Lashkar-e-Taiba

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (January 2009)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2009)

Lashkar-e-Taiba
Dates of operation	1991 - Present
Leader	Hafiz Muhammad Saeed
Motives	Integration of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan after ending Indian rule in the state , propagation of global pan-Islam in South Asia & ethnic-cleansing of Hindus [1]
Active region(s)	India, Pakistan, Afghanistan [1]
Ideology	Islamism, Islamic fundamentalism, Pan-Islamism, Kashmiri Independence
Major actions	Suicide attacks, massacre of non-Muslim civilians, attacks on security forces[1]
Notable attacks	Jammu & Kashmir attacks; November 2008 Mumbai attacks (attributed to LeT members)
Status	Designated U.S. State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organization by U.S. (26 Dec 2001); Banned in U.K. (2001); Banned in Pakistan (2002); Related Jama'at-ud-Da'wah (JUD) party banned by U.S. (2006), sanctioned by the U.N. (2008)

Lashkar-e-Taiba (Urdu: لشکرطیبہ laškar-ĕ ṯayyiba; literally Army of the Good, translated as Army of the Righteous, or Army of the Pure) — also transliterated as Lashkar-i-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Lashkar-i-Taiba, Lashkar Taiba or LeT — is one of the largest and most active militant organizations in South Asia. It was founded by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and Zafar Iqbal^[2][3] in the Kunar province of Afghanistan, and is currently based in Muridke near Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan operating several training camps in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.^[4] Lashkar-e-Taiba members have carried out major attacks against India and its objective is to introduce an Islamic state in South Asia and to "liberate" Muslims residing in Indian-administered Kashmir.^[3][5] Some breakaway Lashkar members have also been accused of carrying out attacks in Pakistan, particularly in Karachi, to mark its opposition to the policies of former President Pervez Musharraf.^[6] The organization is banned as a terrorist organization by India, Pakistan, the United States,^[7] the United Kingdom,^[6] the European Union,^[8] Russia^[9] and Australia.^[10] U.S. intelligence officials believe that Pakistan's main intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), continues to give LeT intelligence help and protection.^[11]

Contents 1 Objective 2 Formation 3 Personnel 4 Activities 4.1 Alleged and Confirmed Attacks and Confrontations 5 Funding 5.1 Use of Charity Aid to Fund Operations 6 External Relationships 6.1 Role in India-Pakistan relations 6.1.1 Allegations of ISI Involvement 6.2 Role in Afghanistan 6.3 Links with Other Militant Outfits 6.3.1 Al-Qaeda 6.3.2 Jaish-e-Mohammed 6.3.3 Hizb-ul-Mujahideen 6.3.4 Students Islamic Movement of India 6.3.5 Ties to Attacks in the United States 7 Designation as terrorist group 8 See also 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Objective

Organizations listed as terrorist groups by India
Northeastern India
National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) Naga National Council-Federal (NNCF) National Council of Nagaland-Khaplang United Liberation Front of Asom People's Liberation Army Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) Zomi Revolutionary Front
Kashmir
Lashkar-e-Toiba Jaish-e-Mohammed Hizbul Mujahideen Harkat-ul-Mujahideen Farzandan-e-Milat United Jihad Council Al-Qaeda Students Islamic Movement of India
North India
Babbar Khalsa Bhindranwala Tigers Force of Khalistan Communist Party of India (Maoist) Dashmesh Regiment International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) Kamagata Maru Dal of Khalistan Khalistan Armed Force Khalistan Liberation Force Khalistan Commando Force Khalistan Liberation Army Khalistan Liberation Front Khalistan Liberation Organisation Khalistan National Army Khalistan Guerilla Force Khalistan Security Force Khalistan Zindabad Force Shaheed Khalsa Force
Central India
People's war group Balbir militias Naxals Ranvir Sena
v • d • e

While the primary area of operations of the Lashkar-e-Taiba’s terrorist activities is the Kashmir valley, the outfit is also active in the Jammu region besides having undertaken repeated and conmfirmed attacks in other parts of India.^{[citation needed]} The LeT's professed goal is not limited to challenging India's sovereignty over Jammu and Kashmir. The group's aims include establishing an Islamic state in South Asia and uniting all Muslim majority regions in countries that surround Pakistan.^[3][4][12] The Lashkar-e-Taiba group has repeatedly claimed through its journals and websites that its main aim is to destroy the Indian republic and to annihilate Hinduism and Judaism. LeT has declared Hindus and Jews to be the "enemies of Islam", as well as India and Israel to be the "enemies of Pakistan".^[13] They see the issue of Kashmir as part of a wider global struggle.^[14]

