Hizbul Mujahideen steps up recruitment with more Pakistani fighters

Intelligence officials say Hizbul Mujahideen has begun a fresh recruitment drive with a greater focus on Pakistani fighters, infiltration and reviving separatist sentiment in Jammu and Kashmir. Security agencies have cautioned that the outfit's renewed efforts should not be underestimated

New Delhi: The Hizbul Mujahideen, once projected as a home-grown terror outfit in Jammu and Kashmir, has recently begun changing its strategy.

The group, which had remained largely inactive after Indian security forces dismantled most of its networks in Jammu and Kashmir, has now launched a fresh recruitment drive.

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An Intelligence Bureau official said that the recruitment pattern is, however, different and today the Hizbul Mujahideen has more Pakistani fighters as compared to the local Kashmiris.

“This clearly shows that the local Kashmiris no longer want to be part of this outfit; hence a decision to recruit Pakistanis in large numbers has been taken,” the official said.

The official said that on July 8, a meeting was held to commemorate the death anniversary of slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.

The members of the outfit, which is headquartered in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), discussed a range of issues that involved recruitment and strategy. The Hizbul Mujahideen has been under immense pressure from the Pakistani establishment to regroup and commence operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Post Operation Sindoor, the Hizbul Mujahideen has remained relatively quiet and not focused on its future operations. With the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) down owing to its top leaders missing in action, the emphasis to commence operations in Jammu and Kashmir largely falls on the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen.

“The Pakistani establishment is engaging the Lashkar-e-Taiba in the various trouble-torn regions in Pakistan. The terror group has been tasked with taking on outfits such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),” another official said.

With the Lashkar engaged in Pakistan, its spy agency, Inter Services Intelligence, wants to push the Hizbul Mujahideen and is expecting it to restart operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

The outfit, which has struggled to gain traction in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, is now looking to recruit Pakistani nationals into its ranks. In addition to this, the ISI has also instructed the Hizbul Mujahideen to be ready for infiltrations.

Nearly 100 Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists are reportedly waiting at launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time, the outfit’s top leadership has been directed to intensify its propaganda campaign in the Valley.

The outfit’s top leadership, led by Syed Salahuddin, has been directed to step up efforts to recruit youth in Kashmir. Even as it plans to induct large numbers of Pakistani nationals, the group is also expected to strengthen its local presence by bringing more Kashmiris into its ranks.

Another official said that these moves being made by the Hizbul Mujahideen cannot be taken lightly. The focus would not just be on recruiting terrorists and attempting attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Hizbul Mujahideen has a history of driving a separatist narrative. It would scout for persons in Jammu and Kashmir who can re-introduce separatism in the Union Territory. In fact, this move would be more dangerous when compared to actual terror strikes.

One of the key drivers of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir has been separatism. Separatist leaders have long been accused of radicalising young people, encouraging stone-pelting and persuading them to join terror groups to fight the Indian security forces.

Officials say Hizbul Mujahideen’s revival plan rests on two key elements: recruiting more terrorists from Pakistan and reviving separatist sentiment in the Valley.

While the outfit’s comeback may not be easy given the heavy losses it has suffered at the hands of Indian security agencies since 2016, officials caution that the renewed push to revive militant operations in Jammu and Kashmir cannot be taken lightly.