Jundallah (Pakistan)

Jundallah (جندالله, lit. "Soldiers of God") is a militant group associated with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The group was commanded by militant Hakimullah Mehsud, the Emir of TTP,[3] until his death on 1 November 2013.[4][5] Ahmed Marwat is the spokesman of the group.[6] On 17 November 2014, a group spokesman told Reuters that it had vowed allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, after a meeting with a three-man delegation from the group.[7][8][9] In January 2017, the Government of Pakistan imposed, interalia, a ban on Jundullah and other splinter groups that claimed responsibility for terror attacks.[10][11]

Not to be confused with Jundallah (Iran).

Jundallah
Dates of operation1996–present
IdeologySunni Islam
Salafist Jihadism
Central Asian Caliphate
Size10,000–12,000 (in 2014)[1]
400–1,000 (in 2015)[2]
Part of Khorasan Province (2014–present)[1]
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (2007–2014)
Allies
OpponentsState opponents

Claimed and alleged attacks

The group is wanted in connection to a wide range of militant attacks,[12] most famously the 10 June 2004 attempted assassination attempt on the convoy of Ahsan Saleem Hyat, the then Karachi Corps Commander.[13][14]

February 2012 Kohistan massacre
Main article: February 2012 Kohistan massacre

In February 2012, 18 Shia Muslims travelling from Rawalpindi, Punjab to Gilgit, Gilgit Baltistan in Pakistan on a bus were stopped in Kohistan and massacred based on their religious affiliation by individuals dressed in Military uniforms.[15] After the incident, Ahmad Marwat claiming to be the commander of the banned terrorist group Jundallah claimed responsibility for the act by contacting the media. After the shooting the gunmen resorted to aerial firing and moved to the nearby hilly areas.[16]

June 2013 murder of tourists in Gilgit–Baltistan
Main article: 2013 Nanga Parbat tourist shooting

Jundallah claimed responsibility for the killing of tourists and their Pakistani guide in Gilgit–Baltistan. The tourists were mountain-climbers who had hoped to climb Nanga Parbat. The dead included five Ukrainians, three Chinese, and their guide.[17][18]

September 2013 church bombing
Main article: Peshawar church attack

On 22 September 2013, a twin suicide bomb attack took place at All Saints Church in Peshawar, Pakistan,[19] in which 127 people were killed and over 250 injured.[20] It was the deadliest attack on the Christian minority in the history of Pakistan.[21]

Quetta 2014 attack

On 23 October 2014, a suicide bomber targeted Maulana Fazlur Rahman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) (JUI-F), who was unhurt while three deaths occurred on spot and dozens were injured.[22]

November 2014 suicide attack at Wagah
Main article: 2014 Wagah border suicide attack

On 2 November 2014, a suicide bomber attempting to enter the parade arena after flag lowering ceremony detonated explosives, killing at least 60 people, including two Rangers, and injuring more than 110 others. Victims include 10 women and 7 children.[23] Jundullah claimed responsibility for the attack, positing it as retaliation for Operation Zarb-e-Azb.[24]

Shikarpur Shia Muslim massacre (30 January 2015)

The said Muslim militant organisation carried out a powerful suicide attack on Shia Muslims when they were offering Friday Prayer . At least 49 were massacred at the mosque site. While many succumbed to death as there were no ambulances in immediate movements, says reuters.[25] PressTV of Tehran reports the death toll up to 60. Along with the incident Human Rights groups are concerned for such religious persecutional practices of pro sunni terrorists like Jundullah. While Pakistani Authorities are not serious concerning this. They quote these bloodsheds on Shia Muslims as conspiracy against Country.[26] Two men suspected of facilitating the 30 January Shikarpur Imambargah attack were arrested in a raid on Friday, police said. SSP Shikarpur Saqib Ismael Memon told the media that the suspects were arrested after being identified by the already arrested suspects during interrogation. "Shikarpur police in a raid in village Abdul Khaliq Kambrani near Sultankot has managed to arrest two persons who played the role of facilitator for the suicide bomber in Imambargah Karbala Maula attack," SSP Memon said. He said a drum full of explosive materials and detonators and other items used for preparing bombs was also recovered. At least 64 people were killed and many others wounded when a deadly suicide blast ripped through the Imambargah during Friday prayers late last month. The outlawed Jundullah militant group had claimed responsibility for the attack. Giving details about the suicide bomber, SSP Memon said that Mohammad Ilyas, a resident of Quetta, was brought to Shikarpur by Mohammad Raheem, who handed him over to the two accused presented before the media. The age of the suicide bomber was estimated to be between 18 and 20 years and before carrying out the attack on Imambargah, Ilyas stayed for a week with Ghulam Rasool and Khalil. [27]

