Jamaat, proxy schools and radicalisation drives at core of ISI’s Kashmir strategy

New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) The ISI has been using every trick up its sleeve to revive terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. While security forces continue to hunt down terrorists in the Valley, the ISI has been trying to set up local groups.

In recent months, the agencies have learnt that there is a lot of emphasis that is being given to the rise of separatism in the Valley, which had died down post the abrogation of Article 370. To push this agenda, the ISI has been utilising the Jamaat-e-Islami in the Valley, an official said.

The Government of India had extended the ban on the Jamaat by five years in 2024. At the time, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, “Pursuing PM Modi’s policy on zero tolerance against terrorism and separatism, the government has extended the ban on the Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir, for five years. The organisation is found continuing its activities against the security, integrity, and sovereignty of the nation. The outfit was first declared an ‘Unlawful Association’ on 28 February 2019. Anyone threatening the security of the nation will face ruthless measures.”

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the ISI has now been pushing the Jamaat cadre not only to ensure the rise of separatism, but also to raise funds for terror activities. There are many cadres of the Jamaat in the Valley, and Pakistan expects them to ramp up operations that include not just separatism and raising funds, but also help in setting up a brand new network of overground workers (OWG), the official added.

The official added that many of the members of the Jamaat are in touch with their counterparts in Pakistan and are actively plotting the revival of terrorism in a full-blown manner in the Valley. The recent NIA raids were focused largely on the financial operations of the Jamaat.

Another official said that the ISI is planning to create a massive ecosystem within Jammu and Kashmir, which could operate locally. It has already brought Al-Badr and Hizbul Mujahideen together. It wants to rope in the Jamaat to take care of funding and logistics.

The official added that of late, there has been plenty of activity around reviving local groups. Al-Badr, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Jamaat-e-Islami, Kashmir operate with a large number of locals. While their main leadership is based in Pakistan, they can communicate with the youth and attempt to radicalise them.

Officials say the ISI feels that the people are likely to resonate with the Jamaat more when compared to the other groups. The Jamaat has focused more on ideology and religious radicalisation, rather than carrying out attacks on groups. It has the experience of running schools that have focused largely on radicalisation.

The ISI expects the Jamaat to set up such schools that would be run by proxies. Such educational institutions are dangerous as they aim at radicalising the children at a very young age. If such schools are not acted upon, then outfits such as the Jamaat will manage to create a bunch of radicalised children who would eventually be the future of Kashmir.

This is a long-term, dangerous strategy of the ISI that the Jamaat has been asked to execute. In the past, the government has acted against such schools. The administration of Jammu and Kashmir officially ordered the takeover of 200 schools affiliated with the Jamaat and its associated wing, Falah-e-Aam Trust. These schools were placed under government administrators to check radical educational networks.

Officials say when it comes to Jammu and Kashmir, the battle ahead is going to be hard. Post Operation Sindoor and the embarrassment it caused Pakistan, the ISI and the army have been in overdrive mode using every tactic at their disposal to ensure the complete revival of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Given the situation, the agencies are keeping a close watch on the activities that are being jointly carried out by the Jamaat, Hizbul Mujahideen, and Al-Badr, officials say.

–IANS

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