade Hgs. in the forward area? Did they also report that immediately after the famed Indo-Pak handshake at Lahore in February 1999, Nawaz Sharif visited Skardu? Among other things he

also addressed a meeting where in a highly emotional speech he claimed Kargil to be a part of Pakistan?

The Subrahmanyam Committee should delve deep and without hesitation apportion blame to individuals howsoever high they may be. The Committee should also point out structural weaknesses in the system. It should also make recommendations to streamline

Postscript

,

469

the defence decision making apparatus, how to make the intelligence agencies more effective and result-oriented. It should also look into the urgent need to have a set-up for perspective policy planning and suggest an apparatus for higher _ strategy co-ordination. The National Security Council needs to be trimmed and made an effective

instrument

for constant

study

and

review

of threat

perceptions and security concerns as we enter the next millennium. Pakistan has threatened many Kargils after his humilating defeat. It has to be ensured that Kargil is not allowed to be repeated anywhere on the Indian soil.

Tomorrow Tomorrow, the sun will rise

From beneath the horizon And the day will be bright In plain and over mountain.

No more, dark black clouds will wander,

Any more, in the dale and sky No more vermillion on roads scatter

No more dahlias will,trampled be. Enough blood has flown in Jehlum,

So many sons it carried in bosom. It craves to flow with glory and gaiety Tomorrow it will with traditional honour and dignity. In spring the lilies and pansy will bloom And to the willow-wind, daffodil dance The rose will again scent the air Brining happiness from every where. The rivulets splashing will dance again Without fear the buds bloom The nightingale and sparrow will sing again And the nymphs will dancing pigtails bloom. This tomorrow will belong to me and thee When in ‘OUR LAND’ we shall be All this will prevail and come true And it will, Tomorrow it will be

SUHRAT

(The Daily Excelsior - December 11, 1994)

Annexures

.

471

GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR HOME DEPARTMENT NOTIFICATION SRINAGAR, the 16" April, 1990 SRO No. 148. Whereas the Islamic Jamait-e-Tulba is an Association:-

a)

b) c)

d)

e)

f)

g)

which encourages or aids persons and its sympathisers to undertake unlawful activities within the meaning of the

Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1983;

The members of which undertake such activities. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objects, activities and actions which interfere and aim at interference with the public administration the administration and the maintenance of law and order which constitute a danger to the public peace; . Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objects, activities and actions which are intended to encourage and which encourage aid and indicts the people to undertake activities which are offences punishable under section 153-A and 153-B of the State Ranbir Penal Code. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have

for its objects, activities and actions which are intended or

which may form a part of the scheme intend to threat or likely to threat or disrupt or likely to disrupt harmony between different religious groups of the State. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objects activities and actions which are intended or which form part of the scheme intend to cause or likely to cause, fear alarm and feeling of insecurity amongst members of different religious groups and con:munities in the State. Such person, sympathisers and members aforesaid by words either spoken or written, or by signs or visible representation have indulged in activities, e.g. this party alleges that the Kashmir question is disputed. On 20.7.1982 at Idd-Gah Srinagar its Chief, Sheikh Tajamul Islam said that his party would continue to struggle for the establishment of a Muslim State and on 5.11.1982 the IJT workers demanded Kashmir Question was still unresolved.

that the

And whereas for all or any of the grounds set out in the preceding paragraphs as also on the basis of other facts and materials in its possession which the State Government consider to be against the public

472

.

Kashmir Underground

interest to disclose the State Government is of opinion that the said Islamic

Jamait-e-Tulba is an unlawful Association.

Now therefore in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (I)

of Section 3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act,

1983 the Government of Jammu and Kashmir hereby declares the aforesaid party to be an unlawful Association. Any person, whether an office bearer or a member of the aforesaid Association or otherwise interested can make a representation in respect

of this Notification to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir within a

period of thirty days from the date of issuance of this Notification if he so desires. By order of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sd/-

ADDL. CHIEF SECRETARY (HOME) GOVT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR SRINAGAR

ANNEXURE ‘A’ to SRO 148 Details of some of the anti-national and prejudicial activities of Islamic Jamait-e-Tulba are given as under:1, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PARTY ARE TO INSTALL ISLAMIC RULE IN THE J&K STATE, IN UTTER DISREGARD 2.

3.

TO THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA / J&K.

Inthe year 1980 (March 1980) the party arranged a procession and a meeting in which Dr Yousuf-ul-Umar and Tajamul Islam criticised the Govt of India policy by alleging that she had captured Kashmir after inducting its army and by doing so Govt. of India upsurped the right of self determination of Kashmiris. On 5.8.1980 while addressing a press conference at Jehangir Hotel Srinagar, Sheikh Tajamul Islam emphatically denied that the acceptance of the constitution of India or Kashmir had stated that his party wanted to bring an Islamic revolution in Kashmir for getting Kashmir emancipated from the clutches

4.

of India.

On 17.6.1981, Chief of the party, Tajamul Islam commanded

the Muslims to stand united under the banner of Islam so that

Islamic type of Govt could be established after removing the present lawfully established Govts.

Annexures

5.

6.

7. 8.

473

On the occasion of Idd-ul-Fitter on 2.8.1981 at Iddgah Srinagar the Chief of the party Tajamul Islam challenged the accession of Kashmir to India and accused India of having snatched the right of self-determination of Kashmiris. On 27.7.1982 on the eve of Idd Millan rank and file of the party created a scene by displaying motto on Clock Tower Chowk Srinagar. Later at Orion Hotel Srinagar the speaker exhorted the audience to revolt against Indian imperialism and they should not accept constitution of India henceforth. They raised slogans against India. “Galli Galli Awaz Do” “Mulke Kashmir Chor Do.” On 1.6.1988 Sheikh-Tajamul Islam while addressing a press conference at Srinagar has stated that his party was interested

in established Islamic Government.

‘

On 18.9.1983 on the occasion of Idd prayers outside the Iddgah premises Srinagar Sheikh Tajamul Islam said that India had forcibly occupied Kashmir much against the wishes of

Kashmiris and stressed that Kashmir issue was still unsolved

and the only solution of it was in the conducting of plebiscite. 9.

10.

11.

On Dec. 20, 1984 follower of IJT addressed a press conference

at Hotel Bizone Srinagar stating that they desired to bring over Islamic revolution in the State and alleged that State accession to India was illegal and declared it as a conspiracy and fraud. The party managed to paste urdu posters titled “Muslims Ka Faraz” appealing to the muslims in India to take revenge against Hindus and enjoined to its leaders to make five copy of each posters and circulated the same among the public and thereby created communal hatred disharmony and scare among the members of other community. On June 13, 1989 at Srinagar in a press statement Inayat-Ullah

Indrabi Nazim-e-Alla (Chief Organiser) stated that revolution minded youths had taught the lesson to the pro-Indian and irreligious forces on the eve of Jamia Masjid episode on June

9, 1989. He described the youth responsible for the incident as

12.

13.

“Brave Soldiers of Islam.” One June 16, 1989 Inayat Ullah Indrabi issued leaflet entitled “Jamia Masjid Ka Waga Asal Hageegat’. He has asked the people not to consider the incident as a disruptive activity but should encourage such activities of revolutionary natures. In the first week of August 1989 two unidentified persons

threw booklets in the Sher-e-Kashmir mosque Amerakadal

474

Kashmir Underground entitled “Islami Inqalabi Jadoo Jajad-Ikhlaqai Bunyadoon Ki Tameer” published by IJT Chief Anayat Ullah Indrabi. In the booklet the has alleged that the position of India over Kashmir was the same as was of Britain over India prior to 1947. It laid stress for building moral foundation for launching a freedom struggle.

Annexures

475 GOVERNMENT

OF JAMMU

AND

HOME DEPARTMENT NOTIFICATION

KASHMIR

Srinagar, the 16th April, 1990

SRO No. 147

Whereas the Islamic Students League is an Association:a) Which encourages or aids persons and its sympathisers to unlawful activities within the meaning of the Jammu and b)

c)

d)

Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1983;

The members of which undertake such activities;

Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have

for its objects, activities and actions which interfere and aim

at interference with the public administration, the administration and the maintenance of law order and which constitute a danger to the public peace; : Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objects, activities and actions which

are interfere to

for its objects, activities and actions which

are intended or

for its objects, activities and actions which

are intended or

e)

encourage and which encourage, aid and incite the people to undertake activities which are offences punishable under section 153-A and 153-B of the State Ranbir Penal Code. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have

f)

which may form a part of the scheme intend to threat or likely to threat or disrupt or likely to disrupt harmony between different religious groups of the State. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have

g)

which form part of the scheme intend to case or likely to cause, fear alarm and feeling of insecurity amongst members or different religious groups and communities in the State. Such persons, sympathisers and members aforesaid by words, either spoken or written, only signs or visible representation have indulged in activities, e.g. on 16" January, 1987 the party called a meeting at Baramulla and exhorted the people not to participate in the Republic Day celebrations. Mohd. Abdullah Shirazi on 23.1.1987 said that the Central Government was responsible for launching the aggression on the muslim society. On 10" April, 1989 the League demanded the release of Shakeel Ahmad

Bakshi and Nayeem

Khan

and also said that Idd

should not be celebrated by the Kashmiri Muslims as their brethren were in Jails.

476

Kashmir Underground

And whereas for all or any of the grounds set out in the preceding paragraphs as also on the basis of other facts and materials in its possession which the State Government considers to be against the public interest to disclose, the State Government is of opinion that the said Islamic Students League is an unlawful Association. Now therefore in exercise of the powers conferred by the sub-section (1) of Section 3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment

Act, 1983, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir hereby declares the

aforesaid party to be an unlawful Association.

Any persons, whether an office bearer or a member of the aforesaid

Association or otherwise interested, can make a representation in respect

of this Notification to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir within a

period of thirty days from the date of issuance of this Notification if he so desires. By order of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sd/-

ADDL. CHIEF SECY (HOME) GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR HOME DEPARTMENT, SRINAGAR

ANNEXURE ‘A’ TO SRO 147: The details of some of the anti-national and prejudicial activities of ISL is given as under: 1. Since the party is a field baby of its parent party JEI/MUF, its aims and objects are to implement policies and programme projected by its parent party. However, the ISL Party has its own constitution known as “Islamic Students League Ka Nasbul Ain Wa Tariqakar”. According to it party will extend cooperation to any organisation dedicated to achieve Islamic identity. 2. OnJan. 16, 1987, the party called a meeting at Baitul Mukaram Mosque Baramulla which was attended by P. L. MEA and Shobai Tulba activists. The decision was taken that not to participate in the Republic Day celebration as a protest and sought to evoke anti-India feelings thereby. 3.

On Jan. 23, 1987, Mohd. Abdullah Sheerazi Convenor of the

Party at Ikhrajora mosque Srinagar criticised the secular and democratic policy of the Govt. with a view to incite communal

feelings and feelings of hatred between Hindus and Muslims

477

Annexures

4.

5.

and held Central Govt. responsible for launching a cultural aggression on muslim society. The members of the party pasted objectionable Pro-Pak posters on the walls and lamp posts at different places in the valley on the eve of Independence Day of Pakistan i.e., August 14th, 1988 to commemorate the Pakistan National Day. On

Oct. 25, 1988 on the eve of Id-e-Milad procession, the

activists of the party with a view to encourage extremists remarked that allegations against Kashmiri youths for indulging in terrorist and disruptive activities were baseless. The challenged the accession of the State with Indian Union

and in collusion with PL, KIF, IJT, Mahaz-e-Azadi gave a call

for general hartal on Oct. 27, 1988 to mark the protest as it was on that day that instrument of accession was executed. This

was done with a view to disturb law and order and constitute

6.

7.

8.

danger to public peace. Ina Friday congregation in Srinagar on April 21, 1989 Mohd.

Abdullah Sheerazi former President ISL with the sinister

design to ignite the religious sentiments of muslim community said that the majority community was being subjected to indiscriminate killings. OnJan. 18, 1990 Shakeel Ahmed Bakshi Chairman of the party while addressing congregation on the occasion of Chorrum ceremony of Mohd. Amin Reshi assailed the Govt. for inducting para military forces of India to crush the Mujahideen. He called for the cooperation to the Mujahideen in their crusade to end Indian occupation of Kashmir. He asked any body desirous to join the ranks of Mujahideen to achieve their goal to freedom of Kashmir by creating terror and disturbing public peace and disrupt law and order contact them. On Jan. 25, 1990 according to the press reports ISL alongwith JKLF have applied to the people to launch a civil disobedience movement in Kashmir and not pay taxes etc.

478

Kashmir Underground

GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR HOME DEPARTMENT NOTIFICATION SRINAGAR, the 16th April, 1990

SRP No. 149

Whereas the Mahaz-I-Azadi is an Association:— a) Which encourages or aids persons and its sympathisers to

undertake unlawful activities within the meaning of the

b)

c)

d)

e)

Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1983;

The members of which undertake such activities; Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have

for its objects, activities and actions which interfere and aim at interference with the public administration, the

administration and the maintenance of law and order and which constitute a danger to the public peace; Such persons and sympathisers and members of aforesaid have for its objects, activities and actions which are intended

to encourage and which encourage, aid and incite the people to undertake activities which are offences punishable under section 153 A and 153-B of the State Ranbir Panel Code. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objects, activities and actions and actions which are intended or which may form a part of the scheme intend to treat or likely to threat or disrupt or likely to disrupt harmony between different religious groups of the State. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objects, activities and actions which

are intended or

which form part of the scheme intend to cause or likely to cause, fear, alarm and feeling or insecurity amongst members of different religious groups and communities in the State. Such person, sympathisers and members aforesaid by words,

either spoken or written, or by signs or visible representation

have indulged in activities e.g. on 20" July, 1986 Mohd. Azam Ingilabi declared at Shamaswari, Srinagar that his party would struggle for freedom of Kashmir. On 7-8-1986 he addressed a meeting in Lal Chowk and demanded independence for Kashmir. He again gave a call for hartal on 2" February, 1989 to mark the death anniversary of Mohd. Maqbool Bhat and Whereas for all or any of the grounds set out in the preceding

paragraphs as also on the basis of either facts and materials in the

Annexures

479

possession which the State Government consider to be against the public interest to disclose, the State Government Mahaz-i-Azadi is an unlawful association.

is of opinion

that the said

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section

(1) of the section 3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment

Act, 1983, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir hereby declares the aforesaid party to be an unlawful association. Any person, whether an office bearer or a member of the aforesaid Association or otherwise interested, can make a representation in respect

of this Notification to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir within a

period of thirty days from the date of issuance of this Notification, if he

so desires.

