13 hrs ago
ISI Reportedly Plans Major Al-Umar Revival With LeT-Jaish Support
A news report says Pakistan’s intelligence service may try to restart a group called Al-Umar Mujahideen in Jammu and Kashmir.
The group began in Srinagar in 1989 and has been mostly inactive since 2006.
Indian officials quoted in the article say a group called the Kashmir Study Group recommended a plan to the ISI.
Under the reported plan, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed would help Al-Umar at first.
Later, Al-Umar might operate on its own.
The report says Hizbul Mujahideen would not be put in charge for now, though its members may support other groups.
These are claims attributed to officials, and the article describes a proposed revival rather than confirmed new operations.
An Intelligence Bureau official says Pakistan’s ISI is seeking to relaunch Al-Umar Mujahideen for operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The report says the Kashmir Study Group recommended that Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed initially support Al-Umar before it operates independently.
Al-Umar was founded in Srinagar in December 1989 and has been largely defunct since 2006, according to the article.
The article says Al-Umar broke away from the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front over its Islamist, pro-Pakistan agenda.
The reported plan leaves Hizbul Mujahideen out of the proposed merger for now, although its members may provide manpower to LeT and JeM.
- Who
- The ISI is reportedly seeking to revive Al-Umar Mujahideen, with proposed initial support from Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
- What
- A reported plan to rebuild and relaunch Al-Umar for operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Where
- Jammu and Kashmir; the article also mentions militant launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
- When
- The article describes recent recommendations and a prospective relaunch but gives no date for it.
- Why
- According to Indian officials quoted in the report, the plan would put a locally rooted group at the forefront while Hizbul Mujahideen remains under scrutiny.
Indian agencies’ concerns
Rationale attributed to the reported plan
Al-Umar’s proposed role
Indian agencies’ concerns
Indian agencies are reportedly monitoring Al-Umar amid recommendations to revive it and combine its activities with those of LeT and JeM.
Rationale attributed to the reported plan
The plan attributed to the Kashmir Study Group would use Al-Umar’s local roots to present it as a homegrown outfit, with LeT and JeM supporting it initially.
Hizbul Mujahideen’s role
Indian agencies’ concerns
The article says scrutiny of Hizbul Mujahideen remains high, making it unsuitable to lead the proposed operation for now.
Rationale attributed to the reported plan
According to the report, Hizbul Mujahideen would be left out of the merger initially and its members would provide manpower to LeT and JeM.
Key facts
- Group
- Al-Umar Mujahideen, also called Umar Mujahideen in the article
- Founded
- December 1989 in Srinagar
- Reported inactive since
- 2006
- Founder
- Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, also known as Mushtaq Latram
- Reported recommending body
- Kashmir Study Group, described as advising the ISI
- Proposed initial support
- Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed
- Reported status
- A proposed revival; the article reports no known recent operational activity by Al-Umar
- Additional reported development
- The NIA attached Zargar’s properties under anti-terror laws, according to the article
Quotes
An Intelligence Bureau official
An unnamed Indian Intelligence Bureau official commenting on militant groups.
“The Hizbul Mujahideen, which would have been the obvious choice for such an operation, is currently not ready for the job. Moreover, almost all its operatives are working alongside the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in Pakistan.”
thehansindia.com
“The plan is to have the Jaish and Lashkar hold the Umar Mujahideen for some time and then let it operate individually in the Valley.”
thehansindia.com
thehansindia.com
Sources
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