Khuddam ul-Islam
Khuddam ul-Islam is an Islamist militant group. It is considered to be a splinter group of the extremist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). They have been banned from the United Kingdom and said to be politically aligned with Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman's faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam.[1] Some sources believe that Khuddam ul-Islam is simply a restructuring of JeM and that the group is under the command of Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, the younger brother of JeM's founder, Maulana Masood Azhar.[2][3]
Khuddam ul-Islam, previously referred to as Jaish-e-Mohammad, has allegedly helped the Pakistani Intelligence community and the Taliban of Afghanistan. This organization has been aided by a variety of radical Islamic military institutions in the Middle East. Khuddam ul-Islam had also actively engaged in violent terrorist activities in Kashmir, in effort to rid the area of Indian Military. They have been active since 2000, working alongside several other Sunni extremist organizations in Pakistan. Osama Bin Laden has also been confirmed as a benefactor to this organization. There means of generating income come mainly from many legitimate business fronts. Khuddam ul-Islam has claimed responsibility for over a dozen violent attacks, mostly aimed at Indian forces. But, Khuddam ul-Islam has actively denounced US occupation in any Islamic country and has vowed to engage US forces and allies. There is no information on the exact size of Khuddam ul-Islam but it is rumored that membership may be in the hundreds.
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References
- ↑ "Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) (Army of MohammedTehrik ul-Furqaan, Khuddam-ul-Islam )". Overseas Security Advisory Council. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
- ↑ Subramanian, Nirupama (2008-12-18). "Restrictions put on Masood Azhar". The Hindu. Retrieved 2009-01-13.
- ↑ "JeM chief Masood Azhar under house arrest". Times of India. 2008-12-09. Retrieved 2009-01-13.