By order of the Governor,

Sd/-

ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY, HOME ANNEXURE A TO SRO 149

Details of some of the anti-national and prejudicial activities of Mahaz-e-Azadi are given as under:1. The aim and object of the party is that (1) Kashmir issue is yet to be solved and need to be resolved according to the UNO resolution to exercise the right of 2. 3. 4.

5.

self-determination.

In 1983 its workers/activists took active part in the incident which erupted out of cricket match between India and West Indies at Srinagar. The party with its anti-national motive issued statement on the death sentence of Maqbool Bhat and motivated the people to observe hartal to enlist protest against the decision. On the night of May 15/16, 1984 the party pasted posters “Azadi Kay Parwanay Gasibon Kay Qaidain”. The spokesman of the party further alleged that they could continue their struggle for the freedom of Kashmir under the very leadership of its founder Sofi Mohd. Akbar. On Dec. 11, 1984 Mohd. Azam Inqlabi, President of the party stated that Kashmir issue was unsolved and he had a comprehensivd plan about peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue in case people extend their support.

Kashmir Underground

480

On 18.5.85 workers of this party in collusion with peoples league workers spread rumours in Anantnag that Sofi Mohd. Akbar had expired, on this account Hamel Indrabi and Mohd. Iqbal activists instigated shopkeepers to observe hartal besides organising processing in which pro-Pak and anti national

slogans were raised.

10.

11.

12. 13.

14.

15.

The party also was responsible for hartal on 11.2.86 in Kulgam to mark the death anniversary of Maqbool Bhat. On 14.7.86 Mohd. Azam Inqlabi held Indian National Congress and RSS responsible for partition of the country in 1947. He exhorted people to call upon the leadership to review its Kashmir policy and stop the changing the Muslim majority character in the state. On July 20, 1986 Mohd. Azam Inqlabi at Shamswari Srinagar stated that his party being similar to that of Liberation Front and would keep their struggle for freedom unabated. On Aug 7, 1986 Mr. Inqlabi said that they intends an autonomous Kashmir and party would continue its struggle

for this.

On Dec. 15, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, an activist of the party ridiculed the official announcement that Mohd. Akbar Sofi was a freedom fighter, as no such goal had been achieved by

them so far.

On Jan. 17, 1988 the party issued. hand bills/posters urging the people not to celebrate Republic Day and boycott it, instead black flags should be hoisted. On the eve of Friday congregation at Jamai Masjid Sopore on Jan. 22, 1988 Mohd. Azam Inqlabi described Maqbool Bhat a Martyr who wanted liberate Kashmir from slavery shackles. On Feb. 10, 1988 Azam Inqlabi was found persuading shopkeepers in and around Jamat market Srinagar, to observe

Magbool day on Feb. 1, 1988 by hoisting black flags on their shops and house-tops besides holding prayers, meeting. On July 21, 1989 Azam Inqlabi in his statement at Srinagar at Srinagar appealed to Kashmiri to adopt the path of armed struggle against India. He disclosed that during his long stay of 11 months in POK he has come to conclusion that Kashmir

has to struggle themselves for a solution of Kashmir issue.

While

in POK

he met the leaders of Kashmir

Freedom

Movement, Jamit-i-Islami, muslim Conference, Islami Jamait

Tulba etc. besides visiting the battle field of Jalababad Afghanistan and meeting of afghan guerillas.

in

481

Annexures

16. 17.

18.

19. 20.

On Aug. 31, 1989 in a statement at Sgr. Inqlabi criticised Pakistan for its observance of silence over the recent incidents in the valley. Bashir Ahmed Bhat, Genl Secy of the party of Oct. 8, 1989 ina

public meeting at Anantnag Jamai Masjid described the Kashmir issue unsettled and asked all political parties to be united for launching a struggle for liberation of Kashmir. On Nov. 8, 1989 Azam Inqlabi in a press statement at Sgr. Alleged that Kashmir youths had been forced to take arms when they were denied the right of self-determination. He further warned that all the 32 prosecution witnesses in the murder case of Maqbool Bhat were on their hit list. On Jan. 2, 1990 in a press statement at Sgr. Inqlabi claimed that his ‘Mahafaz Dasta’ (security guard) has successfully

recovered a rev/amn. from an informer in Jamai Masjid area.

OnJan. 3, 1990 the party had asked the people at Sgr. through a press note to observe Jan. 5, 1990 as a ‘right of self determination day” with illumination and taking out of a procession.

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482

GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR HOME DEPARTMENT

NOTIFICATION

Srinagar, the 16" April , 1990

SRO No: 150

Whereas the Peoples League is an association: a) Which encourages or aids persons and its sympathisers to undertake activities within the meaning of the Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1983. b) The members of which undertake such activities. °) Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objects, activities and actions which interfere and aim at interference with the public administration, the administration and the maintenance of law and order and which constitutes a danger to public peace. d) Such person and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objects, activities and actions which are intended to encourage, aid and incite the people to undertake objective

which are offences punishable u/s 153-A and 153-B of the State

e)

Ranbir Penal Code. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objectives, activities and actions which are intended or which may form a part of the scheme intend to threat or likely

to threat or disrupt or likely to disrupt

harmony between

different religious groups and communities in the State. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objects, activities and actions which are intended or which form part of the scheme intended to cause or likely to cause, fear alarm and feeling of insecurity amongst members of different religious groups and communities in the State. Such persons, sympathisers and members aforesaid, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or visible representation have indulged in activities e.g. after the formation of the

Peoples’ League the leaders of the party desired to have arms training imparted. to their workers secretly on the pattern of Chinese guerillas. In 1984 this group incited the Muslims and the youth to take to arms. In May 1985 Farooq Rahmani provoked that religious sentiments of the Muslims and tried to provoke people on the writ petition filed in the Calcutta High Court on the issue of Holy Qurran. The group has also

given a call for boycotting Republic Day Celebrations.

Annexures

483

And whereas for all or any of the grounds set out in the proceeding paragraphs as also on the basis of other facts and materials in its possession which the State Government considers to be against the public interest to disclose, the State Government is of opinion that the Peoples’

League is an unlawful Association. Now therefore in exercise of the powers conferred by sub section (1)

of Section 3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act,

1983, the Government aforesaid party to be an An person, whether Association or otherwise

of Jammu and Kashmir hereby declares the unlawful Association. an office bearer, or a member of the aforesaid interested, can make a representation in respect

of the Notification to the Government of J&K within a period of thirty days from the date of issuance of this Notification, if he so desires.

By order of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. SD/ADDL. CHIEF SECRETARY (HOME) J&K GOVERNMENT, SRINAGAR

ANNEXURE

‘A’ TOS.R.O

150

Details of some of the anti-national and prejudicial activities of Peoples League are given as under:1. The aim and objects of the group are to achieve the right of self-determination and the settlement of Kashmir issue in the light of UNO resolution, 1948 by taking recourse to unconstitutional methods. The militants among the party are

2.

opposing the State’s accession to India. InMay 1986 Farooq Rehmani with ulterior motive to provoke the religious sentiments of Muslim highlighted the episode of filing of writ petition on the issue of the alleged ban on Holy Qurran in Calcutta High Court. The workers of the group also raised pro-Pak slogans when the rumour about the death of Sofi Mohd. Akbar was set afloat by some members of the party resulting in communal disharmony and feelings of ill will and

3.

hatred.

.

The group also endorsed a call for boycotting celebration of Republic Day of 1987. The group also gave a call on February

9 to observe annual death anniversary of Maqbool Bhat on February

11, 1990 as a mark of solidarity to the support

Kashmir Underground

extended by anti-Indian forces to the Kashmiris for their freedom movement. In January 1988 the workers of the party issued hand bills/ posters on the eve of Republic Day of India appealing the people to boycott the celebration of Republic Day in protest against detention of Shabir Shah. They also hoisted black flags on the Republic Day at various places in Srinagar City and other towns of the valley. This resulted in disturbing public peace and order and interfered with the smooth functioning of the public administration. The party on February 17, 1988 urged shopkeepers and transporters to observe death anniversay of Maqbool Bhat by observing hartal thus interfering with the maintenance of Supplies and Services essential to the life of the people at large. Ina meeting (July 10/11) at Kadipora Anantnag some activists of the party decided that Muslims should emulate the spirits to Jehad like Afghan Mujahideen so as to achieve liberation of Kashmir from the Union of India by inciting fear and alarm and feelings of insecurity amongst members of different religious groups in Kashmir. On August 28, 1988 Shabir Shah urged the youth to continue their struggle for establishment of Nizam Mustaffa in the State thus ousting of secular character of Indian Policy and for this purpose to drive out for the valley all non-Muslims or as an alternative to subject themselves to Nizam-e-Mustaffa. On May 12, 1989 Abdul Aziz Sheikh an activists of the Party thanked people for their cooperation in observing hartal in connection with ‘Kashmir Quit Movement’.

10.

11.

On October 27/28, 1989 the party gave a call for two days hartal as a mark of protest against landing the Indian troops in J&K State in 1947 thereby arousing anti-national feelings among the people. On December 22, 1989 hand bills depicting ‘People League Ka Kiya Paigam’ “Fateh, Azadi aur Islam” were found in circulation in the City. This caused a fluster and sense of insecurity in the minds of the minority community of Kashmir. Poster purportedly issued by various under ground organisations, including people’s League and Hizbullah were found pasted on wall/lamp posts at different places in the

valley calling upon the people to observe January 26, 1990 as a black day People’s League posters on behalf of Shabir Ahmed

Annexures

485

Shah carried a motto that the Indian constitution was unacceptable and only the Holy Qurran was the code of human beings thus causing panic in the minds of non-Muslims and threaten and disrupt communal harmony in the valley. People

were appealed to impose self curfew on January 26, 1990 and

boycott all functions connected with national celebrations.

Kashmir Underground GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR HOME DEPARTMENT

NOTIFICATION SRINAGAR, the 16 APRIL, 1990. SRO No. 146 a)

b)

c)

dq)

Whereas the Jamait-i-Islami J&K is an Association:-

Which encourages or aids persons and its sympathisers to undertake unlawful activities within the meaning of the

Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1983.

The members of which undertake such activities. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objects, activities and actions which interfere and aim at interference with the public administration, the administration and the maintenance of law and order and which constitute a danger to the public peace. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have

for its objects, activities and actions which

are intended

to

encourage and which encourage, aid and incite the people to undertake activities which are offences punishable under section 153-A and 153-B of the state Ranbir Penal Code. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objects, activites and actions which are intended or which may form a part of the scheme intend to threat of likely to threat of disrupt or likely to disrupt harmony between different religious groups of the State. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objects, activities and actions which are intended or

which form a part of the scheme intend to cause or likely to cause, fear alarm and feeling of insecurity amongst members of the different religious groups and communities in the State. Such persons, sympathisers and members aforesaid by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or visible representation have indulged in activities e.g. on 3° January, 1989, Mr. Ashraf

Sharahi General Secretary in a statement criticised Simla Agreement as a conspiracy & claimed that Kashmir issue could be settled only through self determination. Similarly on 1" _

February, 1989 S.A.S Geelani asserted that elections were no substitute for self determination, and

Whereas for all or any of the grounds set out in the preceding

paragraphs as also on the basis of other acts and materials in the possession which the State Government considers to be against the public

Annexures .

487

interest to disclose, the State Government is of opinion that the said

Jamait-I-Islami is an unlawful association.

Now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub section(1)

of section 3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act,

1983 the Government of J&K hereby declares the aforesaid party to be

an unlawful association.

Any person, whether and office bearer or a member of the aforesaid

Association or otherwise interested can make a representation in respect

of this Notification to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir within a

period of thirty days from the date of issuance of this Notification, if he so desires. By order of the Governor.

Sd/-

ADDL. CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVT HOME DEPARTMENT

ANNEXURE

‘A’ TO

S.R.O 146

The detail of some of the anti-national and prejudicial activities is given as under:1. The Party aims to carve out an Islamic State out of the present Government established by law. 2. The party disputed the accession of the J&K State with India and preaches time and again secession of the State from Union told and induced youth by exhorting them that it would be Kashmiris who have to decide about the fate of Kashmir and

3.

4. 5. 6.

none else.

It criticises the Centre and State Government's for measures taken by the Government to reduce the Muslim majority complexion of the State into minority. It further criticised the special status conferred on the State vide Article 370 of the Indian constitution stands from time to time. The party does not accept the constitution of the State describing it as a fraud committed by undemocratic Governments. The party alleged that Kashmir issue is still unsolved and needs to be decided in accordance with the resolutions of UNO. The JEI has a organising structure headed by Amir-e-Jamat.

There is also Majlia-e-Shoora comprising of 31 members appointed by Amir to advise him on baffling issues.

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Kashmir Underground

On June 13% Amir-e-Jamat, Ghulam Mohd. Bhat ina press release at

Srinagar, claimed that Kashmir was disputed territory whereas earlier to it Ghulam Qadir Wani (Amir-e-Tehsil Bandipora) on June 9, while

addressing the congregation enjoined upon Kashmiris to liberate their land. He questioned the accession and criticised the late J.L.Nehru, S.M Abdullah and Indira Gandhi for cheating the people of State and keeping them in dark about accession to India and alleged that instrument of accession is devoid of democratic sanction and was an open issue. Similar

views were expressed by G.M

Shafi (Amir-e-Zilla, Baramulla) on August

19, 1986 and Abdul Majid a JEI activist Sopore on Augut 29, 1986 Ghulam Nabi Nowsherhri resented vehemently the taking of Darsagahs by the government, in April 1987, assailing the conception of socialism and secularism he laid claim that these were anti-Islam and emphasised that Islam was a complete code of life. Whereas,

S.A.S Geelani criticised

bunglings in election and marked that Government would crumble under its own weight, at Srinagar May 13, 1987. While addressing Friday congregation Abdul Majid that Baramulla

criticised (Sopore-May 20) the policies of State and Central Governments

as anti-Islamic. He remarked that bear was ‘Halal’ for Muslims yet

slaughter of bovine animals was banned in the State. On the other hand consumption of liquor was banned in Islam but it was permitted. He alleged that there was no freedom of religions by allowing simply pray five times a day. According in press release issue by JEI in a Shoora meeting (June 3, 1988- Srinagar) in one of the resolution among others, India and Pakistan were appealed to concede the demand of Kashmiris for the exercise of their rights of self - determination. In the two days annual Ijtimah held at (Tahama Idgah-Sopore-June

25/26) Abdul Majid Bhat S.A.S Geelani and Prof. A.G. Bhat exhorted

the congregation not to yield to the pressures of Batil Nizam. Sh. Geelani

asked the rank and file that accession the Indian Union was a wrong

decision as it yielded no good to the Kashmiris on the other hand he said the instance of progress of Pak Occupied Kashmir were self speaking. S.A.S Geelani on July 1, 1988 while addressing a Friday congregation at Baramulla held out that they were prepared to make all sacrifices

relieving Kashmiris from the shackles of slavery. He referred to the

Presidential ordinance separating religion from politics and remarked that it amounts to an open interference in the affairs of the Muslims and it should not be made applicable to the Muslims in the country. Referrring to Kashmir issue G.M. Bhat said that Kashmir issue is being considered as disputed one by his party. He added that this dispute could not be resolved unless the Muslims in general and Muslims youth in particular assemble under one banner and struggle for its settlement.

