For decades, it’s been no secret that Pakistan uses terrorists as proxies to aid the insurgency in J&K and mount attacks against India. A CIA report going back to 1996 found that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency was funding Masood Azhar with as much as $60,000 a month. On Thursday, China again blocked Azhar’s terrorist designation at the UN. Azhar is only one of many terrorists backed by Pakistan.
A look at major anti-India terror groups operating out of Pakistan with ISI’s blessing.
An objective shared by these terror outfits is to ‘liberate’ J&K and merge it with Pakistan. While some were founded to fight Soviet presence in Afghanistan, they eventually turned their attention to J&K under the guidance of Pakistan’s ISI.
ISI has reportedly not only helped found some groups, but it also continues to finance their activities, train fighters and provide logistical support.
HuJI (Harkat-ul-Jihadi al-Islam)
It was founded in Pakistan in 1984 and received support from ISI to destabilise J&K. In 2004, it was designated a terrorist organisation by India. The group’s most active unit operated in Bangladesh.
Present status: Banned by US and India.
HuM (Harkat-ulMujahideen)
(HuM leader Faziur Rehman Khalil, active in Pakistani politics)
In 1985, HuM splintered off from HuJ. In 2003, it briefly changed its name to Jamiat-ul-Ansar, likely to evade authorities. In 2014, Ansarul-Ummah was recognised by the US as front for HuM. A year later, it was banned by India.
Present status: Banned by Pakistan, Canada, Australia, UK, US and UN.
HuA ( Harkat-ul-Ansar )
HuA created as a merger of HuJI and HuM in 1993. During 1993-94, several leaders, including Masood Azhar, were arrested. Four years later, HuA split after it was banned by US and ceased to exist. However, HuJI and HuM continue to operate independently.
JeM (Jaish-eMohammad)
In 2000, Masood Azhar who was release from jail in the Indian Airlines hostage swap, created JeM. Many HuM members left to join JeM. A year later, JeM renamed itself Tehrik-ul-Furqan and shifted it funds to avoid US proscription. In the same year, India, UN and US designated JeM a terrorist organisation.
Present status: Banned by India, Pakistan, US and UN.
HM ( Hizbul Mujahideen)
It was created as the militant wing of the Islamist organisation Jama‘ate-Islami reportedly under the guidance of ISI in 1989. In 1994, the United Jihad Council, an anti-India coalition of terrorist groups with the common goal of ‘liberating’ J&K, created with Syed Salahuddin as its leader. It has at least 13 members including LeT, HuM and al-Badr.
Al-Badr, initially operated under the HM banner until ISI reportedly encouraged it to run independently in 1998. Recently, however, JeM and al-Badr have reportedly drawn closer and begun to merge. In 2002, India designated Hizbul Mijahideen a terrorist organisation. But during July- Sept 2016, the valley descends into months of unrest with anti-government protests when popular Hizb commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces. At least 90 civilians killed and hundreds injured.
Present status: Banned by India.
LeT ( Lashkar-e-Taiba)
It was founded as the military wing of Islamist organisation Markazad-Dawa-wal-Irshad in 1990. With ISI support it turned its attention to J&K. In 2001, US designated it a terrorist organisation and a year later Pakistan too followed .
In 2002, Jama‘at-ud-Dawa, the front organisation of LeT was formed. It provided charitable services targeting impoverished communities, fostering support for LeT among Pakistanis.
Present status: Banned by India, Pakistan, US and UN