Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind

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Ansar Ghazwat ul-Hind
انصار غزوات الهند
Founder
LeaderZakir Rashid Bhat †[4]
(2017-19)
Hameed Lelhari †[5]
(2019)
Imtiyaz Shah †[6]
(2019-2021)
Hafiz Mustafa Abdul Kareem
(2021–present)
Dates of operationJuly 2017–Present[1]
Active regionsJammu and Kashmir
IdeologyGhazwa-e-Hind
StatusActive
Part of Al-Qaeda
Opponents India
Battles and warsInsurgency in Jammu and Kashmir

Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (Urdu: انصار غزوات الهند‎) is a Islamist Militant Kashmiri wing of Al-Qaeda active in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.It was founded in 2017 by Zakir Rashid Bhat and he claimed his objective is imposing Sharia in Jammu & Kashmir.[7]

History and Objective

Zakir Rashid Bhat was a Islamist Kashmiri militant. He was popular by the name Zakir Musa among Kashmiri people. He was a former field operational commander of Hizbul Mujahideen and founder of the Kashmiri wing of Al-Qaeda, Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.[7] In 2017 Zakir Musa split from Hizbul Mujahideen and later joined Al-Qaeda and formed Al-Qaeda's Kashmiri Wing Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind as he was impressed by Al-Qaeda's religious objective of imposing Sharia in the Kashmir region. In July 2017, the Global Islamic Media Front claimed that Zakir Musa had been named the head of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, a newly created cell of Al-Qaeda.[1] After the killing of militant commander Abu Dujana and Arif Lelhari, a statement purported to be from Musa was released. The statement claimed that Dujana and Lelhari had joined Al-Qaeda and helped establish it. Officials stated that the voice of the message matched those of the earlier audio clips by Musa, though the state's DGP S.P. Vaid stated there was no way of authenticating the clips even though there were reports that Dujana and Musa were close at the time. Meanwhile, an audio-clip circulated on media that claimed to be the last message from Dujana and Arif during their encounter. Two voices claim allegiance to Al-Qaeda; however, no gunfire is heard and the authenticity of the clip was not proven.[8]

Etymology

The group derives its name from the Islamic prophecy of Ghazwa-e-Hind, the ultimate conquest of India. Ansar means supporters.

Leadership suhail Rashid bhat new cheif in kashmir valley active in 2017 :21

In July 2017, the Global Islamic Media Front claimed that Zakir Musa had been named the head of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.[9][10][11]

Activity and affiliation

On 7 December 2017 the group released a statement that condemned United States President Donald Trump's declaration of moving the United States embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.[12]

On 25 December 2017, in a video of a Kashmiri militant declaring allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and declaring a new ISIL Province in Kashmir, the fighter called on Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind to ally with or give allegiance to ISIL and wage Jihad in Kashmir against the Indian government but the group declined.[13]

In February 2018, the group released a video of Zakir Musa calling on Indian Muslims to attack Indian army patrols and checkpoints as well as companies interested in investing in India.[14][15]

In April 2018, the group published material that encouraged Muslims across India and Kashmir to carry out lone wolf attacks.[16]

On 21 November 2019, the group released a video condemning the Indian court ruling on the Babri Masjid. The group urged Muslims to retaliate against the decision.[17] The group's deputy chief Burhan Koka was killed in an encounter in Shopian's Melhora area on 29 April 2020 along with 2 other associates. [18]

Operations against Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind

On 21 December 2018, the group's deputy leader Soliha Mohammad Akhoon, also known as Rehaan Khan, was killed in an encounter with 55 Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF along with five other militants.[19]

On 24 May 2019, Indian security forces killed Zakir Musa in an encounter in Tral region of Jammu and Kashmir. Security forces had to blast a chemist's house where Musa was hiding. The owner was sent in for negotiation to surrender, but Musa declined.[20]

On 22 October 2019, Indian security forces killed Hameed Lehari in an encounter in Awantipora, Jammu and Kashmir. He was the second leader of the organisation.[21]

Jammu and Kashmir's Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh, said that the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind has been "wiped out of Kashmir" on 23 October 2019.[22]

On 22 April 2020, four militants of the group were killed in Shopian district's Melhora village during an encounter with Indian Army's 55 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF.[23] Two over-ground workers of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind had been captured in Pulwama district on 22 May.[24]