Annexures

489

On July 25, 1988 at Sopore while addressing Id-ud-Zuha congregation Shri Geelani, MLA Sopore remarks vehemently that Islam was not free in Indian Union fold and they have to strive hard for getting it emancipated from slavery chains.

Mohd. Ashraf Saraf (Amir-e-Zilla Baramulla) while addressing Id-

congregation at Baramulla (July 25) among other things said that extension of Presidential ordinance to J&K State banning misuse of places of religious worship would be resisted by JEI. He criticised the conduct

of census in the State.

.

Nazir Ahmed Kashani ina press statement on August 13, 1989 urged the Government not to make any move to introduce bill regarding misuse

of religious places-as it would be resisted/resented and marked that it

was deep rooted conspiracy against religions. G.M Sofi while addressing a congregation (Sopore September 2) he condemned the leaders who mislead the Muslims by assuring that Islam was quit safe. Regarding the adoption of religious institutions prevention "of misuse bill by parliament, he said that it was beyond comprehension as to how laws made by man could be imposed on the house of God (mosque). He induced the audience by saying that such a thing could be possible in the case of a temple or a Gurdwara but not in the case of mosque (House of God). While addressing a public meeting at Vilgam, Handwara September 9, 1988 JEI leader S.A.S Geelani said that Muslims in India did not enjoy freedom of religions and they are being distented from religion through conspiracies. The aim and object of the party is to replace present political system through establishment of Nizam-e-Mustaffa . He reiterated that JEI stood for an opportunity to exercise their right of self - determination. S.A.S Geelani, while addressing a Friday congregation (SoporeSeptember 16) assailed the ideals of socialism and secularism by alleging

that minorities are maltreated in India. Muslims are dubbed as second class citizens and whereas Sikhs are treated as third class citizens.

Daily mouth piece “Azan” of JEI party in its issue dated January 3, 1989 published a threat given by S.A.S Geelani and G.M. Sumji MLAs to start a public row in case Government established by law ventured to have the interest of the people of the valley by evolving three new districts in Jammu against one in Kashmir. On January 3, 1989 Mohd.

Ashraf Sahrai, general secretary in a

statement criticised Simla Agreement as a conspiracy to end the disputed Kashmir issue. On the other hand he claimed that Kashmir could be settled only by the exercise of right of self-determination. The Daily offiial organ “Azan” of JEI in its column January 1989 condemned the arrest of Kashmiris youth by the Govt. in its editorial of January 11, issue (at the end of editorial) it remarked that while the whole

490

Kashmir Underground

country would celebrate its Republic Day with gait, the people of Kashmir would be lamenting over their plight. On January 13, 1989 G.M. Sofi Saifi while addressing a Friday congregation (Bhit-ul-Mukaram-mosque-Baramulla) criticised the action local police against local butchers for slaughtering of bovine animals. He suggested clandestinely to them not to carry on this part of trade openly. While referring to the remarks of Rajiv Gandhi the end of SAARC Conference, the speakers said that Kashmir issue could not be solved under the Simla Agreement but on the other hand it could be solved in giving the opportunity to the Kashmir people to exercise the right of

self-determination.

Again January 16 (Naidgam-Shopian) Hakim Ch. Nabi JEI chief, Sh. Qadir Wani, Abdul Hamid Fayaz(ITI) and others criticising the constructive programme of family planning said that it was well planned conspiracy to reduce the Muslim majority to the microscopic minority. Moulvi Ghulam Mohd Bakshi while addressing Friday congregation (Baga Sahib Mosque-Baramulla-Srinagar, January 20) appreciated the crusade of Afghan rebels and called the Kashmiris to emulate the spirit of struggle in order to shake off slavery shackles. Ghulam Mohd. Sofi

Saifi on February 3, 1989 at Sopore exhorted

the gathering to foil the attempts of force inimical to Islam and prayed for the success of Afghan Mujahideen (Rebels) Palestines and Kashmiri people. On February 17, 1989 Mohd. Ashraf Sahrai while addressing a public meeting (Harijan ) condemned the part of Indian Government in supporting the Soviets in Afghanistan and remarked that conspiracies to hurt the sentiments of the Muslims in India are going on Muslim youths to arrest/interrogation the future of innocent Muslims was being ruined. During the Zuhur prayers in Idagh Qadem Bala April 6 speakers including Mohd. Ashraf Saraf,.G.M Saifi and others said that they would being about an Islamic revolution in the State under the pattern of Afghan Mujahideen. Ch. Mohd. Saifi alleged that J&K was a disputed territory and JKLF

was in favour of un-independent Kashmir. He held Dr. Faroog Abdullah responsible in the execution of late Maqbool Bhat besides demanding release of all arrested youth and stoppage of further arrests. S.A.S Geelani (Sopore-April 7) called upon youth to be prepared to lay down their lives to achieve their freedom. Again on April 14, 1989 at

Sopore disclosed that he had not sought votes for electorate merely for seeking fulfilment of their demands on the other hand he had promised

them to continue struggle for liberating Kashmir. He reiterated that Kashmir was under illegal occupation of India since last 40 years. He

threatened that an attempt on the part of Govt. to close down

their

Annexures

491

Darasaghs would be met with dire consequences. He exhorted the youths for launching struggle to free themselves from shackles of slavery. On April 7, 1989 S.A.S Geelani at Jamia Masjid Sopore, in an iftar party stated that the recent activities of separatist /subversive elements in Srinagar was an expression of growing misrule of the State Govt. He

criticised the State accession to Indian Union was not final at all unless

the people of Kashmir get the chance to exercise the right of selfdetermination. He condemned the people of Pakistan to the extent they voted in favour of secular and socialistic elements at the general elections in the country. In another Friday congregation (Baba Sahib Mosque-Baramulla Srinagar-April 21) G.M Bakshi criticised the Central Govt. and remarked that India was only place where the worship places of minority communities were usurped by the majority community. While addressing Friday congregation at Jamia Masjid Sopore May 6G.M Saifi, Amir-e-Zilla, Baramulla

disclosed that if Kashmiri Muslims

would act like Afghan Mujahideen and Indian rulers would inevitable have to retreat from Kashmir. He exhorted the people to be ready for launching a ‘JEHAD’ Mohd. Ishaq Naziki Imam for liberation in a practical way in emulation to Afghan Mujahideen. Syed Ali Shah Geelani at Sopore on (May 12) declared that present hartal/strike as a beginning of so-called “Quit Kashmir Movement” and asked the people to lend support to the movement by observing hartals whenever call was given. He alleged that Kashmiris were living as slaves in India and the present hartal was a reflection of their desire to free themselves from the slavery chains. S.A.S Geelani accompained by Abdul Ahad Bhat (Amir-e-Tehsil Kupwara) had visited the families of all those persons who had been involved in terrorist and disruptive activities and paid Rs. 300/- as assiatance to each family. On 27/28 May, 1989 Syed Ali Shah Geelani while addressing an ljtimah at idgah Langate said that JEI would not rest at peace unless socialism and secularism were eradicated from the State. He remarked that only solution to the so-called Kashmir issue was to allow Kashmiris to exercise their right of self determination. Syed Ali Shah Geelani, senior Jamat leader, while addressing a public meeting at Beerwah-July 19, 1989, said that the Kashmiris were living as slaves since last four decades. He said that if the people wanted to shake off the shackles of their slavery they should not be scared of bullets.

Referring to the activities of terrorism he asserted the JEI was in

agreement with the principles and aims and objectives of terrorists and

they had sympathies with them.

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Kashmir Underground

On July 29" - 30", 1989 in a congregation at Idgah Zaloura Sopore, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and others said that Muslims continued to get raw deal and were victimised in communal violence, Later on in a debate

organised by the party GM Saifi (Amir-a-Zilla Baramulla) said that JEI would launch and armed struggle to seek settlement of the so-called

Kashmir issue. On

19/20"

August

1989

S.A.S

Geelani

while

addressing

a

congregation at Shalimar, claimed that the so-called Kashmir issue was

unresolved and demanded its settlement in accordance with UNO

resolution. He said that besides setting up Islami Nizam, JEI wanted

freedom of Jammu and Kashmir.

On 26-27" August, 1989 while addressing in an Ijtimah at Idgah AhliHadis Anantnag on being asked Syed Ali Shah Geelani said that militants

were on true path as per their own ideology and thinking.

On December 8" , 1989 S.A.S Geelani while addressing a Friday

congregation at Sopore exhorted the participants to abstain from political discussions and instead extend all kind of support to freedom loving youths and join their ranks. On February 15" 1990 Syed Ali Shah Geelani while addressing in an ljtimah at Malabagh Srinagar disputed the State’s accession with

Indian Union and demanded its settlement in accordance with UNO

resolutions. Referring to prevailing situation in the valley he said that Kashmir youth were left with no option but to pick up arms and fight for restoration of their rights. He refuted that Pakistan was in any way involved in the present situation in Kashmir.

Annexures

493

GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR HOME DEPARTMENT NOTIFICATION SRINAGAR, THE 16™ APRIL, 1990

SRO No. 151

Whereas the JKLF (Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front) is an

Association:a) Which encourages or aids persons and its sympathisers to undertake unlawful activities within the meaning of the b) c)

Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1983.

The members of which undertake such activities: Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objects , activities and actions which interfere and aim at

d)

e)

f)

g)

interference

with

the

public

administration,

the

administration and the maintenance of law and order and which constituted a danger to the public peace: Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have for its objects, activities and actions which are intended to encourage and which encourage, aid and incite the people to undertake activities which are offences punishable under section 153-A and 153-B of the State Ranbir Panel Code. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have

for its objects, activities and

actions which are intended or

which may form a part of the scheme intend to threat or likely to threat or disrupt or likely to disrupt harmony between different religious groups of the State. Such persons and sympathisers and members aforesaid have

for its objects, activities and actions which are intended or

which form part of the scheme intend to cause or likely to cause, fear alarm and feeling of insecurity amongst members of different religious groups and communities in the State. Such persons, sympathisers and members aforesaid by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or visible representation have indulged in activities e.g., the party has made a clear announcement that through armed struggle it will achieve independence

for the people of Kashmir.

By another

announcement the JKLF has nominated Yassin Malik a Commander-N-Chief, Abdul Hameed Sheikh, Deputy CNC

and Javed Mir, Publicity and Information incharge. It has already given a clear call for independence. On 26" January, 1990 the party had the plan to declare independence.

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Kashmir Underground

And whereas for all or any of the grounds set out in the preceding paragraphs as also on the basis of other facts and materials in its possession which the State Government considers to be against the public interest to disclose, the State Government is of opinion that the said party is an unlawful Association. Now therefore in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act 1983, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir hereby declare the

aforesaid party to be an unlawful Association.

Any person, whether an office bearer or a member of the aforesaid

Association or otherwise interested can make a representation in respect

of this Notification to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir within a

period of thirty days from the date of issuance of this Notification if he so desires. By order of the Government of Jammu and Kashmir.

Sd/-

ADDL. CHIEF SECRETARY HOME DEPARTMENT GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR WINTER SECTT. SRINAGAR

ANNEXURE

A TO SRO 151,

Details of some of the anti-national and prejudicial activities of JKLF are given and under, Aims and object of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front 1. Secession of J&K from Union of India through Armed struggle. Some major instances of Anti-national/ prejudicial activities of JKLF are numerated below:1. In the fourth convention of JKLF held at Lutan England in October 1982 a number of resolutions with regard to

independence of J&K State were passed and adopted under

2.

the signature of Shri Aman Ullah Khan. JKLF has been preaching secession of J&K State from Union of India and in this connection it gave calls through posters to the people of State to observe 15 August 1988 and 1989 (Independence Day) as black day in the state protest against the alleged occupation of Kashmir by Indian forces. Similar calls were issued on the occasion of Independence Day as well.

Annexures

3. 4.

5.

6.

7.

495

JKLF in its attempt to cause secession of J&K State from Union of India tried to create public disorder by giving calls for bunds and strike through posters. In November 1989 JKLF and its allies launched a boycott campaign for the 9 Lok Sabha Elections and through its coercive methods it succeeded to a large extent in this campaign.

JKLF militants unleashed a reign of terror in the Kashmir valley and indulged in a large number of assassinations. The party through press notes published by different newspapers of the valley proudly accepted and took credit for these dastardly acts. The main victims of the violence were political workers and public servants responsible for maintenance of public order. By these acts the party intended to create chaos in the state and a complete break down of machinery of a lawful Govt. to achieve their nefarious design. In December

1989 terrorists having allegiance with JKLF

kidnapped Dr. Rubiya Sayeed D/o Mufti Mohd. Sayeed Home Minister Union of India and demanded release of five militants in exchange. After negotiations Dr. Rubiya was released in exchange of the militants. Mr Aman Ullah Khan Chairman of JKLF through a statement declared this criminal act of kidnapping of an innocent girl to the biggest achievement of the organisation. Through the same statement the Chairman of JKLF confessed on behalf of his organisation the killing of Sh. N.K. Ganjoo retired session judge for what he called the announcement of an unjust and politically motivated judgement. The chairman of JKLF Mr. Aman Ullah Khan through a statement issued on January 1, 1990 in Rawalpindi Pakistan declared JKLF to be an enemy

8.

of Govt. of India and its

functionaries and all such political parties in India which support the accession of J&K State with India. He further declared that all such functionaries and political party members should be made targets. In April 1990 JK Students Liberation Front a satellite of JKLF

organised the kidnapping of Prof. Mushir-ul-Haq ,Vice Chancellor of Kashmir University, Mr. Abdul Gani Dy. Registrar Kashmir University and Shri H.L Khera General

Manager HMT Srinagar. The kidnapees were subsequently killed by the militants according to statement of Aman Ullah Khan chairman of JKLF issued by him ina press conference at

the

UN

Headquarter in New York on April 4, 1990.

