Behind the revived terror spree in Jammu: Restructured alliance and a new plan

A renewed syndicate with focused tasks distributed among several outlawed organisations, brokered by Pakistan’s military, is likely behind the recent spate of successful terrorist attacks targeting security forces in the Jammu region, according to intelligence inputs exclusively reviewed by India Today.

Earlier this winter, a gathering of several notorious terrorist groups took place in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. Among those in attendance were Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, Al Badr commander Bakht Zamin, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, and many others. The new terror alliance has divided and allocated tasks such as recruitment, training, arms and ammunition, funding, logistics, and propaganda among various terrorist units, according to intelligence reports.

Here’s a lowdown on Pakistan’s new terror cabinet responsible for the recent bloodshed in the election-bound Jammu and Kashmir.

Bakht Zameen Khan: A seasoned militant with experience in Afghanistan, who reportedly participated in the Kargil War on behalf of Pakistan with his group of mercenaries, is now responsible for coordinating this renewed terror operation. He has also established a successful business network of educational institutions, including schools and colleges. He manages the terror funds through his business network and was seen visiting terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). His connections with hardline elements in Pakistan and Afghanistan puts him in a suitable position to effectively coordinate with the Pakistan military and other terror commanders such as Masood Azhar and Syed Salahuddin.

Masood Azhar: After nearly five years of absence from public life, Azhar has re-emerged, making public appearances that suggest a green light from the Pakistan establishment. Under Azhar’s leadership, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) controls multiple mosques and training centres across Pakistan, where new recruits receive arms training. Over the past several decades, JeM has developed an extensive network of resources that assist these recruits in infiltrating the difficult terrain during winters. Azhar has been designated a global terrorist by several countries as well as the United Nations.

Syed Salahuddin: The founder of Hizbul Mujahideen has been the face of the insurgency in Kashmir for decades, though his ability to orchestrate large-scale attacks has waned over the years. Under the new arrangement, his role has shifted to recruiting teenagers under the banner of the ‘Kashmir freedom struggle,’ a cause often glamorised in Pakistan’s popular culture. Salahuddin resides near Rawalpindi under heavy security and frequently visits the hinterlands of Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) to recruit young men, who are later trained to participate in armed operations in India. Together with Azhar and Khan, he forms the leadership group of the terror syndicate.

Saifullah Sajid Jutt: Born Habibullah Malik, and also known as Langda, this 42-year-old terrorist hails from Kasur, Pakistan. He has long been associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Protected by the establishment, Jutt runs a drug-smuggling network in Pakistan and is involved in money laundering activities. He has played a key role in smuggling arms via drones and uses this illicit network to recruit criminals for terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. His involvement is suspected in previous attacks on security personnel in Bhata Dhurian, Poonch, and in a suicide attack in Hyderpora.

Sheikh JameeI-ur-Rehman: Tasked with local coordination in an area where multiple terrorist factions operate, Sheikh Jameel-ur-Rehman hails from Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, but has been residing in Pakistan as a Pakistani national. His Pakistani Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) No. 61101-9814381-9 was reported by Indian agencies. Rehman runs his own outfit called Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) but mostly works as a facilitator for LeT, JeM and other terror operatives on the ground. He has been instrumental in smuggling explosives and facilitating the movement of terrorists from Pakistan-controlled territories to India. Earlier, social media posts and some sections of the media incorrectly reported news of his death, but Rehman is very much active with the syndicate.

Farhatullah Ghori: Named in terror cases ranging from Gujarat to Andhra Pradesh, the 58-year-old from Hyderabad, India, Ghori has also become the chief of online terror propaganda operations of the terror syndicate run from Pakistan. Ghori is one of the few Pakistan-based terrorists with command over sleeper cells beyond Jammu and Kashmir, and his involvement is suspected in terror modules across South India. His voice is regularly featured in online propaganda circulated from Pakistan.

Sajjad Gul: A 50-year-old from Srinagar, now running a real estate business in Pakistan, Sajjad Gul is believed to be the mastermind behind the killing of senior Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari. Leveraging his local connections and real estate business, he has been actively involved in arms smuggling for terror operations in the region.

Farooq Qureshi: As the leader of the terror outfit Al Barq, Farooq Qureshi is regarded as a valuable operative in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) due to his extensive local connections. He is responsible for arranging local resources and logistics as needed for operations.

Shaheed Faisal: The son-in-law of Farhatullah Ghori, originally from Bengaluru, has been active within the syndicate for some time. A tech-savvy engineering graduate, Faisal is believed to be the mastermind behind Ghori’s online recruitment network in India. He also doubles down as the handler of operatives masquerading as ‘Colonel’ in the intercepted communications.

Hamza Burhan: Affiliated with Al Badr, Hamza Burhan is considered a master plotter with a deep understanding of modern weaponry and explosives. He is believed to be one of the new dominant handlers within the syndicate.