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The Movement of Islamic Holy Warriors; abbreviated HuM
LeaderKey Leaders: Azhar, Maulana Masood, Khalil, Farooq Kashmiri, Khalil, Fazlur Rehman

Khan, Maulana Saadatullah. Fazlur Rahman Khalil has been identified as the head of the HuM by ‘The News’, a mainstream Pakistani English newspaper, however, the US State Department’s Counter-Terrorism Division identifies the leader of the HuM as Maulana Sadaatullah Khan. It is believed that while Rahman Khalil heads the HuM for the whole of Pakistan, Sadaatullah Khan heads its Pakistan Occupied Kashmir unit [1] .

Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil became one of five signatories of Osama Bin Laden’s Fatwa dated 23rd February 1998 titled “The World Islamic Front for Jihad against the Jews and Crusaders” . This was the declaration of war by Al Qaeda against the Western Democracies led by USA. [2]


Maulna Fazlur Rehman Khalil is considered to be responsible for reorganizing and renaming the group as the HuM in 1997. After 9/11, because of its affiliation with Al Qaeda, HuM came under immense pressure from Pakistani Government of Pervez Musharraf, which resulted in Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil stepping down in 2000. He handed over his position to the Kashmiri commander Farooq Kashmiri. Fazlur Rehman Khalil assumed the position of HuM Secretary General [3]
Active regionsKashmir
StatusThe HuM was originally formed in 1985, to participate in the fight against the Soviet forces in Afghanistan. After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, the outfit turned its attention to Kashmir [4]. The HuM then converted itself into an international network of fighters for defending the rights of the Muslims all over the world, in addition to Kashmir. The name of the organization was changed to HuA in 1993 when it merged with another Islamic organization called Harkat-ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HuJI) [5] .In 1997, following the US notification, which declared HuA, a terrorist organization, the HuA changed its name back to HuM. [6] The merger between HuM and HuJI to form HuA in 1993 apparently failed to form an effective instrument for Pakistan’s campaign in Kashmir as Indian security forces arrested three of its top leaders in quick succession. These included Nasrullah Mansur Langrayal, chief of the former HuM, followed by the HuA General Secretary, Maulana Masood Azhar, and Kashmir unit chief Sajjad Afghani [7]. When the former leaders of HuA were released from the Indian jail following the ‘Flight 814’ plane hijacking incident in 2000, they formed a new organization of their own, the JIM and many HuM members moved to the new organization[8] . The HuM's operational capabilities are considered to have been severely impacted by the formation of JIM.


Background and origins[edit]

The Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (The Movement of Islamic Holy Warriors; abbreviated HuM) is a Pakistan-based Islamic militant group, primarily operating in Kashmir since 1993. Although the group is based in Muzaffarabad, Rawalpindi and several other towns in Pakistan and Afghanistan, its military activities are primarily conduced in Kashmir [9] . HuM has also operated under the name of Harkat-ul-Ansar (abbreviated HuA), which was in existence in 1980 to fight the Soviet military in Afghanistan [10].

HuM’s supporters are considered to be mostly Pakistanis and Kashmiris but also include Afghans and Arab veterans of the Afghan war. It is believed that in 2000, the HuM lost a significant share of its membership in defections to the Jaish-i-Mohammed (JIM) in 2000 [11]. .

Formation and Evolution[edit]

The HuM was originally formed in 1985, to participate in the fight against the Soviet forces in Afghanistan. After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, the outfit turned its attention to Kashmir [12]. The HuM then converted itself into an international network of fighters for defending the rights of the Muslims all over the world, in addition to Kashmir. The name of the organization was changed to HuA in 1993 when it merged with another Islamic organization called Harkat-ul-Jihad-i-Islami (HuJI) [13]

In 1997, following the US notification, which declared HuA, a terrorist organization, the HuA changed its name back to HuM [14]. The merger between HuM and HuJI to form HuA in 1993 apparently failed to form an effective instrument for Pakistan’s campaign in Kashmir as Indian security forces arrested three of its top leaders in quick succession. These included Nasrullah Mansur Langrayal, chief of the former HuM, followed by the HuA General Secretary, Maulana Masood Azhar, and Kashmir unit chief Sajjad Afghani [15].

When the former leaders of HuA were released from the Indian jail following the ‘Flight 814’ plane hijacking incident in 2000, they formed a new organization of their own, the JIM and many HuM members moved to the new organization [16] . The HuM's operational capabilities are considered to have been severely impacted by the formation of JIM.