496

Kashmir Underground TO BE PUBLISHED

IN THE GAZETTE

ORDINARY

OF INDIA EXTRA-

PART II, SECTION 3, SUB-SECTION (II) DATED 18-2-1996 DEPARTMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR AFFAIRS

NEW DELHI, the 18" February, 1996

NOTIFICATION S.O. 131 (E) - WHEREAS

the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front

(herein after referred to as JKLF) is an association actually based in Pakistan and London having sympathisers, supporters and agents on Indian soil, especially in Jammu & Kashmir and

1.

Ithas openly declared as its aim secession of the State of Jammu

and

Kashmir

purpose

from the Union of India, and

to achieve this

a) has been mobilising Kashmiri youth with the help of Pak

Inter Services Intelligence, exhorting them to intensify the

armed struggle against the State Government established by law to achieve liberation of the State of Jammu and Kashmir and indulging in activities prejudicial to the security and territorial integrity of India b) has been spearheading a campaign for uniting militant outfits, professing secession

c) has been opposing holding of elections in the State of Jammu & Kashmir thereby obstrructing people from exercising their democratic and constitutional rights (the group has continued to advocate granting of selfdetermination and unity amongst various militant

outfits); d) its President, Yasin Malik, in an interview made an

2.

appeal to the former US President George Bush in December, 1995 to intervene for liberating the State from the Indian Union

It has, in its attempt to cause secession of the State of Jammu

& Kashmir from the Union of India

a) indulged in militant acts including abductions, shootouts

and threatening employees and large quantities of arms

and ammunition continue to be recovered from the activists of the group. b) Has been sending youth for training across the border c) Has been giving hartal calls to disrupt life and taking out processions in violation of prohibitory orders

Annexures

3.

497

The activists of JKLF have been violating prohibitory orders and creating law and order situation and on 28.7.94, 31.7.94, 10.12.94, 28.1.95, 22.10.95, and 24.10.95 processions were taken

4. 5. 6.

7. 8.

out by JKLF violating prohibitory orders. JKLF claimed responsibility for attacks on security forces at Sonawari and Rafiabad in Baramulla District on 2™ April, 1994. JKLF has been confessing involvement in subversion and issued details of attacks by the JKLF on security forces in Urdu daily ‘Mashriq’ dated 28" October, 1995. JKLF kidnapped one Atif Amin, son of Mohd. Amin Bhat resident of Theed Harwan during the night intervening 14/ 15 November, 1994 at New Theed, who was subsequently released. Militants belonging to JKLF killed one Imtiyaz Ahmed S/o Sajad Parvez resident of Chotta Bazar, Srinagar on 24t* November, 1994 The JKLF has been making open pronouncements prejudicial to the interest of the nation and having serious repercussions for the integrity and security of India, such as the following : a)

Yasin Malik, President of JKLF, in an interview to The Statesman on January 22, 1995 reiterated the demand for

complete independence for Kashmir b) Amanullah Khan, Pakistan occupied Kashmir-based Chairman of JKLF, also asserted the demand of the people of J&K for ‘Azadi’ in an article published in March 1995 in the Pakistani daily “News” (subsequently he reiterated his views in ‘The Kashmir

Post’ (May

1995), a journal

published from London by the Kashmir Information Centre). c) JKLF warned the people of the State from paying taxes and asked the Government employees not to submit their property statements.

And whereas the Central Government is of the opinion that tor the aforesaid reasons the JKLF (including its members, activists, armed group sympathisers and self-styled leaders, operating inside India and abroad) is an unlawful association; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section

(7) of Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 (17 of 1967), the Central Government hereby declares the Jammu & Kashmir

Liberation Front (JKLF), including its members, activists, armed groups, sympathisers and self-styled leaders operating inside India and abroad to be an unlawful Association:

498

Kashmir Underground And whereas the Central Government is further of the opinion that

because of its continued activities aimed at secession and the repeated acts of violence and attacks by its armed groups on the security forces and on the civilian population, Now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by the provision to Sub-section (3) of the said section the Central Government

directs

that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under

Section 4 of the said Act, have effect from the date of its publication in

the Official Gazette.

(F.No. 13014/13/95-R (DO-1) DIP/ J-4046/96 Sd/Dt: 28.3.96 (C PHUNSOG) JOINT SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

499

Annexures

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

DEPARTMENT OF JAMMU

& KASHMIR AFFAIRS

NOTIFICATION

NEW DELHI, the 17 February, 1998 S.O. 129 (E) - WHEREAS

(herein after referred

the Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front

to as JKLF)

is an association actually based

in

Pakistan and London having sympathisers, supporters and agents on Indian soil, especially in Jammu & Kashmir and 1. It has openly declared as its aim, secession of the State of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India, and to achieve

this purpose a) has been mobilising Kashmiri youth with the help of Pak Inter Services Intelligence, exhorting them to intensify the armed struggle against the State Government established by law to achieve liberation of the State of Jammu and Kashmir and indulging in activities prejudicial to the security and territorial integrity of India; b) has been preaching right of self-determination for the people of Jammu & Kashmir and has been giving calls to the people to observe 15% day of August (Independence Day) as a Black Day c) has been opposing holding of elections in the State of Jammu & Kashmir thereby obstrructing people from exercising their democratic and constitutional rights (the group has continued to advocate granting of selfdetermination and unity amongst various militant d)

2.

3.

outfits);

has been extorting money from the people at gun point to meet its requirements e) has been holding protests and demonstrations in India and abroad It has, in its attempt to cause secession of the State of Jammu & Kashmir from the Union of India a) indulged in militant acts as endorsed by the large quantities of arms and ammunition from the group. b) Tried to create public disorder by giving and supporting calls for bandhs and strikes

The activists of JKLF attempted to seize the Hazratbal Shrine

on the 24" March

1996, which led to an encounter in which 5

Jammu & Kashmir Armed Police personnel including a Sub-

Inspector were injured and 9 JKLF militants were killed. The

Sub-inspector later succumbed to his injuries.

Kashmir Underground The activists of JKLF

attacked the security forces near

Hazratbal on the 30 March 1996, in which 22 JKLF militants

were killed.

On a specific information, the J&K Police raided the house of

JKLF Commander-in-Chief Rafiq Dar at Maisuma, Srinagar on the 26" of August, 1997. Yasin Malik objected to the raid. He was picked up and later released. Some 50-60 activists pelted stones at the police in protest and raised proindependence slogans. Yasin Malik, President of JKLF, was arrested in Pulwama on

the 12 of September 1996 and again in Doda on the 24" of September, 1996 while campaigning against the holding of elections in Jammu & Kashmir.

During the second half of 1997, the security forces recovered large quantities of arms and ammunition from the houses and

hideouts of JKLF militants/

The JKLF has been making pronouncements prejudicial to the interests of the nation and having serious repercussions for

the interest and security of India, such as the following:

a) Yasin Malik in a press statement, while fully supporting the hartal call given by the All Party Hurriyat Conference on the occasion of swearing-in ceremony of the National Conference Government in the month of October 1996, appealed to the people of Kashmir to observe “Civil Curfew” and hold protests

b)

Amanullah Khan, Pakistan occupied Kashmir-based Chairman of JKLF, in a press statement on the 2" of January, 1997, described the UN resolution dated the 5

of January, 1949, regarding Kashmir issue as an insult to the people of Kashmir and added that by excluding the right of-self-determination, people's basic right, ie. the self-dependence has been crushed. He further appealed to observe the 5" of January, 1997 as the third option day by observing complete ‘hartal’. c) Yasin Malik, while addressing a seminar (organised by the All India Peoples Resistance Forum) on the 25" and 26" May, 1997 in Calcutta declared to continue the struggle

d)

for total freedom of Kashmir

Yasin Malik stated in a condolence meeting at the Central

Office of JKLF on the 30" and 31* of December, 1997, that

people should devote towards the freedom movement to achieve freedom

Annexures

501

e) Yasin Malik led a delegation of All Party Hurriyat Conference on the 2™ Jnauary, 1998 in Tral and launched

anti-election campaign from Dargah Faiz Panah f) Yasin Malik attended Kul Jamat Hurriyat Conference (KJHC) on the 10" of January, 1998 and supported KJHC decision to boycott the Lok Sabha Elections 1998 g) JKLF appealed to the people of Jammu & Kashmir on the 21* and 22™ January, 1998 to observe the 26 of January,

1998

h) Yasin Malik while addressing a meeting on the 21* of January, 1998 at Imam Bara, Badgam, stated that elections

cannot be a substitute to plebiscite And whereas the Central Government is of the opinion that for the

aforesaid reasons the JKLF (including its members, activists, armed group

sympathisers and self-styled leaders, operating inside India and abroad)

is an unlawful association;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section

(1) of Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby declares the Jammu & Kashmir - Liberation Front (JKLF), including its members, activists, armed groups, sympathisers and self-styled leaders operating inside India and abroad to be an unlawful Association: And whereas the Central Government is further of the opinion that because of its continued activities aimed at secession and the repeated acts of violence and attacks by its armed groups on the security forces, it is necessary to declare the JKLF to be unlawful association with immediate effect; Now therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by the provision to Sub-section (3) of the said section the Central Government directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under Section 4 of the said Act, have effect from the date of its publication in

the Official Gazette.

Sd/-

(SUDHIR S. BLOERIA) JOINT SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (F.No. 13014/10/95-K (DOD GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR HOME DEPARTMENT

(No. Home - 6/98/ISA)

Dated: 17/2/1998

Kashmir Underground

502

GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR HOME DEPARTMENT

NOTIFICATION Srinagar 18-9-1996 SRO 324: Whereas, the Harkat-ul-Ansar (HUA) is a militant association formed in October, 1993 with the merger of the militant outfits, Harkat-ul-Jehad and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen: 9) Which encourages or aids persons and its sympathisers to undertake unlawful activities within the meaning of Jammu & Kashmir

2)

Criminal

Law

Amendment

Act of 1983, as

amended from time to time;

Of such persons, sympathisers and members who for its objects,.activities and actions; a) Interfere and aim at interference with the public administration and maintenance of law and order which constitutes danger to the public peace b) Encourage, aid and incite the people to undertake activities which are offences punishable under sections 153-A and 153-B of the Ranbir Penal Code c) Conceive plans designed to formulate the schemes to threaten or disrupt or likely to disrupt harmony between different religious groups of the State, and d)

Formulate

the schemes

intended

to cause, or likely to

cause, fear, alarm and feeling of insecurity amongst members of different religious groups and communities in the State Whereas, in furtherance of the aforesaid objectives the said militant

outfit

1)

2) 3) 4)

Has been indulging in acts of armed violence with the help of foreign militants and foreign funds against the Government established by law Has spread fundamentalist militancy to secede the State of Jammu & Kashmir from-Union of India and merge it with Pakistan Has been imparting training to the youth in guerilla warfare

in Pakistan/ Pakistan Occupied Kashmir besides imparting

local training Has unleashed a reign of terror in the State by resorting to

violent activities resulting in deaths of a number of civilians and security forces personnel and kidnappings

503

Annexures

5) 6)

Has resorted to acts with the intention to create communal disharmony between Muslims and Hindus, and Has issued warning to Police Personnel and Government Employees not to take part in the electoral process in the State and warned them of dire consequences if they indulge in such activities

Whereas for all or any of the grounds set out in the preceding

paragraphs as also on the basis of other facts and materials in its

possession, which the Government considers to be against the public interest to disclose, the Government is of the opinion that the said Harkatul-Ansar is an unlawful association; and Whereas the Government is further of the opinion that because of its continued activities aimed at secession and the repeated acts of violence and attacks by its armed groups on the security forces and on the civilian population, it is necessary to declare the said association to be unlawful with immediate effect. | Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 and Section 3-A of the Jammu & Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act,

1983, the Government hereby declares the aforesaid Association to be

an unlawful association and further directs that this notification shall,

subject to any order that may be made under Section 4 of the have effect from the date of its publication in the Government Any office bearer or member of the aforesaid association or person interested to make a representation to the Government of the issue of aforementioned notification may do so within a 30 days.

said Act, Gazette. any other in respect period of

By order of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir. No. Home-468/96/1ISA Dated: 18-09-1996 DIP/J-1735

Dt: 19-9-96

Sd/-

ADDL. CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT HOME DEPARTMENT

Kashmir Underground GOVERNMENT OF JAMMU & KASHMIR HOME DEPARTMENT NOTIFICATION

Srinagar 18-9-1996

SRO 325: Whereas, the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen is an association : Which encourages or aids persons and its sympathisers to ) undertake unlawful activities within the meaning of Jammu & Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1983, as

2)

amended from time to time;

Of such persons, sympathisers and members who for its

objects, activities and actions;

a) Interfere and aim at interference with the public administration and maintenance of law and order which constitutes danger to the public peace b) Encourage, aid and incite the people to undertake activities

which are offences punishable under sections 153-A and

153-B of the Ranbir Penal Code c) Formulate schemes to threaten or disrupt or likely to disrupt harmony between different religious groups of the State, and d) Formulate the schemes intended to cause, or likely to cause, fear, alarm and feeling of insecurity amongst members of different religious groups and communities

in the State

Whereas, in furtherance of the aforesaid objectives the said militant

outfit

3)

4)

5) 6)

Has been indulging in acts of armed violence for more than seven years and is in the forefront of secessionist movement in the state with active support of the Pakistan and P.O.K. Governments in terms of arms training, supply of arms and guidance Has set ablaze various Government schools in order to compel the parents to send their children to the schools run by Jamaite-Islami where they are introduced to use of force to destabilise Government established by law Has resorted to ruthless killing of Kashmiri politicians and intellectuals opposed to their ideology Has forced Kashmiri youth to go across the border for arms training and continues to send youth to Pakistan/ Pakistan

Occupied Kashmir for receiving arms training in sophisticated

Annexures

7) 8)

9)