Further, the outfit is based on a sort of Islamist fundamentalism preached by its mentor, the JuD. In its history the organization has shown scant respect for human life and has carried out violent activities.^[who?] Organizations like the LeT have been used to absorb the resilient remnants of the Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives in the region.^{[citation needed]} In a pamphlet entitled "Why Are We Waging Jihad?" the group defined its agenda as the restoration of Islamic rule over all parts of India. ^[15]

In January 2009 the LeT publicly declared that it would pursue a peaceful resolution in the Kashmir issue and that it did not have global jihadist aims.^[16]

In the wake of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, investigations of computer and email accounts revealed a list of 320 locations worldwide deemed as possible targets for attack. Only 20 of the targets were locations within India. Analysts believed that the list was a statement of intent rather than a list of locations where LeT cells had been established and were ready to strike.^[17]

[edit] Formation

LeT gained prominence in the early 1990s as a military offshoot of Markaz-ud Dawa-wal-Irshad.^[4][18]

[edit] Personnel

This article may need to be wikified to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please help by adding relevant internal links, or by improving the article's layout. (December 2008)

• Hafiz Muhammad Saeed - Living in Pakistan - Founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba and amir of its political arm, Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD).^[19] Shortly after the November 2008 Mumbai attacks Saeed denied any links between the two groups: "No Lashkar-e-Taiba man is in Jamaat-ud-Dawa and I have never been a chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba."^[20]

• Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi - In custody of Pakistan military^[21] - Senior member of LeT. Named as being one of the masterminds of the Mumbai attack.^[22]Released shortly after arrest by Pakistan Government, prompting India and US to claim the arrest was an eyewash.^{[citation needed]}

• Yusuf Muzammil - Believed to be in Pakistan - Senior member of LeT. Named as a mastermind of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks by surviving gunman Ajmal Kasab.^[22].

• Zarar Shah - in Pakistani custody - one of Lashkar-e-Taiba's primary liaisons to the ISI. An American official said that he was a "central character" in the planning behind the Mumbai attacks in 2008.^[23] Zarar Shah has boasted to Pakistani investigators about his role in the attacks.^[11]

• Muhammad Ashraf - LeT's top financial officer. Although not directly connected to the 2008 Mumbai plot, he was added to the the U.N. list of people that sponsor terrorism after the attacks.^[24] However, Geo TV reported that six years earlier Ashraf became seriously ill while in custody and died at Civil Hospital on June 11, 2002.^[25][26]

• Mahmoud Mohamed Ahmed Bahaziq - The leader of LeT in Saudi Arabia and one of its financiers. Although not directly connected to the Mumbai plot, the U.N. added him to its list of individuals that sponsor terrorism after the 2008 Mumbai attacks.^[24][26]

• Nasr Javed, a Kashmiri senior operative of the militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba^[27], is on the list of "Individuals banned from the UK for stirring-up hatred"^[28] for "Considered to be engaging in unacceptable behaviour by seeking to foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs."

[edit] Activities

The group actively carries out attacks on Indian Armed Forces in Kashmir and Jammu and still operates in the jungles in Pakistan. It is considered a well-trained group.^{[citation needed]}

The group reportedly conducts training camps and humanitarian work. These camps have long been trained by the Pakistan's powerful Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency because of their usefulness against India and in Afghanistan, though they have reportedly been told not to mount any operations for now.^[29]

