Abstract: Following the repeal of Article 370, the security crackdown has left militancy in Jammu and Kashmir facing supply shortages and financial scarcity. Despite this, newer militant groups like The Resistance Front and People’s Anti-Fascist Forces have emerged, portraying a new, secular face of militancy. However, in the first week of 2023, targeted killings of minorities in Jammu and Kashmir resulted in a ban on these militant groups.
Problem statement: How can we understand developments in emergent militant groups/outfits in Jammu and Kashmir?
Bottom-line-up-front: There are major contradictions that appear in the appearance and nature of activities undertaken by the newer groups. While they appear to dissociate themselves from previously existing, banned Islamist terror groups, trends of their activities suggest otherwise. However, following incidents in January 2023, fresh bans have been imposed on these newer groups too.
So what?: Following their ban, monitoring must be increased on these as well as any other emergent groups in the region. Any attempted change in messaging or tone of militant groups outfits must be carefully watched to read into their psyche and predict future course of action.
Source: shutterstock.com/Aasif Shafi
The “New” Militant Groups of Jammu & Kashmir
Amidst widely propagated claims of dissociating the communal aspect from targeted violence in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), another Kashmiri Pandit, Sanjay Sharma, was shot dead on February 26, 2023, in Pulwama, south Kashmir.[1] This is the second major incident of targeted killings since January this year. Two days later, the suspected perpetrator, Aqib Mustaq Bhat, reported working with The Resistance Front (TRF), was shot dead as retaliation by the security forces.[2] Security forces have reported his previous association with the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). This killing occurs amidst a recent nationwide ban of the TRF (and another new group, People’s Anti-Fascist Forces) and its issuance of a fresh “hit-list” of targeted killings as a response to this ban.[3]
Amidst widely propagated claims of dissociating the communal aspect from targeted violence in Jammu and Kashmir, another Kashmiri Pandit, Sanjay Sharma, was shot dead on February 26, 2023, in Pulwama, south Kashmir.
Notably, both groups emerged as representing the “new,” “indigenous,” and “secular” face of regional militancy against the backdrop of changing security dynamics following the internal reorganization of J&K (discussed later in this article). Visible attempts at establishing this “new militancy” as distinct and distant from Islamist leanings have since raised questions surrounding a possible “secularisation of militancy” in the union territory (UT). The statement released by TRF in response to the country-wide ban reflects similar attempts. It categorically denies any alleged linkages with the Lashkar-e-Taiyyaba (LeT) as well as the alleged communal element of their targeted killings. However, abject contradictions on the ground question the veracity of this claimed “newness” on several fronts. In this context, it is crucial to revisit the political dynamics under which these groups emerged.
The “Secular Phase” of Militancy in J&K?
The internal organisation of J&K in 2019 was coupled with a massive security crackdown on external conduits of support to militancy in the region. This included restricting funds, supplies, and infiltration bids inside J&K, thus causing the existing terror networks to face a major crunch of operational resources. Their desperation was witnessed in terms of using tunnels, drones, and contraband smuggling in this intervening time. As these militant groups declined in prominence, the emergence of newer groups was noticed, most prominently since 2020.[4] These new groups reflected a break from the Pakistan-sponsored, Islamist image of militancy to a more indigenous, secular “movement for independence”. The emphasis seemed to be shifting from the idea of an Islamic jihad to a “Kashmiri Resistance” against a “Fascist regime” or the “occupying forces” (referring to the Indian state). The assertion of their indigenous roots and de-linkage from previously existing Islamic terrorist outfits, namely LeT and Jaesh-e-Mohammad, was publicized as the distinct characteristic of these new groups, reflected through their choice of terminology in public messaging, pamphlets, and justifications for acts of terror.
The emphasis seemed to be shifting from the idea of an Islamic jihad to a “Kashmiri Resistance” against a “Fascist regime” or the “occupying forces”.
