Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind

Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (Urdu: انصار غزوات الهند‎) is an Islamic separatist jihadi organization and Al-Qaeda cell that is active in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The outfit was formerly led by Zakir Rashid Bhat (alias Zakir Musa).[1][2][3][4] Jammu and Kashmir police said the group was completely "wiped out" of Kashmir in October 2019 but later media reports emerged of the group still being active.[5]

Ansar Ghazwat ul-Hind
انصار
Participant in Kashmir conflict and the Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir
Flag of Ansar Ghazwat ul-Hind
ActiveJuly 2017 – Ongoing
StatusActive
IdeologySimilar to Taliban,independent Kashmir
FounderZakir Rashid Bhat †
LeaderGazi Ibrahim Khalid
Hameed Lelhari (leader) †
Soliha Mohammad Akhoon a.k.a. Rehaan Khan (deputy leader) †
Part of Al-Qaeda
AlliesTaliban, Al-Qaeda
Opponent(s) India
Battles and war(s)Kashmir conflict

Background

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

In July 2017, the Global Islamic Media Front claimed that Zakir Musa had been named the head of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind.[6][7][8]

On 7 December 2017 the group released a statement that condemned United States President Donald Trump's deceleration of moving the United States embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.[9]

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.[10]

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.[11][12]

In April 2018, the group published material that encouraged Muslims across India and Kashmir to carry out lone wolf attacks.[13]

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.[14]

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.[15]

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.[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]

Jammu and Kashmir's Director General of Police, Dilbag Singh, claimed that the Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind has been "wiped out of Kashmir" on 23 October 2019.[19]

However, four members of the group were shot dead in Shopian district's Melhora village during an encounter with Indian Army's 55 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF. [20] Two over-ground workers of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind had been captured in Pulwama district on 22 May.[21]

See also

References
  1. "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.
  2. "Ansar Ghazwat ul-Hind / Foundation of New Movement of Jihad in Kashmir (AGH)". Tracking Terrorism. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  3. "Ansar-Ghazwat-ul-Hind". Site Intel Group. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  4. Jocelyn, Thomas (2 September 2017). "Al Qaeda-linked jihadist in Kashmir criticizes Pakistani Army". Long War Journal. Public Multimedia Inc. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  5. "Dilbag Singh: Al-Qaeda offshoot AGH wiped out from Kashmir: J&K DGP". m.economictimes.com. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  6. 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.
  7. "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.
  8. 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.
  9. Zelin, Aaron Y. (7 December 2017). "New statement from Anṣār Ghazwat al-Hind: "Concerning Developments on Jerusalem"". jihadology.net. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  10. "Wilāyat Kashmīr". jihadology.net. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  11. 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.
  12. "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.
  13. "Kashmir-focused Media Group Incites for Lone-Wolf Attacks in India". ent.siteintelgroup.com. 24 April 2016. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  14. "Major success for forces in Kashmir; Al-Qaeda affiliated commander, 5 other terrorists killed". Asian News International. 22 December 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  15. 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.
  16. "Big win for security forces; Zakir Musa's successor gunned down". Rediff. 23 October 2019. 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. Javaid, Azaan (23 October 2019). "Zakir Musa's al Qaeda-inspired militant group 'wiped out' from Kashmir". ThePrint. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  20. Wani, Ashraf (22 April 2020). "4 militants killed in encounter at Kashmir's Shopian district". India Today. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  21. "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.
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