[edit] Alleged and Confirmed Attacks and Confrontations

• In March 2000, Lashkar-e-Taiba militants are claimed to have been involved in the Chittisinghpura massacre, where 35 Sikhs in the town of Chittisinghpura in Kashmir were killed. An LeT militant who was arrested in December of the year admitted to the involvement of the group and had no regret in perpetrating the anti-Sikh massacre^[30].
• The LeT was also held responsible by the government for the December 23, 2000 attack in Red Fort,^[31] New Delhi. LeT confirmed its participation in the Red Fort attack.^{[citation needed]}
• The Indian government blamed LeT, in coordination with Jaish-e-Mohammed, for a December 13, 2001 assault on parliament in Delhi.^[32]
• 2002 Kaluchak massacre 31 killed may 14, 2002. Australian government attributed this massacre to Lashkar-e-Taiba when it designated it as a terrorist organization.
• 2003 Nadimarg Massacre 24 Kashmiri pandits gunned down on the night of March 23, 2003.
• 2005 London bombings: Links to Lashkar-e-Taiba^[33] and Al-Qaeda involved.
• 2005 Delhi bombings: During Diwali, Lashkar-e-Taiba bombed crowded festive Delhi markets killing 60 civilians and maiming 527.^[34]
• 2006 Varanasi bombings: Lashkar-e-Taiba was involved in serial blasts in Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh. 37 people died and 89 were seriously injured.^[35]
• 2006 Doda Massacre 34 Hindus were killed in Kashmir on April 30, 2006..
• 2006 Mumbai train bombings: The investigation launched by Indian forces and US officials have pointed to the involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba in Mumbai serial blasts on 11 July 2006. The Mumbai serial blasts on 11 July claimed 211 lives and maimed about 407 people and seriously injured another 768.^[36][37]
• 2006 blasts at Malegaon: The investigation, presently in its early stages, point to the Lashkar-e-Taiba as suspects. They have had connections with Malegaon's radical Islamist organisations.^[12] Alternate theories involving the Bajrang Dal as the perpetrators are also being considered,^[38] however, no evidence points to the involvement of Bajrang Dal,^[39] and the modus operandi of the attacks are more consistent with Islamist terror outfits such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba.^[40].
• On September 12, 2006 the propaganda arm of the Lashkar-e-Taiba issued a fatwa against Pope Benedict XVI demanding that Muslims assassinate him for his controversial statements about Muhammad^[41] (for details see Pope Benedict XVI Islam controversy)
• On September 16, 2006, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba militant, Abu Saad, was killed by the troops of 9-Rashtriya Rifles in Nandi Marg forest in Kulgam. Saad belongs to Lahore in Pakistan and also oversaw LeT operations for the past three years in Gul Gulabhgash as the outfit's area commander. Apart from a large quantity of arms and ammunition, high denomination Indian and Pakistani currencies were also recovered from the slain militant.^[42]
• In November 2008, Lashkar-e-Taiba has been suspected but has denied being a part of the Mumbai attacks.^[43] The lone gunman, [Ajmal Amir Kasab], captured by Indian authorities admitted the attacks were planned and executed by the organization.^[44][45] US intelligence sources confirmed that their evidence suggested Lashkar-e-Taiba is behind the attacks. ^[46]
• On 7 December 2008, under pressure from USA and India, the Pakistani Army launched an operation against LeT and Jamat-ud-Dawa to arrest people suspected of 26/11 Mumbai attacks.^[47][48]

[edit] Funding

Until 2002 the group collected funds through public fundraising events usually using charity boxes in shops and mosques^[49]. The outfit also collects donations from the Pakistani immigrant community in the Persian Gulf and United Kingdom, Islamic Non-Governmental Organisations, and Pakistani and Kashmiri businessmen.^[12][50] Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives have also been apprehended in India, where they have been obtaining funds from sections of the Muslim Community.^[51]

Reports also indicate that the LeT receives considerable financial, material and other forms of assistance from the Pakistan government, routed primarily through the ISI.^[52]

[edit] Use of Charity Aid to Fund Operations

LeT assisted victims after the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. In many instances, they were the first on the scene, arriving before the army or other civilians.^[53]

A large amount of funds collected among the Pakistani expatriate community in Britain to aid victims of the earthquake were funneled for the activities of Lashkar-e-Taiba although the donors were unaware. About 5 million British pounds were collected, but more than half of the funds were directed towards LeT rather than towards relief efforts. Intelligence officials stated that some of the funds were used to prepare for an attack that would have detonated explosives on board transatlantic airflights.^[54] Other investigations also indicated the aid given for earthquake victims was directly involved to expand Lashkar-e-Taiba's activities within India.^[55]

[edit] External Relationships

[edit] Role in India-Pakistan relations

LeT attacks have increased tensions in the already contentious relationship between India and Pakistan. Part of the LeT strategy may be to deflect the attention of Pakistan's military away from the tribal areas and towards its border with India. Attacks in India also tend to exacerbate tensions between India's Hindu and Muslim communities and help LeT recruitment strategies in India.^[14]

LeT cadres have also been arrested in different cities of India. On May 27, a LeT militant was arrested from Hajipur in Gujarat. On August 15, 2001, a LeT militant was arrested from Bhatinda in Punjab.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Allegations of ISI Involvement

Pakistan’s security agencies are reported to be providing training to the outfit. A December 13, 2001 news report cited a LeT spokesperson as saying that the outfit wanted to avoid a clash with the Pakistani Government. He claimed, even though the government has been an ardent supporter of all Muslim freedom movements, particularly that of Kashmir, in the present conditions a clash was possible because of the sudden wedge that appeared between the interests of the government and those of militant outfits active in Jammu and Kashmir.^[56]

According to the declaration of LeT operatives, the Pakistan Army, particularly in the borders with India (the International Border and the Line of Control - LoC) aids members of the outfit in their infiltration, extraction and clashes with Indian security forces near the borders by providing covering fire.^[57].

