Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar

Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, the third Islamic militant released as a result of the hijacking of IA-814, is the leader of Al-Umar Mujahideen, an Islamist militant group, demanding Kashmir's accession to Pakistan.

Contents

• 1 History
• 2 Terrorism

Currently based in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan administered Kashmir, Zargar is the only Indian Kashmiri among the released trio.

Known for his ruthlessness and his ability to plan stunning strikes, he grew up in Gani Mohalla of the Jama Masjid area of Srinagar. He was motivated into militancy sometime in 1984, but he became famous during the kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of the then home minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.

He parted ways with Yasin Malik of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front after one of his suggestions was not accepted. Zargar then formed the Al-Umar Mujahideen in December 1989. The group went on to earn a reputation for planning and executing some of the most inhuman strikes in the valley.

Zargar is believed to be an ideal linchpin for the Pakistani intelligence establishment in Jammu and Kashmir, given the fact that he happens to be a Kashmiri who used to live in Srinagar's Jama Masjid area.

There are at least three dozen murder cases registered against him in Srinagar, where he was known for his militant activity. He was first arrested in 1984 when he was only 17.

Four years later, Zargar was picked up by Zahoor Sheikh, a member of the People's League, one of the precursors of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front.

Terrorism

In August 1988, Zargar first crossed over to Pakistan for training. His second trip to Pakistan was in May 1989, for another round of training before launching himself into an orgy of violence.

Zargar allegedly killed several Kashmiri Pandits and was involved in attacks on security personnel. He fell out with JKLF chief Yasin Malik soon after, and in December 1989, established the Al-Umar Mujahideen in Srinagar. He later opened an office in Muzaffarabad.

The ISI found Al-Umar Mujahideen to be a perfect foil to the JKLF, given that the latter, keen on liberation, was showing clear signs of upsetting Pakistan's plans to annex Kashmir.

The ISI pumped money and material to Al Umar Mujahideen that set up an extensive extortion racket in Srinagar. Zargar was involved in at least seven kidnappings for ransom.

To help a businessman friend, he even ordered a ban on the use of Maruti vehicles in Srinagar. The reason: His friend was a dealer for a rival car manufacturer.

Zargar was considered to be the undisputed ganglord of Srinagar from 1989 to 1993, indulging in terrorist and criminal acts with equal felicity.

In 1993, Indian security forces gunned down several top commanders and finally arrested him in Srinagar.

He remained in Kotbalwal jail in Jammu till then external affairs minister Jaswant Singh was compelled to escort him to freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

In Pakistan, he remained out of sight, but not exactly out of touch. He was constantly in touch with Maulana Masood Azhar.

In an interview posted on an Islamic web site, Masood had described 'two notable qualities' in Zargar.

'One is his deep concern for his mujahideen. He always took the group across the border himself. If he continues to do so now, the movement will undoubtedly gain. The second is that all the mujahideen gather around him. Those who, because of his arrest, have given up jihad or have left for other countries will now come back again. The movement will thus get a new impetus and gain momentum.'

As things stand, there are reports that the Pakistani intelligence establishment continues to assist Zargar, encouraging him to build up the pace and tempo of militant activity in Jammu and Kashmir.