The group soon shifted its attention towards Kashmir and, according to the security agencies in Srinagar, its Valley operations began in 1993. For years, the group stayed below the radar, so much so that government agencies had little clue about its ideology and cadre.

In 1997, United States proscribed Harkatul-Mujahideen—the largest pan-Islamic militant outfit then operating in the Valley—as a foreign terrorist organisation, turning it into a tactical nightmare for the ‘‘Kashmir cause’’ internationally. And as Harkat was slowly marginalised, Lashkar got an opportunity to make its presence felt. They began their strikes, choosing certain pockets of strength i the Valley, and also building bases in the Muslim-dominated districts of Doda, Rajouri, Poonch and the hilly areas of Udhampur in Jammu province.

In fact, Lashkar was set up as the armed wing of the pan-Islamic Markaz-e-Dawat-ul-Irshad, which was launched in 1985 with its headquarters at Murdike near Lahore. Markaz, which had established a network of around 2,200 madrasas across the country, has a clear agenda and ideology. Starting with the complete Islamisation of Pakistan and Kashmir, it hopes Islam will finally dominate the world.

For this, the organisation established the Jamia Dawat-ul-Islam, or the University of Dawat-ul-Islam, in 1989. Located on a four-acre campus, it imparts religious education. According to an essay in the Lashkar mouthpiece Jihad Times, around ‘‘50 of the students of this university have died fighting in Kashmir’’.

The basic ideology of the group states that religion is not the private affair of Muslims and politics cannot be separated from religion. In fact, Markaz rejects democracy as a western concept full of flaws.

... contd.