US adds Hizb to list of terrorist groups

The Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen was among four militant outfits that the US has added to its list of terrorist groups.

In its annual report on 'Patterns of Global Terrorism' released on Wednesday, the US State Department has also named Al-Badr Mujahideen, Harkat-ul-Jehadi-e-Islamia (HuJI) and Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen in the category of 'Other Terrorist Groups', which comprises 37 organisations worldwide.

Giving details about the groups, the report said Hizb was formed in 1989 and was the militant wing of a Pakistani outfit Jamaat-e-Islamia.

The outfit focused on security forces and politicians in the Kashmir valley, the report said adding it had also conducted a number of operations against military targets and also 'occasionally' struck at civilian targets.

Interestingly, the report also highlighted the 'visible splits between Pakistan-based commanders and several commanders in the Kashmir valley'.

The report described the Al-Badr as a splinter group of the Hizbul Mujahideen.

The report said the HuJI mainly consisted of Pakistanis and foreign Islamists fighting in Kashmir.

It said that the group had been linked to the mysterious disappearance of five foreigners abducted by the shadowy group Al-Faran in 1995.