Background and origins[edit]

Fazlur Rahman Khalil has been identified as the head of the HuM by ‘The News’, a mainstream Pakistani English newspaper, however, the US State Department’s Counter-Terrorism Division identifies the leader of the HuM as Maulana Sadaatullah Khan. It is believed that while Rahman Khalil heads the HuM for the whole of Pakistan, Sadaatullah Khan heads its Pakistan Occupied Kashmir unit. [17]

Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil became one of five signatories of Osama Bin Laden’s Fatwa dated 23rd February 1998 titled “The World Islamic Front for Jihad against the Jews and Crusaders” . This was the declaration of war by Al Qaeda against the Western Democracies led by USA [18]

Maulna Fazlur Rehman Khalil is considered to be responsible for reorganizing and renaming the group as the HuM in 1997. After 9/11, because of its affiliation with Al Qaeda, HuM came under immense pressure from Pakistani Government of Pervez Musharraf, which resulted in Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil stepping down in 2000. He handed over his position to the Kashmiri commander Farooq Kashmiri. Fazlur Rehman Khalil assumed the position of HuM Secretary General [19].

Designation as a terrorist group[edit]

On October 1,1997, Madeleine Albright, the US Secretary of State, provided the US Congress with a list of 30 international terrorist organizations which the US Government brought under the purview of the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, 1996. This Act made it an offence for any US citizen or resident to provide funds or other assistance to such organizations. This is widely believed to be the prime reason why the HuA reverted to its original name of HuM [20]. Renaming itself as HuM allowed the organization to escape the consequences of the ban. Despite public knowledge that the HuM was a recast version of the HuA, the US refused to categorize it as a terrorist outfit. However, after US 9/11 terrorist attacks, HuM came under scrutiny of the US government for its extensive links with Osama bin Laden. On September 25, US President George W. Bush signed an order officially banning HuM [21]

Ideology[edit]

HuM is a Sunni organization, closer to the Deoband school of thought and to Wahabism. In terms of its tolerance of other religions, HuM takes the Markaz Dawa Al Irshad approach and views the Sufi tradition of tolerance of other religions and its emphasis on the teacher (guru) as the corrupting influence of Hinduism [22]. The HuM has attempted to clarify its position and beliefs regarding terrorism and Jihad on their website in the following words: ‘Harkat Ul Mujahideen is purely a Jihadi organization. Among many, the prime object of HUM is to provide awareness with regard to Jihad.’ [23] ‘HUM apprises the world to differentiate between terrorism and Jihad. In terrorism indiscriminate killing is justified, Jihad bans it. Jihad permits arms against arms only. Jihad guarantees safety of unarmed women, children, and elderly people irrespective of religion, race or cast. Jihad assures personal or religious rights of non-Muslims until aggressed’ [24].

Objectives[edit]

HuM’s original objective was to organize humanitarian relief for the Afghan refugees in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan [25] . From 1992, the HuM spread its activities to Jammu & Kashmir of India, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, Bosnia, Chechnya, Tajikistan, Myanmar and the Philippines. [26] 

The group's main objective today is to continue the armed struggle against non-believers and ‘anti-Islamic forces’. The organization seeks Kashmir's secession from India and accession to Pakistan to create a pan-Islamic entity. [27]

The HuM describe their main objective on their website in the following words:

‘We are in the struggle, fighting against the barbaric and wicked Indian Army to rescue & save our downtrodden helpless Kashmiri Muslim brothers.’ [28]


History of Relationships[edit]

US

The initial HuM volunteers were trained in the use of arms and explosives in training camps in the Paktia province of Afghanistan run by Jalaluddin Haqqani, the leader of the Hezb Islami (Khalis), an Afghan Islamic militant group. Haqqani has since joined the Taliban [29] . Subsequently, the HuM set up its own training camps in Afghan territory just across Miran Shah in the NWFP province of Pakistan. Some of the best fighters of the Afghan war are believed to have emerged from the HuM training camps that were employed by the CIA to fight against the Soviets in Afghanistan [30].

After April 1992, the CIA wanted the HuM and other Islamist militant groups to return the unused Stinger missiles it had provided to the militants to fight the Soviets, in exchange for payments. The US also requested the assistance of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in this regard, however, Lieutenant General Nasir of the ISI allegedly refused to co-operate with the CIA [31]

This is considered to be one of the reasons for CIA’s anger against Lieutenant General Nasir and against the HuM. In 1993, the CIA demanded and obtained the removal of Lieutenant General Nasir. In August 1998 when US cruise missiles attacked the suspected infrastructure of bin Laden in Afghanistan, they also targeted HuM training camps [32].

Pakistan

The US State Department’s report released in April, 1998 stated that there continued to be credible reports of official Pakistani support for Kashmiri extremist groups including the HUM [33].

Many Pakistani newspapers have reported the potential links between the organization and Pakistan.