If examined, one realizes that these facts hold some truth. The names, logos, and official statements of these newer groups appear to reflect a deliberate attempt to assert an indigenous and secular element. The most recent pamphlet released on January 07, 2023, reiterates the same sentiment, noting that the “TRF is an indigenous armed group having affiliation with no other armed group active in [Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir] and that “[TRF does not] have personal animosity with anybody irrespective of their religion or culture but once he or she tries to become a pawn of this Fascist regime is automatically a target of our (their) bullets.”[5] It must be recalled that a similar dissociation from communal motivations was used to justify the killing of the Kashmiri chemist Makhal Lal Bindroo in 2022 or the school principal Supinder Kour in 2021.[6] While Bindroo was identified as a government stooge, Kour, a Sikh, and Deepak Chand, a Kashmiri Pandit teacher, were targeted for “politicisation of the education sector.”[7]
Contradictive Indications
However, after digging deeper, the activity pattern reflects grave contradictions. To begin with, each of the seven civilians targeted in Rajouri identified as Hindus. In several incidents, civilians have been targeted for their non-Muslim identities (Kashmiri Pandits, Hindus in Jammu, Sikhs, Rajput Hindus, Dalits). It has been reported that the militants “checked the Aadhar cards (Indian Residential ID Proof, contains name and title reflecting communal identity) to ascertain identity.”[8] Similarly, these claims were reported by civilians during the killings of Kour and Chand.[9]
However, the civilian killings across 2021-2023 comprised a significant number of victims identifying as Muslims, Kashmiri and otherwise. Each incident appears to be driven by direct political motivations — the victims being members of local Panchayats, local leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), etc. Each of these victims seems to have been targeted over their association with the state as opposed to their religious leanings. No Muslim seems to have been targeted for their identity as a Muslim. This is unlike targeted killings of non-Muslims where identification of communal identities through various identity proofs has preceded the firing. Tracing the major incidents of violence during this timeframe is pertinent in this context.
Each of these victims seems to have been targeted over their association with the state as opposed to their religious leanings. No Muslim seems to have been targeted for their identity as a Muslim.
Further, given the disparity between the recruitment numbers and the number of killings claimed by these new outfits,[10] the links found between the “new militant” outfits and those previously existing appear even more plausible. While the recruitments by these new outfits continue to remain meagre, most incidents involving civilian casualties have been claimed by these groups, especially the TRF. A valid question, therefore, is that if these outfits are not functioning as fronts for the Islamist groups, how are they executing major incidents of killings without a sufficient number of recruits?
In this context, it is noteworthy that most of the aforementioned incidents were claimed by these newer outfits, but investigations by security agencies identified those ascribed to the older ones. None of the older groups (LeT, JeM) claimed any attack by themselves. It appears that when claimed, the acts were claimed by TRF/PAFF, etc., to cover for the acts of their parent organisations. This may be seen as a deliberate attempt to shift the blame, and consequently dissociate militancy in J&K from the older “Islamist” outfits with established links with Pakistan.
Wider Context and Road Ahead
The implications of these observations are two-fold. First, the character of militancy in J&K seems to have been deliberately distanced from pre-existing Islamic tendencies, while its essence remains communal. Second, as alleged by security agencies, this phenomenon is being executed through newer outfits, possibly covering for the previously existing outfits under severe government crackdown and international scrutiny.[11] The reasons behind this deliberate distancing appear evident in the current context. Apart from desperation among militants following the security crackdown since 2019, as aforementioned, the rise of India’s status in recent years is worth considering. For instance, the abrogation of Article 370 found no major critics, including among the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries, which was a major setback regarding international support from the Islamic world.[12] The economic turmoil being faced by Pakistan only adds to the apathy. The recent lifting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) sanctions has offered a long-awaited breather to Islamabad, which it might want to take advantage of, at least in the short run, given the international support it seeks for its economic revival.[13] Moreover, international frustration against Islamist terrorism has been growing, especially in the West.
The recent lifting of the Financial Action Task Force sanctions has offered a long-awaited breather to Islamabad, which it might want to take advantage of, at least in the short run, given the international support it seeks for its economic revival.
This analysis is especially relevant and significant at the current juncture wherein organisations that are possibly designated to “cover” the previously existing Islamist-linked groups have been banned nationwide following events in the first week of January 2023. Thus, the militancy in J&K certainly appears “new”, however, this “newness” must be understood as an adaptation and improvisation to the current politico-security dynamics instead of a break from the previously existing scenario — in terms of ideology, essence, and core motivations. How this ban shall impact the face of militancy and its attempted “newness”, in J&K remains to be seen.