505

weaponary so that on their return they can indulge in secessionist activities and violence Has indulged and continues to indulge in activities which threaten/ distrupt harmony between different communities/ religious groups Has made pronouncements prejudicial to the integrity and security of the country as well as public order

Has unleashed a reign of terror in the State to create chaos

and insecurity among the people and to undermine the authority of law and to destabilise the Government established by law 10) Has warned political leaders, general public and Government employees to desist from participation in the election which poses a serious threat to the establishment of popular Government in the State. Whereas for all or any of the grounds set out in the preceding paragraphs as also on the basis of other facts and materials in its possession, which the Government considers to be against the public interest to disclose, the Government is of the opinion that the said association is an unlawful association; and Whereas the Government is further of the opinion that because of its continued activities aimed at secession and the repeated acts of violence and attacks by its armed groups on the security forces and on the civilian population, it is necessary to declare the said association to be unlawful with immediate effect. Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 and Section 3-A of the Jammu & Kashmir Criminal Law Amendment Act,

1983, the Government hereby declares the aforesaid Association to be

an unlawful association and further directs that this notification shall,

subject to any order that may be made under Section 4 of the have effect from the date of its publication in the Government Any office bearer or member of the aforesaid association or person interested to make a representation to the Government of the issue of aforementioned notification may do so within a 30 days.

said Act, Gazette. any other in respect period of

By order of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir. DIP/J-1736 Dt: 19-9-96

Sd/-

ADDL. CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT HOME DEPARTMENT

Index Abbas, Chaudhury Ghulam, 190 Abbas, Gulshan, 238

Abbas, Zaheer, 137 Abbas, Zubair, 237 Abdul al Maudodi,

Maulana Sayid, 122 Abdullah (Arif Hussain), 139

Abdullah, Farooq, 25, 48, 89, 94, 95, 101,106, 111, 112, 121, 126, 127, 132, 133, 158, 168, 186, 194, 198, 210, 415 Abdullah, Sheikh, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 59, 95, 116, 122, 124, 126, 174, 190, 194 Abdus, Samsad, 140

Abid, Abu, 247 Aboo, Iqbal, 237 Abrar, Ahmed, 237

Ackerman, Gary, 74

Activists of Jammu region on Feb. 27, 1996, 155, 156

Adil, Abu, 149, 239, 247

Advani, L.K., 98, 199

Afghan Command Force, 227

Afghan Mujahideen, 27, 129

Afghan War, 178, 222

Afghani, Fayaz, 238 Afghani, Idris Bhai, 237

Afghani, Jamal, 154, 240 Afghani, Muzzamil, 237

Afghani, Owais, 238 Afghani, Sajjad Khan, 136, 137, 179, 237, 433 Afghani, Yaqub, 237

Afghani, Zahoor, 143, 145, 238

Afghani, Zardar Khan, 238 Afghanistan, 136

Afghanistan against Soviet Armed Forces, 24

Agra Central Jail, 52

Ahangar, Nissar, Ahmed, 239 Ahidi, Mohammed Yusuf, 450 Ahle Hadees, 420 Ahmed, Altaf, 183, 239 Ahmed, Bashir, 41, 239, 241

Ahmed Bilal, 146, 238

Ahmed, Farooq, 238, 240

Ahmed, Fayaz, 179, 241, 246, 247

Ahmed, Ghulam (Maulvi), 122 Ahmed, Imtiaz, 240, 241

Ahmed, Javed, 240

Ahmed, Junaid, 246

Ahmed, Khurshid, 246 Ahmed, Manzoor, 440 Ahmed, Masood, 246 Ahmed, Mukhtar, 49

Ahmed, Mushtaq, 151

Ahmed, Naseer, 152, 240, 436 Ahmed, Nazir, 240, 419

Ahmed, Niaz, 143

Ahmed, Qazi Hussain, 444, 446

Ahmed, Rafiq, 240

Ahmed, Riaz, 240 Ahmed, Sajjad, 51, 246 Ahmed, Salim, 440

Ahmed, Ahmed, Ahmed, Ahmed,

Shabir, 247 Shamshed, 92 Showkat, 240 Suhail, 241

Ahmed, Syed Ishfaq, 239 Ahmed, Tanvir, 140

Ahmed, Zahoor, 241 Ahmed, Zubair, 143, 153, 241 Ahsan-ul-Hagq, Moulvi, 241

Aijaz-ul-Haq, 245 Air Force, 22

Akbar (Bhai), 402 Akbar, Sofi Mohammed, 175 Akbar Tigers, 220

Akhtar, Shams-ur-Rehman, 154, 241

Akram, Commander, 246 Akram, Mohammed, 51, 246, 247

Akram, Maulana Ghulam Ahmed, 131 Akram, Wasim, 241 Al Burg, 147, 160, 161, 219 Al Faran, 80, 81, 82, 118, 138, 139, 141 Al Fatah, 155, 171, 172 Force, 202 Group, 22 Al Gabid, Gen. Hamid, 90

508

Kashmir Underground

Al Haseef, Abdullah, 77 Al Ingalab Mujahideen, 221

Al Jehad Force, 193 Al Jehadia Police Commandos, 222

Al Mujahid Force, 170 Al Mustafa (Liberation Tiger Fighters), 221

Al Umar, Abu, 238 Al Umar Mujahideen, 161-163 Alam, A., 243 Alam, Imtiaz, 246

Alam, Magbool, 244 Alam, Masood, 37

Slogans, 24 Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death | Penalty Act 1996, 140 Antonio, Silva, 171 Arab League, 43Armed Forces, 25 Armed Moslem Mujahideen, 227

Army Supply Dump at Khunmoh, 29

Arshad, Abu, 243

Madelein, 141

Arshad, Markaz-e-Dawat-ul

Alhaj, Mehmood Faid, 413

Arya, D.K., 401 Asghar, 243 Ashai, Ghulam Din, 56 Ashok Kumar, 40, 89 Ashraf, Zulfigar, 243

Ali, Aauzam, 160

Ali, Aforoz, 161 Ali, Haider, 429

Ali, Mozam, 241

Muzam, 237 Nasir, 202, 242 Showkat, 242 Usman, 179, 242

Ashraf, Mohammed, 117, 245

Ashraf, Sehrai, Mohd., 123

Aslam, Mohammed, 116, 245

All India Moslem League, 190

All Parties Hurriyat Conference, 23, 36, 51, 80, 67-106, 129, 188, 191, 193-195,

196, 220, 445

All Parties Liberation Conference, 67

Allah Amar Amar Amar

Kashmiris, 21

228 70, 73, 74, 87, 89, 243 18, 20

Army Committee, 464

Alamgir, Altaf, 153, 241 Albright, Madelline, 92

Ali, Ali, Ali, Ali,

Ansar-ul-Mujahideen, Ansari, Moulvi Abbas, 90, 91, 95, 100, 176, Anti-Indian elements,

Tigers, 163-165 Chand, 57 Nath Yatra, 137, 230, 414 Singh Club Stadium, 24, 167

Ameer-e-Jammat, 128

Aslembeg, 446 Asmi, Firdous, 68, 90, 96, 247

:

Assad, Tabbsum, 185.

Aurangzeb, 57, 107

Aurengzeb, Chaudhury, 243

Avebury, Lord Iric, 52 Awami Action Committee, 67 Awami League, 205, 212

Azad, Ghulam Nabi, 157, 158, 244

Azam, Sikandar, 109, 244

Amin, Mohammed, 245

Azhar, Mohammed Masood, 137, 244,

Amnesty International, 43, 83

Azhar, Showkat, 147, 244

Andrabi, Asiya, 182, 183, 242

Beg, Hilal Ahmed, 202, 253 Beg, Ishtiaq Ahmed, 262

400, 403, 413, 433

Amir, Ayaz, 464

Anaan, Gen. Kofi, 200 Analytica, Oxford, 448 Andrabi, Andrabi, Andrabi, Andrabi,

Jaleel Ahmed, 80, 84 Mohd. Altaf Khan, 243 Inayat Ullah, 134 Syed Inayatullah, 223, 242

Anjum, Balakote, 231

:

Azim, Mohammed, 50

Beg, Khursheed, 259

Beg, Mirza Dilshad, 140, 441, 418 Beg, Mohd. Salim, 140, 259 Beg, Syed Ahmed, 259 Bhagat, Arun, 419

Anjum, Hakim Naveed, 152, 220, 243 Anjuman Asgqaf Jamia Masjid, 67 Anjuman-e-Tableeg-ul-Islam, 75 Anjuman-!-Ittehad-I-Musalmen, 25

Bhai, Mohammed, 261

Annan, Kofi, 102

Bharati, R.K., 235

Anjuman-lI-Shari-I-Shian, 67

Ansar-ul-Haq, 202, 204

Bhagat, P-S. (Lt. Gen.), 455

Bhai, Abu Mohammed, 255

Bhai, Tariq, 255

Bhat, Abdul Ahad, 261, 441

Index Bhat, Abdul Ahmed, 159

Bhat, Abdul Ghani, 78, 87, 92, 97, 257 Bhat, Abdul Rashid, 255 Bhat, Aijaz Ahmed, 140, 254

Bhat, Ali Mohd., 129, 262 Bhat, Bashir Ahmed, 49, 175, 226, 257

Bhat, Bilal Ahmed, 255 Bhat, C.M., 402

Bhat, Faroog Ahmed, 179, 253 Bhat, Fayaz Ahmed, 159

Bhat, Ghulam Mohd., 80, 84, 130, 131, 132, 133 Bhat, Ghulam, Nabi, 31

Bitter, reality is, 464-469

BJP, 111

Blair, Anthony, 60 Blair, Tony, 460

Bose, Subhash Chandra, 174

Brigade Headquarters in Kargil, 450

British Labour Party, 73 Brown, Hank, 193 Brown Hill, 449

BSF, 25, 139, 144, 150, 155, 158, 188

Budshah chowk, 40, 70

Bhat Imitiaz Ahmed, 413

Bukhari, Ahmed, 437 Bhukhari, Mushtaq Ahmed Shah, 160, 259 Bukhari, Syed Khalid Hussain, 259, 413

Bhat Khalid Ahmed, 253

Bukhari, Zia-ul-Haq, 226, 258

Bhat, Bhat, Bhat, Bhat, Bhat,

Butt, Javed Ahmed, 259

Bhat, Javed Ahmed, 138, 256 Bhat, Bhat, Bhat, Bhat,

Latif, 90, 114 Mehraj-ud-Din, 260 Mohd. Ashraf, 145 Mohd. Hanif, 262

Mohd. Magbool, 253 Mohd. Qasim, 260 Mohd. Yasin, 162, 252 Mukhtar, 210, 428 Mushtaq Ahmed, 262

Bhat, Nisar Ahmed, 431 Bhat, Pervez Ahmed, 260

Bhat, Rafiq Ahmed, 187, 262 Bhat, Shabir Ahmed, 259 Bhat, Shafeeq Ahmed, 260 Bhat, Shaheen, 259

Bhat, Sajjad Ahmed, 257

Bhat, Shaukat Maqbool, 166, 254

Bhat, Tauseef, 120 Bhati, R.L., 210

Bhatt, Abdul Rashid, 425

Bhatt, Ghulam Mohammed, 256, 260 Bhatt, Ghulam Nabi, 256

Bhatt, Lateef, 255 Bhatt, Mohd. Ashraf, 256 Bhatt, Mohd. Idris, 256

Bukhari, Syed Massad, 257

Burhan-ul-Din Hijazi, 112 Burton, Dan, 80 Butt, Aashiq Hussain, 419 Butt, Bashir Ahmed, 256 Butt, Faiz Ahmed, 427

Butt, Farooq Ahmed, 48, 256

Butt, Maqbool, 21, 23, 25, 29, 46, 56, 57, 58, 59, 85, 165, 192

Butt, Mohammed Altaf, 37, 39

Butt, Mohammed Yasin, 144, 256 Butt, Mushtaq Ahmed, 429

Butt, Subedar Habibullah, 57 Carla Hills, 73 Cawthorn, W,J., 454 Cease Fire Line,18, 20, 21, 55, 451, 454 Central Committee, 56

Central Industrial Security Force, 179 Central Military Command Council, 167 Chalku, Khurshid, 27 ~ Charar-I-Sharief, 95, 138, 201 Chaturvedi, Bhuvnesh, 78 Chavan, S.B., 52 Cheema, Arshad, 442

Bhatt, Mushtaq Ahmed, 260 Bhatt, Riyaz Ahmed, 420 Bhim Singh, 174 Bhupinder Singh, 136 Bhutto, Benazir, 33, 38, 90, 105, 138, 460

Chewang, Thupstan, 79 Chilling Valley, 463

Bidar, Abdul Qayoom, 256 Bilal, Amjad, 136, 257 Billu, Gujar, 259

Clinton, Bill, 54, 141, 458

Bhutto, Zulfigar Ali, 23, 33, 127

_Bilour, Abdul Qayoom, 154

Bitta, Rafiq, 258

Chinar Petrol Pump, 29

Chinese War in 1962, 464 Choudhury, Shabir, 50, 60, 102

Chowhan, Mohammed Yousaf, 142 Clinton-Sharif talks, 456

Congress Legislature Party, 25 Congress Party, 106, 113, 132, 140, 194, 210

510

Kashmir Underground

Constitution, 23, 34, 91, 122, 126 Committee, 53

Order 1954, 25 Cook, Robin, 60

Front Against Nationalists, 225

Delhi’s Tihar Jail, 25, 58

Democratic Liberation Party, 102, 193

Dhinda, Bashir Ahmed, 424

Dhobi, Abdur Rashid, 176, 268 Dhobi, Mohd. Shafi, 269, 427, 441

Dilawar, 162, 267 Dilshada, Advocate Miss, 31 Din, Master Hakim, 219, 266 Diwani, Abdul Hamid, 266 Doraiswamy, K., 421 Drass, 449 Drass-Kargil sector, 452, 453 Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of nation), 182

G-8, 98, 99 Gafoor, Abdul, 429 Gambari, Ibrahim, 80 Gamgeen, Ghulam Ahmed, 205 Ganai, Abdul Qayoom, 277 Ganai, Ghulam Hassan, 274 Ganai, Mohd. Yusuf, 177, 178, 274 Ganai, Nasir Ahmed, 420 Gandhi, Indira, 59

