In the last week of June 2019 there was an inter group clash between terrorists of Hizbul Mujahedeen (HM) and Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK) in which one terrorist belonging to ISJK was killed. Though the reason given for this clash was a dispute among the terrorists over a weapon that was supposed to be returned to HM. The terrorist Adil Ahmed Dass who was killed in the shootout had switched over from HM to ISJK headed by Zakir Musa and did not return the weapon at the time of joining new outfit. There is another narrative that Adil had gone to return the weapon and was shot dead by the HM cadres.
Though it may appear a simple case of return of weapon and switching of loyalties to join Ansar Ghazawatul Hind but in reality Zakir Musa had revolted against the ISI backed groups. Zakir Musa had openly criticised ISI and Hurriyat for exploiting Kashmiri youths as pawn for their self-serving motives. Zakir Musa’s aid Abu Dujana had gone on record to state that terrorists coming from Pakistan are indeed soldiers of Pak Army without uniform and are in Kashmir to grab their land. It is now emerging that there were under currents and ISI, LeT, JeM and HM were weary of the rise of ISJK in Kashmir. It is indeed clash of ideology and ISJK/ Ansar Ghazawatul Hind may meet the same fate as of Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) because JKLF did not support the idea of merger of Kashmir with Pakistan.
ISJK is a small group of terrorists now left with 3 to 4 terrorists. They have identified ISI, LeT and HM as apostate and working against the larger interest of establishment of Islamic State in Kashmir. ISI backed HM led by Riyaz Naiku is seen as the biggest culprit for spying and leaking information about ISJK terrorists and it is a matter of time that ISJK group may be completely eliminated by ISI backed terror organisations.
It is rare to hear from Kashmiris that interests of Pakistan in Kashmir is to grab the land and not the genuine concern for the Kashmiri Awam. This sentiment needs to be given impetus to expose ISI backed terrorists and their real motive to keep Kashmir in an unstable state. Intelligence agencies and security forces should not get excited with this development since there are not many takers in Kashmir for ISJK ideology. Creation of multiple terror organisations in Kashmir is part of a strategy that ISI has followed to ensure control over the situation in Kashmir. In addition it also acts as a check on those organisations that may turn rogue. ISJK had turned rogue and the end of this organisation is already scripted by ISI. The real threat to Kashmir continues to remain ISI and home grown terrorists as part of ISI backed terror organisations. The question remains how can Indian establishment exploit the current fissures among the terror organisations and Hurriyat?