Strategy, Targets, and Method of Operations of the Harakat ul-Mujahadeen (HUM)

Strategy Beginning strategy limited its operations to fighting Soviets in Afghanistan that they achieved Shifted focus to new goal of establishing full Pakistani rule in Kashmir and Jammu Want to establish a strict government that reflected their narrow view of Islam Have chosen violence to achieve their goals in hopes by the amount of civilian and military casualties India will decide that Kashmir an Jammu are not worth so much loss and pull out of the region Have not achieved their new goals

Targets Mainly target Indian army personnel and other Indian security forces within and around Kashmir On rare occasions they target western personnel in the region. In 2000 the HuM attacked two Indian army posts in Kashmir and killed thirty solders In 2002 the HuM detonated a suicide car bomb outside of the United States consulate in Karachi Pakistan where eleven people were killed.

Methods of Operations The HuM were responsible for the hijacking of Indian airliner 814 on December 24, 1999 July of 1995 HuM linked up with the militant group, al-Faran to kidnap six western tourists in Kashmir January of 2002 the HuM linked with militant group al-Qaeda to kidnap and behead a United States journalist named Daniel Pearl.

Summary Even though the HuM only participated in one hijacking of a commercial airplane its impact on the Indian government was substantial, they achieved the goal of having their top members released from Indian prisons They had many successful kidnappings that got them much press, but their demands were never met. In light of their many successes they’re end goals still have not been met, Kashmir and Jammu are still under Indian control and do not seem to be any closer to changing hands.