Source: Author
Tejusvi Shukla is an independent security analyst. She served as a Research Assistant with the Centre for Land Warfare Studies between May 2019 and November 2020. She previously interned at the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defense and Strategic Analyses. Her research areas include India’s internal security with a special focus on the information domain. The views contained in this article are the author’s alone.
[1] ANI, “J&K Terrorist who shot dead Kasmiri Pandit in Pulwama eliminated in encounter,” Deccan Chronicle, February 28, 2023, https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/crime/280223/j-k-terrorist-who-shot-dead-kashmiri-pandit-in-pulwama-eliminated-in.html.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Asian News International, “Centre Bans Proxy Outfit Of Terror Group Jaish-e-Mohammed,” NDTV.com, January 07, 2023, https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-based-proxy-outfit-peoples-anti-fascist-front-banned-3670980.
[4] Rohith Sai Narayan Stambamkadi, “Crowdsourcing violence: Decoding online propaganda of new militant groups in Kashmir,” Observer Research Foundation, January 19, 2022, https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/crowdsourcing-violence/.
[5] Jitendra Bahadur Singh, “Lashkar Proxy TRF Issues New ‘Hit List’ against Kashmiri Pandits Day after Ban,” India Today, January 07, 2023. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/banned-terror-outfit-trf-hit-list-warns-of-attacks-day-after-ban-home-ministry-kashmiri-pandits-2318596-2023-01-07.
[6] Jehangir Ali, “Srinagar: Sikh School Principal, Kashmiri Pandit Teacher Shot Dead By Terrorists,” The Wire, n.d. https://thewire.in/security/srinagar-sikh-school-principal-kashmiri-pandit-teacher-shot-dead-by-terrorists.
[7] Idem.
[8] Idem.
[9] Idem.
[10] Zulfikar Majid, “Presence of Foreign Militants Going up in Kashmir,” Deccan Herald, April 05, 2022, https://www.deccanherald.com/national/presence-of-foreign-militants-going-up-in-kashmir-1097812.html.
[11] Rohilth Sai Narayan Stambamkadi, “Positioning The Resistance Front (TRF) in Kashmir’s Militancy Landscape,” ORF, December 15, 2015, last accessed February 08, 2023, https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/positioning-the-resistance-front-trf-in-kashmirs-militancy-landscape/.
[12] The erstwhile Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir was accorded special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. In 2019, this special status was abrogated, and the erstwhile state underwent an internal reorganisation – divided into two new Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Given the ongoing dispute in the J&K, this marked a prominent event with political ad security implications.
[13] Wion Web, “FATF Removes Pakistan from Its Grey List after Four Years, Slams Russia for Ongoing War in Ukraine,” WION, October 21, 2022, https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/fatf-removes-pakistan-from-its-grey-list-after-four-years-527466.
[14] Bashaarat Masood, “In Srinagar, Jeweller Killed Weeks after Domicile Nod, Militants Warn of More Attacks,” The Indian Express, January 02, 2021, https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kashmir-jeweller-killed-domicile-militants-7129319/.
[15] Correspondent HT, “Kashmir BJP Leader Rakesh Pandita Shot Dead by Terrorists in Pulwama’s Tral,” Hindustan Times, June 02, 2021, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kashmir-bjp-leader-rakesh-pandit-shot-dead-by-terrorists-in-pulwama-s-tral-101622658007994.html.
[16] Peerzada Aashiq, “Hizb ‘Hit Squad’ Members Killed in Pulwama,” The Hindu, August 20, 2021, last accessed February 08, 2023, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/hizb-hit-squad-members-killed-in-pulwama/article36009630.ece.
[17] F. Staff, “BJP Sarpanch Gulam Rasool Dar, His Wife Shot Dead by Terrorists in J&K’s Anantnag; Party Condemns Attack,” Firstpost, August 09, 2021, https://www.firstpost.com/india/bjp-sarpanch-gulam-rasool-dar-his-wife-shot-dead-by-terrorists-in-j-party-condemns-attack-9875271.html.
[18] Frontline, “BJP Leader Javed Ahmad Dar Shot Dead by Suspected Terrorists in Kulgam, Kashmir,” August 18, 2021, https://frontline.thehindu.com/dispatches/bjp-leader-javed-ahmad-dar-shot-dead-by-suspected-terrorists-in-kulgam-kashmir/article35971712.ece.