On 9 April 2021, Jammu and Kashmir's Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh, said that the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind has been "wiped out of Kashmir" for a second time, after 7 militants including its chief were killed in an encounter.[25]

On 11 July 2021, Prashant Kumar, ADG Law and Order, UP, said, “ATS UP has uncovered a big terror module. The team has arrested two terrorists linked with al-Qaeda's Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.”[26]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Al-Qaida-linked cell Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind announces Zakir Musa as its chief in Kashmir". Times of India. 27 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "Abu Dujana helped set up al Qaeda in India: Zakir Musa in purported statement". Hindustan Times. 5 August 2017.
  3. ↑ "Abu Dujana helped set up al Qaeda in India: Zakir Musa in purported statement". Hindustan Times. 5 August 2017.
  4. ↑ "Zakir Musa, Jammu and Kashmir's most wanted militant, killed in encounter: Police". Hindustan Times. 23 May 2019.
  5. ↑ Ashraf Wani (23 October 2019). "J&K: Zakir Musa's successor killed in Awantipora encounter". India Today. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  6. ↑ "Al Qaeda-Inspired Group 'Wiped Out', 7 Militants Including its Chief Killed in Kashmir". News18. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Army releases list of 12 most wanted militant in Kashmir Valley". Times of India. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "Abu Dujana helped set up al Qaeda in India: Zakir Musa in purported statement". Hindustan Times. 5 August 2017.
  9. ↑ Kaur, Simarjeet (28 July 2017). "Zakir Musa Will Lead New Outfit in Kashmir". Global Daily Tribune. Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  10. ↑ "Al-Qaida-linked cell Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind announces Zakir Musa as its chief in Kashmir". Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  11. ↑ Pandit, M. Saleem (18 September 2017). "Hizbul blames Zakir Musa for 'helping forces kill Kashmiris'". Times of India. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  12. ↑ Zelin, Aaron Y. (7 December 2017). "New statement from Anṣār Ghazwat al-Hind: "Concerning Developments on Jerusalem"". jihadology.net. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  13. ↑ "Wilāyat Kashmīr". jihadology.net. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  14. ↑ Zelin, Aaron Y. (25 February 2018). "New video message from Anṣār Ghazwat al-Hind's Dhākr Musā: "Kashmir Will Become the Abode of Islam"". jihadology.net. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  15. ↑ "AQ-Aligned Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind Leader Calls 'Every Able Youth' to Attack Indian Army, Companies Seeking Investment in India". ent.siteintelgroup.com. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  16. ↑ "Kashmir-focused Media Group Incites for Lone-Wolf Attacks in India". ent.siteintelgroup.com. 24 April 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  17. ↑ Mohammad, Niala (21 November 2019). "Militant Group Vows Retaliation Following Indian Court Ruling". VoA News. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  18. ↑ Three AuGH militants killed in Kashmir’s Shopian
  19. ↑ "Major success for forces in Kashmir; Al-Qaeda affiliated commander, 5 other terrorists killed". Asian News International. 22 December 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  20. ↑ Sandhu, Kamaljit Kaur; Shuja-ul-Haq (24 May 2019). "Burhan Wani's successor Zakir Musa killed in encounter, curfew in parts of Jammu and Kashmir". India Today. Living Media India Limited. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  21. ↑ "Big win for security forces; Zakir Musa's successor gunned down". Rediff. 23 October 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  22. ↑ Javaid, Azaan (23 October 2019). "Zakir Musa's al Qaeda-inspired militant group 'wiped out' from Kashmir". ThePrint. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  23. ↑ Wani, Ashraf (22 April 2020). "4 militants killed in encounter at Kashmir's Shopian district". India Today. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  24. ↑ "2 overground workers of Hizbul Mujahideen and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind arrested in J-K's Pulwama". The New Indian Express. 22 May 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  25. ↑ "Al Qaeda-Inspired Group 'Wiped Out', 7 Militants Including its Chief Killed in Kashmir". News18. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  26. ↑ DelhiJuly 11, Arvind Ojha New; July 11, 2021UPDATED; Ist, 2021 17:25. "UP ATS nabs 2 Al Qaeda terrorists from Lucknow, foils major attack". India Today. Retrieved 11 July 2021. {{cite web}}: |first2= has generic name (help); |first3= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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