‘JeM has a strong Deobandi extremist base in entire South Asia’
Rajkumari Sharma Tankha
Since its inception in 2000, Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the Pakistan-supported South Asian terrorist group has been responsible for countless terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Jaish-e-Mohammed (HarperCollins India) is the first detailed and comprehensive study of JeM. Authored by Abhinav Pandya, it examines the origins of this organisation, its ideology, organisational structure, financing, strategies, radicalisation methods and much more. “It is a critical reading for an in-depth understanding of the past, present and likely future of JeM,” says Pandya. In conversation with Life & More, the author tells us more:
What inspired you to write this book, and how much time did it take you to complete the book, cover to cover?
I have been working in J&K for last seven years and I found Jaish-e-Mohammad to be the most elusive and dangerous terrorist group. Jaish brought India and Pakistan twice on the verge of the full-fledged war in 2001 after the Parliament attack and then in 2019 after the Pulwama attack. Experts and think tank community have written about Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul but Jaish has escaped the radar of experts. Masood Azhar, its key mastermind who was released after the IC-814 hijack continues to roam around freely and orchestrate deadly terror attacks in India. So I wanted to write a book on this group which could be of use to our security forces, intelligence community, citizens and academic experts.
It took me about 4.5 years to write this book, including the field research, writing and publishing.
How much research went into writing this book. How challenging was it?
I did intense ground level research for this book for about two years which included interviewing religious clerics, hawala dealers, former and active terrorists, intelligence officials, journalists, weapons and drug dealers, police and Army officers. The research was very challenging because of the sensitive, dangerous and clandestine nature of the subject. In Kashmir during such research, one has to risk his life. The researcher can be abducted. Even the intelligence agencies can be sceptical about the researcher’s activities. In the open domain, there is hardly any data. The intelligence agencies and police are reluctant to share data which makes this research even more challenging.
Isn’t writing such a book, mentally exhausting? How did you cope with it (mental exhaustion)?
Mentally, it is very exhausting. First and foremost, working in a dangerous and sensitive area like Kashmir can be mentally torturous. The world of spies and terrorism is full of deception and lies and one has to be very tough to deal with it.
After that data cleaning, analyses and writing such a lengthy document has its own challenges. It leads to fatigue and frustration at times.
You have written about the terrorist organisation in much details… and interviewed quite a few militants. How dangerous was that?
Interviewing militants is a dangerous task. First of all, fixing such interviews is very difficult. They do not trust you. They fear that the researcher is working for intelligence agencies. This can put our life in danger.
Secondly, their lingo, culture and lifestyle are very different. You need to be very perceptive with refined interpersonal skills and cultural understanding of their mind, region and religion. Then they are very deceptive. They give vague answers which are manipulative. So to glean the truth from that information is very difficult. It has to be cross-verified.
Also, moving around in those tough areas, bad terrain and risky places is very difficult. I had to take off all my Hindu religious amulets.
The book boldly writes about ISI supporting Jaish e Mohammed… Didn’t you ever feel scared writing about it? Did you ever feel a threat to your life or to your loved ones?
Yes, it can be very scary at times. I did feel the threat to me and my loved ones. That threat continues in India and abroad…
What, do you think, are the reasons behind the spread of Islamic terrorism?
There are multiple reasons but the most important reason is the scriptural sanction to acts and ideology of extremism and terrorism. Secondly, geopolitical actors and intelligence agencies play a crucial role in abetting Islamic terrorism. Terror financing and affiliated business interests and profit opportunities also form one of the bedrocks of Islamic terrorism. Also, unemployment, lack of education, failed states, corruption and conflict zones also facilitate the growth of Islamist terror groups. Lastly, appeasement attitude towards extremist actors strengthens their morale.
The leaders of terrorist organisations, and the mercenaries involved in killings are much revered by common Muslims. Why does this happen? I mean, at the end of the day, they are killers?
They are revered by Muslims for religious reasons. Most of these terrorists and killers bring religious justifications from Quran and hadith for their acts. For example, Ilmuddin and Mumtaz Qadri who killed publisher Hansraj and Salmaan Taseer over blasphemy issues are respected as Ghazis and Mujahids because they argue that it is a religious duty to kill those who criticise prophet. Likewise, terrorists call their violence Jihad which is again a religious duty.
You have also written about women too being inducted increasingly in the JeM. Is this a new phenomenon or an age-old thing? How much of the JeM workforce is female? Ever interviewed a female mercenary?
They are thinking of inducting women as suicide bombers. I have mentioned in my book that they wanted to send female suicide bombers in the Pulwama attack. However, we are yet to see a major fidayeen attack where woman is a fidayeen. However, they radicalise women by telling stories of the black widows. As of now Jaish is using females as OGWs (Over Ground Workers) which help in weapons movement, logistics etc.
What is your take-away from the interview with militants? What kind of psyche prompts them to become terrorists? Will we ever see an end of Islamic terrorism, or will that day never come?
The terrorists come from all kinds of backgrounds. There are madrasa educated poor boys from uneducated families who face sexual abuse in madrasas. They become terrorists. Then there are highly educated terrorists like Omar Sheikh who went to LSE. All the 9/11 bombers were educated. Burhan Wani was an engineer and his brother Mannan Wani was a Ph.D. candidate. Both were Hizbul Mujahiddin terrorists in Kashmir. They are highly radicalised muslims who see non-Muslims as sub humans deserved to be converted or killed.
Under the acknowledgement section, you have thanked your spiritual gurus. Please share more about the guidance you received from them, how they strengthened you?
I have taken initiation from Param Pujya Prabhu baa, a great paramhans self-realised master from Duttatreya tradition. Her guru was Param Pujya Gulwani Maharaj ji of Pune and his gurus was Param Pujya Vasudevanand Saraswati Tembe Swami ji and Loknath Tirtha Swami ji. My sadguru Prabhu baa insists on meditation and naam jaap. She says that these two things and dedication towards guru will unleash miracles and wisdom in your life. I have felt that. I have felt the protection of these great spiritual entities and also their support, blessings and guidance. Dhyan makes you strong, clear headed, brave and focussed.
What kind of future do you foresee for the JeM?
JeM has a bright future for several reasons- 1st– It has a strong Deobandi extremist base in entire South Asia which predates ISI and Pakistan both. This wide and deep-rooted base and madrasa network gives it dedicated and extremist followers, recruits and regular flow of funds. In India also, Islamic extremism is increasing, communal fault lines are deepening and widening so Jaish will find potential recruits and support systems.
2nd Their second generation is very dedicated and motivated. Masood’s family members like Saifulllah and Umar Farooq have died in Kashmir. Hence, Jaish will have competent successors.
Thirdly Jaish is well connected to global jihadist organisations like Al Qaeda, ISKP.
Fourthly, the ISI will continue to support Jaish.
Are you planning any other similar book? what next do we expect from you?
As of now, I am not. I have written three serious books on terrorism in the last 7 years i.e. Radicalisation in India: An Exploration, Terror Financing in Kashmir, and Inside the Terrifying World of Jaish-e-Mohammad. They are based on intense and rigorous research. It is very tiring and exhausting. It has impacted my personality. I need some break. But I am thinking of an espionage story dealing terrorism based on real incidents.