The LeT was also reported to have been directed by the ISI to widen its network in the Jammu region where a considerable section of the populace comprised Punjabis. The LeT has a large number of activists who hail from Pakistani Punjab and can thus effectively penetrate into Jammu society.^[58]

Pakistan denies giving orders to Lashkar-e-Taiba's activities. However, the Indian government and many non-governmental think-tanks allege that the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence is involved with the group.^[12] The situation with LeT causes considerable strain in Indo-Pakistani relations, which are already mired in suspicion and mutual distrust.

On July 31, 2008, Webnewswire, a leading Indian newswire, released 'Undisputed proof that Lashker-e-Taiba is (or was) based in Pakistan.' It lists information available in public sources such as archive.org to prove that the organisation was based in Pakistan.^[59]

[edit] Role in Afghanistan

The Lashkar-e-Taiba was created to participate in the Mujahideen conflict against the Najibullah regime in Afghanistan. In the process, the outfit developed deep linkages with Afghanistan and has several Afghan nationals in its cadre. The outfit had also cultivated links with the former Taliban regime in Afghanistan and also with Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network. Even while refraining from openly displaying these links, the LeT office in Muridke was reportedly used as a transit camp for third country recruits heading for Afghanistan.^[60]

Guantanamo detainee Khalid Bin Abdullah Mishal Thamer Al Hameydani's Combatant Status Review Tribunal said that he had received training via Lashkar-e-Taiba.^[61]

The Combatant Status Review Tribunals of Taj Mohammed and Rafiq Bin Bashir Bin Jalud Al Hami, and the Administrative Review Board hearing of Abdullah Mujahid and Zia Ul Shah allege that they too were members or former members of Lashkar-e-Taiba.^{[62][63][64][65]}

[edit] Links with Other Militant Outfits

While the primary focus for the Lashkar is the operations in Indian Kashmir, it has frequently provided support to other international terrorist outfits. Primary among these is the Al-Qaeda Network in Afghanistan. LeT members also have been reported to have engaged in conflicts in the Philippines, Bosnia, the Middle East and Chechnya.^[66]

[edit] Al-Qaeda

• The Lashkar is claimed to have operated a military camp in post-Sept 11 Afghanistan, and extending support to the ousted Taliban regime.^{[citation needed]} The outfit had claimed that it had assisted the Taliban militia and Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network in Afghanistan during November and December 2002 in their fight against the US-aided Northern Alliance.^{[citation needed]}
• A leading Al-Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah, who became operational chief of Al-Qaeda after the death of Mohammed Atef, was caught in a Lashkar safehouse at Faislabad in Pakistan.^[67]
• A news report in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in the U.S. has indicated that the outfit provides individuals for the outer circle of bin Laden’s personal security.^{[citation needed]}
• Other notable al-Qaeda operatives said to have received instruction and training in LeT camps include David Hicks, Richard Reid and Dhiren Barot.^[67]

[edit] Jaish-e-Mohammed

News reports, citing security forces, said that the latter suspect that in the December 13, 2001 attack on India’s Parliament in New Delhi, a joint group from the LeT and the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were involved. The attack precipitated the 2001-2002 India-Pakistan standoff.

[edit] Hizb-ul-Mujahideen

The Lashkar is reported to have conducted several of its major operations in tandem with the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. The Kashmiri cadre of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen provides vital knowledge of the ground conditions in the target zone, while the highly trained and motivated LeT insurgents undertake the attack.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Students Islamic Movement of India

The LeT has also built contacts with other Islamist militant outfits active in India. An arrested activist of the proscribed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), is reported to have confessed during interrogation on August 21, 2001, that two LeT militant had held discussions with SIMI’s Malegaon unit in Mumbai on August 6, 2001 to carry out subversive activities in the State of Maharashtra.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Ties to Attacks in the United States

• The Markaz campus at Muridke in Lahore, its headquarters, was used as a hide-out for both Ramzi Yousef, involved in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and Mir Aimal Kansi, convicted and executed for the January 1993 killing of two CIA officers outside the agency’s headquarters in Langley, Virginia.^[68]
• Several American Muslims, including members of the Virginia Jihad Network, attended LeT training camps and were convicted in 2006 of conspiring to provide material support to the LeT.^[69]

[edit] Designation as terrorist group

Lashkar-e-Taiba had links to Jama'at-ud-Da'wah, however Jama'at-ud-Da'wah publicly retracted any association with them after the United States Department of State declared Lashkar-e-Taiba to be a terrorist organisation.^{[citation needed]}

On March 28, 2001, in Statutory Instrument 2001 No. 1261, British Home Secretary Jack Straw designated the group a Proscribed Terrorist Organization under the Terrorism Act 2000.^[70][71]

On December 5, 2001, the group was added to the Terrorist Exclusion List. In a notification dated December 26, 2001, United States Secretary of State Colin Powell, designated Lashkar-e-Taiba a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.

