Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar

Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar was born in 1967 and grew up in the Jama Masjid_ Srinagar area of Srinagar in Kashmir Valley. He was motivated to Islamic Militancy in the age of 17 in 1984 and became a member of the Islamic Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) (JKLF) when he was arrested for the first time.

In 08/1988 Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar went to Pakistan for military training. He returned to Pakistan for a second round of more advanced training in 05/1989.

After Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar returned to India in 1989, when one of his suggestions was not accepted, Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar formed a group of his own aimed to annex Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan, Al-Umar Mujahideen (HUM) (the commandment of the Mujahidin) which is believed was operating under the patronage and financial support of Pakistani secret service ISI. Al-Umar Mujahideen kept an office in Muzaffarabad in Pakistan.

On 12/08/1989 Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar carried out kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, the daughter of the new appointed Minister for Home Affairs India. The kidnappers demanded the release of five of their comrades in exchange for Rubaiya Sayeed’s release. The government accepted their demands and freed the jailed terrorists.

At least three dozen murder cases were registered against Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar in Srinagar, India, including some high-ranking Indian officers.

Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar was arrested, finally, on 05/15/1992. He was released from jail on 12/31/1999 as part of the Indian Airlines Flight 814 hostage deal and provided safe passage to Pakistan. Immediately after his release Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar renewed the activity of Al-Umar Mujahideen in Muzaffarabad, close to the Indian border, in recruiting and training of young Muslims to the guerilla war in Indian Kashmir with full cooperation with the Pakistani ISI.

Today (08/2007) Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar is living in Muzaffarabad, Pakistan without any restrictions.