Page 351 - Failure to Triumph - Journey of A Student

Groups

The different insurgent groups have different aims in Kashmir. Some want complete independence
from both India and Pakistan, others want unification with Pakistan and still others just want greater
autonomy from the Indian government. A 2010 survey found that 43% in J & K would favour

independence, with support for the independence movement unevenly distributed across the region.

Identity

Over the last two years, the militant group, Lashkar-e-Toiba has split into two factions: Al Mansurin
and Al Nasirin. Another new group reported to have emerged is the Save Kashmir Movement.
Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (formerly known as Harkat-ul-Ansar) and Lashkar-e-Toiba are believed to be
operating from Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir and Muridke, Pakistan respectively.

Other less known groups are the Freedom Force and Farzandan-e-Milat. A smaller group, Al-Badr,
has been active in Kashmir for many years and is still believed to be functioning. All Parties Hurriyat

Conference, an organization that uses moderate means to press for the rights of the Kashmiris, is often
considered as the mediator between New Delhi and insurgent groups.

Al-Qaeda

It is unclear if Al-Qaeda has a presence in Jammu and Kashmir. Donald Rumsfield suggested that they
were active and in 2002 the SAS hunted for Osama bin Laden in Jammu and Kashmir. Al-Qaeda
claims that it has established a base in Jammu and Kashmir. However there has been no evidence for
any of these assertions. The Indian Army also claims that there is no evidence of Al-Qaeda’s
presence in Jammu and Kashmir. Al-Qaeda has established bases in Pakistani administered Kashmir

and some, including Robert Gates have suggested that they have helped to plan attacks in India.