Lashkar-e-Taiba was banned in Pakistan on January 12, 2002.^[6]

It is banned in India as a designated terrorist group under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.^[72]

It was listed as a terrorist organisation in Australia under the Security Legislation Amendment (Terrorism) Act 2002 on 11 April 2003 and was re-listed 11 April 2005 and 31 March 2007.^[73][74]

On 2 May^[when?] it was placed on the Consolidated List established and maintained by the Committee established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267 as an entity associated with al-Qaeda.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] See also

• List of designated terrorist organizations
• al Qaeda
• Lascar
• Lashkar-e-Taiba training camps

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Profile of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Washington Post, 2008-12-05
• Report on the Lashkar-e-Toiba by the Anti-Defamation League
• Report on Lashkar-e-Toiba by the South Asia Terrorism Portal
• Should Mohd. Afzal Guru be executed? International Terrorism Monitor—Paper # 132.
• Islamist Militancy in Kashmir: The Case of the Lashkar-i Tayyeba - by Prof. Yoginder Sikand
• Background on the fidayeen tactics of Lashkar-e-Toiba

v • d • e War on Terrorism Timeline · Casualties · Theaters · Criticism · ISAF Participants Operational ISAF · Operation Enduring Freedom participants · Multinational force in Iraq · Afghanistan · Northern Alliance · Iraq (Iraqi Army) · NATO · Pakistan · United Kingdom · United States · Philippines · Ethiopia Targets al-Qaeda · Osama bin Laden · Abu Sayyaf · Iraqi insurgency · Hamas · Islamic Courts Union · Jemaah Islamiyah · Taliban · Pattani Separatists · Jaish-e-Mohammed · Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami · Hizbul Mujahideen · Kurdistan Workers' Party · Hezbollah · Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan · Lashkar-e-Taiba Conflicts Operation Enduring Freedom War in Afghanistan · OEF - Philippines · Georgia Train and Equip Program · Georgia Sustainment and Stability · OEF - Horn of Africa · OEF - Trans Sahara · Missile strikes in Pakistan Other Insurgency in the Maghreb · Iraq insurgency and operations · Insurgency in Saudi Arabia · War in North-West Pakistan · South Thailand insurgency · Lebanon War · War in Somalia · Lebanon-Fatah al-Islam conflict Islamist attacks 2001–2002 September 11 attacks · 2001 Indian Parliament attack · Shoe bomb plot · Terrorism in Pakistan · Ghriba synagogue bombing · 1st Bali bombing 2003–2004 Riyadh compound bombings · Casablanca bombings · 2003 Mumbai bombings · Jakarta Marriott Hotel bombing · Istanbul bombings · SuperFerry 14 bombing · Madrid train bombings · Beslan school hostage crisis · Jakarta Australian embassy bombing 2005–2006 1st London bombings · 2nd London bombings · Sharm el-Sheikh attacks · 2nd Bali bombing · 1st Delhi bombings · Amman bombings · 2006 Varanasi bombings · 2006 Mumbai train bombings · Transatlantic aircraft plot · Toronto terrorism plot 2007–2008 1st Algiers bombings · Fort Dix attack plot · Ankara bombing · London car bomb plot · Glasgow Airport attack · Hyderabad bombings · Qahtaniya bombings · Karachi bombing · Baghlan bombing · Philippine Congress bombing · 2nd Algiers bombings · Assassination of Benazir Bhutto · Jaipur bombings · Danish embassy · Indian embassy · United States consulate · Istanbul bombings · Bangalore bombings-Ahmedabad · 2nd Delhi bombings · American embassy · Islamabad bombing · 3rd Delhi bombing · 2008 Assam bombings · 2008 Mumbai attacks 2009–current Attack on Sri Lankan cricket team · Yemeni tourist attack See also Abu Ghraib prison · Axis of evil · Bush Doctrine · CIA run Black sites · Combatant Status Review Tribunal · Enhanced interrogation techniques · Extrajudicial prisoners of the US · Extraordinary rendition · Guantanamo Bay detention camp · Military Commissions Act · NSA electronic surveillance program · Protect America Act of 2007 · Unitary executive theory · Unlawful combatant · USA PATRIOT Act Terrorism · War