Gandroo,

Mohd. Iqbal, 26

Gandroo, Mohd. Iqbal, 40, 170, 274 Garrison, Siachen, 463, 464 Garrison, Leh, 449, 450 Gauhar, Mohd., 41, 274

Gayoor, Mohammed, 274

Ghali, B.B., 44, 195

Ghani, Abdul, 41, 103, 129, 143, 145

Durrani, Assad, 446

East Pakistan, 22 Ehlreich, Richard, 402, 403 Election Commission, 75, 209

Employees and Workers Confederation,

67

Ghazali, Mohd. Abdullah, 158, 282, 444 Ghazi, Nasib-ud-Din, 114, 275 Ghazi, Rafi-ud-Din, 275 Ghaznavi, Hasma Khan, 277 Ghaznavi, Mansoor, 444

Ghias-ud-Din, Moulana, 282°

Ghouri, Ghouri, Ghulam Ghulam

Enemy Ordinance Act, 31

European Union, 64 Exit Control List, 102

Azam, 432 Saifullah, 277 Mohammed, 286 Nabiwar, 194

Ghulam Qadir Drabu, 95

Fahad, Mehmood Alhaj, 269 Fahadullah, 269

Fai, Ghulam Nabi, 189 Faizal, 269 Faqtoo, Mohd. Qasim, 172, 183, 273

Faridi, Adil, 270

Farooq and Plebiscite Front, 20

Farooq, Omar (Moulvi), 67, 76, 81, 83, 91, 92, 93, 94, 96, 97, 99, 103, 270, 273 Farooq, Umar (Moulvi), 68, 71, 79, 80, 82, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90 Faroogqi, Abujahd, 274 Faroogi, Mufti Baha-ud-Din, 68, 73, 273 Faroogi, Mufti Mehraj-ud-Din, 272°

Federal Adintinistration, 140

Foreign guests, 399

Forum Against Sellout, 223

Daud, Mohd., 107, 219, 266 Deewani; Abdul Hamid, 220 Delhi Agreement, 18

Fayaz, Abdul Hameed, 273

Flavin, James (Irish Ambassador), 91

°

Fernandes, George, 98, 132 Firdous, Abbas, 273 Firdous Ahmed Baba, Syed, 273 Firdous, Razia, 101

Gilani, Azhar, 223, 277

Gilani, Col. Murtaza, 147

Gilani, Nazeer Ahmed, 189 Gilani, Syed Ali Shah, 68, 70, 72, 74, 75, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 98, 101, 103, 104, 106, 128, 129, 130, 133, 184, 195, 278

Gilgit Agency, 461 Gilkar, Mushtaq Ahmed, 429 Gill, H.S., 116

Gill, P.S., 402 Goga, Mushtaq Ahmed, 433 Gojal, Akhtar, Hussain, 282

Golden Temple, 25 Gori, Shahabudin, 277 Government Employees Organisation, 232 Green Army, 220

Guerilla Warfare, 56

511

Index Gujar, Din Mohammed, 438 Gujari, Mushtaq Ahmed, 282

Gujari, Nissar Ahmed, 282

Gujral, LK., 93

Gul, Hamid (Lt. Gen.), 150, 282, 446

Gul, Mast, 114, 115, 138, 282, 414

Gul, Shahbaz, 204

Gulzar, Ghulam Ahmed, 196, 277

Gupta, Chaman Lal, 111

Gupta, K.C., 167

Guvera, Che, 236

Hassan-ul-Alvi, 292

Hatash, Piarey, 235

Hazar, Nazir Ahmed, 291 Hazari, Mohd. Yusuf, 289

Hazratbal Relic, 21

Hazratbal Shrine, 20, 47, 48, 51, 68, 70, 86, 195, 203 Hekmatyar, Gulbudin, 222

Hidayat Ullah, Mir, 56

Hijazi, Burhan-ud-Din, 114, 289 Hijazi, Haider, 48, 63, 65, 189, 293 Hilal Ahmed War, 230

Habibullah, 286

Hilal-e-Jurrat, 115

Hagroo, Tariq Ahmed, 291

Hizb-i-Islami Kashmir, 222 Hizbullah (Party of God), 166-169 Hizb-ul-Momineen, 227 Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, 27, 29, 37, 41, 42, 44, 47, 48, 54,69, 74, 107-121, 130, 136, 138

Hagroo, Gulam Qadir, 292

Haider, Bilal, 293

Haider, Farooq, 31, 38, 41, 43, 48, 53

Haider, Hilal, 211, 213 Haider, Nissar, 286

Haider, Pervez, 153, 286 Haider, Raja Zulfikar, 293 Haider Regiment, 226

Haj, 77

Hameed, S., 286 Hamid, Abdul, 286, 288, 292 Hamza, Ahmed, 444 Handoo, Ali Mohd., 31

Handoo, Farooq Ahmed, 226, 420 Handoo, Piyare Lal, 33 Handoo, P.N.; 40 Hansa, Abu, 293 Haq, Moulvi Abdul, 172, 173, 289 Haq, Moulvi Ahsan-ul, 288

Haq, Mushirul, 129 Haq, Reyazul, 288

Haq, Shams-ul, 288

Hardev Singh, 136 Hari Singh, Maharaja, 190 Harkat-ul-Ansar, 63, 136, 138, 139, 141, 142, 198 Harkat-ul-Jehad Islamia International, 178, 179 Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, 179, 180

Haroon, Saleem, 216 Haroon Rashid, Mohammed Shaffi, 112 Hartman, Arther, 73 Hassan-al-Bana, 288 Hassan-al-Turabi, 109 Hassan, Ghulam, 167, 292 Hassan, Manzoor, 115 Hassan, Mehar Karalla, 293 Hassan Mehmud-ul, 292

Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 199

Holy

Qran, 126, 191

+

Housego, Kim, 137, 402 Hubbi, G.M., 101, 290 Human Rights Organisation, 60 Hura, Abdul Hamid, 221, 290 Hussain, Abid, 291 Hussain, Akhtar, 290 Hussain, Altaf M. Q. M, 460 Hussain, Arif, 290

Hussain, Ashiq, 292, 435 Hussain, Chaudhury Mushtaq, 96 Hussain, Fida, 187 Hussain, Kaka, 289

Hussain, Manzoor, 292

Hussain, Hussain, Hussain, Hussain, Hussain, Hussain, Hussain, Hussain,

Maqbool, 293 Masood, 176 Mirza Iftikhar, 426 Mirza Nisar, 426 Mohammed, 289 Moulvi Munir, 187 Mujahid, 289 Mushahid, 446, 458

Hussain, Mussadiq, 289

Hussain, Shakeel, 111, 290

Hussain, Syed Khalid, 413

Hussain, Syed Munawar, 444

Hussain, Zakir, 51, 292, 437 Hyat Khan, Umar, 221, 293

Hyder, Hilal, 205, 208, 290 Hyder, Sajjad, 291 Hyder Tabrez, 120

Hykal, Hashim, 222

Hykmatyar, Gulbudin, 27 Tbrahim, Dawood, 442

Kashmir Underground

512 Idd-ul-Zuha, 118 Idrees, Mohammed, 49 Ikhwan-ul-Musalmoon, 88, 142-146, 201206

Tllahi, Feroz, 146, 294

Mllahi, Gowhar, 155, 202, 294 Mahi, Magbool, 26, 31, 109,113, 294

Ilyas, Ghazi Mohd., 294

Ilyas, Maulana, 298

Imam, Naib, 434 Imamia League, 228 Imam Khan, Mohammed, 107

Imtiaz, Brig,, 41

Independence Day, 24, 175

Indian Airlines Fokker Friendship Plane is “Ganga”, 22, 58 Indian Army, 46, 450, 451, 457 as “Army of Occupation”, 24 Indian Commission on Human Rights, 118

Indian Express, 108

Indian plane in 1971, 23 Indian Union, 19

Indira-Abdullah Accord, 174

-Sheikh Accord, 22, 23, 125

Indus Valley, 448

Ingalabi, Azam, 31, 33, 134, 172, 175, 177, 196, 298 International Commission

Rights, 43

on Human

International Kashmir Committee, 65

International Organisations, 43

International Red Cross Society, 43

Iqbal, Javed, 202, 297

Iqbal, Mohammed, 298 Iqbal, Park, 100

Iqbal Park Coordination Committee, 227

Iqbal, Syed Asif, 144 Iqbal, Zafar, 150

Irfan, Mohammed, 41, 43, 293, 297

Irfan-ul-Hassan, 297 Irfan, Jahir, 297 Irshad, Gen., 297 Ishar, Javed, 294

Islam, Tanveer-ul-, 297 Islamabad, 54, 105, 141, 142 Islami Front, 426 Islami Harkat-ul-Momineen, 230 Islami Ingalab Force, 222 (known as Front)

Islami Ingalabi Mahaz, 147

Islami Jamit-e-Tulba, 134, 135 Islami Jhamoori Ithehaad, 44 Islamic Blood Bank, 182

Islamic Jehad, 150 Islamic Resistance Forum, 220 Islamic Revolution, 130 in Iran, 24 Islamic Students League, 25, 26, 38, 69, 151-152,227 . Islamic Study Circle, 25 Islamisation, 24, 25, 26 Ismail, Mohammed, 177, 297 Itehad-ul-Musalmeen, 67

Indira Gandhi International Airport, 102

Ingalabi, Umar, 298

Islam, Shahid-ul-, 296 Islam, Tajamul, 134

Islahi, Abdul Rashid, 113, 297 Islam ka Fauji Bazoo, 221 (Armed Wing of Islam) Islam, Manzoor-ul-, 295 Islam-Mushtagq-ul-, 295 Islam, Nasar-ul-, 294 Islam, Saif-ul-, 296

Ittoo, Wali Mohammed, 114

J&K, 18

Awami League, 206-211

Awami Tehrik, 216

Democratic Freedom Party, 196, 197, 201 Government, 19 Ikhwan, 211-215

Islamic Millat, 229, 231

Islamic Resistance Force, 230 Islamic Voice, 218, 219 Legislative Assembly, 23 Liberation Council, 176 National Liberation Front, 18, 21, 24, 31, 32, 37-66, 53, 86, 96, 165, 166 J&K Liberation Front, set up 10 Hit squades, 39

J&K People’s Conference, 194-196

People’s League, 191 People’s Political Front, 196 Plebiscite Front on Aug 5, 1955, 19, 23,

58-59

Realisitic Front, 230 Solidarity Front, 188 Tehreek-i-Wattan, 215

.

Jabbadi, Jaffar, 302

Jaffar, Lateef, 302 Jaffar, Kashmiri, 302

Jagat, Gurbachan, 97, 437

Jagmohan, 25, 37, 39, 43, 396, 419

513

Index Jalalabad Province, 142

Jalaludin, Chaudhary, 211

Jama Masjid, 73, 86, 89, 94, 134, 425, 428, 434

Jamait-e-Hamdania, 67

Jamait-e-Tulba, 24 Jamait-I-Ahal-e-Hadees, 75

Jamait-I-Islami, 24, 25, 26, 63, 67, 68, 75,

107, 109, 119, 122-133 Jamait-I-Tulba, 25

Jamait-ul-Mujahideen, 172-174

Jamal, Afghani, 302 Jamal-ud-Din, 304

Afghani, 303 Khan, 303 Sheikh, 413

Jameel-ul-Rehman, 303 Jamia Masjid, 81

Jammu Provincial Committee, 106 Jan Mohammed, 48

Jan Sangh, 19

Janta Dal, 39, 125

Javed Ahmed Mir, 88

Javed, Khalid, 303

Javta Party, 194 Jawaharlal Nehru University, 44, 419 Jehangir, Aadil, 303 Jensen, Ken, 80

Jeovissen, H.J.,91

Jindal, Abu, 138, 303 Jinnah, M.A., 33, 61, 190 Joseph, George, 108 Jubbar Hill, 463

Junaid, Master, 304 Junaid, Qazi, 172, 304 + K&K International, 228 Kachroo, Abdul Samad, 305

Kalwal, Noor Mohd., 26, 37, 39, 41, 45, 304

Kamal, Sheikh,,31

Kanth, Ashig Hussain, 419

Kapil Dev, 24 Kapoor, Ajay Kumar, 40

Kar, Ghulam Rasul, 111; 113, 224

Kashmir Freedom Front, 226 Movement, 220 Kashmir Guerilla Front, 225 Kashmir Independence Movement, 58 Kashmir International Front, 96

Kashmir Jehad Cell, 231

Kashmir-Ladakh Highway, 447, 456, 458,

463 Kashmir Legislative Assembly, 23 Kashmir Liberation Council, 221

Kashmir Kashmir Kashmir Kashmir Kashmir Kashmir

Liberation Tiger, 169, 170 Moslem Conference, 58 Police, 23 Political Conference, 18 Solidarity Day, 65 University, 41, 42, 93, 143

Kashmir Valley, 18, 20, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29,

31, 32, 37, 38, 45, 47, 55, 56, 58, 70, 80, 91,95, 105, 111, 114, 127, 143, 147, 151, 158, 159, 175, 178, 182, 194, 204, 205, 216, 220, 230, 406, 415, 417, 418, 421, 422, 423, 437, 439, 452, 463 Kashmir (Mohajirs), 53 Kashmir Mujahideen, Where are the?, 443-448 Kashmiri Pandits, 25, 78, 84, 170, 207

Kashmiri, Tariq, 177, 304 Kashmiris, 19, 21, 24

Kassana, Khalid, 318

Kataria, Mohammed Shafi, 176, 321 Kathmandu Valley, 439 Kaul, Mushtaq Ahmed, 323 Kaushal, R.K., 411 Kemal, Mustafa, 116 Kenno, Sajjad Ahmed, 145, 146, 304

Khalid, Abdul, 305

Khalid, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, 446

Khalid, Saifullah, 121, 142, 305 Khalid, Yunus, 305 Khalil, Fazal-ur-Rehman,

444

Khalistan Liberation Force, 230

Khari Amir, 323

Khan, Abdul Rashid, 306

Kargil, postscript, 443-469

Khan, Abdul Qayoom, 446

War, 443, 452-458 Karim, Abdul, 305

Khan, Altaf, 46, 177

Strategic importance of, 448-454

Kashmir Army Force (K-2), 226

Kashmir Bar Association, 67, 76

Kashmir Conspiracy Case (1957-64), 19, 20

153, 154, 306,

Khan, Akbar, 21 Khan, Ali Mohammed, 435 Khan, 42, 96, Khan,

Amanullah, 18, 21, 23, 31, 38, 41, 43-51, 53, 54, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 65, 102, 129, 165, 306 Asghar Ali, 435