M.H.Askari, a well-known columnist, wrote in the ‘Dawn’ newspaper on October 18,1995; 

‘It is said that the plotters had close links with the Hizbul Mujahideen and the HuA, which are known for their involvement in international terrorism.  It is also said that the arrested officers wanted Pakistan to become militarily involved in the Kashmir freedom struggle.’

The ‘Nation’ newspaper reported on October 20,1995 that Major General Abbasi had close contacts with the HuM.

The ‘Herald’, the monthly journal of the ‘Dawn’ group of publications, in its January 1996 issue, identified Saifullah Akhtar as the patron of the HuM but added that the Pakistani army authorities decided not to prosecute him [34] .

HuM is considered to draw its volunteers from the Tabligi Jamaat (TJ), which carries on missionary and charitable work amongst Muslims globally. Mohammad Rafique Tarar, President of Pakistan from 1998 to 2001, and General Javed Nasir, the Director-General of the ISI from 1992-1993 have both been linked with the TJ [35].

In its effort to assist the US with its counterterrorism efforts after the US 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Pakistani government under Pervez Musharraf increased its pressure on HuA due to its affiliation to Al Qaeda [36]. The Pakistan Army condemned the June 23, 2011 report of The New York Times which stated that a cell phone found in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden contained HuM contacts which had ties with Pakistan's ISI. Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas rejected the claims stating that the military ‘rejects the insinuations made in the New York Times story...it is part of a well-orchestrated smear campaign against our security organizations’ [37]. HuM denied any links with Al Qaeda. A spokesman for the group told BBC’s Ilyas Khan that ‘Al Qaeda has their own discipline, their own thinking, their own organization. We have never ever been in touch with Osama’ [38].

Activities[edit]

HuM has been linked to a number of operations against Indian troops and civilian targets in Kashmir (5). In the past, it has also been linked to the Kashmiri militant group al-Faran that kidnapped five Western tourists in Kashmir in July 1995 [39].

Role in Kashmir

The US State Department’s report titled “Patterns of Global Terrorism” submitted to the US Congress in April1995, described the militant activities of the HuA in Kashmir. It reported that the group had carried out a number of operations against Indian groups and civilian targets in Kashmir and the Doda district [40]. Abductions The HuA have reportedly made several attempts to obtain the release of arrested leaders by abducting Indian Security Forces personnel and foreign tourists as hostages [41].

The first attempt was made in January 1994, when two Indian Security Forces personnel were abducted and subsequently killed when the government refused to release the leaders. A second attempt was made in June 1994 when two foreign tourists were abducted. Following local outcry against these abductions, the hostages were released. A third attempt was made in October 1994, when four foreign tourists were abducted in New Delhi and held in Uttar Pradesh and a demand was again made for the release of the arrested leaders. A successful rescue operation was carried out and the leader of the abductors, Umar Saeed Sheikh, a British student of Pakistani origin was arrested [42].

A fourth attempt was made by the Al-Faran organization (considered to be closely linked with the HuM) in July 1995. Six hostages were abducted from various locations. Only one of the hostages managed to escape while one body was recovered and the fate of the others remained unknown [43].

Airline Hijacking

In June 1999, suspected HuM terrorists, hijacked the Indian Airlines Flight IC 814 from Kathmandu, Nepal and forced the pilot to fly to Kandahar, Afghanistan. As a result, HuM were successful in obtaining the release of Maulana Masood Azhar, Umar Saeed Sheikh and Mushtak Ahmed Zargar, commander of the Al Umar, a militant group with a predominantly Kashmiri cadre base [44] .

Recruitment and Funding[edit]

The initial recruitment for HuM to fight against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was primarily done in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. It is estimated that about 5,000 volunteers were sent to Afghanistan. Allegedly, monetary funding was provided by Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The arms and ammunition were provided by the CIA (through the ISI) whilst training was provided by the Pakistan army [45]. Subsequently, the HuM recruited volunteers from various other Muslim communities. About 6,000 volunteers were recruited from Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Jammu and Kashmir of India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and the Philippines [46].

External Aid

HuM is believed to receive most of its donations from Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States, and from Pakistanis and Kashmiris. The HuM’s financial collection methods also include soliciting donations from magazine ads and pamphlets. The sources and amount of HuM’s military funding are unknown. In anticipation of asset seizures in 2001 by the Pakistani Government, the HuM withdrew funds from bank accounts and allegedly invested in legal businesses, such as commodity trading, real estate, and production of consumer goods. Its fundraising in Pakistan has been constrained since the government’s clampdown on extremist groups and freezing of terrorist assets post 9/11 [47].

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  2. ^ http://globaljihad.net/view_page.asp?id=1435
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  5. ^ http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/%5Cpapers%5Cpaper42.html
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