Kashmirology-4 : The various terrorist organisations in Kashmir

India frequently asserts that most of the separatist militant groups are based in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir (also known as Azad Kashmir). Some like the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, demand an independent Kashmir. Other militant groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed favour a Pakistani-Kashmir.

These groups have contacts with Taliban and Bin Laden. Both the organisations no longer operate under these names after they were banned by the Indian and Pakistani government, and by other countries including the US and UK. Of the larger militant groups, the Hizbul Mujahideen, a militant organisation based in Indian administered Kashmir, unlike other groups, has only kept its name.

Despite casualties, the militants are still believed to number thousands rather than hundreds. Several new separatist organizations have also emerged. According to US Intelligence, Al-Qaeda also has a main base in Pakistani Kashmir and is helping to foment terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir

The three important seperatist leaders in Jammu and Kashmir

•  All Parties Hurriyat Conference : Syed Ali Shah Geelani (chairman  Tehreek-e-Hurriyat a component of All Parties Hurriyat Conference)
• Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front : Yasin Mailk (chief)
• Mirwaiz Umar Farooq : moderate Hurriyat leader / Chairman of the Awami Action committee.