[19] Scroll.in, “Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party Worker Shot Dead by Suspected Militants, Fourth Such Killing in 10 Days,” August 19, 2021, last accessed February 08, 2023, https://scroll.in/latest/1003279/jammu-and-kashmir-apni-party-worker-shot-dead-by-suspected-militants-fourth-such-killing-in-10-days.
[20] Shabir Ibn Yusuf, “Non-Local Labourer Killed in Kulgam,” Greater Kashmir, September 17, 2021, https://www.greaterkashmir.com/todays-paper/front-page/non-local-labourer-killed-in-kulgam.
[21] Nazir Masoodi and Saikat Kumar Bose, “Off-Duty Police Constable Shot Dead By Terrorists In J&K’s Kulgam,” NDTV.com, September 17, 2021, https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/off-duty-railway-constable-shot-dead-by-terrorists-in-j-ks-kulgam-2544550.
[22] Hindustan Times, “Prominent Kashmiri Pandit Businessman Shot Dead in Srinagar,” October 06, 2021, last accessed February 08, 2023, https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/chandigarh-news/prominent-kashmiri-pandit-businessman-shot-dead-in-srinagar-101633474816829.html.
[23] Dipak Mishra, “Bihar Man Lost Kolkata Job, Sold Chaat in Kashmir, Killed by Terrorists, Cremated without Family,” ThePrint, October 09, 2021. https://theprint.in/india/bihar-man-lost-kolkata-job-sold-chaat-in-kashmir-killed-by-terrorists-cremated-without-family/748314/.
[24] Owis Farooqi, “TRF Militant Involved in Cab Driver’s Killing Killed in North Kashmir’s Hajin: Police,” Greater Kashmir, October 11, 2021, https://www.greaterkashmir.com/kashmir/trf-militant-involved-in-cab-drivers-killing-killed-in-north-kashmirs-hajin-police.
[25] The Hindu, “Principal, Teacher Shot Dead inside Srinagar School,” October 08, 2021, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/two-teachers-shot-dead-in-srinagar/article36872368.ece.
[26] The Times of India, “J&K: Two Non-Locals Killed in Targeted Attack in Kulgam, Migrant Labourers Being Moved to Protected Camps,” October 17, 2021, last accessed February 08, 2023, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/jk-two-non-locals-killed-in-targeted-attack-in-kulgam/articleshow/87084833.cms.
[27] Ashiq Hussain, “Migrant Workers Killed in Kashmir Could Barely Make Ends Meet,” Hindustan Times, October 18, 2021, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/migrant-workers-killed-in-kashmir-barely-made-ends-meet-101634559570666.html.
[28] Brijendra Dubey, “Slain Sagir Ahmed, a Carpenter from UP, Went to Work in Kashmir to Pay off the Debt He Incurred for His Wife’s COVID Treatment,” Gaonconnection | Your Connection With Rural India, October 18, 2021, https://en.gaonconnection.com/sagir-ahmed-uttar-pradesh-jammu-kashmir-debt-covid19-pandemic-pulwama-attack-terrorist/.
[29] Press Trust of India, “‘Not Leaving Kashmir’: Businessman Whose Salesman Was Killed By Terrorists,” NDTV.com, November 10, 2021, https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/not-leaving-kashmir-businessman-whose-salesman-was-killed-by-terrorists-2605713.
[30] Rising Kashmir, “Gunmen Shot Dead Panch in Kulgam,” March 02, 2022, last accessed February 08, 2023, http://risingkashmir.com/gunmen-shot-dead-panch-in-kulgam.
[31] Bashar Masood, “PDP Sarpanch Killed by Militants on the Outskirts of Srinagar in J&K,” The Indian Express, March 09, 2022, last accessed February 08, 2023, https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/srinagar/pdp-sarpanch-murder-srinagar-militants-7812156/.
[32] Hindustan Times, “Kashmir Sarpanch Shot Dead in Kulgam, 3rd Panchayat Member to Be Killed in 10 Days,” March 11, 2022, last accessed February 08, 2023, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kulgam-sarpanch-shot-dead-in-kashmir-3rd-panchayat-member-to-be-killed-in-10-days-101647021606682.html.
