Lashkar-i Taiba: Definition and Context
Lashkar-i Taiba (لشكر طيبه), meaning “Army of the Pure” in Urdu, is a Pakistan-based Islamist militant group dedicated to establishing Islamic rule in Indian-administered Kashmir. It was founded in the early 1990s by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, an Ahl-i Hadith scholar and activist. The group’s ideological underpinnings draw heavily from a conservative Sunni Islamic movement, and its aim is to unite all of Kashmir under Pakistani governance.
Etymology
The name “Lashkar-i Taiba” combines the Urdu words “Lashkar” (لشكر), meaning “army” or “military,” and “Taiba” (طيب), translating to “pure.”
Historical Background
Lashkar-i Taiba was founded as an armed offshoot of the Markaz-ud-Dawa-wal-Irshad (MDI), a Sunni missionary organization established by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and Zafar Iqbal in 1987. MDI and Lashkar-i Taiba received training and logistical support from Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
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Notable Incidents: The group garnered international infamy following the December 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament, a pivotal event that escalated tensions between India and Pakistan. Another significant instance is the group’s involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people.
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Legal Status: Lashkar-i Taiba was declared a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department and subsequently banned by the Pakistan government in December 2001. Despite the prohibition, evidence suggests that it continued to operate under various front organizations.
Cultural and Geo-Political Impacts
While Lashkar-i Taiba operates mainly in the geopolitical context of the Indo-Pak conflict, it also reflects broader narratives of jihad within Sunni Islam. The group’s Salafi doctrine, focused on literalist interpretations of the Quran and Hadith, aligns with the principles of Ahl-i Hadith, which advocates for the return to early Islamic norms.
Similar and Related Groups
- Jaish-e-Mohammed: Another Pakistan-based militant group similarly focused on the Kashmir conflict.
- Harkat-ul-Mujahideen: Operates under a similar ideology in the same geopolitical landscape.
- Hezb-ul-Mujahideen: A Hizb often intervolved in operations and ideologies related to Lashkar-i Taiba.
Bibliography and Further Reading
- **“Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam” by Gilles Kepel: A comprehensive overview of the rise of political Islam movements, including militant organizations.
- **“Lashkar-i-Taiba: Extremist Ideology and the Radicalization of the South Asian Diaspora” by Stephen Tankel: Insightful analysis on the ideology and operations of Lashkar-i Taiba.
- **“Deadly Embrace: Pakistan, America, and the Future of the Global Jihad” by Bruce Riedel: Examines the role of Pakistan in supporting militant groups such as Lashkar-i Taiba.
Lashkar-i Taiba: Quizzes
“Lashkar-i Taiba, in its tumultuous journey, poses perhaps one of the most compact, yet expansive, reflections of the potent mix between ideology and conflict.” - Samiya Farooq, October 3, 2023
