Author: Amir Rana
Publication: Daily Times
Date: February 26, 2004
URL: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_26-2-2004_pg7_6
Muttahida Jihad Council (MJC), an
alliance of Kashmiri jihadi organizations has been restructured, with six
smaller alliances within it representing various groups that will no longer
use the words jihad, lashkar, jaish or mujahideen with their names so that
they appear more political than militant.
"These semi-alliances are the Kashmir
Resistance Forum (KRF) 1, 2 and 3 and Kashmir Freedom Forum (KFF) 1 and
2, while only Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) is allowed to use its original name",
sources in the MJC told Daily Times.
"We have been told that these names
are damaging Pakistan's image abroad as well as the Kashmiri freedom movement,"
a jihadi leader said. Asked why HM was allowed to use its original name,
he replied "HM also holds the chairmanship of the jihad alliance and quarters
abroad consider it representative of the Kashmiri freedom movement alone".
Sources said this decision was taken in October 2003, implemented in January
2004. KRF 1 represents the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LT), Birgade 313 (a Harkatul
Jihad-e-Islami faction lead by Commander Illyas Kashmiri), Lashkar-e-Islam
(LI) and Al-Bader Mujahideen, while KRF 2 is an alliance of Al-Jihad, Al-Fateh,
Hizb Ullah and Muslim Janbaz Force (MJF). KRF 3 consists of Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami
(Maulana Muzaffar group), Jamiat-ul Mujahideen (JM) and Jamiat-ul-Ansar
(JA), while KFF 1 is an alliance of Jaish Muhammad (JM) and Al-Umer Mujahideen
and KFF 2 includes Islamic Front, Jamaat-ul-Furqan (JF), Tehrik-e-Jihad
(TJ), Al-Barq and Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen (TM).
This new 'adjustment' is called
"Muwakhaat" (an Arabic word meaning agreement on the basis of brotherhood)
and sources said this would also reduce the jihadi groups' internal differences.
"These organizations' new identities will improve their image, making them
look like political groups", sources said.
The MJC earlier consisted of 15
organizations; HM, TM, JM, Al-Barq, MJF, Hizb Ullah, Al-Jihad, Al-Fateh,
HJI (Muzaffar group), IF, LI, Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, Al-Umer,
JA, TJ, and all of these were Kashmir- based.
Five Pakistan-based organizations
LT, JM, Brigade 313, Al-Bader Mujahideen and JF were not the part of MJC
but they have been included in the new structure. "The MJC constitution
barred Pakistan- based organization from the alliance but circumstances
have changed. We need unity and no one can deny their role in jihad", a
jihadi leader said. Sources also claimed Syed Salahudin will remain the
chairman of MJC for five more years, being acceptable to all concerned.
Sources said the Pakistan-based
groups had asked to join the MJC, and claimed this wasn't the first time
that the MJC was being restructured. In January 2002, a formula for a merger
was adopted but small and Pakistan-based organizations refused to accept
it. They wanted to maintain their independent identity and most jihadi
leaders were not prepared to be subordinate to small Kashmiri organizations",
sources claimed, adding, "this structure is an extension of 2002's formula
and now leaders of these organisations will not share responsibilities
with others". Sources said these smaller alliances would launch operations
against Indian forces in Kashmir, but after permission from MJC leaders.
