Lashkar-e-Taiba and JeM — Definition
Definition
Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed are Pakistan-based terrorist organizations primarily targeting India. LeT, founded in 1990, executed the Mumbai 26/11 attacks, while JeM, established in 2000, claimed responsibility for the 2019 Pulwama attack. Both groups operate with ISI support and are designated as terrorist organizations by the UN Security Council.
To understand these entities, one must first grasp their foundational ideologies and operational objectives. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), meaning 'Army of the Pure', emerged in the late 1980s, formally established in 1990 by Hafiz Saeed, Zafar Iqbal, and Abdullah Azzam.
Its roots lie in the Afghan jihad against the Soviet Union, drawing inspiration from Wahhabist and Salafist interpretations of Islam. LeT's primary stated objective is the 'liberation' of Kashmir from Indian rule and its eventual integration into Pakistan, viewing the conflict through a religious lens of 'Ghazwa-e-Hind' (holy war against India).
However, its broader agenda encompasses the destruction of India and Israel, and the establishment of an Islamic caliphate. LeT operates under the guise of various front organizations, such as Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), which claims to be a charity, allowing it to maintain a public presence and recruit within Pakistan.
Its operational methodology often involves highly trained fidayeen (suicide) squads, utilizing sophisticated planning and execution, as tragically demonstrated in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), meaning 'Army of Mohammed', was founded in 2000 by Masood Azhar, a radical cleric who was released from Indian custody in exchange for passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814 in 1999.
JeM's ideology is deeply rooted in Deobandi Sunni Islam, with a strong emphasis on jihad against India, particularly concerning Kashmir. Unlike LeT's broader global ambitions, JeM's focus has historically been more concentrated on Kashmir and direct attacks on Indian security forces and strategic targets.
Masood Azhar's charismatic leadership and his ability to rally support from various extremist factions within Pakistan have been crucial to JeM's sustenance. The group is known for its use of suicide bombings (fidayeen attacks) and its willingness to target high-value assets, as seen in the 2001 Indian Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack.
Both LeT and JeM are intrinsically linked to Pakistan's intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which has historically provided them with training, funding, logistical support, and safe havens.
This state-sponsored terrorism allows these groups to operate with relative impunity within Pakistan, posing a significant challenge to India's internal security. The international community, through bodies like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the UN Security Council, has increasingly pressured Pakistan to dismantle these terror infrastructures, but concrete action remains elusive.
From a UPSC perspective, understanding the distinct ideologies, operational patterns, leadership, and the nexus with state actors is crucial for analyzing India's internal security challenges and its counter-terrorism strategies.