Kashmir Underground

514

Khan, Tariq, 319

Khan, Ayub, 57, 435

Khan, Babbar Ali, 306

Khan, Badshah, 306, 320, 321, 322, 410

Khan, Bahadur, 319

Khan, Umar Hyat, 318 Khan, Wafadar, 323 Khan, Yawar, 49, 318

Khan, Bashir, 322 Khan, Bitta, 162, 306 Khan, Daler, 202

Khan, Yousaf, 323 Khan, Yunus, 318

Khan, Dinga, 320

Khana, Musa, 319

Khan, Zafar, 60

Khan, Daud, 230, 315

Khan, Zuber, 435

Khan-i-Khanan, Abdul Rahim, 243

Khan, Farooq, 305

Khan, Gazab, 319

Khan, Ghazi Mushtaq, 306

Khan, Ghulam Mohammed, 108, 424

Khan, Ghulam Mohidin, 160, 315 Khan, Idris, 162, 225, 315, 317, 320 Khan, Jabran, 316 Khan, Jaffar, 318 Khan, Imran, 24

Khan, Imtiaz, 144

Khan, Irfan Abdul Latif, 430

Khan, Izrahil, 324

Khan, Jawed Ali, 430

Liaqat Ali, 212, 432 Manzoor Ahmed, 120 Masta, 324 Mehraj-ud-Din, 324 Mir Nissar Ahmed, 323 Mohammed Aslam, 430 Mohd., Altaf, 324 Mohd. Sajid Ali, 323

Khan, Mohd. Yakub, 49, 316

Khan, Mukhtar, 318

Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed,

Khan, Khan, 316 Khan, Khan,

158, 316, 321

Raja Muzaffar, 31, 48 Nayeem, 26, 70, 88, 101, 192, 194,

Nissar Ahmed, 167, 319, 426 Noor, 40, 316

Khan, Riaz Ahmed, 162, 316 Khan, Rustam, 324

Khan, Sajjad, 323

Khan, Saleem, 143 Khan, Samad, 155, 202, 318

Khan, Sardar Qayoom, 47, 171

Khan, Sardar Aseef Ali, 77 Khan, Khan, Khan, Khan, Khan, Khan, Khan,

Khateeb, Nadeem, Ahmed, 322

Khazir Mohammed, 315

Khawja, N.A.G., 52

Khera, HLL., 41, 129, 143 Khewar, Riaz, 100 Khuda Bakhsh, 323

Khan, Javed Iqbal, 315

Khan, Khan, Khan, Khan, Khan, Khan, Khan, Khan,

Khanna, H.M., 105

Sardar Kader, 48 Shahbaaz, 322 Shafi, 320 Shahnaz, 144 Shanno, 321, 429 Sher, 37, 39, 202, 318, 319 Subedar Kala, 57

Khurshid, 324 Killey; Mehmood, 426 Kirmani, Firdaus, 120 Kishtwari, Papa, 215, 216, 315 Kohistani, Javed, 115, 319 Koirala, Girija Prasad, 441 Koul, Lasa, 40 Krishan Pal, 214, 215

Kuchai, Suhail, 319 Kuku Parray, 77, 201, 202, 205, 206, 208, 210, 211, 323 Kumbay, Abdur Rashid, 205 Kundji, Arshid Ahmed, 324 Laden, Osmana Bin, 139, 406, 443

Lahore Airport, 22

Lahore Declaration, 105 Lahore High Court, 58

Lakhvi, Zaki-ur-Rehman, 444

Lal Chowk, 19, 31, 70, 87 Lala, Mohd. Ayub, 330 Lalded Government Hospital, 39 Lanford, Gib, 84

Langrayal, Nassarullah Manzoor,

325° Lashkar-e-Hyder, 229 Lashkar-e-Toiba, 146-151 Lashkar-I-Adam, 224

Lashkar-i-Ayubi, 219 Lashkar-I-Farooqi, 229

Lavey, Abdus Salam, 435

Leghari, Farooq, 77

Legislative Assembly, 26 Leh Autonomous Hill Council, 74 Liberation Cell, 41 Liberation of Kashmir, 38

178,

515

Index

Martyrs Day, 85, 101, 214

Line of Control, 72, 448 There no?, 454-456

Lodhi, Azhar, 222

Lodhi, Bilal, 84, 160, 161, 325 Lohar, Subhan, 330

Lok Sabha, 23, 98, 132

Lone, Abdul Ghani, 68, 70, 72, 74, 81, 82, 83, 86, 87, 88, 89, 91, 93, 95, 97, 98, 102, 125, 160, 184, 194, 195, 325, 401, 423, 424 .

Masood, Alam, 51, 331 Masood, Mamoon, 331 Masood, Yasin Salim, 402 Matta, Afzal Ahmed, 336 Meeraj, Syed Muzaffar, 144 Mehmood, Wahid, 413

Mehmood, Tahir, 331

Mehraj-ud-Din, 144, 337

Lone, Ashfaq, 328, 330

Mhatre, Ravindra, 59 MI-17 Helicopter, 454 MIG-21, 454

Lone, Bashir Ahmed, 330

Militancy related incidents

Lone, Abdul Rashid, 329

Lone, Ashfaq Hussain, 107, 328, 419

Lone, Ghulam Hassan, 329

Lone, Ghulam Mohidin, 84 Lone, Ghulam Rasul, 117, 329

MIG-27, 254 1989, Militant Militant Military

Lone, Hilal Ahmed, 330 Lone, Manzoor Ahmed, 113, 328

Mir, Abdul Ahmed, 332

Lone, Nazir Ahmed, 330

Mir, Basharat Ahmed, 335

Lone, Mushtaq Ahmed, 329, 415 Lone, Nissar Ahmed, 179, 328

Lone, Riyaz Ahmed, 50, 329

Loosdrecht, B. Van, 91 LTTE, 141

Mackay, David, 402 Madine University, 128 Madni, Moulana Asad, 434

Madrassas, 122, 123,130

Magrey, Abdul Majeed, 337

*

Magrey, Riyaz Ahmed, 344

Mahaaz-e-Islami, 223

Mahaz-I-Azadi, 23, 25, 174, 175

Mahajan, Vikrant, 389

Majid, Abdul, 339, 344 Majlis-I-Namayaindgaan, 132

Malik, Yasin, 88, 91, 97, 99, 100, 101, 103, 104, 151, 170, 339, 396 Manan, Abdul, 168, 172, 330 Mangla Dam, 58 Mangloo, Abdul Salam, 156, 344 Manhas, Dawood, 139, 337 Manhas, Ejaz Husain, 442 Manhas, Raja Khalid, 112, 153, 330, 331

Manzoor Ahmed Shah, Commander, 226

Magbool, Shahid, 339 Markaz-I-Dawat Arshad, 146 Marpo La, 447

&

Mir, Assdullah, 338

Mir, Bashir Ahmed, 338 Mir, Ghulam Ahmed, 345

Mir, Ghulam Mohammed, 435 Mir, Ghulam Rasul, 174, 337 Mir, Mir, Mir, Mir,

Magrey, Nazir Ahmed, 144, 339

Magbool, Alam, 112

in 1988

28 Outfits, 188 units (Six), 116 Command Council, 112, 157

Gowhar Amin, 431 Hilal Ahmed, 337, 339 Inayat, 53 Javed Ahmed, 26, 38, 40, 44, 45, 47, 59, 91, 95, 100, 101, 103, 151, 333 Mir, Manzoor Ahmed, 143, 332

Mir, Mir, Mir, Mir,

Mohd. Mohd. Mohd. Mohd.

Altaf, 332 Irail, 332 Muzaffar, 435 Qasim, 332

Mir, Mohammed Ramzan, 156, 332

Mir, Mohd. Yusuf, 335

Mir, Mushtaq Ahmed, 421

Mir, Nissar Ahmed, 333, 335

Mir, Niyazi, 332 Mir, Qasim, 436

Mir, Sajjad, 333 Mir, Tahir, 144, 146, 333

Miraj, Syed Muzzafar, 335 Mirwaij, Moulvi Mohd., 20 Mirza, Afzal Beg, 19 Mirza, Muzaffar, 337, 338 Misgar, Abdur Rashid, 209, 212

Misgar, Mohd. Shaffi, 49, 335

Moghul Garden, 155 Moghlu, Altaf Ahmed, 115, 337 Mohammed, Ali, 115, 335 Mohammed

Bin Qasim, 336

516 Mohammed, Ishtiaq, 205

Mohammed, Noor, 335, 337 Mohammed Younus, 50 Moharrum, 74

Mohidin, Ghulam, 336, 434

Moslem Action Committee, 78

Moslem Augaf Trust, 108 Moslem Conference, 190, 191

Moslem Janbaz Force, 85, 152-156, 161

Moslem Khawateen Markaz

(Moslem Women Centre), 185 Moslem League, 104

Moslem Liberation Front, 33

Moslem Mujahideen, 156-158

Moslem United Front, 126

Mota, Ahmed Azad, 344 Mota, Latif, 441

Mouser, German, 435 Mudasir, Abdul, 343 Mufti; Bashir-ud-Din, 345 Mufti, Mehbooba, 106

Mugal, Abdul, Hafiz, 427 Mujahid Force, 20

Mujahideen-e-Albadr, 221

Mujahideen-I-Islam, 223 Mujahideen-Fil-Islam, 225 Mujib-ur-Rehman, Sheikh, 444 Mukesh Kumar, 425 Mukhtar, Umar, 202, 336 Mukund Hill, 448 Munshi, Javed Ahmed, 344 Murtaza, Syed Khalid, 337, 344 Musharaf, Pervez, 456 Mushir-ul-Haq, 41, 143, 145, 146

Mushki Valley, 449, 462 Mushtaq-ul-Islam, 337

Muslim Augaf Trust, 75, 95

Muslim United Front, 26, 38 Musa, Gen., 336 Mustafa, Bilal, 344 Mustafa, Nizam,-I-, 122 Mut, Bashir Ahmed, 419 Mutahida Quami Party, 54

Muteeb, Abdul, 139 Muzaffar, Raja, 47, 53, 63, 344 Muzaffarabad Declaration, 61, 62 Muzamil Mir Mohd., 52

Nabi, Hakim Ghulam, 128, 129, 131, 345 Nadvi, Sharief-ud-Din, 187 Naikoo, Ghulam Mohammed, 196, 345 Najar, Abdur Rashid, 159, 441, 427 Najar, Ghulam Mohidin, 347 Najaar, Ghulam Qadir, 345

Kashmir Underground NAM, 43, 82 Narayanan, K.R., 93 Nasar, Mohd. Abu, 402

Naseem, Abdul Ghani, 187, 346 Nasir, Abdullah, 347

Nasir, Abrar, 345 Nasir, Hamid, 346 Nasir, Javed, 136

Nasir-ul-Islam, 345 Nasreen, Nahida, 182, 183, 346

Nassarullah Khan Nawabzada, 77 Nassarullah, Mir, 146

National Conference, 18, 19, 20, 32, 95, 100, 104, 126, 158, 194, 200, 210, 211, 213, 214, 215

National Press Club (Washington), 42 National Security Council, 469 National Security Organisation, 120 Nayeem Khan, 106 Nayeem-ul-Haq, 346 Nazam-us-Saqib, 345

Nazar, Javed Ahmed, 428

Nazar, Abdul Rasheed, 347

Nazar, Shaheen, 429

Nazim-e-Alla, 134 Nazim-ud-Din, 31 Nehru, Jawaharlal, 18 New Delhi, 22 New York Times, 80 NGOs, 87, 202 Nilakanth Ganjoo, 29, 32, 58 Nisar Ahmed Mir, 112 Nissar, Qazi, 25 Niyazi, Mir, 202, 204, 206, 207, 209 Nizam-e-Mustafa, 24, 26, 128 NLI Battalians, 461, 462

Noor-ud-Din, Sheikh, 114, 138, 347 Noor-ul-Amin, 347 Noor-ul-Haq, 163 Noor-ul-Hassan, 160, 346

Nuss, Bela Joseph, 433 OIC, 64, 78, 82, 93

One-Day Cricket Match, 175 Operation Operation Operation Operation OAU, 43,

Balakote, 177, 178 Gibraltar, 20 Tiger, 109 Top Ten, 113 64

P-5, 98 Paddar Fayaz Ahmed, 429 Padmanabhan, S., 402, 405, 412

517

Index Pahalwan, Samander, 353

Pakistan, 18

Attack on J&K on Dec., 3, 1971, 22 Army, 21, 84, 456

Embassy, 140, 441

High Commission, 22, 77

Public Safety Ordinance, Nov. 6, 1977, 23

Pulmonery Odema, 452

Punjabi Musalmans, 147

Punju, Amir, 352

Puri, Mohinder, 211

Independence Day, 115, 175, 162, 163

Quereshi, Rashid, 458

Newspaper “News”, 139

Quereshi, Wajahat Bashir, 41, 45, 50, 354 Quit Kashmir, 87

Occupied Kashmir, 20

War, was it not a?, 456-462 Pakistan’s Greater Karakoram Plan, 462464 ISI, 161, 212, 399, 400, 401, 447

People’s Party, 105

Palestine Liberation Organisation, 57,

105

Pan-Islamism, 122

Parray, Bashir Ahmed, 352 Parray, Ikhwan Supremo, 205 Parray, Manzoor Ahmed, 205, 352

Parray, Master Ghulam Mohammed, 353

Parray, Mohammed Yusuf, 201, 210, 348 Parmoo, Ghulam Nabi, 352

Partridge, Rhys Curget, 433

Quereshi, Shaffi, 225

Raan of Kutch in Gujarat, 20

Rabita-al-Alam-al-Islami, 43

Rafi, Mohammed, 50, 360 Rafi-ud-din, Ghazi, 197 Rafiq, Mohammed, 41, 360

Rafiqi, Iram Qaiyum, 395 Rafiqui, Mushtaq Hussain, 361

Rahu, Imran, 84, 161, 361 Raina, Avtar Kishan, 40 Rangret-sub-Jail, 93

Rao, K.V. Krishna, 89 Raphel, Robin, 73

Rasheed-ul-Hassan, 52

Pasadaran-I-Ingalab-e-Islami, 224 (Guardians of the Islamic Revolution) Pathan, Rasheed, 352

