Indian investigators have informed the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris that Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM), receiving funds in Pakistan from different channels, raised over Rs 800 million (Rs 80 crore) in the last eight years to carry out terror activities in India.
The ‘Emerging Terrorist Financing Risks’ report of FATF of October 2015, on the basis of information shared by India, said, “Hizb-ul-Mujahideen has been receiving funds originating from Pakistan through different channels in support of its terrorist activities in India. HM is claimed to be actively involved in furthering terrorist activities in India and has raised over INR 800 million within the past eight years.”
Giving detailed evidence on how the Pakistan-backed outfit got its funds and then used that against India, the report said, “Once the money reaches India, it is distributed through various conduits at various places to active terrorists and families of killed HM terrorists.”
The report further said, “The funds are mainly used to financially support members of active and killed militants of the organization, including family members. HM allegedly incurs expenditure on mobile communication, medical treatment of militants, arms and ammunition, clothing and other military equipment.”
Subsequently, funds raised in other countries are also reportedly being transferred or diverted to trusts and front organizations of HM in Pakistan.
India has repeatedly named Pakistan on international platforms for allowing terrorists to operate from its soil with the help of ISI. “The backing of groups like HM and LeT, which was involved in Paris-like attack in Mumbai in 2008, and revelations that the outfits are raising money freely for terror activities against India calls for international community and leaders to seek answers from Pakistan,” a government official said.
The FATF report said the banking sector was extensively used for transfer of funds to various accounts for HM’s activities in India. India also informed the FATF in October that “funds were also been moved via money value transfer services (MVTS)”.
Creating unrest in Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India since 1989 and headed by Pakistan-based Syed Salahuddin, Hizb-ul-Mujahideen is closely associated with other banned terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami and SIMI. Banned by India, the US and the European Union, the outfit also has close links with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the United Jihad Council. Salahuddin heads the UJC.
HM was involved in the September 7, 2011 Delhi High Court blast, in which 17 people were killed and 76 received injuries.
FATF member countries, days before the Paris attacks, deliberated upon how terrorist organizations are getting funded and how they can be stopped.
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