Harkat ul-Ansar (HuA) was an Islamic militant organization founded by Abdelkader Mokhtari in 1993.[1] It was the result of a merger between the groups Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM) and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI). Many of its operations were conducted in Jammu and Kashmir.[2][3]
Soon after its founding, several members of its leadership were arrested by Indian Security Forces. In November 1993 the former head of HuM, Nasrullah Mansur Langrayal, was arrested. In February 1994 the HuA general secretary, Maulana Masood Azhar, and chief commander, Sajjad Afghani, were captured in the Chattargul area of Anantnag district.[3]
It was labeled a terrorist organization in 1997 by the United States because of its connections with Saudi terrorist Osama bin Laden.[2] The ban severely limited the funding of the group, and as a result HuA was reorganized as a reincarnated Harkat-ul-Mujahideen. At the time, Azhar split from the group to form Jaish-e-Mohammed.[2]
Jamiat ul-Ansar is considered as the continuation of the HuA.
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