[33] Sunil Bhat, “Kashmiri Pandit Shot at by Terrorists in J&K’s Shopian,” India Today, April 04, 2022, last accessed February 08, 2023, https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jammu-kashmir-j-k-shopian-kashmiri-pandit-shopkeeper-shot-1933449-2022-04-04.
[34] Express News Service, “Another Attack in J&K: Driver Killed in Kulgam,” The Indian Express, April 14, 2022, https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/srinagar/civilian-shot-dead-by-terrorists-in-kulgam-in-jk-7868258/.
[35] Rising Kashmir, “Sarpanch Shot Dead in Pattan,” April 15, 2022, last accessed February 08, 2023, http://risingkashmir.com/sarpanch-shot-dead-in-pattan.
[36] Tribune News Service, “Kashmiri Pandit Employee Shot Dead by Terrorists in Tehsil Office in J-K; Killing Widely Condemned,” Tribuneindia News Service, May 12, 2022, https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/militants-shoot-at-minority-community-member-in-j-ks-budgam-394227.
[37] The Hindu, “Blast inside Wine Shop Leaves 1 Dead, 3 Injured in Baramulla,” May 18, 2022, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/blast-inside-wine-shop-leaves-1-dead-3-injured-in-baramulla/article65424044.ece.
[38] HT News Desk, “Kashmir TV Artiste Amreen Bhat Shot Dead by Terrorists in Budgam; Nephew Injured,” Hindustan Times, May 25, 2022, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/tv-artiste-killed-10-year-old-nephew-injured-terror-attack-in-kashmir-s-chadoor-101653494479289.html.
[39] The Hindu, “Hindu Teacher Shot Dead at Kulgam School as Kashmir Sees 7th Targeted Killing This Month,” May 31, 2022, last accessed February 08, 2023, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/terrorists-gun-down-kashmiri-pandit-teacher-in-kulgam/article65479377.ece.
[40] Tribune India News Service, “Bank Manager from Rajasthan Shot Dead in Kashmir’s Kulgam District,” June 02, 2022, last accessed February 08, 2023, https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/bank-employee-shot-dead-in-j-ks-kulgam-400375.
[41] Ashraf Vani, “Terrorists Continue to Target Migrants in J&K, Shoot Dead Bihar Worker in Bandipora,” India Today, August 12, 2022, https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/migrant-labourer-shot-dead-in-jk-bandipora-1987008-2022-08-12.
[42] Saleem Pandit, “Migrant Labourer Killed, 2 Others Injured in Pulwama Grenade Attack,” The Times of India, August 04, 2022, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/srinagar/migrant-labourer-killed-2-others-injured-in-pulwama-grenade-attack/articleshow/93356413.cms.
[43] Desk, HinduPost, “3 LeT Terrorists, Including Killer of Purana Krishna Bhat, Eliminated in Kashmir’s Shopian,” HinduPost, December 20, 2022, https://hindupost.in/terrorism/3-let-terrorists-including-killer-of-purana-krishna-bhat-eliminated-in-kashmirs-shopian/.
[44] The Hindu, “Two Labourers from U.P. Killed in Grenade Attack in J&K,” October 18, 2022, last accessed February 08, 2023, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/two-labourers-from-up-killed-in-grenade-attack-in-jk/article66024785.ece.
[45] Ravi Krishnan Khajuria, “J&K Killings: Bandh Called, Kin Refuse to Cremate Bodies,” Hindustan Times, January 02, 2023, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jk-killings-bandh-called-kin-refuse-to-cremate-bodies-101672634123767.html.
[46] PTI, “Terrorists Strike Twice at Same Site in J&K within 14 Hours, Killing Minors and Sparking Protests,” Deccan Herald, January 02, 2023, last accessed February 08, 2023, https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/terrorists-strike-twice-at-same-site-in-jk-within-14-hours-killing-minors-and-sparking-protests-1177254.html.
[47] Tribune India News Service, “Rajouri: Dhangri Toll 7, NIA Probe Demanded,” January 09, 2023, last accessed February 08, 2023, https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/dhangri-toll-7-nia-probe-demanded-468644.
[48] ANI, “J&K Terrorist who shot dead Kasmiri Pandit in Pulwama eliminated in encounter,” Deccan Chronicle, February 28, 2023, https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/crime/280223/j-k-terrorist-who-shot-dead-kashmiri-pandit-in-pulwama-eliminated-in.html.