Karachi bus attack
Main article: 2015 Karachi bus shooting

The militant group Jundallah claims responsibility for the attack Wednesday 13 May 2015 on a bus in Pakistan that killed dozens of people, said Ahmad Marwat, a spokesman for the group. Gunmen on motorbikes dressed in military uniform attacked a bus carrying members of a religious minority (aga khan shia Ismaili-Muslim) in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi on Wednesday, killing 47 people and wounding at least 20 others.[2]

In literature

There is scant literature available on Jundallah in the English language. The Scriptwriter is the first English language novel written about Jundallah by a writer from the Pakistan/Iran region.[28]

See also

References
  1. Saud Mehsud; Mubasher Bukhari (18 November 2014). "Pakistan Taliban splinter group vows allegiance to Islamic State". Reuters.
  2. Sophia Saifi, Jethro Mullen and Paul Cruickshank, CNN (13 May 2015). "Gunmen kill 43 in bus attack in Karachi, Pakistan". CNN.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. Mir, Amir (26 September 2013). "TTP headed for major split as Mehsud promotes his driver". The News International. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  4. "Drone strike in Pakistan kills head of Pakistan Taliban". Fox News Channel. 1 November 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  5. "Pakistan Taliban say chief Mehsud killed in drone strike". BBC. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  6. "Pakistani Taliban's Jundullah group claims responsibility for Sukkur attack". Dawn. 25 July 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
  7. "Pakistan Taliban splinter group vows allegiance to Islamic State". Reuters. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
  8. "Taliban splinter group in Pakistan vows allegiance to ISIS". alAkhbar. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  9. "Pakistan Taliban splinter group vows allegiance to Islamic State". 18 November 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  10. "Govt to ban Jundullah, other militant groups". The News. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  11. Web Desk (8 January 2017). "Govt decides to slap ban on Jundullah". Daily Times, Pakistan. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  12. Four Jundullah militants, two cops killed, The News International, 30 January 2008
  13. Death penalty awarded to 11 activists of Jundullah group in Corps commander attack case, PakTribune, 22 February 2006
  14. Hearing in convoy attack case put off, Dawn, 16 August 2008
  15. "Pakistan sectarian bus attack in Kohistan kills 18". BBC. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  16. "Kohistan massacre: 16 executed in sectarian bus ambush". The Express Tribune. 29 February 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  17. Masood, Salman; Walsh, Declan (23 June 2013). "Militants Kill 10 Climbers in Himalayas of Pakistan". The New York Times.
  18. "Pakistan church bombing claims the lives of 85 worshippers". The World Outline.
  19. "Suicide bombers attack historic church in Peshawar, 60 killed". Zee News. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  20. "40 die in Pakistan bombing". BBC News. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  21. "Suicide bomb attack kills 60 at Pakistan church". Associated Press via The Los Angeles Times. 22 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  22. Ali Shah, Syed (23 October 2014). "Two killed as JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman escapes suicide attack in Quetta". Dawn. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
  23. "TTP splinter groups claim Wagah attack; 60 dead".
  24. http://photonews.com.pk/jundullah-claims-wagah-sui
  25. Mukhtar Ahmed (30 January 2015). "Blast at Shi'ite mosque in southern Pakistan kills 49". Reuters.
  26. http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/01/30/395386/Blast-kills-60-at-Pakistan-Shia-mosque
  27. "Imambargah blast: Two Shikarpur bombing abettors arrested". The Express Tribune. 28 February 2015.
  28. "Amazon.com: The Scriptwriter eBook: Adeerus Ghayan: Kindle Store".
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