Rashid, Ibn, 361 Rashid, Sheikh Abdul, 95, 364

Pehloo, Ghulam Ahmed, 205, 352

Rasul, Ghulam, 360

Pattan, Abdul Rehman, 202

People’s Army, 444 People’s Conference, 25, 67, 75 People’s Forum for Justice, 231

Constituents of, 231, 232

People’s League, 25, 67

People’s War Group, 89 Permanent Resident Certificates, 108 Pervez, Anwar, 347 Peshawar, 21

Pilot, Rajesh, 132, 133

Pir Panjal Liberation Tigers, 227

Plebiscite Front in Kashmir, 22 POK Administration, 46, 64 POK Plebiscite Front Executive Committee Meeting, 55 Police Party, 57

Rashid, Abdul, 361, 362, 363

Rashtriya Prajatantra Party, 441 Rasul, Riyaz, 362

Rasul, Sheikh Ghulam, 421 Rasul, Syed Ghulam, 360

Rathod, Ghulam Mohammed, 188, 362 Rathor, Abdul Hameed, 209

Rathor, Abdul Salam, 362 Rathor, Abdur Rashid, 363 Rathor, Khurshid Ahmed, 205, 363 Rathor, Mushtaq Ahmed, 434 Rathor, Nisar Ahmed, 421 Rathor, Shabir Ahmed, 362 Rathore, Abdul Nasir Khan, 364, 413 Rathore, Zafar Iqbal, 22 Rauf, Abdul, 112, 360, 361

RAW (Research and Analysis Wing), 119, 468

Political Conference, 67 Popular International Organisation, 109

Raza, Basharat, 49, 50, 51, 360

Prem Nath, Pt., 32

Rehmani, Mohd. Farooq, 191, 364

Praja Parishad, 19 Pratinidhi Sabha, 442

Press Conference, 24, 134, 141

Prisoners of War, 44 Protest March, 201

Razdan, V.K., 40

Red Cross Committee Jammu, 48 Rehmani, Abu Obaid, 144

Remotely Controlled Vehicles, 453 Reshi, Ghulam Hasan, 210

Resolution of UNCIP of 1948, 19

Kashmir Underground

518 Ridout, Paul Benjamin, 433 Rigoo, Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din, 363 Rinchen, Major, 450 Rishi, Gulam Mohidin, 362

Rishi, Khurshid Ahmed, 363

Riyaz, Rasul, 111, 114, 116, 120 Rongha, Mazir Ahmed, 68

Rohrabacker, Dana, 84 Rub, Syed Abdur, 362 Rubin, James, 64

Saad-ud-Din, 122 SAARC, 43, 77

Saboor, Aslam, 442 Sadai-i-Kashmir, 216 Sadiq, Ghulam Mohd., 20, 123, 124

Saeed, Hafiz Mohd., 150, 446 Sagar, Ali Mohammed, 131 Sagar, Mehmood, 26

Sagar, Mohammed Ahmed, 197 Sahrai, Ashraf, 365 Saidpuri, S.M., 210

Saifullah, 32 ©

Sailani, Ghulam Qadir, 367 Salaludin, Syed, 402, 415

Salahudin, Syed, 445, 446

Saleem, Mohd., 41, 364, 365

Saleh, Siddique, 369

Salim, Mir Arshad, 419

Samavi, Hafiz Anwar, 376

Sampier, Hernando, 454

Sapru, Sameer, 34

Saraf, Ashraf, 41, 42, 48, 112, 128, 367

Sarfaraz, Masood, 377

Save Kashmir Movement, 205

Sawhney, Praneet, 40 Saxena, G.C., 52, 403, 411 Sayed, Irfan, 148, 376 Sayeed, Mufti Mohammed, 39, 143, 198 Sayeed, Rubaiya, 37, 39, 139, 143 Security Forces, 43, 70, 113, 130, 140 Seera, Alpha, 377 Sehri, Dillawar, 365

Sepoy-e-Mohammed, 231 Shaffi, Mohd., 168, 374 Shafiq, Shabnam, 216 Shafiq-ur-Rehman, 365 Shafgat-ul-Islam, 377

Shah, Abdul Rashid, 51, 371

Shah, Bilal Ahmed, 163 Shah, Commander Manzoor, 371 Shah, Fayaz, 370, 440 * Shah, G.M., 25, 128, 194, 369

Shah, Javed Ahmed, 207, 367, 371 Shah, Javed Hussain, 209, 211 Shah, Lateef, 376

Shah, Mohd. Abdullah, 374

Shah, Mohd. Shafi, 419

Shah, Mohd. Yusuf, 367, 374 Shah, Mushtaq Ahmed, 49, 369, 372, 430 Shah, Nazir Ahmed, 155, 371 Shah, Sonaullah, 176, 376 Shahnaz, Alam, 371

Shah, 88, Shah, Shah,

Shabir Ahmed, 72, 75, 78, 84, 87, 89, 90, 96, 153, 184, 192, 196, 377 Syed Irfan Ahmed, 371 Syed Maqbool, 426

Shah, Syed Mirak, 20 Shaheen, Ghulam Nabi, 101, 119

Shaheen, S.S., 52

Shahid-ul-Islam, 68 Shakeen, Abu, 373 Shalla, Bashir Ahmed, 428 Shalla, Javed Ahmed,

144, 372

Shams-ud-Din, Kh., 19, 20, 187 Shams-ul-Haq, 48, 112, 372 Shams-ur-Rehman, 372

Sharif - Clinton agreement, 445.

Washington Accord of July 4, 1999, 443 Sharif, Nawaz, 44, 54, 105, 444, 446, 456, 457, 458, 468

Sharif, Omar, 219 Sharma, D.R., 106 Sheikh, Abdul Hamid, 37, 38, 39, 40, 43, 45, 48, 151, 374

Sheikh, Sheikh, Sheikh Sheikh

Abdul Majid, 435 Ghulam Hussain, 434 Ghulam Mohd., 375 Ghulam Mohidin, 422

Sheikh, Ghulam Nabi, 426

Sheikh, Ghulam Rasul, 130, 165

Sheikh, Mehraj-ud-Din, 50, 375

Sheikh, Sheikh, Sheikh, Sheikh, Sheikh, Sheikh, Sheikh, Sheikh, Sheikh, Sheikh,

Mohammed, 374 Mohammed Abdullah, 18 Mohammed Amin, 424 Mohammed Ramzan, 423 Mohammed Yasin, 435 Nazir Ahmed, 220, 375 Sadiq, 162 Saleem, 374 Wahid, 112, 374 Zulfqar, 375

Sher, Capt. Kamal, 457

Sher Khan, 369 Sheroo, Manzoor Ahmed, 421

Index Shirazi, Abbas, 202, 374

Shirazi, Jamshed, 201, 202

Shiv Sena, 43

Shoora-e-Jehad, 36, 186, 187

Shoora-I-Jehad Council, 142 Showkat, Ghazi, 375 Shrinagesh, S:M. (Lt. Gen.), 454 Shyok Valley, 448, 449, 450, 451, 455, 457, 463 Siddiqui, Shabir Ahmed, 86 Sidiqui, Bilal Ahmed, 26, 31, 157 Sidiqui, Kaleem, 167, 371 Siddiqi, Farooq Ahmed, 370 Siddiqi, Naeem, 370 Siddiqui, Shabir, 49-51, 68, 370 Sikander Azam, 365 Simla Agreement, 22, 46, 47, 84, 105, 455,

456

Singh, Karan, 73

Singh, S.P., 163

Singh, Sardar Swaran, 455

Sinha, Pankaj Kumar, 162

Sinha, S.K., 451 Sofi, Abdul Majid, 216

Sofi, Ghulam, Mohd., 371 Sofi, Maqbool, 194

Sofi, Manzoor Ahmed, 371

Sofi, Mitha, 375

Sofi, Mohd. Ramzan, 371, 375, 376 Sofi, Mukhtar Ahmed, 101 Soz, Saif-ud-Din, 32, 143 Soz, Nahida, 44, 143, 146 » Srinagar, 18 Central Jail, 23, 27

Students Liberation Front, 44, 142, 143,

183

Sub-Continent, 197 Subrahmanyam, K., 464 Sufi, Ghulam Mohammed, 112

Sufi, Zahid Ahmed, 419 Sulaiman, Abu, 376

Sultan, Umar, 376 Supreme Revolutionary Command Council, 49 Suru Valley, 463 Syed Masoodi, Maulana Mohd., 20

Syed, Mohd. Ashfaq Anwar, 222, 367

Syed Salaludin, 108, 119, 120, 121, 188, 365 Syed, Salaludin, 112, 114, 116 Syed, Shabir Ahmed Shah, 196, 201

Syedpuri, Ghulam Mohammed, 215, 216

519 Tabedo Hill, 450 Tableeq-ul-Islam, Anjuman, 67 TADA, 146, 167, 169, 192 Tahir, Abu, 385 Tahir, Afzal, 102

Taimoor, Malik Mohd., 161

Tajamul-I-Islam, Sheikh, 24, 384

Tajamul-Islam, Syed, 160

Talbott, Strobe, 73 Tantray, Farooq Ahmed, 386

Tantray, Mohd. Maqbool, 385 Taploo, Tikka Lal, 32

Tapoo, Tahir Shah, 442

Tarar, Rafiq, 184 Tari, Mohd. Abdullah, 385

Tariq, Abu, 385

Tariq, Maulana Azam, 138, 197, 386 Tashkent Agreement, 51, 451, 454 Tayub, Maulana Abu, 136, 385 Tehreek Jehad Islamia, 224

Tehrik-e-Hurriyat-I-Kashmir, 166 (Movement for Freedom of Kashmir)

Tehrik-e-Islamia, 223 Tehrik-ul-Jehad, 175, 176 Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen, 159

Tehrik-ul-Musalmeen, 188, 224 Teli, Abdul Rashid, 422 Teli, Irshad Ahmed, 385 Thakur, Ayub, 189

“The Nation” Pakistani newspaper, 46

Thimayya, K.S., 449

Tiffins, Sarah, 91 Tiger Hill, 463

Tikoo, S.K., 206, 209

Timur, Malik Mohammed,

385

Tipu, Col., 385 Toofani, Masood, 386 Tramboo, Abdul Rouf, 385 Tramboo, Gulzar Ahmed, 385 Tribhuvan Airport, 441 TULA Party, 26 Turki, Hamid, 385 Turabi, Abdul Rashid, 444 Ubaid, Abu, 139, 386

Umar, Qasim, 386 Umat-I-Islami, 25, 67

UN, 47, 64, 74, 82, 83, 90, 102, 103, 199, 200

Charter, 194 Charter of Human Rights and Indian and State Constitution, 206 Commission for India and Pakistan,

454

520

Kashmir Underground

General Assembly, 59, 80, 103, 105 Headquarters, 42

Wani, Saleem, 389 Wani, Shams-ud-Din, 390

401 Military Observers Headquarters, 69,

Wani, Wali Mohammed, 216

Human Rights Commission, 87, 168, 103,194

Resolution on Kashmir, 63, 79, 154, 380 Security Council, 98, 100, 102 Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, 80

UNCA

resolutions, 44

United Jehad Council, 226, 445, 446

United Kingdom, 23

United Liberation Front, 58 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 104 Unlawful Activities Act, 31, 52

Urdu Daily, 53

Urdu Daily Jang, 38 US Administration, 63, 80, 92, 98, 136, 141 Congressional Declaration, 74 Institute of Peace, 80

Usman, Majid, 386

Vajpayee, A.B., 98, 132

Vakil, Mohammed Shabab, 172 Wahid, Abdul, 410 Wakhloo, Khemlata, 167 Wakhloo, O.N., 167 Wakoori, Shafat, 386 Wangroo, Zahid Ali, 387 Wani, Abdul Ahad, 216 Wani, Abdul Majid, 387

Wani, Ahmed Majid, 170

Wani, Ashfaq Majid, 26, 38, 47, 151, 387 Wani, Aziz Ahmed, 421

Wani, Bashir Ahmed, 168, 387 Wani, Farooq Ahmed, 49, 387, 388, 391 Wani, Ghulam Qadir, 44, 60, 152, 388

Wani, Ghulam Rasul, 73, 387 Wani, Hilal Ahmed, 391 Wani, Jan Mohammed, 389 Wani, Javed Ahmed, 388

Wani, Mohd. Afzal, 387 Wani, Mohd. Ramzan, 391

Wani, Mohd. Sayed, 388

Wani, Mohd. Yusuf, 154, 389

Wani, Wani, Wani, Wani,

Mumtaz Ahmed, 87 Naseer Ahmed, 389 Nazir Ahmed, 172 Rafiq, 389

Wani, Tariq Ahmed, 390 War 1971, 455

Warikoo, Sudesh, 31 Waseem, Umar, 387, 389

Washington, Agreement, 446

Declaration, 96, 445-456

Watali, Ali Mohd., 28, 29

Waza, Abdul Ahad, 31, 389 West Indies, 24 West Pakistan, 56 Wings, 217, 218

Wisner, Frank, US Ambassador, 84, 96, 228, 493 Wolpert, Stanley, 33 Women organisations, 180-186 World Human Rights Day, 201

World Islamic Kashmir Freedom Movement, 189 World World Wular Wullar

Islamic League, 77 Moslem Congress, 43 Lake, 216 Barrage, 200

Yalgar-I-Ali, Al Madad, 222 Yatoo, Mohd. Sharief, 391

Yawar, Salman, 50, 391 Yousuf-al-Umar, 134 Youth National Conference, 119 Yunus Khan, Commander, 224 Yusuf, Mehmood, 391 Zaffar-ul-Islam, 392 Zahageer, Ghulam Rasul, 172 Zain-ul-Abdin, 393 Zaman Ali, Mohammed, 49 Zamaan, Umar, 393 Zarb-I-Haq, 224

Zargar, Bilal Ahmed, 425 Zargar, Zargar, Zargar, Zargar, Zargar,

Iqbal, 162, 392 Javed Ahmed, 37, 392 Mohd. Salim, 392 Mushtaq Ahmed, 26, 161, 392, 433 Shabir Ahmed, 156, 393

Zargar, Tariq Ahmed, 394

Zia-ul-Haq, Gen., 23, 24, 38 Zinni, US Gen., 458 Zoji La, 447, 448, 452, 462, 465, 466 Zubair, Abu, 393, 394 Zucconi, Gastano, 91 Zulfigar Ashraf, 112