The biggest Deobandi militant group, Harkat-ul Mujahideen, declared a Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the US State Department in 1998 and banned by Pakistan in November 2001 has re-christened itself Jamiat-ul Ansar.
Man, these Pakistani and Afghan Jihadi groups change their names and split up and merge so often it is impossible to keep track.
| It's that childish love of false noses and moustaches and assumed names... |
The new group, JA, also comprises a breakaway faction of another jihadi group Harkat-ul Jihad-e-Islami (HJI). TFT has learnt that there was some pressure initially on HM to merge with Jamiat-ul Mujahideen, yet another jihadi group. However, this plan could not be executed because of resistance within HM. Indeed, the dissent led to a group breaking away from HM and calling itself Harkat-ul Mujahideen Al Aalmi (HMA). HMA is the group responsible for the suicide bombings in Karachi and also two abortive attempts on the life of General Pervez Musharraf. Most of its activists and its top leader are presently under arrest. It has also had links with the sectarian Deobandi terrorist organisation, Lashkar-e Jhangvi. So the HM, instead of merging with JM, decided to reincarnate itself as JA. When Pakistani authorities moved in November 2001 to ban the group and freeze its assets, it suffered a major setback. It got a second shock when some of its activists and leaders broke away to form the HMA. However, reports suggest it has since found its feet and is now operating under a new name. The organisation still retains links, like other groups, with Taliban remnants and al-Qaeda terrorists.
They are all symptoms of the same disease
The leaders of HJI that have joined the JA are Maulana Abdul Samad Sial (patron), Commander Illias Kashmiri (commander-in-chief), Doctor Badar Niazi and others. Qari Saif Ullah Akhter and Mualana Ahmed Umer of HJI have still not joined the new organisation and continue to keep their independent identity.
| "Programs! Getcher programs! Y'can't tell the jihadis without a program!" |
According to JA sources, Dr Sher Ali Shah of Jamia Akora Khatak has played a major role in the unification of both organisations. He is still actively trying to get the HJI to join up with JA. Interestingly, when HM approached Jaish-e Muhammad (JeM) to convince its leader Maulana Masood Azher to join up with them, he refused to do so. It must be noted that Azhar after being sprung from an Indian jail had chosen to from his own group, JeM and broke away from HM. However, JA sources say âour doors are still open for him and other activists of Jaishâ.
| "We can always use experienced help..." |
Harkat-ul Mujahideen, now JA, has gone through many incarnations over the years. It was formed in 1987. In 1993, HM merged with Harkatul Jihad al Islami to form what came to be known as Harkat-ul Ansar. In 1995, an organisation called Al Faran kidnapped some foreign tourists in Indian-held Kashmir. The two commanders â Abdul Hammed Turkey and Commander Sekander â who set up Al Faran belonged to HM. Subsequently, the US declared Al Faran an FTO. Meanwhile, Harkat-ul Ansar had split into two factions over the Al Faran issue. The HJI faction blamed Maulana Khalil of HM for allowing this to happen since the two commanders who set up Al Faran belonged to his group. Maulana Khalil came under pressure and denounced Al Faran. Both commanders were killed later, which made it easy for Khalil to detach himself from Al Faran. But the issue kept hanging fire and finally in 1996, the HI split formally. Both groups reverted to their previous identities.
"Mahmoud, do you ever wake up the the morning and wonder who you really are?"
"Who the hell are you?" |
The HM suffered a major setback when Mualana Masood Azher formed JeM in February 2000. A large number of HM activists joined JeM and Azharâs organisation also captured HM assets in the Punjab. The feuding also cost HM the lives of some of its activists. Sources say later Osama bin Laden compensated HM for the losses sustained by it after the JeM captured its assets and deprived it of its funds.
Azhar didn't want to go back to being just a Lt. when he could lead his own band of frothing at the mouth fanatics
According to some reports, Mualana Fazl ur Rehman Khalil was busy trying to save his outfit since last year. He seems to have got a new lease of life following electoral gains by the Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal in the 2002 elections. Sources say he is being protected by some MMA ministers. The NWFP government has also freed over 100 arrested activists of Khalilâs group
What a shocking and unexpected development! |