New Delhi, March 30 – While the Hizbul Mujahideen may be largely dismantled, Indian agencies have picked up intercepts suggesting a possible attempt to rebuild the terrorist group. The leadership of the Hizbul Mujahideen has been able to remain relatively quiet for several years.
Most of the group's operatives have been eliminated in Jammu and Kashmir. The crackdown on the Hizbul Mujahideen, which began with the killing of Burhan Wani, continued until the top commanders were eliminated in Jammu and Kashmir.
Even during Operation Sindoor, the Hizbul Mujahideen suffered heavy losses when their terrorist infrastructure was targeted. The Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the attack in Pahalgam, in which several innocent tourists were killed.
An official from the Intelligence Bureau said that the Hizbul Mujahideen appears to be weakened. The leadership has maintained a stoic silence in an attempt to make it seem that the group is completely out of the picture. In reality, there has been a quiet effort over the past couple of months to revive the terrorist group for operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
The official explained that for the ISI, reviving the Hizbul Mujahideen is important as it is the only group that has been most successful in Jammu and Kashmir. The ISI tried to create The Resistance Front, but the results were limited, as it is a well-known fact that the group is an offshoot of the Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The ISI hopes that once the Hizbul Mujahideen is back in action, it will be able to draw local support. This is becoming increasingly important for the ISI, which desperately needs a homegrown group. Since the Indian security agencies have severely targeted the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, the ISI has been unable to send operatives into India. This is also due to the high security along the borders, both at the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB).
Officials say they have been observing activity at the Khalid bin Walid camp, located in the Guldheri Mohalla of Garhi Habibullah in Balakot, Pakistan. This camp of the Hizbul Mujahideen had been shut down following the air strike carried out by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in which a Jaish-e-Mohammed training facility was targeted.
Another official said that, according to recent inputs from the Intelligence agencies, the Khalid bin Walid camp has become operational again. The Hizbul Mujahideen operatives who are part of this camp are maintaining a low profile. They are aware that this camp is within striking distance of the IAF, and hence the activities being undertaken at the camp are discreet, the official added.
The reopening of this camp is a concern for Indian security agencies. It is not an ordinary camp, and before the 2019 Balakot air strikes, at least 100 terrorists were trained annually. People like Wani and Riyaz Naikoo, and dozens of other Hizbul Mujahideen operatives were trained at the Khalid bin Walid camp, officials say.
The ISI has also deployed some Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives to assist the Hizbul Mujahideen cadres during the training programme. Furthermore, the Lashkar-e-Taiba has also been directed to help the Hizbul Mujahideen in recruitment. The group has been scouting for those who crossed over from Jammu and Kashmir into Pakistan over the last couple of years. This is a clear indication that the Hizbul Mujahideen is only looking for locals from Jammu and Kashmir.
It is clear that it does not want Pakistanis as part of the group, and there is a risk of the traction being reduced in Jammu and Kashmir. Officials say that the Hizbul Mujahideen was at its peak when it came to operations and recruitment when it was being headed by the locals, such as Burhan Wani. The Hizbul Mujahideen wants to follow the same pattern as it did before 2016.
The downfall of the Hizbul Mujahideen began following the death of Burhan Wani on July 8, 2016. Officials say that they are keeping a close watch on the developments unfolding at Balakot. The agencies are also monitoring the various supporters and sympathizers this group has in Jammu and Kashmir. Keeping the Valley quiet and not allowing traction by these groups is extremely crucial as the Hizbul Mujahideen makes a bid at revival, the official also added.