Terrorist Suspect Scrutinized: Mushtaq Zargar Under Investigation for Pahalgam Attack
Srinagar's Infamous Terror Mastermind: Mushtaq Zargar
After reports swirled in certain Indian media outlets, citing unnamed officials, Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, the Kashmiri militant leader considered a household name in the region, might have played a significant role in the deadly attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran meadow, which tragically claimed 26 lives, including Hindu tourists and a local Muslim horse handler. Although official confirmation is yet to be provided, the renewed attention on Zargar has set social media buzzing with heated discussions.
Undeniably, Zargar was born in 1967 in central Srinagar. His father, Ghulam Rasool Zargar, was a professional photographer who ran a photography shop called 'College Studio' in the city's Nai Sadak (Gaw Kadal) area. Known as 'Latram' due to his coppersmith profession, Zargar started engaging in anti-India activities at a tender age, including participating in stone-pelting incidents. Gradually, he was found frequenting prominent separatists.
In the late 1980's, Srinagar witnessed an escalation of militancy, with four local youth crossing over to Pakistan for arms training. Among them were Ashfaq Majeed Wani, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Abdul Hameed Sheikh, and Javed Ahmed Mir. Upon their return to the Valley, these Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) cadres formed a group called 'HAJY,' inspiring many Kashmiri boys to embrace the armed struggle. Zargar, who had already been involved in the "freedom movement," was among them, as he claimed during a past interview.
However, after Wani's death in a firefight with security forces in Srinagar's Hawal area in 1990, Zargar developed ideological differences with the JKLF, favoring the Muslim majority state's merger with Pakistan instead of independence. As a result, he founded Al-Umar Mujahideen, focusing primarily on Srinagar and engaging in numerous incidents of violence and kidnappings during the group's peak activity, which lasted between 1991 and 1995.
In May 1992, Zargar was captured during a "bloodless" raid at a residence in Srinagar's Saraf Kadal area and sent to prison. Interestingly, the capturing BSF officer was unaware of the significance of his arrest until Zargar's identity was confirmed.
It was during his incarceration that Zargar crossed paths with Mohammad Masood Azhar Alvi, a radical Islamist arrested by Indian forces in 1994 under a false identity. Azhar, a Pakistani national and self-proclaimed journalist, promised Zargar that he would ensure his release, along with other militants, if the plan was executed successfully, as detailed in the hijacking of Indian Airlines IC 814, which occurred later that year. Through a series of negotiations, Zargar was released from Indian custody along with Masood Azhar, who founded the terrorist organization Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), and Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who went on to play a role in the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002.
After remaining hidden for a few years, Zargar reappeared in 2023 as the Union Home Ministry noted him as an officially designated terrorist and Al-Umar Mujahideen as a terrorist organization. The Ministry claimed that Zargar posed a threat not only to India but also to the world as he maintained close ties with radical terror groups like Al-Qaeda and JeM. Last week, the J&K police raided Zargar's family residence as part of a tough campaign against former militants, OWGs connected to separatist militant outfits, and others charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other laws. This came after the NIA attached Zargar's family house built on 2 marlas (544 sq. ft) of land under the UAPA, with his family filing a lawsuit claiming the property belonged to all inheritors and not just Zargar.
Although Zargar's exact role in the Pahalgam terror attack remains uncertain, one thing is for sure - he remains a prominent figure in Kashmir's turbulent history of militancy.
Zargar's alleged involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack has sparked intense discussions in the realm of general-news, as well as in the political sphere, given his significant role in Kashmir's history of militancy. His connection to radical terror groups like Al-Qaeda and Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), prove him to be a threat not only to India but also to the world, making crime-and-justice a pertinent matter of concern.
